This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
The pick up time had been pre-determined by VS as 1.50pm (for a 7.05pm departure) so this gave us plenty of time to soak up the sun on our last day in Florida. In fact, the Lincoln Town Car provided by Mears turned up over 45 minutes ahead of schedule, so we hastily said our good byes and settled down to the two hour drive back to Orlando airport.
It never ceases to amaze me how the VS ground staff cope with so many people at once in a relatively confined space in Terminal B. Mrs B & I were at check in some three and a half hours before scheduled departure, yet the place was already teaming with masses of families. One thing I noticed was that whilst there were separate check in lines for Economy, Premium and Upper the overhead signs for the check in desks had now been removed. There was only one party ahead of us and soon we being checked in and provided with boarding passes and an invitation to the Delta Crown Room. With a knowing smile [;)] we declined the offer of being provided directions. One point to mention here is that once the bags have been tagged, with the exception of Upper Class pax, you then have to take you bags to the screening point behind the check in lines. This only adds to the sense of chaos in the confined space that is imposed on the ground staff by the authorities.
As we had plenty of time, we made our way to the McCoy Grill in the Hyatt Hotel above the terminal and had a last American meal before returning home. Afterwards, we joined the queues for security (and another tip here is to look at the queues at the two separate entrances and choose the shortest invariably the one furthest away than you would normally take) and in no time was on the shuttle to Terminal B. The Delta Crown Room was exceedingly busy (it being a Friday night and there were many business people) and it took some time to find a free space. Mrs Buns remarked that (as usual) the room was warm so finding a point near to air conditioning ducts provided a further complication. Once settled, we ordered some drinks from the bar and me being the inquisitive type [:I] I went down to Gate 81 to see what aircraft we were on.
I hurried back and checking my trusty V-Flyer book, I was able to confirm that Cosmic Girl was a LHR 747 configuration and more importantly V-Port result[y][y]. We noticed a few VS passengers making their way down to the gate ahead of the scheduled boarding time of 6.15pm, so as we had been on the Delta Crown Room long enough by then we joined the throng.
Arriving at Gate 81, the pre-boarding of wheel chair passengers was just finishing and whilst there was a separate line for priority boarding of Upper, PE & Golds, the queue had formed in the middle of the Terminal concourse. To the surprise of a few in the queues ahead of us, boarding commenced with Upper so Mrs Buns & I were literally the first on board and made our way to 9A & 10A. Offered drinks, the IFBT area was being used as a makeshift area to display the newspapers and magazines on offer as the Bar (back at row 20) was not to be used on this flight. This was not an issue as the cabin crew were the most attentive I have encountered on a return Atlantic crossing and there was nothing that was too much trouble for them and sleep suits, headphones and the improved snooze packs [y] were all issued before we pushed back.
Push back was some ten minutes behind schedule and the Captain informed us that tail winds would not be as favourable so we would looking at a landing some 15 minutes later than scheduled.
The inevitable long trundle to the runway followed and it was here that I noticed the fourth VS 747 on the other side of the Terminal. Soon airborne and V-Port was switched on almost immediately quickly followed by hot towels and our pre-ordered drinks. The menu is as previously reported on V-Flyer and both Mrs Buns & myself opted to forego the starter and have the steak followed by the apple pie. During the meal service, I was able to chat with one of the crew who had encountered the V-Flyer site and remarked on how useful it was I thanked for her kind comments and said that Mrs Buns & I had much to thank V-Flyer for too[:D][:D][:D].
The meal service was not unduly hurried and a nice touch on this flight was the conscious decision by the FSM not to make PA announcements; so pre-ordered duty free delivered, I made my bed and sank down to a good three and a half hours sleep.
I awoke just prior to breakfast being served so was able to snatch a stint in the washroom before the rush began. I had ordered the waffle (notice the absence of plural here) and coffee and regret not ordering the eggs benedict. Nevertheless, I was not in need of anything more, so after returning my tray, I changed back in civvies just in time for the landing announcements.
Touch down was 20 minutes behind schedule at 7.15am and the long trek along the noticeably chilly corridors from the Gatwick satellite only aided our speed to the carousel. As I was to be only too grateful for the very next day (when there was a major power cut at Gatwick[:0]) our bags were the first off and we quickly made our way to the Limo desk where our friendly Tri-Star driver was waiting who promptly speeded us home.
I think it is worthy of a second mention that the crew on this return transatlantic crossing were the most attentive I have encountered and I can only praise how they manage to perform so well after travelling out to the USA the previous day[oo][oo].
