VS075 MAN-MCO 14 Apr 10 (Premium)

Usual pickup for MAN and left Chateau Hicks at 6:30. Arrived at MAN at 7:30, and were airside by 8:00. Three groups ahead of us in PE baggage drop, but got called to the adjacent UC. Not much a queue at security and ambled through with no bells, whistles or other alarms!

Coffee at Starbucks was gross; too hot with a thin film of milk on the top. Couldn't be bothered to complain, but I will email Seattle when I am back. It was here we spotted English Rose most definitely not at a finger pier. Looking like the bus for us, which was confirmed when we found gate 300 - downstairs, dark, crowded and just horrible! There seemed to be four gates down here (a,b,c and d) but not much info about where to go.  After about ten minutes a chapess walked around, asking all VS75 passengers to walk this way (at this point you can supply your own variant of the joke!). So walk this way we did, though a corridor of tensa barriers for a shoes off, bags open, quick "how's your father frisk". We again passed this test. 

Boarding via busses commenced at 9:45, with priority boarding enforced. I made my usual quip about feeling like the Beatles as we ascended the stairs, braced myself for the swipe from Mrs H, but she tells me she is long past reacting to this particular piece of my reportoire. Next thing we know - happily sat in 79 A and C with OJ in hand. Looking good - then the news that extra security checks had been requested from the US which entailed off-loading checked luggage. Await further update at 11:00. Bum!! Busses were still bringing pax up to about 10:50; and at 11:00 the crew announced we were done with the checks. We took off at 11:30 - not too bad, and of course we weren't to know we would be the last VS75 for quite a few days.

The flight was great; our first time in PE and we ain't ever going back to economy. Couldn't believe the space and QUIET up there - the space up the centre was particularly impressive. The crew were are a credit - unobtrusive but there when you wanted them. The food was good (I had Chicken Korma, the GF had beef stew).

Flight was about 8 hours. We cleared immigration by 3:00 (although the officer wanted to know why we had four items of checked luggage. I gave the straight answer that they were small and he seemed contented. Priority bag reclaim worked well and by 3:30 we were checking in for our onward flight to Fort Myers. If VS75 had taken off on time, we might have got the earlier flight, but no matter a caramel macchiato (is that spelt right?) and some people watching passed the time. 

Now enjoying the Best Western at FMB, then up to Marriott at Sea World before VS76 on Wednesday where we shall do a right turn on boarding. 

Thanks for the TR Steve, welcome to FM Beach.
I assume you flew MCO-RSW and wonder how you found that connection - we generally drive down when coming in at MCO.
The Parrot grill just over the bridge from the BW is good, as is the Bistro just down Estero.

Thanks for the TR - Starbucks aside, sounds like a good experience.

The flight was great; our first time in PE and we ain't ever going back to economy. Couldn't believe the space and QUIET up there - the space up the centre was particularly impressive.

You're now on the slippery slope...yes, it starts with PE upstairs, and then the desire for the purple boarding pass begins to burn. Until I (secretly) upgraded us one year from Economy to PE (crucially, I think, upstairs) my wife used to consider upgrades a waste of time and money..then she found she actually enjoyed rather than endured the flight itself..and now having flown (once) in the pointy bit her attitude is "the flight's the thing".

To be honest, even with the posh purple seats and better IFE, for me the PE downstairs on LHR config aircraft isn't as much of a draw as the bubble experience.

we have happy memories of FMB got married there 5 /6 years ago (yea yea I forgot when)

Bill

thanks for the restaurant recs. Southwest
Mco to Rsw worked ok; although why they bother to dash about chucking drinks at people I do not know!

FMB has made a big impression on us and I think well be back.

FMB has made a big impression on us and I think well be back.

Highly addictive! Same problem as turning left or going upstairs in VS aircraft.

We first came here in mid 80's - stayed a couple of days at the north end of the Beach near you then 3 days on Lover's Key - that was it - been coming here ever since for ever increasing lengths of stay - this year's total is 12 weeks!

who flies MCO-RSW ? jet blue or south west ?

who flies MCO-RSW ? jet blue or south west ?

, braced myself for the swipe from Mrs H ...

Then ...

The food was good (I had Chicken Korma, the GF had beef stew).

Something your not telling us there Steve? lol

Glad you had a good flight and yes there is no going back to Y now you have tasted PE !

Strange question about the amount of checked baggage you had from the INS agent - not heard that one before

who flies MCO-RSW ? jet blue or south west ?

South West.

A slight irritant I should have mentioned was that the sound was out of sync with the film "the blind side"".

Still my enjoyment of the feisty Sandra B was not too impugned. ;-)

Thank you for the great TR!

The flight was great; our first time in PE and we ain't ever going back to economy.

I know the feeling, after years flying Y, Mrs DA and I flew to LAS in UC (was PE put got op-upped) and PE on the way back. We're not going long-haul down the back again.