VS027 LGW-MCO 26 APR 11 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

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This trip is a tale of two halves – one not so good, the other absolutely fabulous

We started our travels the Thursday before Easter with a flight from LGW to GRO on Ryanair. After a wonderful weekend in the South of France, we returned to LGW on Easter Monday with aforesaid Ryanair – that is the last time I will mention that name. Suffice to say I will not be submitting a TR for that leg of the journey – there are only so many times one can mention “cattle” in one TR. This is where the “not so good” part of the story ends.

We stayed at the Sofitel Hotel at the North Terminal on Monday night – we have stayed there many times before as their parking / night stay deals seem pretty competitive and we like the hotel. Only downside (as mentioned in other TRs) is that the rooms are soooo hot. The aircon is noisy so you have a choice – don’t sleep because it is too noisy or don’t sleep because it’s too hot . One tip I can offer – get two keys and leave one of them plugged into the slot in the room and crank the air con low whilst you go for a few drinks in the bar. You will return to an ice box but it might help sleep

We were up bright and early on Tuesday and headed off to the South Terminal. Check In was painless (no queues anywhere but then we were there 3 ½ hours before take off!). Tightly clutching our purple boarding cards and invitation to the CH , we headed off for security. Through without too much bother (more than can be said for the couple with a small baby in front of us – all sorts of issues with their baby supplies – I am sure that is a familiar story to those of you who travel with small children) and off to the CH with only a (very) brief detour to the Duty Free shops.

The lady on the CH reception was very friendly and explained where everything was. We soon found our way to some seats by the window and set about pondering what to have for breakfast. Very soon someone was along to take our order – Scrambled Eggs and Smoked Salmon for me and CH Breakfast for MrB. I started with Bucks Fizz and himself with the Virgin Bloody Mary. Both breakfasts were very good as were the accompanying drinks – so good in fact, that I felt duty bound to have another Bucks Fizz just to check standards hadn’t dropped in the last 10 minutes.

Service was a bit slow from time to time but didn’t stopping us working through the champagne cocktails. Two Bellini’s, two Virgin Red Heads and two Champagne Mojito’s later, we staggered out of the CH to our flight. The Mojito’s are great but a complete killer – I have not felt that tipsy at 10am for a very long time

We boarded Ruby Tuesday without fuss and settled in to 9K and 10K with our pre-flight Champagne. By this time, we both had huge grins on our faces and just knew that our first time in UC was going to be a cracker . The CC were great – really friendly and efficient. The FSM was very visible and hands on and ran a tight team. There were 316 pax on board, UC was full, PE downstairs mostly empty (didn’t venture upstairs) and Y was nowhere near full. Took off just before noon.

Somewhat disappointed to find out that Tanqueray is no longer available in UC , it has been replaced with Bombay Sapphire. Tanqueray is definitely my gin of choice but had to settle for Gordon’s on this trip which I prefer to BS. Oh well.... The little bread sticks served with the pre dinner drinks were excellent – lovely flavour and texture.

Lunch was soon served.
For me...
Watercress and potato soup
Fresh macaroni, sautéed wild mushrooms and baby spinach bound in a mascarpone sauce with cashew nut, feta and breadcrumb top
Cheese and biscuits
Chardonnay 2009 Domaine d’Antugnac, France

...and for MrB
Oak Smoked Scottish salmon fillet with Tabouleh, tomato and herb dressing
Pork loin topped with glazed apple and Somerset cider sauce
New York style baked chocolate marble cheesecake
Falerio 2009 Saladini Pilastri, Italy

All excellent – very impressive for airline food.

After another top up of the excellent French Chardonnay, it was time for snooze. Suite quickly turned in to a bed and I was out for the count for the next hour or so .

Mr B made use of the IFE but I didn’t bother – spent the time playing games on the iPad and reading Kindle (yep, love my gadgets).

The rest of the flight passed quickly and before we knew it the seat belts signs were on for our descent into MCO. Smooth landing.

Immigration was a zoo , I think we must have been just behind another 747, and so took us almost an hour to get through. However, bags were off by the time we got to the other side so on our way pretty quickly.

This was a fantastic trip and I am not sure how we will ever be able to face Y or PE again! We have been flying to Orlando twice a year for a while now and had thought PE was good but UC is such a step up. Hmmm, travel is going to get pretty expensive from here on in

This is my first TR so I hope I haven’t rambled too much .

Greetings from a very hot Orlando!
Mrs Bear

Hey great TR, glad you had such a positive experience

Thank you for the great TR, good to read that you had a great experience.

Excellent report, both in style and content:D

Sounds like you had a fablous UC experience there - and yes, that Chardonnay is really very good, isn't it?

Enjoy your holiday!

Fantastic 1st report - thank you for posting.

So pleased to hear your first UC experience was good and you certainly made full use of the cocktails in the CH!

Look forward to the Ryanair report!!

Luke

[honey lamb]

Lovely trip report. Thank you very much.

Somewhat disappointed to find out that Tanqueray is no longer available in UC , it has been replaced with Bombay Sapphire. Tanqueray is definitely my gin of choice but had to settle for Gordon’s on this trip which I prefer to BS.

Tanqueray 10 was removed from UC in 2009 and was replaced not by Bombay Sapphire (which was always there) but by, of all things Advintka vodka! I was privileged to have the last of the T10 on board G-VFAB about a week after it had been officially withdrawn

There was a period of mourning for certain members of this site when that happened!

Thanks for the TR. I completely get what you are saying about Ryanair. I promised myself after one awful flight to Spain that I would never ever fly with them again no matter how cheap they are.

Thanks for posting a great Trip report. Certianly seems you had great service, which makes the UC experience all the better. And it's true, once you turn left and experience UC, that's it holidays start getting expensive, because just the though of flying Y again ..... argh

Hope your return trip is a good our your outbound.

Return trip will be PE in the bubble so will be interesting to compare.....!