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#834555 by MrsB
11 Jan 2013, 10:15
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A quick report following a great Christmas and New Year break in sunny (but slightly chilly) Orlando.

The seat map had opened up a day before we flew - after much debate as to whether we should try the new bubble set up we opted for 19A and C in the lower PE cabin - and hoped that this would mean a quick get away when we landed.

OLCI - seq 67ish (we were having too much fun on our last night to get anything earlier!) I also had the right ticket and surplus miles to try to get an upgrade - I did ring VA 24 hours beforehand but was told UC was fully booked and to try again at the airport. I did try again (both airside and landslide) but with no luck - although one of the ground crew gave me the option to downgrade to one spare Economy seat left!

We flew on Pretty Woman. Boarding very prompt (fizz offered but due to driving on landing stuck with the orange juice) we left a few minutes early and was told that the flight time would be about 7.5 hours (very very quick!).

Seatbelt sign off = immediate seat recline by the 2 people in front :(! Luckily as there was no one behind us we could also do the same.

Dinner served shortly afterwards (no pre dinner drink). My main was beef stew and dumpling - but to be honest it looked a bit more like pedigree chum :(! Not one of VA's best. Washed it down with the red wine and then got into my well tried and tested overnight flight ritual. Unfortunately Mr B cannot sleep on the plane and has now given up - although he was happy working his way through the films he didn't have time to watch on the way over. So I try and grab some sleep to make sure that one of us is awake enough for the 2 hour drive back from Gatwick.

That is where my problem started - no amenity kit = no earplugs or eye mask = no sleep :( . I asked the CC and she told me that our kits were put out on the seats before we boarded. Both Mr B and myself had not see any kit on boarding - but she insisted we had to have had one. A bit of a huff and puff and she reluctantly came back with 2 kits - still insisting that we should have already had them. I did feel as if she thought I probably had some sort of Ebay thing going on with amenity kits. Interesting to see that in the whole of the PE cabin I did not see one other person with a kit - or wearing eye masks etc so I don't believe anyone other than Mr B and myself ended up with one. Now I know the amenity kit issue has been mentioned before but it left me feeling guilty for even bringing the issue up :|

I can't really add much to the rest of the trip report - Mr B confirms that the Bailey's/Brandy was proffered. He also confirmed that the breakfast (although not very "hearty" in his eyes) was ok. I dragged myself from the semi conscious on/off sleep as we started our descent into Gatwick. We were at least 40 mins early :D

One of the first off the plane - into a similar scene at Gatwick to that of MCO immigration!! So back to reality with bump - and now to start planning the next trip. Happy New Year everyone!
#834557 by Jacki
11 Jan 2013, 10:38
Thanks for the TR, sadly I need a flat bed to sleep so sympthatise with Mr B.

Not impressed with the "Amenitygate" incident, surely the CC could see no-one had them! v(
#834573 by MrsB
11 Jan 2013, 13:40
Thanks for the comments - I was astounded about the kits and the reaction - although I appreciate that in the scheme of things it is not a life or death issue. I do fly regularly (currently Silver) and VA has always been my preferred airline but have to say that (like many others) I think that over the past 12 months things have visibly declined.
#834579 by joeyc
11 Jan 2013, 14:16
Thanks for the TR y)

Interesting about the amenity kits... clearly she was unaware that they are not left on the seats by default any more, perhaps they have a stash for ebay hidden in the galley :P

Got to love a bit of pedigree chum for dinner.... VS clearly want you to keep a glossy coat.

Cheers for posting 8D
#834623 by buns
11 Jan 2013, 21:58
Thanks for the TR y) y)

Why do people act so inconsiderately when it comes to reclining their seat ?| Perhaps VS should consider limiting the amount the seat can recline

And why fob you off with saying "Ask at the Airport" if Upper was full v(

buns
#835269 by MrsB
18 Jan 2013, 12:54
Miss G wrote:Great TR, would you recommend those seats then? Is it the same amount of recline as other seats, or is it up against a wall?



Yes I would definitely book again - same amount of recline and no one poking you in the back :)
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