VS076 MCO-MAN 2 JAN 14 (Premium Economy)

[mitchja]

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

After a couple of days of relaxation down in Indian Rocks Beach, it was time to head home Did online check-in the night before but only managed a poor SEQ27. Received my PassBook VS boarding pass.

One thing I did notice this time was that Alamo now charge you a 'convenience' charge of $2.95 every day (upto a maximum charge of $14.75) you use any automated TollPass lanes on top of the standard toll charges. Not sure if other car rental companies do this, but I suspect they do as the info sheet, which is given to you buried in the other paperwork when collecting your rental, is titled TollPass with no car rental names on it. To avoid these extra charges just use the cash lanes instead.

Dropped the car off, which was a bit chaotic to be honest as not very well organised, as whilst staff where directing you where to leave your car, it took ages for someone to come and process each rental return. One person was processing each car returned in all 3 or 4 lanes. People where just unloading their cars and then wandering off to the terminal, which I'm not sure you are supposed to do or not?

Arrived at MCO round 14:45, where VS check-in was already open. Pretty quiet that early on. Being AU, I used the separate Upper check-in opposite the standard VS check-in. Delta lounge pass issued and I was all set. The priority line was pretty fast with a very cheerful and happy TSA agent explaining to everyone, in quite a amusing way, what should and should not be put through the x-ray scanners separately. iPads in, lap-tops out etc etc I was straight through the full body scanner with a green light, as this time I remembered to remove everything from my pockets, including my handkerchief.

Jumped on the mono-rail and then up to the Delta lounge. Quite a few empty seats this time, which makes a change. Sat near the windows and stocked up on cheese and crackers, as other than a few sticks of carrot and celery, that's all there is. The lounge did fill up somewhat later on. The VS75 flight was called around 17:30, with a member of the VS ground staff rounding up all the VS pax near the lounge entrance to escort us to the aircraft. Turns out, there was only me, so I got a personal escort from the Delta lounge to the aircraft That's actually the second time I had that at MCO as well now Straight onto the aircraft as general boarding had not yet started. Welcomed on-board and headed back up to my seat 24H in Premium. Those over-head bins on the upper deck really are a waste of time as many bags don't fit in them and so have to so stored in the wardrobe at the back of the economy cabin.

The usual welcome drinks offered whilst everyone was settling in. Just before the door was closed, the FSM popped up to say hello, introducing herself to me and personally welcome me onboard along with a glass of bubbly

We pushed back on-time and where airborne at around 18:45. This evening's flight time would be 6.75 hours. We where full as off-duty staff where even sat jump-seats.

The in-flight service soon commenced, starting with a bar service then the main meal service. Again it was the usual dressed up chicken, beef or pasta. I managed to receive my first choice, though the person sat next to me didn't. OK we where in the back row of Premium, but with only 5 rows on the upper deck, running out of main meal choices is poor on VS's part.

Service was good through-out the flight, from what I saw. Think I managed a couple of hours broken sleep. Woken about 90mins before landing and served breakfast, which wasn't very pleasant to be honest. It was either a full English breakfast or an omelette.

We landed ahead of schedule at around 06:45. As usual, there was a queue at UK immigration. None of the e-gates where working. I don't yet have a chipped passport, so am not able to use those anyway. The line did more reasonably fast though. Luggage was soon coming off and within 25mins of landing, I was waiting outside the terminal for my lift home

All in all, an excellent VS flight wit great service from start to finish

James , just an FYI...some of the tolls did away with cash lanes a while ago and are pass only. I think its mainly nearer Miami although looking at this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_to ... in_Florida the Lee Roy Expressway is also no cash. that's why the rentals cashed in on this scheme.

[buns]

James

Thanks for the TR - up to your usual standard of being full of useful info

The tip about the Toll charges is one I value personally as I will make a point of looking out for in the future

Nice touch of being escorted to the aircraft (bet that turned a few heads ) and to have the welcome from the FSM

Finally, top marks for posting so quickly

buns

Avis also do the 'convenience fee' for the SunPass lanes around TPA when we were there.

I had done a bit of homework before we left for MCO in November and found that if you did as the car hire company (Alamo) suggested and just drove through the SunPass gates, there would be an additional charge from the Toll company as well as an Admin charge from Alamo.
I bought a SunPass card from Publix and phoned the Service line to activate it, put a couple of dollars on it and never looked back. It was much easier (and cheaper).
I tried activating the toll card on line but it would not accept a UK post code for the credit card invoicing address which is why I had to phone them.
Next time, I will do the same thing again.

[mitchja]

All 3 of the toll booths on the Beachline Expressway between MCO and the I4 still have cash/receipt toll booths (leaving the airport towards the I4 it's $1.25, $1.00, $1.00 respectively). That was the only toll road I used.

I bought a portable sun pass, makes life much easier

Thank you for your TR.
Are you serious about not leaving a handkerchief in your pocket or am I being gullible ?

Thanks welsheagle and15isto2 for the tips about the Sunpass.

[mitchja]

Indeed, there has to be nothing what so ever in your pockets when you pass through the full body scanners otherwise you get a red light / pat down.

Not sure if it's the same for UK ones as not had one of those yet here.

I've been through many full-body scanners without removing my handkerchief from my pockets. I didn't realise you were supposed to! The only time I was ever given a further search was when I mistakenly had left a very small sweet wrapper (foil) in a pocket.

An interesting and informative report, thank you.

However, I hate to be picky but as the lounge food selection was pretty rubbish, a main course ran out on board and you describe the breakfast as "not very pleasant" I am curious as to how you can give Food and Drink a four star rating?

[mitchja]

I did receive my first choice on-board; which was very nice, I had the Chinese chicken, it was the person sat next to me that didn't

Having been in the Delta lounge before I knew what to expect and I tend not mark food down simply because I don't like something in it. I don't like eggs, which often features frequently in VS Y or W on-board breakfasts