This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Arrived on time at the airport and straight through security who after 14 years of going to MCO were probably the most miserable lot I have ever encountered, one man checking my passport literally through it back to me and didn't say anything. This was a surprise as I heard the TSA in the U.S were trying to improve their unfriendly reputation which seemed to be working arriving into Orlando but not leaving.
Began boarding Mademoiselle Rouge just after 6pm for a 7pm departure, I was particularly looking forward to experiencing the airbus as this was my first flight on the new plane after years of flying on the 747's and their dated interior/entertainment systems. Flight all boarded by 6:30 and we took off early into the Orlando night for a flight of 7 hours 45 minutes.
One of the first things noted was the difference in how bright the new cabin is compared to the 747's, drinks service offered 30 mins in (only full drinks service offered) and entertainment systems switched on straight away. After recent years of either having a screen that shakes, sound not working or no picture at all on the 747's WOW what a difference!, 55 movies, 50 tv shows many with more than 1 episode and 150 music albums and well as a new skymap which was fun to play around with, there is simply no comparison between JAM entertainment on the Airbus and the Nova/Odyssey on the 747's.
Food was decent, apart from the stale bagel for breakfast which I stopped eating, cabin crew were fine also, did everything that could be expected so no complaints there.
One criticism I would have is that the seats on the Airbus were not as comfortable as the 747 and I did begin to get uncomfortable near the end of the flight, I believe the legroom is the same but did look a little less than the 747's. Had a couple sat in front who put their seats all the way back, yet they had nobody seated in front and we had extra legroom which was very annoying. Nothing to do with VA though hence no bad marks for the flight.
Finally, arrived into MAN at 7:30, straight on to stand, off the aircraft within 10-15 mins and in to a fairly empty immigration hall, I timed our wait compared to MCO and after 8 minutes we were through passport control and had our cases, compared to two hours at MCO!. So in contrast to previous reports I have read, couldn't have wished to be any quicker or easily through MAN and will be flying VA from MAN everytime when going to MCO.
