VS073 MAN-MCO 29 JUL 11 (Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Well after a number of years here on V Flyer, decided I should join the band of Travel reporters. So here goes.

Up and about at 06:45 ready for our executive car pick up at 08:00 who arrived predictably 15 minutes early as usual. Easy journey from Leeds to Manchester, unusually quiet on the M62 for a Friday morning getting us to T2 for 09:00.

Granted we weren’t travelling until 13:45 on VS073 but this being our only holiday of the year, we like to get up and at it early, hang out in the airport, do a spot of duty free shopping and call in at Frankie and Benny’s for our breakfast.

Went down to the gate to see which aircraft we were on. Ruby Tuesday it turned out to be and what a mess the red paintwork was, all peeling off on the tail and fins on the ends of the wings, looked well and truly ropey.

Sat in the departure lounge for a short while listening to a lady who must have given her kids ‘time out’ a dozen times and thrown whatever they had in their hands across the departure lounge I don’t know how many times, whilst shouting her head off. Not what we wanted to hear but fortunately she turned out to be on a flight to a different destination phew!!!!!

Boarded on time and OMG we must have had the worst seats on the aircraft. Unfortunately we were only able to get seats in economy for what was a full flight.

We were sat in seats 48 HJK, talk about cramped. I’m only 5ft 4” and my knees were actually touching the seat in front and luck for me the young lad in front never reclined his seat. Also we were next to the galley wall so the space in the aisle was very narrow and Lacey Senior kept getting his elbow knocked as people passed. I was sat in the middle seat, we had to put the arm rests up to gain a little extra room but my shoulders didn’t fit between these so ended up with a particularly uncomfortable journey with shoulder ache and neck ache . I’m certainly glad I’m not a huge person, don’t know how I would have coped.

We noticed that the crew were having lots of trouble getting a cool box which was high up on the outside of the galley wall containing about half a dozen large bottle of water to lock, this was right next to us so a bit worrying, had visions of cascading bottles if it flew open. They only ever managed to get the latch to go half way across.

Drinks run shortly after our late 14:00 take off and the customary pretzels and then settled down to watch ‘Hop’, yes I know it’s a kids film but it kept me amused for a while. Dinner was served at 15:00, choices of Macaroni and Cheese, Fish Pie or Sausage and Mash. Plumped for the Sausage and Mash along with Lacey junior, Lacey Senior picking the Fish Pie. Unusually, Lacey junior actually ate her food which is amazing as she never eats airline food. Lacey Senior said the fish pie was very good and must admit the sausages I had were very good for airline food to be honest. Also we had the usual Gu for pudding and a bread roll and butter. Noticeably there was no cheese and biscuits which I was disappointed about.

Settled down to watch a further two films, first one, Paul, which I enjoyed followed by Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 which I didn’t get to the end of, these giving you a brief insight into my intellectual viewing. Half way through was the ice cream run which was most welcome. Lacey Senior had a perfectly soft and edible one, and mine must have been at the centre of the freezer I could actually snap it open it was so very frozen, which was quite funny, but still enjoyable.

About an hour and a half before landing we had the ‘teatime’ run and Tuna or Egg Mayonnaise sandwiches were offered. I did notice that hardly anyone partook of these delights. We had already suffered plenty of flatulent people around us polluting the air without adding egg mayonnaise to the mix thank you very much. Mostly everyone just chose a chocolate chip cookie, tea or coffee.

I must say that the cabin crew on the flight were absolutely fabulous, they worked really hard from the moment we boarded to the moment we off loaded. There were 15 crew on board, three of which were looking after Upper Class and Premium Economy, leaving just 12 (look at my accurate maths abilities there) to see to the rest of us. They were smiley and appeared happy despite running here there and everywhere for hours on end.

All in all a smooth trouble free flight, working IFE, excellent hard working Crew and actually, quite comfortable if narrow seats.

Arrived at the arrivals gate at 17:18 and took off on the long haul down to immigration. The queue was really long due to the full load and the remnants of a previous flight which was almost through.

Collected our bags, and off for us into the Hyatt Regency MCO for a decent Dinner and Bed.

And so begins the ‘Laceys on Tour 2011’

Great TR, very entertaining - thank you!

Glad the cool box didn't go flying!

Thank you for the great TR.

Thanks for the trip report, an excellent insight into what we have in store as we`ll be on VS073 too, some 7 months away though. Is your flight back the VS076 around 6.30pm US time I think. Very much looking forward to this TR too as not too many people are enjoying the A330 experience, most have mentioned premium economy problems though, haven`t heard too much of the economy yet. If you`re still on holiday - have a great time. If you`re back home, great to see you`re all back safe and sound and enjoying the UK weather.

Thanks for the TR. I'm on this flight at the start of September. What time did you manage to clear immigration?

It's just a standard box, there's nothing cool about it.

Thanks for the TR. I too was disappointed with no cheese and biscuits on this route, why have they stopped those?

[honey lamb]

Thanks for the TR. I too was disappointed with no cheese and biscuits on this route, why have they stopped those?

By order of the bean counters to save money.

Really enjoyed your TR , thank you. I hope we hear some more about "The Laceys on Tour " !
regards
hiljil

Tiggerlees, our return journey will be the late flight on VS074, at the end of this month, have to get as much time away as possible you know. We will be up in the bubble thank goodness, so a nice comfy trip home is expected. TR report will follow of course.

Sky0000547, it took about 40 minutes, so not too bad, immigration is very efficient they keep moving as much as possible. The time is taken up with the finger prints (both hands) and eye scan for each person. Make sure you wipe those sweaty digits on your shorts and press nice and firmly on the scanner to get it done in one attempt

As for the cheese and biscuits, the bean counters want to be a bit more consistent, our friends who flew out on the A330 the week before tell us they did get cheese and biscuits on the VS075.

thelaceys

Oh to be in the bubble. This is our first trip to USA, with 13 year old twins who want to do "everything" Disney, Universal, Discovery Cove, and they`re looking at the diners/restaurants in the area now and arranging what meals what day. Until we know how much we`re likely to spend out there and which parks we like/dislike we`ll stay in economy and keep our kids happy with the holiday of a lifetime. Managed to reserve 2x2 seats at the back on both journeys,(not guaranteed but will try) hopefully we will be out of the masses so to speak, otherwise big headphones will have to do. Have a great holiday, look forward to hearing about everything on your return.

Thanks for the TR Thela.

The loss of the cheese and biscuits, goes along with many other mysteries of our time including:
"The lost ice-creams over the Iceland",
"The missing cocktail run over Colorado" and
"The disappearing Polos over Pennsylvania"

I'm waiting for the sequel "The beaten up bean-counters over Barbados!"

Have a great holiday and enjoy yourselves.