VS016 MCO-LGW 3 Mar 09 (Upper)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

After a great month by the sea I had to return to the reality of England. Had a good drive to Orlando with Roxy Pospsy as my entertaining passenger as she had joined me for my last few days.[8D]

Due to a problem with my Avis booking I had to refuel before returning the car.....something I have never had to do before as I usually return it empty. We didn't pass a gas station so went through the airport and out again through the north side and stopped at the first garage.....BIG MISTAKE!!!! We hadn't noticed that there were no price signs up and the sun was shining on the pump so we had trouble seeing the display. I began refuelling and R-P went in to pay....filled up and it wasn't until she came out and told me that we had paid $3.99 a gallon....usual price at the moment in Florida is $1.99 or less!!!!! So anyone hiring a car in Orlando be warned. We were both shocked....you expect to pay a premium for filling up near an airport...but double the price[V][V][:(!]

Check in was quick, friendly and efficient and I still had my requested seat.

Then it was off to the lounge for much needed drinks to calm ourselves down after the gas price shock!!! Thats our excuse Buns[:w] It was a pleasure to meet Mr & Mrs Buns who had saved us some seats in the shrunken Delta Lounge[y]. I must admit I have never liked the Delta lounge but with the new wall it is quite clautraphobic....but a lounge of any kind is better than the MCO terminal and lack of seats.
The time passed very quickly chatting to the Buns[:D]along with a few drinks[:w] and then we were called for our flight.

Boarding as Buns said was handled well and I said my goodbyes and headed into Upper[:w] which as usual was full.

The FSM didn't introduce himself to anyone that I saw and the crew were efficient but not chatty. I wont go into flight details as Buns has included them on his TR.

I had the soup then 3 cheese ravioli in pomodoro sauce with roasted veg. followed by Burnt Caramel cheesecake[:D] Champagne glass constantly refilled throughout too[:D] I think LGW flights have a different menu to LHW.

I refused sleepsuits (have had two dirty ones given to me in the past and it has put me off) and fell asleep watching a Simon Pegg film....

Woke up just before landing as I had requested not to be woken as I never eat the breakfast.

Disembarked and met up with R-P. We went through the IRIS machine...took me 3 attempts to get the doors to open and R-P only one. We collected our luggage along with the Buns and said our farewells.

PS....hope Mrs Buns is feeling better..pass on my best wishes...[:X]

[buns]

Sunshine

First of all, it was great to meet you and, hopefully, you now know V-Flyers are not required to wear anoraks[:D][:D][:D]

Secondly, the tip about Avis and that awful filling station is well worth bringing to the attention of fellow V-Flyers. I believe the term used in the US is 'Scalping'[V] Quite outrageous and I am glad that I had an 'empty' rental agreement (albeit that I returned the car over half full[:0])

The experience downstairs did mirror that in PE and once again, an excellent FSM can make all the difference here.


Mrs Buns thanks you for your concern; she has gone back to work today, but is still keeping off the fish[:D]

Hope we have the chance of meeting up again at a V-Flyer Social event.

buns

[Neil]

Thanks for the TR.

We had the same agreement with Dollar to return our car full, after they offered me $90 at the airport when I collected it or told me it would be $5.80/gallon if it wasn't full. I stopped at a gas station at junction 4 on the main road linking the I4 to the airport, just before the first toll and paid $1.98/gallon, total just over $40 from nearly empty for a premium SUV. The car hire companies really do rip tourists off, firstly by offering expensive return empty deals or by seriously over charging if you don't.

Neil

quote:Originally posted by Sunshine

I had the soup then 3 cheese ravioli in pomodoro sauce with roasted veg. followed by Burnt Caramel cheesecake[:D] Champagne glass constantly refilled throughout too[:D] I think LGW flights have a different menu to LHW


Both LGW and LHR have the same menus to the USA [:)]

Tinkerbelle, I only mentioned about the menu as the inbound March menu was completely different to the one posted recently in the Virgin Experience forum for Spring 09.....

quote:Originally posted by Sunshine
Tinkerbelle, I only mentioned about the menu as the inbound March menu was completely different to the one posted recently in the Virgin Experience forum for Spring 09.....


The Spring 09 menu started on 5th March hence why you still had the Winter menu. [:X]

Ok OK , I'm hanging my head in shame that I haven't posted my TRs yet.[:I]
My excuse is that I'm too busy admiring my purchases from 'Coach'. Mrs Buns, Sunshine & I had a lovely chat about 'Coach' handbags[:D][}:)]
Mr Buns went to get himself another drink when we started up[ii][:p][|)]
Sunshine - Please don't tell anyone that I walked into the gents instead of the ladies before we met up with Mr & Mrs Buns[:w][:w][:I][:I][:I]
R-P

Thank you Tinkerbelle for the explanation....I had presumed the Spring had started on the 1st March. Silly me not thinking it was the 5th!!!!!

Roxsy-Popsy....you have now told everyone about your visit to the Gents which I kindly left off my TR!!!!

Thanks for your TR! $3.99 for gas! [:0]

Thanks for the TR.

DMB