VS016 MCO-LGW 20 MAR 12 (Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

So our return from our 1 week trip to Orlando started with a car drop off at Alamo that was a smooth as you could wish for . I always get VH Platinum package as we had 5 additional drivers and drained the fuel tank right down - this means we just drop and go!

We meander to VS check-in desks and they are empty as we arrive about 2.5 hours prior to departure and just after the VS28/76 rush and before the VS16/74! After checking the seat plan the day before we didn't bother using OLCI as I knew the load was light and it wouldn't matter anyway (no Seq 1 for me ).

We were seen right away, checked in rapidly and courteously (with hand luggage weighed again<!>) and told that it would be an on-time departure I did note at this stage that we had been moved from oour pre-requested seats into seats that favoured load balancing which is always a good sign.

Security was really quiet, so from car drop off to a cocktail at The Outback Steakhouse took 30 minutes . Whilst having a couple of drinks I saw GVKSS (VS28) and GVSXY (VS76) take off and GVGAL (VS74) hanging around for later!

Off to the gate with 45 mins to take off - the area looked busy but there was lufthansa and AF boarding as well. Flight called and greeted at the desk by name (yay ) but not at the aircraft doors, although the crew were very smiley and happy

We get in our seats, sort our bags out and are then told by the CSS that the flight is not full and that when the seat belt sign goes off we can swap seats. Load total was 151 on a 747 - this was a few less than our outbound

Usual gubbins before and during take off then the mad rush took place to gain a row of 4 in the middle to make our very own flat beds.

Now this is where the TR fails miserably (if it hasn't already) as I snaffled 4 seats then fell to sleep through everything......so I can only reflect in the gradings what my friends said the entertainment & food were like!! I woke up with 45 minutes to go to landing at LGW, so got myself ready and, after a smooth descent, we landed fairly heavily about 25-30 mins late.

Priority exit was organised well by the CC but it still took us only 25 minutes to exit the plane, collect baggage, go through passport control, grab a coffee and be met suprbly again by Meteor Meet and Greet in the British Sunshine

I have graded the CC as excellent as the contact I had with them was very positive and smiley, I saw the FSM around looking happy and the CSS stopped for a chat with us prior to take off - all little things that make a huge difference!!

Thanks for reading - now to put the pictures on my outbound TR!!

Thanks for TR

Time and time again, the staff at MCO are shown to be first class - especially with the amount of it traffic they receive

Thanks again

David

Thank you for the TR.

Nice one - the light load is great for passengers, but not so good for VS, I guess!

We were old on our outbound that if UC is full the light breaks even - I don't know ow true that is

[buns]

Thanks for the TR

Mrs Buns and I will carry the V Flyer torch through Florida as you passed it over

I am sure there were a few on the 15 on the 21st who would have wished to have even one spare sea next to them

Buns

Thanks for the TR

Mrs Buns and I will carry the V Flyer torch through Florida as you passed it over

I am sure there were a few on the 15 on the 21st who would have wished to have even one spare sea next to them

Buns

No safer place for the V-Flyer torch Enjoy the Floridian sunshine as we did - I know you and Mrs Buns love it soo much from previous posts Have a great time

Mark