VS015 LGW-MCO 20 MAR 14 (Premium Economy)

[buns]

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Firstly, please accept my apologies for my tardiness in submitting this TR. My excuse (and I think the Supreme Court will back me up here) is that the WiFi at our Orlando Hotel has not been working properly until today.

Anyway, to the TR The need for Mrs Buns to recharge her batteries after a manic period at work (and to do some shopping) had pointed towards another Florida break. As I had already re-qualified as Au but my year does not expire until the end of the Month, Mrs B was booked in PE with a K fare and myself using the Amex CC upgrade from Economy to PE voucher. Thus I knew full well that upgrade to UC would be an impossible dream.

On line Check In was accomplished at T-24 with Mrs B at SEQ2 and myself at a lowly 9

The morning arrived and car packed, we made our way to Gatwick and this time round I had booked the Premium parking which is really convenient as you are adjacent to the entrance to the Terminals. Our check in was a bit of a mess, as it did seem we knew about the process than the Agent. Quickly through the Premium Security channel I noticed that there are now signs directing you to the Lounges on the upper level rather than you following the herd down to the Duty Free Enticement Factory

Warmly welcomed into the Clubhouse and the staff there were keen to mention the new Menu which was introduced that morning. I can heartily recommend the Smoked Salmon, Avocado and Scrambled Egg (one of the new additions)

A very pleasant stay in the Clubhouse, with treatments (Mrs B paid for the Rejunivinating Hand Treatment), shoes shined and a general air of really being pampered. The Gatwick Clubhouse remains my favourite as the staff there deliver service from the heart. Shortly before we departed, a celeb arrived - with no fuss nor an air of DYKWIA As the Orlando flight is the last to leave Gatwick there was more than a fair chance he would be on our flight.

Made our way down to Gate 13 and used the Priority Boarding and straight on to the aircraft. I was pleased that we were in 19 A & C as this was a full aircraft (no 27 today) and the prospect of being in the Immigration Hall for an eternity was not something I would look forward to. Sure enough, said celeb boarded, as did one other. There was a slight delay due to someone not wishing to travel and their bags being removed. During the delay, we could notice some fun taking place in the UC Cabin

Once the bags had been offloaded, it was a relatively quick taxi to take off and we were up, up and away. The FSM introduced herself and confirmed there were 450+ passengers aboard. Now one on the downsides of being at the back of the PE cabin is you are last to be served - not really a big deal on most flights.

The menu was cottage pie, chicken or the vegetarian option and we were surprised we were able to get the cottage pie and good it was

As with the refurbished Gatwick fleet, there was a wealth of entertainment to view. Having seen Despicable Me on the TV, I re-visited "2" and now it all made a lot more sense I also watched the Dallas Buyers Club which I found very engaging.

Now this is a first for me. Said celeb dressed in CC jacket and served the mid flight ice creams to the entire Economy cabin, allowing passengers to take photos and have a fab experience (BTW the ice creams were Fab Lollies). All credit to the man as he certainly made the day for any passengers and he certainly did not have to do it No criticism of him, but I have marked down the crew as one or two were "distracted"

Afternoon tea. Is now a cheese and pickle sandwich and a cup cake - at least the egg mayo has been ditched

After a long flight, we eventually touched down in Orlando. The other celeb was taken to the door so we were second off the plane and arrived at the Immigration Hall just as the passengers from the Lufthansa flight arrived - one of them tried to push in but was put in his place by Mrs B. As the Hall was empty, only US citizens were being directed to the machines.

Very promptly and efficiently processed and through to pick up our bags, when we had a nice chat with the celeb before making our way to our Alamo Car and on our way to our Hotel win an hour of landing.

Who was the celeb I hear you ask???

Well I can tell you it was John Barrowman as he posted pictures of the flight on his WhoSay page:

http://www.whosay.com/johnbarrowman

Thanks for reading

buns

[honey lamb]

Many thanks, buns. A good trip and a good TR.

we were second off the plane and arrived at the Immigration Hall just as the passengers from the Lufthansa flight arrived - one of them tried to push in but was put in his place by Mrs B.

Good on ya, girl! One doesn't mess with Mrs B.

Thanks for the TR, though shame no upgrade possible.

And although a little on the self publicising side, top marks to Mr B for having some fun and making it so for others on the flight (though MrsPJH would have remarked "Who is that? Is he in Rev or the cast of the Archers?").

Paul

Hope you and Mrs.B are enjoying your stay. Once these clouds clear up today, it should make for an enjoyable remainder of the week. Have fun!

Thank you for the lovely TR. Good on Mrs Bunns not letting someone push in a lady after my own heart.I too enjoyed watching The Dallas Buyers Club and thought Matthew Mcconaughey and Jarred Leto thoroughly deserved their Oscars.

Love the TR. I'm sure it was fun for the passengers to be served by the celeb.

Also, well done to Mrs Buns for putting the line jumper in his place.

[buns]

Hope you and Mrs.B are enjoying your stay. Once these clouds clear up today, it should make for an enjoyable remainder of the week. Have fun!

Thanks

Overcast weather holds no fear for Mrs B. some successful shopping on her pert today

buns

Sounds like a good flight buns ,hope the holiday is going well

Wow, looks like a fun UC cabin

A shame an upgrade was not in the cards but good to hear Mrs B and yourself had a solid flight and managed to beat the Lufthansa rush to Immigration.

Hope you guys have an awesome holiday

[buns]

Thank you for all your kind comments

I should point out that one of the Seniors working the flight (and not seen in any of JB's photos BTW) did his upmost to ensure the PE Cabin was well looked after and not overlooked.

Mrs Buns and I are thoroughly enjoying the break and the much needed R & R for Mrs B is doing its job

buns

Thanks for the TR sounds like a very fun flight!
I absolutely love JB, I would kill to be in UC with him! And by the pics I can see the entire UC cabin had a scream!
Did he serve a fab lolly in PE?
The other celeb didn't look to happy in the pictures tho!

Fab TR sounds like a fun flight. Have a wonderful holiday and hopefully there will be enough room on your return for the post shopping excess luggage!

[buns]

Thanks for the TR sounds like a very fun flight!
I absolutely love JB, I would kill to be in UC with him! And by the pics I can see the entire UC cabin had a scream!
Did he serve a fab lolly in PE?
The other celeb didn't look to happy in the pictures tho!

Many Thanks

I have to say that chatting to him as we waited for our bags, he came across as a very personable fellow and I did congratulate him on what he had done aboard the aircraft.

No, he did not serve PE

A group of fans were waiting for him at the airport and had already seen the pictures - hence my having no problem in disclosing his identity on this occasion

buns

I've bumped into him a few times around Cardiff and he's always been very happy to chat!

[buns]

Fab TR sounds like a fun flight. Have a wonderful holiday and hopefully there will be enough room on your return for the post shopping excess luggage!

Just shown this to Mrs Buns

She is pleased to report the third bag now in use and is threatening to make use of our full 6 bag allowance on our return (2 PE + 1Au each )

buns

Great TR Buns, as always

I wish I had been on your flight (even though you may well be pleased I wasn't ) because I would have lurved to have seen JB!!! Am sooo envious.

We came back with 6 cases from our last flight to MCO last month... Then remembered when arriving at LGW that we'd only driven the Mazda 3 to the airport - doh! Nearly a major domestic

Happy shopping to Mrs Buns, always therapeutic in helping to recharge ones batteries but not therapeutic to ones credit card

Have a great trip.

TTFN

Roxy-Popsy

[buns]

R-P

Thank you for your kind words

Mrs Buns has been very successful shopping wise this time around, hitting the Outlet Mall on the day some super bargains were to be had

I can safely report that the standard luggage allowance is more than sufficient

Expect the return TR next week

buns

Great TR Buns, sounds like you and Mrs Buns having a good time and some well earned R&R.

I'd figured the celeb was JB from the behaviour described before I got to the bottom of the TR. From the photos I'd say the miserable one looks like Dale Winton! (He can be seen smiling in the group shot, looks a lot like him).

Enjoy the rest of your holiday, and Mrs Buns - shop till you drop!

Great trip report Buns, I concur there are many shopping trips on this holiday due to the weather. We arrived on the 13th and leave on the 3rd April.

I took your advice and managed to get seats 19 A/C on the way out and hope we have them on the way back. First in the arrivals hall and straight out. Under 30 minutes from landing to driving out of the airport.

Hope you and Mrs Buns have fun for the rest of your holiday. We are off to Clearwater on Sunday/Monday. We have already been to Cocoa Beach - Segway tour, Mount Dora for the Craig CATs tour, well worth going and great fun.

Karen & John

Excellent TR Buns, has been good to read some very good reports from the PE cabin of late. It looks like service has been picking up and hopefully that bodes well for the future.

Enjoy the rest of your trip - just 11 weeks till myself and Mrs Amex head off to MCO, cant wait for T-60 so I can finally get seats sorted, needless to say I have my eye on 19A/C

Great tr but does 19 a and c have limited recline

[Darren Wheeler]

Great tr but does 19 a and c have limited recline

With apologies to Buns...

You have asked this question multiple times on multiple threads.

http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=6& ... ic#p869753

http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=6& ... ic#p869792

http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=4& ... ic#p869584

http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=4& ... ic#p869585

Each time the answer is no, they have full recline. Will you please take our word for it, both seats have FULL recline?

He was in LHR clubhouse once when we were there. He left clutching his own enormous pillow which he had brought with him. It was very odd...

Thanks for the TR Buns, a friend of mine saw JB on the same flight last year, well be joining you in the Florida sun in 13 days :-) not that I'm counting, but guess you'll be back by then.