This is the main V-Flyer Forum for general discussion of everything related to flying with Virgin-branded travel companies.
#807186 by Trevski220
08 Apr 2012, 15:49
Could anybody tell me which exit is used for the airbridge at MCO for the 744's, Is it the one at front of the current economy section or the one at the back of the upper Section Or Both?

Flying upper in October and just wondering how Priority disembarkation will work?

Many thanks
#807187 by Neil
08 Apr 2012, 16:10
It is door L2, which is the one near the stairs to the upper deck.

They will let all lpax in front of that door, so on the current config it is the small Y cabin, the downstairs PE cabin and UC(maybe they also let the pax in the front Y exit row off also), then it will be the upper deck PE pax and finally the Y cabin front to back (they hold the Y pax while everyone else gets off)
#807197 by Kraken
08 Apr 2012, 16:25
Virgin only use door L2 on the LGW/MAN fleet of 747's. This is the second door, next to a galley & the stairs to the upper deck.

Priority disembarkation works as the crew will hold back the main Economy cabin (behind door L2) until the Upper Class & Premium Economy (from upper deck) and Premium Economy / Economy pax (from "mini cabin" on lower deck have disembarked. Following the refit of the LGW/MAN fleet (if the rumoured seat layouts are true) it will just be PE & UC off before any Economy pax.

The priority disembarkation normally works quite well - back when the VS75 was on a 747 and normally the first international arrival into MCO in the afternoon, I would often be driving out of the airport in the rental car within 30mins of landing (as Immigration hall was empty). Did the VS73 in February (which clashes with LGW arrivals and a Lufthansa flight also) but was still through US immigration in under half an hour.
#807201 by buns
08 Apr 2012, 16:43
Trevski220 wrote:Excellent, thanks to both of you for the information, I was worried about being behind a lot of passengers for immigration! y)


You can be if you are not on the first 747 to land at MCO that day :(!

If you look at recent TRs for the Orlando flights you can see that it can take some timne to get through Immigration

buns
#807202 by Trevski220
08 Apr 2012, 16:48
Thanks Buns I appreciate that could happen, at least I won't be behind another 400 from my own flight though :)

Last time I flew this route in 2010 I was sat in economy in the exit row at the L2 Exit, and was the 2nd passenger off the plane, so I didn't have a chance to see what the procedure was behind me, and didn't notice at that time whether 2 airbridges were in use!
#807241 by gumshoe
09 Apr 2012, 10:23
Trevski220 wrote:Last time I flew this route in 2010 I was sat in economy in the exit row at the L2 Exit, and was the 2nd passenger off the plane, so I didn't have a chance to see what the procedure was behind me, and didn't notice at that time whether 2 airbridges were in use!


I love that row - unlimited legroom, you get served first (hopefully), and you're literally first off at the other end. But as others have said, if another 747's beaten you to the gate at MCO you'll be queueing for ages at immigration.

Last year when I flew on VS27, when the captain came on the PA shortly before the descent he said we'd be in a race with the VS Manchester flight which would be landing just after us but parking at a closer gate. We won - I was first off and was greeted with a deserted immigration hall :)
#807302 by jensenma
09 Apr 2012, 20:52
Last time I flew this route in 2010 I was sat in economy in the exit row at the L2 Exit, and was the 2nd passenger off the plane, so I didn't have a chance to see what the procedure was behind me, and didn't notice at that time whether 2 airbridges were in use!


Seems strange that UC passengers do not get off first through L1. I am flying MAN/MCO in June on UC and have pre selected seat close to L1 with the assumption that it was being used. Would almost prefer last row of PE to avoid the long queue. Getting of first is for me one of the biggest advantages arriving into US.

Maybe I am just being silly...

Jensenma
#807335 by catsilversword
10 Apr 2012, 05:52
Last year when I flew on VS27, when the captain came on the PA shortly before the descent he said we'd be in a race with the VS Manchester flight which would be landing just after us but parking at a closer gate. We won - I was first off and was greeted with a deserted immigration hall :)



I'm flying on the 27 very soon - and very much hoping there isn't a large flight landing just before we do.... fingers crossed....
Last edited by catsilversword on 24 Jun 2015, 22:36, edited 2 times in total. Reason: Edited to fix quotes
#807343 by Neil
10 Apr 2012, 07:48
jensenma wrote:
Last time I flew this route in 2010 I was sat in economy in the exit row at the L2 Exit, and was the 2nd passenger off the plane, so I didn't have a chance to see what the procedure was behind me, and didn't notice at that time whether 2 airbridges were in use!


Seems strange that UC passengers do not get off first through L1. I am flying MAN/MCO in June on UC and have pre selected seat close to L1 with the assumption that it was being used. Would almost prefer last row of PE to avoid the long queue. Getting of first is for me one of the biggest advantages arriving into US.

Maybe I am just being silly...

Jensenma


It has nothing to do with being silly, it's just at the gates VS use in MCO there are no double airbridges so it isn't possible for them to use two.

On the current config you will have max 2 rows of PE pax and 4 rows of Y pax in front of you leaving the a/c, and if you are a quick walker you can easily pass them on the walk to immigration.

As others have said though, and as a regular traveller to MCO, sometimes you are lucky and arrive at an empty hall, other times you arrive after another couple of 747's and even being at the front is a min 30mins wait, but don't get stressed about it, as there is not one thing you can do to control or change it.
#808250 by buns
18 Apr 2012, 20:38
awaghorn wrote:Hi, could anyone confirm which door is used for A333 at MCO? I assume L2 but I couldn't see this info anywhere on the site.

Thanks
Andrew


Yep, L2 - on the current config, this is the divide between PE and Economy

buns
Virgin Atlantic

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 167 guests

Itinerary Calendar