VS015 LGW-MCO 17 SEP 14 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

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Cabin Crew

Time for our 40th Wedding anniversary trip to Orlando. OLCI the day before went Ok but I had to settle for SEQ 2 and 3 .

As this was to be our second UC flight I followed the excellent advice and arrived at Gatwick just before 8.30. Check in was good in so far as speed was concerned. No wait, intercepted by an agent just outside the check in area (made me feel as though he was running interference) and escorted to the desk. Agent seemed a bit nervous and made a few mistakes in his speech, seems we were off to the Barbados or at least our luggage was. After a group chuckle about that he seemed to relax and boarding cards issued. Flight delayed by 1.5 hours. Off to the clubhouse with even longer to enjoy everything on offer. We had some breakfast and later on lunch as well. Had some coffee and even tried a breakast redhead very nice. Kept informed re the flight and the delay became 2 hours. Waited for the second call and made our way to the gate. Boarding had not started, just those needing extra time. The gate area was packed , no seats available, so wandered down to the front and waited. UC, gold etc invited so off we went. Just a couple of people ahead of us and turned left into peace and calm. Welcomed back by name which surprised me, only Red and only one other UC leg, but was a nice touch. Drinks all round and the new, to us, condensed menus were handed out as well. Full cabin this time and we soon settled into 8 and 9a. Return TR to follow soon ish

Cabin crew very attentive and before long we pushed back at 14.45 and wheels up 15.00. 9 hours 15 for our flight time and we were going the Cornwall route. Ocean all the way with landfall just north of KSC. Food very good, we both had the soup and the beef which was excellent. Crisps and drinks refilled whiteout asking. Afternoon tea served about 90 mins out. Quite a bumpy ride at times and as we approached the peninsula the cloud cover gradually increased. Local time was 19:00 when we landed. Just stated to get dark as we exited the aircraft. Moved quickly to the immigration area to be greeted by the BA flight queue. A couple of hundred people ahead of us. Queue being managed with US citizens sent on way and everyone else the other. Selected for the new APC machine. Just the two of us and both been here in the past 18 months. Very straight forward and only hiccup was me forgetting to remove my glasses Horrific pictures but we then moved on to the second queue, one with OK APC one not OK. About 10 people in our queue but only 10 minutes or so and we were through to baggage reclaim. Surprised that the agent retained our customs card and just gave us the two APC docs stamped and stapled together. Long line for customs but only 10 mins or so.Out to the Alamo garage and checked out and driving by 20.34. Full dark now so interesting on the still busy I4 westbound. Made it to Publix at Rolling Hills just on 21.00 and to our rental house at 21.45. Very long day but all in all a very smooth and relaxing UC flight.

Thanks for the TR, sounds like all went well apart from the delayed flight. But then, travelling UC does mean you get to spend that time in comfortable surroundings with food and drink on tap away from the hustle and bustle of the terminal. So not all bad, eh?

Thanks for posting.

There's no better place to have a delay than in the clubhouse, but I think 2 hours would be my limit before I start climbing the walls or dancing on the tables (depends on how many red heads)
9:15 to MCO, that's a long flight but it sounds like you had a good one.
Darren

Thank you for the TR. Glad the flight went well but I don't think these days I could manage Publix with my body clock telling me it was 2am !