V-Flyer

This trip was booked through Disney Travel company for a week in the sun in Orlando.
Drove myself to LGW and parked in the short stay car park which was quite reasonably priced at the time I booked online, and then stayed the night at the Hilton connected to the south terminal.

As I had checked in on the way up to gatwick from Weymouth I had already insured that I had the best possible seat (19C) and 19A was empty.

Went over to twilight check in at 4:30 where there was one desk open (early) and a queue that filled half a good half of the VS check in area.
As I have now got a gold card (thank you little red ) I started the queue for upper class with a few looks from the Y line. And was checked in whilst the family at the desk were packing child car seats in to plastic bags.
There was none of the chat I have come to expect from checkin at LHR and was a very quick checkin.

On to the morning of the flight.

I left the hotel at 6am and was through premium security and at the door of the clubhouse as they opened at 6:15 where I was met by a cheerful agent who congratulated me on SEQ 1 and gave me a quick tour of the clubhouse as this was my first trip as AU and my first visit to any of the clubhouses.

I posted a hello from the clubhouse thread on here and from there had a meeting / brief encounter with Buns who was on the later VS15 (the flight I should have booked talking to the FSM on the 27!)

I left the clubhouse before the flight was called (shocking I know) and arrived at the gate just as priority boarding was called and so was the 3rd person on the plane.

The aircraft today was G-VLIP I am sure this aircraft is following me as my last trip to MCO I flew Hot lips both ways so this is the 3rd LGW based flight in a row with the same aircraft! (VS if you read this can a different plane be on the VS28 on the 27th please!!)

Boarding was quickly completed with pre flight bubbly provided. Then flight deck announced a discrepancy with the number of bags in the hold .
A family at the front of PE had taken a child seat with a bag tag on it onboard with them and so paperwork had to be changed.

The flight was un eventful with a good service from the crew and a tour of the A zone from the CSS towards the end of the flight.

For those of you who have recently asked here is the menu.

Starter
Smoked salmon roulade
With a roster vegetable and mixed leaf salad

Mains

Beef stew
With sage and onion dumplings

Chicken in garlic and mushroom sauce
With roast potatoes and broccoli

Thai green vegetable curry
With sticky rice (v)

Bread
Your choice of oven baked bread rolls

Dessert
Chequered chocolate mousse

High tea
Cheese and pickle finger sandwiches
On white bread

Banana toffee cupcake

Served with tea or coffee.

I chose the chicken and got the last one on the plane

On landing I could see that the VS from MAN had beaten us to the terminal and was already at the gate, then the worst possible sight as we turned off the runway a BA777 was just pulling in to a parking space.

I entered the immigration queue at 16:18

The line was moving quickly and was well managed. The officer in the box I went to was in a good mood and had a chat as he had the usual difficulty in getting my passport to work in the chip reader (it never works!)

Then I joined the queue for customs with the cabin crew from her flight where I had a chat with the FSM who was happy that they had 2 days in Orlando rather than just 24 hours.
He said that our flight was full but the flight behind with Buns aboard had just 90 pax booked on to it (should have booked that one)

I was out of the airport and on Disney's magical express be 17:32 so not bad going.

All in all a good flight. With a good crew.
As others have mentioned there was no use of my name or recognition of my AU card onboard but every time the. CSS passed I was asked if I wanted anything so it was not noticeable extra service but all I want is a smile and a welcome back.

Now I am off to get my Mickey waffles for breakfast.

Thanks for the TR Of course the pressure is now on me to produce my TR

It was great meeting with you and I hope that your newly acquired Au Card will reap my more Clubhouse encounters with V Flyers

Not wishing to steal your thunder, I can confirm that the flight was quite empty with the downstairs PE cabin devoid of passengers I know of your delays as our friends who were on your flight turned up in the Hotel at the same time.

Enjoy Disney and all the shopping

buns

A fine TR, thanks for posting congrats on the Au, don't think I'll ever reach those dizzy heights but enjoy it while you have it

Whole flight experience sounded good, shame about the VS and BA beating you in - that's always a race, in fact one time our pilot said he would go as fast as he can to get us there before those two

Have a great holiday

Thank you for an informative TR. Can't believe that about the bag tag. Shame you "lost" the race into MCO but a friendly immigration officer was a plus.
Thanks also for the menu.
Have a great time.
Wish I was there .........

Congrats on gaining AU and thanks for the TR

Glad to hear it was a good flight and that the CSS kept checking up on ya - it is probably going to be because of AU status.

Hope you have a great holiday