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#257799 by easygoingeezer
23 Jan 2009, 13:40
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After a totally amazing Christmas in the Keys New Year at Universal and extended week at the Peabody it was time to head home. The trip was so good I had the feeling of not wanting to leave like when I was a kid and knew school was coming after the holidays.

We got a taxi to the airport and headed through to Upper Class check-in...OMG what a mess, I have marked the check-in as poor but please don't take that as a bad reflection on the desk staff trying to assist.

We were greeted at the taxi by a geezer with a trolley who said he would take our cases, for a moment I thought mmm will you just take them literally lol, he was ok in the end.

Walked down the rather grubby carpet there was just us but there was a family from the PE queue causing havoc carrying small screaming babies and wearing Primark leggins with what appeared to be clearly henpecked and exhausted men in tow. There were 10 in all two of which were travelling PE an older lady and daughter both in leggins and what looked like H Samuel jewelery one carrying a clearly fake Louis Vuitton ( why do people waste money on an obvious fake what are they trying to say pretending to have a 1000 bag when they could spend the 100 they really paid on ebay on another decent one[:?] ) anyway I digress though forgot to mention the equally fake D&G specs. Totally gobby and unfragranced. We were called forward and then the family just butted in with all three staff, they were annoyed because the PE people 2 of them had already checked in and a further 8 people in their party had turned up who were flying Economy and were refusing to join the economy queue. Eventually and quite wrongly in my view they were all checked in at PE and thank God not on my flight.

Because of the confusion we were called forwards before the security check, I kind of gesticulated that by pointing to the security lady but was frantically waved forwards again with an Oh for Gods sake expression. Then I gets tapped on my shoulder by an angry security lady that told me I should have waited for my passport check and security questions, the lady on the desk quietly mouthed sorry to me whilst this was going on and I just smiled and let it go which she seemed to have appreciated.

Eventually checked in and no problem with seat allocation...we had arrived 7 hours early after all. I politely asked if she knew of any problems with the plane and was told no.

We wandered in to the shopping area whilst I scanned all the shops for that elusive thing that if it really catches your eye you must have it. Ended up with a pair of MY-VU glasses which are a total extravagance and uneccessary but I love them. I watched my Catherine Tate programme on them plugged in to my iphone...fabulous.

We went for a meal in the italian restaurant at the end of the corridor of shops and I have to say it was the best Spag and meat sauce I have ever tasted anywhere in my life.

Up to the Crowne room which seems to never change, I said hello to the lady who serves drinks as she recognised me from previous trips.
We sat for hours and hours and just whiled the rest of the day away.

I went downstairs to look at duty free and liberally sprayed myself with farenheight, sadly I fragranced myself so much I seem to have gassed a French woman behind me, I was clearly dangerously fragranced. It was the French who invented it though wasn't it.

I went down to where the VA gates are, saw a BA one which suprised me
I wonder what clubworld+ is like.

There were hundreds and hundreds of people all excitable kids running around, bitter looking ladies ( a lot were anyway ) and clearly disinterested husbands so glad I could go back to the Crowne room even if its bland its better than this.

We walked down to board the plane half an hour before any announcement would be made and as I suspected there was a scrum of 'don't you dare pass me' looking economy passengers around the priority sign......why does this always happen, if you resent UCS and PE passengers so much why do you hug the priority boarding sign and block the entrance...get a ticket and try it yourself!!

Fortunately an eagle eyed agent was scanning everyones boarding passes from a distance, he came straight to us and said 'Sir you have a purple boarding card please go ahead, erm excuse me can you move aside thankyou' after some tuts and jabbing of Walmart prams and if looks could kill expressions they moved and we could board.

When we got on the plane we were first in Upper, the lady at the door said hello we have seen you before which was nice. Another CC explained my God happy people lol. My first question was is my suite operational which it was. We got loads and loads of bubbly and were constantly asked if we wanted anything.

In 6a/k there was a very elderly lady and her daughter quite old herself and I think the term is visually impaired I would say blind but I am not sure if thats ok, they were both lovely people and clearly needed extra help and they got personal and attentive service from ALL the CC throughout the flight and I was vastly impressed with what I saw.

This is going to suprize all....the food was fantastic I think it was Beef something or other.

I got about 2 hours sleep I do find the beds a bit hard.

All in all the flight was a dream, booze on free flow throughout, nice food and a cabin crew that you really would be happy to spend 8 hours with.

well done Virgin once again.

Just as a codicil please remember this is an EGG tr and should be taken with the obligatory pinch of salt. I still think if you want to board first though you should buy a PE or UCS ticket or just get over it though lol.
#465571 by DMetters-Bone
23 Jan 2009, 13:54
Another entertaining read, thanks very much. Really good to read that all went very well and the food was good too! [y]

DMB
#465573 by goanmad
23 Jan 2009, 14:07
Great TR EGG.
And yes you are right about blocking access to the Priority Lane, buy your own PE/UC ticket or stand aside please![V]
Handful of salt taken.[8D]
#465575 by Neil
23 Jan 2009, 14:20
Another top notch TR, thanks EGG.

quote:There were hundreds and hundreds of people all excitable kids running around, bitter looking ladies ( a lot were anyway ) and clearly disinterested husbands so glad I could go back to the Crowne room even if its bland its better than this.

I concur, never have I been so grateful to be able to go back to a lounge (and not even a great lounge) as I was after spending 10mins in the main terminal at MCO.

Just want to say once again, really glad your flights were excellent this time round, and especially the MCO return leg, which is often criticised.
#465578 by Sealink
23 Jan 2009, 14:38
Another entertaining read. :)
#465579 by ukcobra
23 Jan 2009, 14:43
Nice TR, although I think you should stretch the boarding first bit to PE/UC/Gold. As I do think some of us earn our Gold status by flying at the back of the bus.
#465584 by northernhenry
23 Jan 2009, 15:04
Very amusing and observed.. I must do the old Primark bingo later this year..
At last nice to read a positive UC report, especially for the service given to those with additional needs.. well done VS & credit for the crew.
#465585 by Slipperman
23 Jan 2009, 15:09
Great read....


even though I am reading it wearing my Primark Leggings (So comfy and so cheap)
#465619 by jodash
23 Jan 2009, 19:49
love these UC reports as we are due to fly UC for the 1st time later this year,usually go PE which we also like

still cant workout how to get the countdown anyone please!
#465621 by Neil
23 Jan 2009, 19:53
quote:Originally posted by jodash
love these UC reports as we are due to fly UC for the 1st time later this year,usually go PE which we also like

still cant workout how to get the countdown anyone please!



If you have a look in the Clubhouse forum, there is a sticky thread at the top that gives you all the info you will need. You should be able to copy and paste the example in to your profile details bit and just edit it to suit your dates etc.

Neil
#465622 by Guest
23 Jan 2009, 19:56
quote:Originally posted by jodash


still cant workout how to get the countdown anyone please!





You must have achieved this as when I click on you 'plane' it shows one sector of your flights.

Regards,

Hackneyguy
#465623 by Darren Wheeler
23 Jan 2009, 19:57
I do object to the 'bouncer' and their usual attitude. The seem to have a vastly inflated view of their importance and do nothing to smooth the process. Just glad they have gone at LHR.
#465627 by honey lamb
23 Jan 2009, 20:53
quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy
[quote]Originally posted by jodash


still cant workout how to get the countdown anyone please!





You must have achieved this as when I click on you 'plane' it shows one sector of your flights.

Regards,

Hackneyguy

HG, that is generated by posting in the Itinerary forum. The countdown clock is under the signature in the body of the post itself and does exactly what it says - counts down to the the date and time of the flight
#465644 by buns
23 Jan 2009, 23:16
EGG

Ah, the Orlando Airport I have come to love; reading your TR his spurred me on to book a flight[:D][:D]

All credit to the check in staff there who deal with three / four flights each and every day with all the stresses of passengers not looking forward to go back to blighty. I agree that in certain regards, the Delta Crowne Room is as good as any Clubhouse [:D]

Thanks for bringing back the memories - many good - about MCO[y]

buns
#465646 by Roxy-Popsy
23 Jan 2009, 23:18
Have got bag of salt & LOL[y]
#465648 by David
23 Jan 2009, 23:27
quote:Originally posted by buns
EGG

Ah, the Orlando Airport I have come to love; reading your TR his spurred me on to book a flight[:D][:D]

All credit to the check in staff there who deal with three / four flights each and every day with all the stresses of passengers not looking forward to go back to blighty. I agree that in certain regards, the Delta Crowne Room is as good as any Clubhouse [:D]

Thanks for bringing back the memories - many good - about MCO[y]

buns



Got to 'third' the statement about MCO. Never had any issues with it and even after delays, some being 4 hours when a trolley was wheeled out with fruit and water, it remained immaculate.

I remember after that delay, landing at LGW, getting in the lift in the north terminal to go up to departures and getting knocked over by the smell of p***

Welcome to the UK - what an embarrassment !!

David
#465651 by honey lamb
24 Jan 2009, 00:18
Loved it!

Did being 'dangerously fragranced' help counteract the 'unfragranced' you met on the way out? You seemed to complain about them a lot less this time. Or maybe you were more chilled out after a super holiday. [:D]
#465937 by Gerry89530
26 Jan 2009, 21:21
Great TR, very funny! Ever thought of comedy script writing?
#466062 by Guest
27 Jan 2009, 20:24
Comedy script writing !!!

Well if so, i will be throwing the first EGG. [}:)]
#466170 by easygoingeezer
28 Jan 2009, 11:33
quote:Originally posted by Catherine
Comedy script writing !!!

Well if so, i will be throwing the first EGG. [}:)]


Well as I just accepted your friend request heres hoping they are chocolate cream eggs and not skanky real ones.
#466950 by Guest
02 Feb 2009, 17:19
I'm afraid skanky real ones. As for friend request, must have been a mistake.
#467017 by easygoingeezer
02 Feb 2009, 23:42
quote:Originally posted by Catherine
I'm afraid skanky real ones. As for friend request, must have been a mistake.


At least we know where we stand, I won't lose any sleep over it. But best wishes to you.

Lets agree to leave it at that and not waste each others membership fees with obvious and futile notes/posts of ill feeling.

regards
#467038 by Guest
03 Feb 2009, 10:33
Yes we do.

Regards
Virgin Atlantic

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