V-Flyer

Sorry for the delay in posting this TR.

After a near 6 year gap of flying across the Atlantic the time had come for myself and Mrs Amex to return to MCO. We dropped the car off at LGW the day before with Meteor Parking on the chauffeur parking service they offer - had to wait a few minutes for their driver to show up but otherwise a nice easy handover. Then with our luggage in tow it was off to Twilight Check-in. Here I was to encounter what I found to be only major negative of the VS experience. A couple who had just checked in were walking away, that was the check in agents cue to go off. Even though she quite clearly saw us heading to her. So we stood in line, given we were the only ones there - and waited. And waited. And waited. While the agent and her colleagues had a good old gasbag about whatever. This went on for a good 5 minutes - now I'm not the sort to call out to say 'OI!!!, Shouldn't you be down here doing your job???' The temptation was very much there. So after a bit of throat clearing an agent came down, it would seem long gone are the days of smiles and conversation - I was quite glad to be heading to walmer climes if the frosty service was anything to go by. I had done olci the day before - a very disappointing seq 34/35. Due to a faulty printer at home I couldn't print the BC's off - but I was asked 'why didnt I print them off?' Had to bite my tongue as that IMO was none of her business. Was just glad to get the cards (with premium security sticker) and be on our way to the Premier Inn at North Terminal for the night.

Flight day arrives - so after a hearty breakfast it was off on the shuttle back to South Terminal. Naturally we head for the premuim channel thinking that we should be through quickly - well we would have been through quickly were it not for a group of students arseing about, they all seemed to set off the metal detector! After about 20 minutes we got through and with a quick stop in duty free we get into the main departure lounge - a quick scan of the monitors and my heart sinks - VS27 - DELAYED by an hour! Great, bang goes any chance of clearing immigration at MCO quickly, given that there is both a VS MAN flight and a BA LGW flight now ahead of us. Gate is eventually announced so we head off to gate 19 to find G-VGAL (jersey girl) as our plane for the day. It was to be a very busy flight as the VS15 had been cancelled weeks before so only 1 MCO that day. Once onboard we take our seats 16a/c - we used to be up in the bubble addicts but the change of a mixed PE/Y cabin deterred us - especially due to the reports about deplaning.

We eventually depart at 1206, so 51 mins late but having seen BA2037 depart and knowing that the MAN flight was already airborne we just had to hope that thoise flights might have had a light load. The flight itself was very pleasant, the odd bit of turbulence. IFE is fantastic - such a improvment from the rubbish offerings the LGW fleet of old had. Food was good, the crew was IMO good - would have been excellent but marked it down for this reason. We had two CSM on board that day - now I know it is usually one and they, if i recall, are usually in UC. But with two I would have thought they might come around the cabins - no such luck, I think the furthest back they came was row 14 - where they seemed to spend the bulk of the flight chatting to the couple seated there with their toddler.

A nice view of Kennedy Space Center on the way in was great, a smooth landing and then the acid test - deplaning! I have to say there is a hell of a lot to be said for sitting in PE downstairs - I think we were off the plane within a minute of the doors opening. A walk to immigration - which confirmed my fears - it looked like the BA and VS MAN flight were both full. All things considered we still got though in 45 minutes which was good. Grabbed the bags, took about 10 minutes to get through customs as there was only 1 officer on duty - elected to take the bags onto the shuttle rather than wait again for them in the terminal building. This way we could go to Alamo in the B side to collect our car - only downside was that the kiosks that day only seemed to be working for US licences - so another 45 minute wait - but all worth it in then end.

Thanks for the TR. Yes, people gassing when they should be attending to customers is annoying. Not a bad result on the immigration though. Getting off the plane first certainly helps.

Thanks for a great trip report. Seems you may have had the same check in staff as we did. Rude with no happiness showing at all. They could learn a thing or two from their colleagues across the water.

Pity that the other two flights got there first. Why was vs015 cancelled

Pity that the other two flights got there first. Why was vs015 cancelled

Longy1912 wrote:Pity that the other two flights got there first. Why was vs015 cancelled

Maybe it was something to do with the seats not reclining properly 19 A&C in particular ?

Blacky1 wrote:

Longy1912 wrote:Pity that the other two flights got there first. Why was vs015 cancelled

Maybe it was something to do with the seats not reclining properly 19 A&C in particular ?

Now, now, Blacky!

honey lamb wrote:

Blacky1 wrote:

Longy1912 wrote:Pity that the other two flights got there first. Why was vs015 cancelled

Maybe it was something to do with the seats not reclining properly 19 A&C in particular ?

Now, now, Blacky!

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