As mentioned in my VA TR, we got to JFK really early so had loads of time to kill. This was lucky really because we had planned to have an early dinner at JFK T5 so when we got to our (rented) villa we could just pass out! (Maybe after a relaxing Sam Adams first....)
We couldn’t figure out how to get to T5 – not a good start. Spotted a VH rep and knew she'd be helpful – before to long we were up and on the Skytrain for the really short trip from T4 – T5.
The Jet Blue terminal looks really nice – I expect it's pretty new. I asked a chap 'guarding' the queue entry for check-in if we were too early to check into our 1759 Flight No. 9. He said we were – earliest was 4 hours. So we had a 20 minute wait. However, this is no problem at T5 – Free WiFi throughout. None of this BT Hotspot Pay nonsense that we get in the UK – just free and quick! So I got the Blackberry up and running, my wife played with her iPod Touch until 1400 and we entered the queue.
We've never flown US internal before so we didn’t know what to expect. Didn’t want to try to use the kiosk check-in – fear of the unknown. Plus Mrs Monster was desperate to see if we could get an earlier flight – however, she didn’t know that I'd booked the Even More Legroom seats online after making the initial reservation. Both tickets cost £260 which I thought was pretty good value considering the length of trip. It was an extra $30 each, each way to upgrade. Unnecessary really but I'd read some scary things here about Americans never checking in luggage – if they can carry it they take it on! Pre-boarding was one of the upgrade perks so no worries about overhead bin space for our minuscule hand luggage. Anyway, got to the desk as were called over. The chap we spoke to immediately saw that we weren’t due to fly for ages so went about getting us on an earlier flight. He was great; he struggled because, as he explained, he didn’t usually do this work but spent ages trying to sort us out onto flight 153 which was over an hour earlier. I didn’t mention the extra legroom seats I had booked – I just thought we'd lost them as the price for moving flights. But the helpful Jet Blue guy eventually spotted them on original booking so checked with his supervisor and got us the same seats on the earlier flight! Brilliant! Gave the game away for the missus but a good result all the same. The chap was typical New York; appeared brusque but was actually really helpful, kept apologising for taking too long – like we were going anywhere! Reminded me of the short, chubby, moustachioed cop from NYPD Blue – you know the one...
So bags checked – one each for free up to 50lbs. Off we went through security. Really strict, virtually had to get naked but a fair price for reassurance – if I were doing this more often though...maybe I'd have a different opinion.
The Terminal is great; loads of places to eat. We went to a sport bar thing = safe. Steak sandwich for me and some form of deep fried chicken for the Mrs, (badged as a starter but we've been playing the “USA portion game” for too long now – as predicted; probably consisted of about 4 chickens!). Desperate for a beer but driving the other end so just Ice Tea :-(
We eventually wandered to the gate, which was busy, and more worryingly – was plane-less.
I logged onto the Jet Blue site and saw that it was delayed – bugger. So we waited for about half and hour – eventually a plane came alongside so we expected to get on this one eventually. However, an announcement told us that our flight would be leaving from another gate in the opposite end of the terminal. So we all ran to the new gate, (Mrs Monster regretting heels – not for the first time today).
We didn’t wait too long, pre-boarded – the lady in front of us had a young child and had gone on before – she had about 100 bags in the overhead bins – as had the ladies opposite. And this was before the main crowd were let loose! We watched people having to wheel their luggage on passed us – surely if you can't carry it – it isn’t for taking into the cabin? Obviously our cousins across the pond have a morbid fear of the aircraft hold – what do they think happens to luggage in there? Ours were fine – were we just lucky? Anyway... a lady with a dog in a bag wandered passed – I though I was hallucinating – it had been a long day. But no, it was a dog in a bag. Cute thought Mrs Monster – until I explained that animals in general weren’t usually that good at using toilets when they need to go.
“Oh yeah, hadn't thought of that. How do you think that works?”
“They have a shit next to you”.
“That's not very nice”
Simply replied with a raised eyebrow – I'd won this argument.
So after all the luggage, animals, etc... had boarded we were ready.
Oh yeah – the room we had was epic – massive legroom. And the direct TV was working from the get go. Screen was smallish but clear.
The Captain came out and chatted to everyone, which was great. He said he would try to make up some time and that we had a tailwind so sub 2 hours was possible. The flight is billed as 2 ½ – 3 hours so how this works is beyond me. Good news though.
2 CC on board. Not like VA CC! Nice enough but reminded me of Easyjet. And scruffy. I suppose I take for granted how immaculate VA CC are. Some of the hair styles – how do they keep them looking like that for a 11 hour flight?? Sorry I digress...
Taxiing was long – really long and quick, properly bouncy but it had been a while since I'd been on a small plane (Airbus A320).
Still, got airborne soon enough, strange whine from the engines...
But, the small child in front – mentioned earlier – obviously doesn’t like flying. Screamed and screamed, couldn’t be placated. Brilliant we thought – unlucky for us.
But then, all of a sudden the noise stopped. Great I thought. Then looked at the Mrs; she was having a slight gag. Ah, so the screaming stopped so the kid could vomit profusely all over the floor and screen in front of him. That makes sense; can't scream and puke at the same time. Jesus it smelt bad – my advice was to breathe through your mouth – can't smell it then, although you could taste it slightly...
So that smell never really went away and put me off my blue crisps – not enough to stop me eating them though...
Coffee was good – Dunkin' Donuts.
The live TV is good; I played “you can't catch me” with the commercials. Difficult considering that US TV is about 50% commercials. Almost got RSI from the channel hopping!
Landing was smooth – the whole flight had been. I'm sure it was only a couple of hours – although the acrid stench of vomit tends to make time slow somewhat...
MCO was deserted – we were off quick and made our way to the luggage belt. Much easier getting here via an internal flight.
Luggage was off fairly quickly so we were soon off to get the car.
Booked with Alamo via VA, (who use Vhols). Checked in the day before which is great; just put in your driving license details, credit card, etc... the usually stuff you do at the desk and when you get to MCO just go straight to the garage to pick you car.
Paid £385 for a Standard SUV, all insurance, etc... for two week.Triple miles plus 1000 from Alamo, plus used black AMEX – seemed like a good deal – oh and got free sat nav.
Problem was the choice; I wanted a new Jeep Grand Cherokee but there weren't any there. Didn’t want a Kia really and didn’t like the look of anything else. So I had a bit of a moan to the chap there who managed to get a Jeep. I took it without really looking at it... really tired etc...
On the way to the Villa – Highlands Reserve just of Highway 27 – I noticed a couple of things;
1. It was filthy.
2. It had done 25,000 miles
3. It was pulling to the right.
OK 3 things technically.
So next day, with me in a foul mood we drove back to MCO to have it changed.
To be fair they were good; said just grab the keys to a new whatever you wanted in the SUV row. As I was checking out the Kias and Hyundais I saw a freshly scrubbed, white Grand Cherokee being parked. This was better; the new model with all the toys and only 6000 miles. Grabbed the keys of the attendant parking and went to the customer service desk to sort the new papers – all in the garage so no waiting. They gave me a $25 credit for my inconvenience which was unexpected – offsets the $91 pre charge gas price!!!
And this is the thing with car hire; there can be a million mile distance between 2 cars in the same class; depends on age, milage, make and model.
I know it shouldn’t really matter but I enjoy driving in the US and having a nice car is part of the experience.
I've had similar issues with Dollar at MCO; I think it's just Airport depots.
Or am I just a fussy oddball? Mrs Monster goes with the latter!
I think that about covers it; raining here at the moment; the smell of rain in Florida really is great so we don't mind. Steak tonight, Discovery Cove tomorrow, already a nice collection of Abercrombie bags, (I remember when no one at home had heard of it - “what's that moose all about?”), and a load of Sam Adams in the fridge, (the new cherry one is nice if slightly girly).
Thanks for persevering.
Questions welcome.
Craig.
One of which was large and not in a carrier 
