VS027 LGW-MCO 1 Jan 10 (Upper)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

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First TR. I dont know if any trip can be called perfect but this one got pretty close. travelling solo , much more relaxing than with my wife who is a terrible flyer (classic quote ' we are very close to the ground ' ans - ' you have to be when you are landing'[:D])

having checked in (PE seat 79 ) on line I arrived at LGW at 925. 20 mins later was sitting in the CH having used miles to upgrade and cleared a very quiet security in no time.(pre warned there would be another check and pat down at the gate)
Set the alarm off as always but was a little taken aback to be asked 'do you have replacement knees ?'
No I replied 'but i could do with a couple if you have any spare'.
he explained that the detector had shown something supsicious 'a bit high up' . Not sure how knees qualify.[?]

Into the CH and had time for a very nice back and shoulder massage and a coffee, before wandering to the gate (13). Its always great fun to walk past a long queue, this time to be greeted by a stern faced agent -'yes ? ' as though i had no right to be there. 'Oh Im sorry we were told to come to the front' say i brandishing a nice purple boarding card [:)]

The man collecting BCs was more than happy to stop serving a couple mid way through and let me past the barrier. i returned their glares with a nice smile.

Everyone was then held for the secondary check which was very thorough but carried out with a smile and a few pleasantries. we were allowed to go straight on board -no real priority boarding, they were just trying to get pax on as quick as possible but a short queue wasnt a real hassle.

greeted cheefully by a very pleasant FA and immediatley offered some champers, which i sat at the bar to drink. by take off there were 9 adults and 2 young (but well behaved ) kids in UC so not completely full. Having been told we would take off on time (11.15) it was a bit annoying to then sit there for 45 mins without moving. No sign of a second drink as the FAs seemed intent on catching up with each others gossip.

Enquired about the 1 hour lockdown and whether skymap would be available. none of them had any idea as they hadnt flown since Xmas day - and as one pointed out 'whats the point when you can look out the window!'

Once in the air the service was spot on. Drink straight away (nice crisp chenin blanc) followed soon after by a very good meal , chicken salad followed by the sausages washed down with a couple of glasses of a very good spanish red. The FA made valiant attempts to tempt me with some jam sponge , then more wine, then an aperitif all of which I bravely resisted as I had a 170 mile drive at the end of the flight.

settled down to watch Carriers, good movie about the world after some virulent disease had wiped most of it out. . sat at the bar and had a couple of sprites and a nice chat with the FA. She had workd for VS for 10 years and was very complimentary .she was very intrigued as to my opinion of the revamped CH.

Then started to watch Tarantinos latest offering, Inglorious B******s. Got most of the way through then fancied a nap. managed to get about an hour but as i had left it a bit late there was a fair amount of movement and noise in the cabin so didnt really get a good sleep.

Woke up for afternoon tea (prawn and chicken sarnies and a very nice warm scone). picked up the film again about 1/2 way through (and it was turned off with a few mins left [:(])

We had been warned by the FSM that the 1 hour lockdown would be in force. About 70 mins out we hit some mild turbulence and the seat belt light went on. There was then an announcement that when the light went off there would be 15 mins for PAX to use the toilets. The sign finally went back on less than 30 mins from landing.

nice smooth arrival at MCO we then taxied to the gate where as our pilot put it 'laurel and hardy ' were trying to guide us in.

Deplaned at 4.05
was through security, customs, the short tram journey and outside looking for the Hertz bus in 25 mins !
got straight on and after a couple of minutes the driver said ' guess we wont wait lets get you to the office'

4.55 pulled out of the car hire lot facing a drive that normally takes the best part of 3 hours.
By 6 i was at the Tampa turn off on the I4 heading south and after admiring an awesome florida sunset i pulled onto the drive of our home in Rotonda a little after 720 (including a stop at winn dixie for some beer and chicken peices.

by 730 I had set up the Tv and was enjoying my first Michelob and food !!

looking back it would be hard (and cruel) to describe the whole trip as little short of brilliant.

now the joys of a jet blue to JFK and the red eye (VS010) back on friday night to look forward to

Given the poor reviews of late it is great to read your TR. Hope the trip back is as good

Great first TR! [:)]

Thanks for the TR!

Sitting here, blocked in by snow, wishing I could get back to SWFL and those sunsets across the bay!

have to say it is NOT warm here snap cold front and its around 60 .

this was my 4th trip on VS in the past year and really enjoyed it.

Excellent TR - gotta say, as Bill has just written, this snow and ice is doing my head in and I am sorely tempted to book some flights for the end of the month, when hopefully it should have warmed up a little.

Thanks

David

Great TR - thanks for posting it. As to the current FL weather, yes, 'cold' sums it up quite nicely - a colleague from work is there at the moment and I somehow suspect she'll return to blighty having given the water rides in the Parks a miss.

James

Thank you for your first TR.[y]

Thanks for the TR. A good read of what was, obviously, a good trip. I hope the return is as good.[y]

[buns]

Excellent inaugural TR[y]

Well done on snapping up that miles upgrade and with the service you received suggests a very wise decision[;)]. Even though you relinquished the best seat for departing the aircraft, you achieved a fast passage through MCO

Pity it is so cold on the Gulf Coast at the moment

buns

to be fair i did weigh the PE seat 'exit speed' against the other comforts and UC won ! but as soon as that seat belt light went out i was up and running and funny enough the downstairs got off before i saw anyway come down the stairs. i also manged to body swerve a few stragglers.

my only bad moment was, after seeing the Immigration officer send the girl in front to secondary, getting the third degree about last trip (October) how long in the US the past 12 months (8 weeks) why was i on my own and the real killer which threw me @have you got more than $10000 on you' -'no' - 'well how much have you got?' I suddenly thought $120 in cash sounded like i didnt have enough but the fact i have a US bank account saved the day and i sailed through.
they just always want to seem to make you feel guilty !
needless to say I didnt let on i had an appointment with an immigration lawyer over my visa application !