VS028 MCO-LGW 1 JUN 11 (Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin

Ground Staff

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Entertainment

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Cabin Crew

Just gor back from a long and bumpy flight!

Ok, first things first.... Checked in at downtown Disney and that went really well, hardly any que and the virgin staff were very polite and efficiant.

once we spent the remainder of our day in downtown disney doing the last bit of retail therapy we headed to Orlando airport. we arrived about 2 1/2 hours before the flight was due and as we had already checked in thought this was lots of time (and seeing as we have been to this airport many times thought that the time would be fine). went through security ok with only about 25 mins wait, i got stopped for a 'random' swabbing while my 2 children and husband laughed at me!
once through we meandered to the gate, only stopping to get a takeout coffee.... once we got to the gate boarding had already started so we had no time to sit and rlax before getting on!

once on the plane (G-VTOP, vergina plain) we were greated by a tired looking inside and a not great entertainment system! the persons chair in front of min seemed to be broken due to as soon as he sat down it reclined. now i know you get what you pay for but from the word go i had very little room.
would have loved to say the flight was great but it really was not. apart from the turbulance (which iknow the staff cannot do anything about) the staff were really in the 'not bothered' catagory. there were a couple that were ok, but one that was down right rude! would love to name and shame but thats for my letter to virgin and not here! the food was very poor - even for airline food. I chacked with one of the better stewards if my childrens meals were avalible and once he checked he commented that they were not, even though i'd done everything on the VS website they had not recived them. gurrrgh!!! so 2 small kids with noting to eat on an 8 hour flight... great they did, in the end russle up a few bits but this think is really poor! i opted for the chicken, ok the good point was it was hot and contained chicken, not sure on the falvour and the veg were like bullets, but i should not complain - i got hot food!!!
Flight took just under the 8 hours and i was very thankful to get off at LGW! the immigration lines were short and our bags came off very fast - the pnly 2 good points of the flight.

next year i think i'll have to think seriously about going with Virgin!

Vergina plain? Is that a new one? Lol

Thanks for the TR

Thanks for the TR;

I'm not a big fan of the LGW - MCO route - you could try via MIA or into JFK and onto MCO via an internal US carrier. I've had a bad flight from Vegas of the same type you describe but generally VA is great. It sometimes feels as if the LGW crew don't have to try as hard because they are 'just holiday flights'.

All IMHO and I'm by no means a frequent flyer. Maybe worth reading some other TRs to get a more balanced view than just mine!

Thanks again.

It sometimes feels as if the LGW crew don't have to try as hard because they are 'just holiday flights'.

Chavs?

It sometimes feels as if the LGW crew don't have to try as hard because they are 'just holiday flights'.

Chavs?

oooo controversial....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13626046

It sometimes feels as if the LGW crew don't have to try as hard because they are 'just holiday flights'.

Chavs?

oooo controversial....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13626046

Interesting article;

It isn't a money thing I think. It's all about behaviour.

I always think that because we're 6 miles high, in a relatively confined space, with no prospect of leaving (for the time being), we should adjust our behaviour.

So, be aware of other peoples' personal space, try to keep your own noise level down, be aware of the people in front of you and the people behind you. Treat the CC with the courtesy they deserve, etc...

I've been on a few flights, mainly to MCO and once to LAS were people were not really attuned to the concept of "you're not the only ones on this flight".

So, massive queues for the loos after meals - before the CC have time to clear everything away. So they can't move trolleys down the isle and I can't get to sleep because I've got some awful woman standing next to me, hanging onto my seat and prattling on about how desperate to go she is while waving her arms inches from my face.

Or the family of 4 where the parents leave their kids to beat 7 kinds of s*** out of each other and generally run amok while they drink and watch films, oblivious to the disruption caused to those around.

And the groups of people (lads) who congregate at the back of the 744, drinking, siting on the door, talking about which CC would "get it" first, (LAS route).

I could go on...the above are all true stories.

These incidences seem to be more common on the LGW flights.

And is there a subconscious, behavioural thing going on with CC?

i.e. if the PAX are generally professional, courteous, sensible, etc... Does this lead to a crew who will reciprocate? And vice-versa?

I don't think CC ever consciously decide that one group of passengers are 'worse' than another, I think the PAX do that for them.

Just some post-run, slightly carb deprived, ramblings...

Well said craigmonster!

Thanks for the TR. We have travelled the LGW-MCO many times over the years (10 years in Y and another 10 in PE) and we have seen the things get worse and worse. Because of the destination you know that there will be loads of excited kids in Y and there will always be some misbehaving. (sorry sound like a school teacher) my problems usually related to the parents who seem content to ignore what their kids are up to and get very hostile when asked about their kids. We have had a few confrontations and in the end we just gave up and isolated ourselves with good headphones and gritted our teeth and hoped for the best. CC (some anyway) will try to manage things but this just makes things worse IMHO. We fly PE now and to appreciate the difference we always have a wander through Y and just cannot believe the chaos in the Y cabin. The state of the planes used on this route does not help. A decent IFE system would help to keep PAX distracted and restricting the booze helps as well. I agree it's a culture thing and the general lack of respect for others is worrying. On our last two flights in PE we have had a few kids running up and down the isle in the bubble but the CC dealt with this ok. Sorry this is a bit of a long post