V-Flyer

Once again it was time for my annual New Year get-away. I always like to go away over the New Year period. This time it was Indian Rocks Beach, Florida.

I'd visited the same area a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Decided on the same hotel as last time as well. The Holiday Inn Harbourside. Booked a villa again as well which is great. The huge villas are 2 storey with a large living room come dining room area, kitchen and have a bedroom and bathroom with jacuzzi on the second level.

For the first time in years, I'd booked a VS flight direct from MAN. I'd booked via VH again. Booked just a fly-drive package originally but then later also booked the hotel with them as well as VH where offering the best price for the Holiday Inn Harbourside. I'd also booked a Manchester V-Room pass as well. Decided to book a room at the MAN airport Hilton a few days earlier just to make life a little easier. Whilst the rooms, the hotel and the restaurant is nice, I'm still not a fan of their very uncomfortable beds

I'd checked in online the previous day and managed to get much sort after SEQ1 . Opted for the iPhone passbook boarding pass which arrived within a few seconds via email.

I was up around 7am the following morning, checked out and didn't have too long to wait for the shuttle bus to take me to T2.

I was checked in in no time at all. Security was quite busy, but well organised meaning the queue moved quickly as I was through in around 15 minutes. Other than an invite to the Manchester V-Room launch party, it had been years since I'd been through MAN T2. One thing I like about MAN, is the fact they have a outdoor smoking area airside (in both T2 and T1, apparently a T3 one is been planned too). It's located next to gate 300 (the remote stand gates). None of this faffing about having to go back landside like you have to at LHR or LGW. Headed to the V-Room (which is located on the upper level where the other airline lounges are. I was warmly welcomed and informed there would only be about 15 people in today (only 1 MCO flight and a BGI flight today).

Had some breakfast, which was good. Settled in and watched TV with a couple of trips to the smoking area. Before long the flight was called. Gate 202 I think. Boarding had just started as I got there. There is a priority line for Premium and AU's, no Upper Class with the A/C been one of the two cabin A333's (G-VSXY).

I was welcomed on-board and it's still a nice feeling turning left This was the first time I'd flown on a two cabin A333 (flown to ORD in Sept on a three cabin A333). Before I boarded I was a little concerned about the reports of less leg room in PE on these A/C, but there actually appeared to be no difference what so ever compared to other VS Premium cabins. I was in 22D. Over-head storage is a bit of an issue with there been no over-head lockers over the middle seats. There are a few wardrobes available though. Pre-flight drinks where handed out. Todays flight was full in both cabins and before long the door was closed and we pushed back a few minutes early at 11:05.

Todays flight would be 9hrs 25minutes. Once airborne VERA Touch & AeroMobile was switched on. Forget AeroMobile unless you are with O2 or Vodafone as they are they only 2 UK networks that support AeroMobile. Having now been a couple of VS A/C with AeroMobile, it's not as bad as it has been made out to be. I've only ever seen a handful of people using it and that was mostly just texting.

Having used JAM (sorry VERA Touch) before, I was familiar with how it worked. There's no slow start-up as there is with V:Port (or what ever that's called now )

Drinks where also soon served, followed shortly after by a separate dinner service. The food was good (I had the Tai Curry which was very tasty). It was very well presented as well. The on-board service was great throughout the entire flight. Ice-creams where offered later on and then the afternoon snack. There where at least 3 water/juice runs during the flight. I just wish VS would bring back the fruit bowl service in Premium. I do miss that.

During the flight I watched a couple of films and TV programs and the flight passed pretty quickly.

Before long where where on approach to MCO. The captain did point out (with some glee I have to say) that he had managed to keep the VS27 behind us the entire way across the Atlantic. They where about 5 minutes behind us apparently.

We landed about 30 minutes early and within a few minutes where on stand. We where soon quick footing it to immigration, which I am happy to say was completely 100% deserted Within minutes of arriving I was though immigration (and processed via a very cheerful, friendly, professional officer )

Bags where already coming off and in no time at all I was on the monorail heading to the main terminal area. I'd already checked-in online for my Alamo car hire, which means you just head straight to the rental garage to pick you car. Once your have selected your car, you drive to the exit, where Alamo process your booking and then off you go. If you are using a Sat-Nav (which I was even though I had done the same journey in 2011) don't panic if it doesn't start working whist you are still in the car rental garage. It will start working once you exit the garage and it locks onto a satellite. I use my iPhone Co-Pilot Sat-Nav app with US maps app which works great (it doesn't need a data connection to work either). The drive to the Indian Rocks Beach area was nice and easy and didn't take too long even with it been rush hour and heavy rain in places.

We landed at 15:40 and by 19:00 I was settled into my villa at the Holiday Inn at Indian Rocks Beach.

All in all, about 25minutes plane to car. I think that is a record!!!

Overall, an excellent VS flight with a great crew

Not bad milage/TP wise either. 14,826 miles and 8 TP's one way, thanks to my AG bonus, the VS bonus miles/TP's promo (second of the return flights in the promo) and VH booking me in a PE S fare

glad you had a good flight...the joy an empty immigration hall can bring at MCO is beyond words...........hope the weather improves for you, its been nasty (for here) in December.

James

Once again your detailed TR provides a wealth of information for fellow V Flyers - thank you

To get through Immigration in double quick time is a result these days

Enjoy the Gulf Coast and try and pop into the Salt Rock Grill if you can

Thanks once again

buns

Great TR, thanks! What seat would you recommend for ease of getting off the plane first then?

the best seats always used to be 80 in the bubble on a jumbo ,now i guess it depends which plane and which class you get.....I am trying 24A next time on a 2 class 330

flabound wrote:the best seats always used to be 80 in the bubble on a jumbo ,now i guess it depends which plane and which class you get.....I am trying 24A next time on a 2 class 330

I was talking to a couple as we power walked to immigration and they said they had recently been in Premium on the upper deck and had to wait quite a while to get off the A/C.

Having now flown on a 2 cabin A333, I would say there's no real difference where ever you sit (other than if you can grab the bulk head row 18 obviously though you will be last of Premium to get off sitting there). Just try and board as soon as you can though to grab some over-head storage space.

Still waiting for my 747 seat map to open for my return flight but I was thinking the lower deck in Premium coming back if I can. I don't have a biometric passport so don't fancy a long wait coming back at MAN, although saying that, the manual UK immigration queues where actually shorter when I arrived at LHR in Sept as the biometric gates where clogged up with both non functioning automatic gates and people not knowing how to use the system.

Saying that, thinking I might try for a PE>J mileage upgrade at MCO. I am on a S fare, but it's a itinerary S fare so *technically* not supposed to be upgraded with miles.

Miss G wrote:Great TR, thanks! What seat would you recommend for ease of getting off the plane first then?

On the 2 cabin config A333's be as far back in the Premium cabin as you can as they de-plane Premium first from door 2 whilst holding back Economy at MCO.

Brilliant, thanks James, I've only been in PE on that aircraft going the other way, when it doesn't really matter about the queue at immigration.

ScubaRoo wrote:
Thought an S Fare was upgradable?

Not the itinerary version issued by travel agents. Only S fares purchased direct from VS are upgradeable with miles.

Sometimes you can get away with it. I'm not holding out much hope for this to slip through at MCO though as the staff there are pretty clued up.

VH do seem to be issuing PE S fares more often now. It does mean you get the full non-discounted PE mileage and TP's from VS though.

Not sure if it's related but H PE fares (which where just used for VH bookings) are now also a standard VS direct PE fare. Not sure if H fares are still issued for VH PE bookings?

Sounds like a perfect PE experience with a good crew - very good read indeed.

Have a great break.

Jon

Thanks for the TR.

We found the PE legroom in the 2 cabin 330 good as well, but others have reported problems especially when reclined into.

Brilliant TR, makes me want to go back to Florida even more! Love the flight almost as much as the holiday!

stevebrass wrote:Thanks for the TR.

We found the PE legroom in the 2 cabin 330 good as well, but others have reported problems especially when reclined into.

I definitely thought there was less legroom in that circumstance, but then I was comparing it to the bubble which was very spacious.

Sorry i should have made myself a little clearer. There appeared to be no difference in leg room compared to other PE cabins on all the Airbus aircraft.

I've not flown PE on a 747 for a very long time so cannot compare that. I guess the test will be my return flight which is a 747 (just checked and the seat PE seat map has just opened on a refitted 744 )

I have always felt that the leg room in the bubble (old config) was better than the lower deck and I think a few agree. on the 340 it always seems a little less than the upper deck .

yet to try a 330 or a refit..........trip in Feb will acccomplish both