VS076 MCO-MAN 8 Nov 08 (Upper)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

I checked in at Downtown Disney in the morning for the evening flight back to MAN. I had not done DTD check-in before, but will definitely do it again, even if not in UC and it costs me $10 its a bargain and makes the homeward flight & Orlando airport experience much easier.

Got to MCO and was through security pretty quickly. Quite why the TSA allow families overloaded with Disney merchandise & kids to go through the Expert Traveller security line (when they are clearly not expert travellers judging by the amount of time it takes them to remove their shoes / laptops etc) is beyond me, but this is the TSA we are talking about & I know better than to dare to question their requests [for requests, read commands].

Once airside, duty free shopping was done followed by the Delta Crown Room. As I (and many others) have said before, its no Clubhouse, but is a haven of tranquillity when compared to the main departure area.

Boarding was a doddle with priority boarding operating well. All the pre-departure stuff went well (the drinks [:w]) and sleep suits were handed out prior to departure.

The VS76 had picked up an hours delay (was advised of this at DTD check-in) and it stuck to this. G-VROY arrived late in from Gatwick to form the VS76 back to MAN. This aircraft was also operating yesterdays VS44 from Las Vegas to London judging by the boarding card that the cleaners [at both Gatwick & Orlando] failed to remove from the gap in-between the seat cushions. The flight time back to Manchester was a quick 7 hours.

A fellow V-flyer & her family were also in UC on this flight. I know many people on here have strong opinions about children flying in Upper Class. All I can say is that Mrs Bs children were absolutely zero trouble Ive flown with passengers 40+ years older than them who have been far more trouble.

Dinner was served early on in the flight to maximise sleep time for the UC cabin. Not a lot to say about the food really, apart from the fact it was better than on the outbound flight (not difficult by any stretch of the imagination).

Sleep followed shortly after dinner must have managed about 3 hours sleep (hence why I am tired now). When I woke up I was served breakfast I managed to eat some of it, despite my body trying to tell me that it really did not want to be eating at that time of day.

A smooth decent and landing into Manchester followed. No queues at immigration and the UC/PE bags were just starting to arrive on the belt as I got to the baggage hall. I was out of the airport in less than 15mins after leaving the aircraft.

Basically this was another good UC flight. In some ways, I prefer a daytime UC flight, as you really appreciate the cabin then. That said, the 3 hours of sleep I got on the flight last night were a bonus I know that my friends who were travelling back to Gatwick (in Economy) got no sleep.

Time to start planning the next trip I guess!

James

[mitchja]

Thanks for the TR [y]

This aircraft was also operating yesterdays VS44 from Las Vegas to London judging by the boarding card that the cleaners [at both Gatwick & Orlando] failed to remove from the gap in-between the seat cushions

That's just reminded me actually. On the VS40 flight last week from ORD there where even empty cans rolling around on the cabin floor as we boarded the A/C which I would guess where from the previous inbound flight [V]

Regards

Brilliant TR James [:)]

You weren't the only one to comment on my girls behaviour on the flight last night I was a very proud mum. All my girls know that it's a privilege to sit in UC and therefore behave accordingly.

My TR's for both trips will follow later this week.

Great TR James - many thanks

I'm using this route next month for the first time in 2 years. I'm just hoping for an on-time arrival in MCO as I'm on a tight time schedule to catch a connecting flight.

I believe that Virgin have reinstated the use of the airbridge at MAN - could either you or Mrs B confirm?

Thanks

Ian

Ian

I can confirm that Virgin are back on airbridges at MAN. On 1st Nov, both the VS75 and VS73 departed from airbridge serviced gates. VS76 arrived back at an airbridge serviced gate this morning too.

Of course, there will doubtless be the odd occasion when a gate is not available so it's time for the remote stand+bus, but it seems that the intentional 'trial' [cost-cutting] use of remote stands is over for the time being.

Enjoy your trip in about 4 weeks time.

James

Thanks for the great TR![y]

[buns]

James

Thanks for the TR[y][y]

Boarding was a doddle with priority boarding operating well.

I always find this the case and all credit to the ground staff there who handle the four / five flights on a daily basis with all the children, Disney merchandise and the often fractous parents in such a short space of time.

They could give both LHR and LGW a few lessons[}:)]

buns