VS071 GLA-MCO 12 JUL 14 (Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin

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Vs71 Ladybird. gate 30. Straight on at pre board. 52abc, 53ab. C empty-result!
8 hrs 7mins. 100+ pax light. Bubble shut for weight and balance. 326 pax 17 crew.
First impressions of refit economy very good. Appears to be greater pitch than a330 2 class prem ec.
Scheduled 10.05.
Taxi east end westerly take off. Route over Iceland Greenland then down eastern seaboard.
Drinks service prompt, meal choice better than previously experienced. Pud good and coffee actually not bad
CC more than happy to help ref small kids.
Vera excellent.
Duty free swift.
Sandwich service tasty. Vera on door to door helps keep kids amused.
Land 1.18pm local. Quick taxi onto clear stand;only flight in arrivals, so thought quick out.
WRONG. 75 mins to get thru passports. 2 desks open on non fast track. 1 desk open fast track. 2 spec services. FT is for any pax 4 or less in party, all with esta, who have been in usa since 2008. But FT actually slows whole system down.
Thomas Cook ex Man came in after us then VS ex LGW and MAN at same time. Folk at back of MAN will have been standing 3 hrs. Terrible.
Bags collected then handed over. BIG mistake. Apparently they go on a truck. Truck does not leave until completely full. Massive passport delays mean slow truck. Ground transport halt due to lightening does not help but 40 mins standing to get bags.
Overall flight better than I expected. Still nonsense about weight and balance reason for bubble shut.
US immigration is beyond a joke though.

Thanks for TR daviec1, so it seems there was a reason for being bumped downstairs after all that didn't involve other PAX or VS crew flying off on hols. You may believe it's nonsense to shut the bubble, but my understanding is it's common practice on undersold flights. Anyway, glad the flight went well even if there was a debacle at the other end, which I hear is the norm at MCO. Hope you're enjoying your hols.

I knew there'd be a valid reason! And it is valid.

It's a common occurrence on Little Red where flights are often only half or two thirds full and everyone selects seats at the front. A few hours before OLCI opens they'll clear rows 2-6 or 7 and move everyone back to ensure the weight's evenly distributed. And of course on a 747 there'll also be cargo to consider.

Glad the flight was good otherwise though. And yes, US immigration is a nightmare. Schoolboy error handing over your bags after customs though! At least next time you'll know to take them on the train with you.

Even the crew on board admitted closing the bubble was more for keeping it set up for return than anything else.

And ref handing bags over again. No choice. 4 suitcases, 2 adults and 3 kids, 9,5 & 1. Impossible to carry all kids and bags. Kids would not fit into bag belt....

Even the crew on board admitted closing the bubble was more for keeping it set up for return than anything else.

And ref handing bags over again. No choice. 4 suitcases, 2 adults and 3 kids, 9,5 & 1. Impossible to carry all kids and bags. Kids would not fit into bag belt....

MCO can be a nightmare, can be a real bad end to a flight.
So I have to ask the question, for educational purposes you understand Was that your last VS flight? Was the seat change as bad as you thought and was your inital thoughts on why the bubble was close bringing a red mist?? It happens to me, a lot!! LOL
My only reason for asking is I normally fly on my own, 99% of the time. The last time I flew with Fam one of was asked if we could move to accom. a larger group with smaller kids. My 14 year old son jumped at the chance of being able to sit without his Mum and Dad and he loved the flight.

Thank you for the TR daviec1. Personally I think that closing off the bubble due to a light load would be a valid operational reason, just like sometimes aircrafts are swapped due to a lighter load, and all the selected seats would not be "honoured". Whilst I do emphasise with having to sit at the back with your family, I hope that you had a reasonable journey and a really lovely holiday.

On the immigration front, having experienced the queue at LHR for non-EEA citizens in the past, I would say that the UK's system is no better compared to the US (or Dubai, for that matter). I have had experiences of queuing for over 3 hours at LHR on more than one occasions, so I often find the US passport control more efficient and fast-moving. Hard to believe, I know.

And ref handing bags over again. No choice. 4 suitcases, 2 adults and 3 kids, 9,5 & 1. Impossible to carry all kids and bags. Kids would not fit into bag belt....

Even the crew on board admitted closing the bubble was more for keeping it set up for return than anything else.

And ref handing bags over again. No choice. 4 suitcases, 2 adults and 3 kids, 9,5 & 1. Impossible to carry all kids and bags. Kids would not fit into bag belt....

I bet the PE customers upstairs weren't too happy either

Its a shame the old system of the double-bag drop at MCO doesn't work any more. In the old days the luggage appeared just about the same time as the passengers who had used the transit over to the terminal and then got down to baggage claim B.

I hate lugging my suitcase up that escalator and onto the packed transit but it has to be done , if possible.

Expansion of MCO over the years has not improved the customer services