VS027 LGW-MCO 14 JAN 15 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

This was our first UC experience, so a lot of excitement leading up to it! We travelled down from the grim North the night before and stayed at the Sofitel, which was nothing special but had a cheaper rate than the Hilton we usually use and came with free bar in the club lounge! MAN would have been closer but we wanted the full UC experience with the CH (and it turned out we circumnavigated a 24hr delay on the return flight by not choosing MAN also!).

Made our way over to the South Terminal around 7.30 and checked in with no queue and a friendly agent who advised we could take our buggy on board the plane which was a nice surprise as it would avoid having to carry our lottle boy in the immigration queue at MCO! Security was predictably dreadful as we had a lot of hand luggage and a grumpy toddler to deal with, but once through we were welcomed into the CH and ushered towards the family area at the back. No runway views there but a lovely play area which kept "his lordship" amused and the breakfast and drinks were free-flowing and excellent quality. A bit of light retail therapy on the way to the gate ensued and we then boarded G-VROY and were welcomed by name by the FSM (nice surprise as a lowly red FC member). Cabin crew were very good and patient with our son who was on his first flight - he turned 2 during the holiday so shared a seat on way out and had his own seat on return. A light load of 240 passengers was announced, and a reasonable flight time of 9hrs 19min.

Much to our surprise our son was completely nonplussed by take off etc, he got a bit restless early on in the flight but never cried and once we got the seat converted into bed mode he was much happier, napped for a good 2hrs! We were in 7AK, a friendly older couple in 6AK in front traveling over to their home in Naples which gave us food for thought for future holidays!

Food wasn't much to write home about IMO, salmon starter was OK, beef very over-cooked, pudding nice though. Afternoon tea was rather dry sandwiches...

Interestingly the seatbelt sign was never on the whole way across the Atlantic which was a first for me! We made an on-time arrival at MCO and were through immigration in about 30mins and through to the Alamo garage where a 2015 Ford Expedition awaited, out on the 528 within an hour of landing which is certainly a personal record at MCO, and onward to Tuscan Hills for our villa for the holiday!

UC was certainly worth the extra in terms of service and reduced stress levels, I'd definitely do it again. The only negative was that the bagage handlers managed to damage our car seat despite it being marked as fragile and loaded via the fragile/oversize baggage route at LGW, so I'm currently in the process of trying to get that sorted now we've returned... Wish me luck! Will try and get the return TR sorted soon!

Thank you for your TR. So pleased you enjoyed your first taste of UC. I bet it won't be your last !!! Excellent timing through immigration and to car hire.

Hope you had a great time in the Land of the Mouse and good luck with the car seat problem.
Best wishes,
hiljil

Glad you enjoyed the UC experience and a swift transit through immigration.
I'm looking forward to being half of a friendly older couple in 6A&K in a few weeks.
Dick D

Great trip report thanks for posting.

So did you actually board with the buggy, where did they put it? When did you get it back? I can't remember ever seeing a stroller in immigration before.

Great that your son traveled so well, I'm one of those who would be a bit nervous to take a kid into Upper! How did he find the food, take the children's meal or the adult one?

Thanks for the feedback!

We took the buggy down the jetway and folded it at the door, it then went in a closet in front of PE, so we were able to unfold it on disembarking and took it through immigration. On the flight back it went in a closet upstairs and was waiting at the door when we arrived at LGW.

Food-wise the kids meal was chicken dippers and macaroni cheese which he seemed to appreciate just fine - actually looked a bigger portion than our meals!!!

Thanks for the info, was wondering if kids got an Upper Kids meal but it sounds the same as economy!

We've never done the buggy to the door before, I'm always a bit worried it would be flung into the hold without any protection. We normally put the buggy in a bag and check it in, it's no bother having the wee one run around in the airport.