This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Stage one and first time using Fort Myers or to give it it's correct title South West Florida International. Rather grand but what a great easy airport. Dropping the hertz rental car off, suprise no 1 as the agent greeted me with 'cheers guv' turned out he was from Battersea! A 50 yard stroll and you are in the main terminal, straight to the jet blue desk and 2 minutes later all done with what looks like a till receipt as a boarding card. No security questions about bags or anything !! next main security. A very cheeful lady examines my UK driving licence 'honey I cant figure this; y'all got a passport?' which I duly hand over. 'Can y'all drive ALL of these?' she enquired pointing to the list of different vehicle classes -' possibly' I reply ' but i cant guarantee not to crash them' to which she bursts out laughing 'well sweetie have a great trip ' !!!!!!!!!!! security being nice - am I on a different planet.
The flight up is very good ($2 to buy headphones -but you get to keep them) 36 channels of Tv plus free soft drinks and snacks AND cheerful FAs. EasY jet eat your heart out ! arrived at JFK 30 mins early and then spent 40 circling NY and new jersey as we were too ealry!
Finally deplaned in terminal 5 and told to take the Airtrain to T4. this unfortunatly involves a longer walk than train journey and arrive to the chaos that is T4. Find the VS ticket desk and enquire if there are any UC seats available. the answer is positive but told I cannot use miles to upgrade and will have to pay. I politely ask if she can d/check as i did it on the way out. A quick phone call and 'yes sir thats fine'. Superb speedy and very polite service so off i trot to the CH for a 3 1/2 hour wait. Nice Ch at JFK although I think I prefer the LGW one (never had the chance to use LHR which I am sure is better) . Enjoy a couple of glasses of vino and a very good CHburger and strawberry trifle.. Service is typical New Jork very efficient with a great sense of humour and fun. One waitress treats us to her very own karaoke sing along to the music.
Eventually called to board about 40 mins before departure, through security which was a joke (one UC PAX getting very irate after being berated 'hey buddy dont cut in' and responding 'well you are economy you changed lines'). To be honest it made little difference time wise as we were done in 5 mins. straight to the gate and on the plane without a hint of a second check. Greeted by FA with offer of a drink, UC was virtually full but the FAs seemed to have everything under control. as the doors close we are informed by the FSM that plane has 248 pax and is down by 2 FAs (due to weather in UK). a very quick taxi and we are underway within 15 mins.Flight time given as just under 6:30.
having eaten in CH decide to have a nightcap at the bar . joined by a felow PAX who had chatted to in the CH and it turns into 3 drinks ! FA very friendly and happy to chat, decide to turn in around midnight and manage to doze until about 90 mins out. Despite having originally declined breakfast a bacon roll and cappucino arrive very promptly.land 25 mins before schedule.
Overall a very good flight, the odd bump. FAs first class (have to say that although the crew to Orlando were also very good the NY ones seem more professional Vs the more relaxed Fla ones. perhaps its because NY is a business route whereas MCO is a holiday one ? nevertheless both sets of FAs were very good).
Have marked the seat only as average as it felt slighly more cramped than the 747 and also during the night the cabin temp was incredibly hot. On relflection I definitely prefer the quieter 747 cabin
as my lift was running very late headed for revivals which was empty so enjoyed a shower then a massage followed by a couple of smoothies and a croissant.
finally ventured out into the cold to return to a very nasty UK.
ALl in all a very good trip , could not fault VA at any point.
9 heading for 10 out of 10 [:)]
the final icing on the cake was arriving home to check my Amex account, which had just closed for the month, adding another 118k miles to my Flying club courtesy of a client's 30000 boiler [:D] I think UC may well become a regular feature.....
