VS073 MAN-MCO 22 MAY 13 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

After years of flying Virgin decided would finally submit a trip report for our annual family jolly to Florida.
Online check in didn’t work so well as I’d hoped I managed to grab SEQ1, but somehow wouldn’t allow “Current Mrs C” to be checked in?? Also children were on a separate booking code and they couldn’t be check-in either. (I presumed because minors?)
Anyway after a short 20min drive to Manchester airport we were dropped off with no one at UC desk and security empty we were soon in Duty free buying “Bits and Bobs” and then with time to kill decided to use the Escape Lounge. As lounges go it’s about as basic as a lounges gets, in fact on previous UC flights haven’t even bothered with it. The Lounge was quiet but for a family from an area of the UK north east of Manchester! Who seemed to be taking advantage of the complimentary wine on offer and speaking very loudly. I wondered where they were flying to …… hmm back to that later.
Before we knew flight was called and rather than stay in the morose lounge further headed to the gate. Gate was busy but through quickly and onto the plane, we hadn’t got through PE cabin when the kids were already sat in “their seats” (6A & 6K) as the call it and rummaging through the kids Virgin backpack for anything of interest.

Once I arrived in the cabin Champagne was quickly served and warmly welcome by FSM. Few minutes’ later family from lounge arrived in the cabin and loud noise ensued. What I could gather was that the son was scared of flying, however I’m sure that his fear was only antagonised more by “slightly tipsy” mother shouting to him in the cabin about “being scared and don’t be scared etc.,”! This only continued more whilst we were taxing and taking off! I felt sorry for the boy and could gather from what I was hearing he had genuine fear, but his parents weren’t helping the situation, shouting from one side of aircraft to the other about him being fine and planes don’t crash!!!

Once seat belt signs came off the cabin seemed to calm down and the obligatory drinks and crisps were served. Checked on children to find son (6) happily playing games on IFE and daughter (8)watching “Wreck it Ralph”, now as each year passes flying is getting easier and bit more enjoyable for myself & current Mrs regarding the children needing help with IFE or entertaining from us.

Dinner was very forgettable and probably the worst eaten on any UC flight. (Salmon starter, Beef main and Sticky toffee pud). I’m not that demanding with food, however particularly bad was the beef it was just so bland, dry and pretty inedible. I wasn’t too bothered as I had 17 days of very large portions and high fat and sugar in the US to come.
Dinner was worse by the “getting more tipsy lady” now not only talking loudly but now shouting and with noise reduction head phone on, across the plane! That her mother looked like a queen apparently sitting in the UC seat. The FSM soon intervened to hush the “nearly pissed lady” and I settled down to some nice cheese and lovely chutney.
Soon however the “nearly pissed lady” was “totally pissed lady” and again the FSM intervene and that was the end of her drinking time on the flight and no sooner had I began to watch 2nd movie (Jack Reacher……. Good movie however if ever read any of the books Jack Reacher is 6'5" tall with a 50-inch chest, and weighing between 220 and 250 pounds, he has ice-blue eyes and dirty blond hair?? The exact opposite of Mr. Cruise). I looked over and she was snoring away sleeping it off. I wouldn’t want to be her head when woke 30 mins outside MCO!
The rest of the flight was uneventful plus points were afternoon tea as ever with the yummy warm scones and do like having the new IFE now on the 747 fleet.
Once landed we were off the plane quickly and immigration was empty in fact for the first time in years cases weren’t actually waiting we were through that quick!

“All in All” a good flight made better by the new IFE.

Thanks for posting a TR ,I'm still chuckling now about the nearly and totally pissed lady and about referring to the wife as current mrs,makes it sound like an upgrade is on the cards soon !

[honey lamb]

referring to the wife as current mrs,makes it sound like an upgrade is on the cards soon !

There's plenty of precedents for that. A couple of posters refer to their spouses as "The present Mrs....." or the "Now Mrs"

Great TR! Very enjoyable read

Thanks for the TR. An enjoyable read. Have a great holiday in Florida.

Thanks for the TR. Shame about the food and the fellow passengers...

Great read - thanks for keeping us up to date on the progress of the nearly pissed to totally pissed lady. By the way, Blacky1, the present Mrs Treelo knows she is referred to in that way to keep her on her toes.
Actually, she has been the present Mrs Treelo for the past 41 years, so one of these days I suppose she should achieve some degree of permanancy. (if she behaves herself)

Great TR - pity the food was so bad. We occasionally get negative comments about children in UC but this is a prime example of how it is often the adults who need controlling!

You reminded me that when we were merely engaged my husband used to refer to me as his Fiasco.