dickydotcom wrote:Enjoy the Clubhouse and the flight.
I'd be interested to see a trip report as I'm considering ATL instead of MCO next year.
Dick D
the VS103 isn't in the available flights on the TR subforum, so i'll pop it in here for now...
4/1/2015, VS103 LHR-ATL, then connection via DL to MCO
booked by company TA on a PE W, so i was hoping for an available UC seat to upgrade at the airport, up until yesterday there was just one UC most days, but then it was gone
anyway, i arrived early, at UC check-in they said one seat free, hoorah!
went to ticket desk and they said no seats free, harroo
back to UC check-in and they said system now showing none free, so either i was pipped at the post or it was a figment of VS's IT (i suspect the latter)
UC lift working ok but fast track not open until 0600, no queues at normal security though, bought my tawny point after some reluctance by the checkout lady to put it in a tamper evident bag - her instruction sheet said it was not allowed for USA connections - but eventually she agreed to humour me, so i’m ready for the TSA test at ATL
sat of the comfy sofa outside the CH until it opened (bang on 0630) and was first in
had a shower, then bubbly, brekkie, bubbly, in c i would write the remaining time as…
while (1) {
bubbly();
}
about 10 minutes until sunrise, LHR looking very foggy, maybe 50m visibility, boarding called about 0900, made way to gate, no queue left, first one on the plane
i chose my preferred PE seat, aisle back row so i can have guilt free recline, as i’ve been awake since about 0130 due to a noisy neighbour i’m hoping the combination of tiredness and bubbly will enable me to sleep at least a few hours, i’ve got my eyeshade and earplugs ready
flight was long, took off about 30 mins late, arrived almost an hour late, from the track on the map i think maybe the pilot diverted around a storm
as boarding carried on, i had a couple of glasses of cava to help, then managed about 3 hours sleep, it was a bit noisy with the full plane and daytime, then the next 6 hours were just a grind
CC volunteered bring me some UC cheese, grapes and crackers, plus more fizz, as i’d slept through the meal service, it was a nice gesture
watched a film and a documentary, couldn't get comfy enough to snooze again
no queues at ATL immigration, used the APC kiosk, bag arrived on the belt quickly, headed through customs to the connections belt and dropped it off
at security my tawny port was investigated carefully, bag checked for tampering, receipt read, then bottle removed, scanned, resealed in bag and deemed fit for flight, the TSA people just went through the process very efficiently, so it seems the new rule is well in place here
then a rush to the connecting flight, just about manage to remember which terminal i am going to (T), get on the train, walk, it was delayed so i made it with 10-15 minutes to spare, got priority boarded from VS AU, another full plane, quite a worn looking interior, free pretzels and soft drinks served
quick flight to MCO but i had a feeling of foreboding, i ket thinking it was a long way from the ATL international terminal to the gate where my connection was, did my bag make it?
no, it didn’t
on advice from DL baggage desk i waited around MCO a couple of hours in case it arrived on later flights, but no joy, so made my weary way to the hotel, doing emails and discovering new conf calls i must be on tomorrow, feeling quite dejected at this point
really hoping that my bag catches me up in the next few hours!
