Manchester to Orlando via Atlanta

Been checking out fares for next year UC to MCO and the Atlanta route is coming out much cheaper. It means arriving 4 hours later but I can clear customs pre Orlando. Has anyone got any experience of this route they can share, what is the Upper Class Lounge like in Atlanta, the A330 as opposed to the 747 in UC and for the return journey is there a decent Duty Free in Atlanta. Thanks for any help.

There isn't a Clubhouse at ATL. It will be the Delta SkyClubs and their locations are found here:

https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US ... lanta.html

There are 10 SkyClubs in all. There isn't much to them, they are very standard US style lounges with a small food buffet selection and free beverages with some upgraded spirits/wines/beers which you can pay for, but its better than the concourse. There are some nice restaurants airside though like Gordon Biersch that I quite like. You get free SkyClub access when connecting from an International VS flight.

The A330 is much smaller than the 747's so do be expecting lots of room. I found it nice enough. I did LHR>ATL>MCO for Thanksgiving and it was very very easy.

It's subjective of course, but speaking personally UC on the A330 isn't a patch on the 747 where, with only 14 seats tucked in the nose, it almost feels like a private jet. In contrast the A330 is cramped with 4 seats across and it speaks volumes that VS have finally conceded defeat and decided to retrofit the UC cabins to bring them in line with the Dreamliner (3 across).

Having said that the service is the same and if you can save £££s by going via ATL I'd do it without hesitation. The DL Skyclubs are certainly no Clubhouses but they're perfectly adequate and you'd be using one at MCO anyway so there's no real difference in the lounge experience at the US end.

Thank you for the advice it did look a bit cramped but the A330s are still decent enough I think. VA seem to be pushing this route more in UC as an alternative with direct flights being around £400 each way and rather than good sale prices seem to be using Orlando passengers to fill the Atlanta schedule.

outbound, make sure you have enough time for you+bags to both make it on the ATL-MCO leg

i never had time outbound to try a DL lounge at ATL, but the transfer is easy and there's far less risk of the long queues MCO can inflict on international arrivals

inbound, at MCO there's a new lounge to try if you've got Priority Pass, otherwise i'd consider heading for the Outback rather than the DL lounge

at ATL, once in the international terminal, the DL lounge is a bit better than their average effort, but still nothing special and i find it even more unpleasant than MCO once it gets busy, though the ability to go outside and breath in the jet fumes is a plus if the weather is ok, again i prefer to head to a restaurant instead, the italian one upstairs is pleasant and roomy

for duty free, i used this on my recent IAD trip, worked very well... https://www.dutyfreeexpress.com ...just remember to pickup as you reach the jetway!

on the 333, avoid the D/G seats as they are shorter and have other disadvantages vs. the A/K seats

the other plus with going via ATL is extra tier points!

I've done this routing quite a few times now and I find it really straightforward. I have really got use to the A333 now though it is a cramped cabin, the seat has a deeper recline than on the 744s and I actually like it after flights when I truly disliked it.

Lounge wise the MCO Skyclub is nothing to run home about I always find though they have improved the food offer in the last few months. At ATL the Skyclub in the international terminal (Concourse F) is better than most Skyclubs with an enhanced food offer for when you fly back to MAN. It can get very crowded but the outdoor terrace if the weather is fine is a nice perk.

Overall both arriving and departing I find Atlanta to be a breeze and trust you will not be alone on my last flight to MCO through ATL from MAN a total of 47 transfer passengers were also making the hop. Think of the extra miles and tier points and enjoy the experience.

A final thought the arrival process in particular is nothing short of easy - I have heard stories where is doesn't always go to plan, but each time I've been through I have had a seamless experience and I find everyone friendly and helpful.

I also really like the MAN based crews though do consider rather than 14 seats the UC cabin has 33 seats so if busy, and my last few flights to ATL have been solidly booked, the route is doing well but even if you get an off the boil FSM, I find the crews are great as always despite it being a much busier service for them.

Hope that helps.

Jon

[buns]

I echo all that horburyflyer says.

I did the LHR - ATL - MCO route a few months back and compared with the LGW-MCO route, the availability of G Fares, the speed of getting through US Immigration and onward transfer at ATL, sold the route for both Mrs B and myself. Given we live 20 minutes from LGW that is saying something!!

Airside at the International Terminal in ATL is solely for international flights and therefore there is a wider range of duty free shopping.

buns

I also love ATL, it's a a breeze to connect through and all the staff are so friendly

Hmm - just considering rebooking for our November trip to MCO via ATL (as we're currently in different cabins) - lots of UC availability to ATL.

Just one question - baggage. In UC you get 3z32kg, but it seems that in Delta Business (which I assume is the class VS would book you in on if connecting from UC) you only seem to get 2x32kg, as per Delta.com. Does the UC baggage allowance prevail - as the more generous one - for all sectors? Or does the change of carrier mean that each individual carriers rules apply?

It's a bit of a toss of the coin decision as to whether to go via ATL. The journey is longer each way (but immigration in ATL has a better reputation that MCO in afternoon rush-hour). Baggage is an issue too. Also, we'd lose a fair bit of our final day as we'd need to leave MCO at circa 3pm to make the connection in ATL. We might just be able to manage the normal few hours in Universal & a very early lunch at Mythos - then head out to the airport pronto. Also no Disney Springs check-in option to dump the bags.

Decisions....! And a call to Flying Club in the morning to find out the cost difference between UC from MAN direct & via ATL & Delta to MCO.

Kraken, if you have VS coded ticket, then VS rules apply, if you have a DL coded ticket, then Delta rules apply.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/tr ... ggage.html

If your flight is to or from the USA and operated by one of our partner airlines e.g. Delta and the ticketed flight number starts with “VS”, then the Virgin Atlantic baggage allowance will apply. If your ticketed flight number is not “VS” then our partner airlines baggage allowance will apply.

Kraken, if you have VS coded ticket, then VS rules apply, if you have a DL coded ticket, then Delta rules apply.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/tr ... ggage.html

If your flight is to or from the USA and operated by one of our partner airlines e.g. Delta and the ticketed flight number starts with “VS”, then the Virgin Atlantic baggage allowance will apply. If your ticketed flight number is not “VS” then our partner airlines baggage allowance will apply.

I booked 2 MAN ATL RSW UC return flights with Delta and booking VS0109/0110 seats on the Virgin website I find I have the Virgin baggage allowance of 3 pieces each. Being from Yorkshire and tight I booked with Delta to save the 1.5% credit card charge which is a reasonable saving.

Even if you're in Economy on the US domestic sectors you still get the 3 x 32kg VS allowance provided you're on a single PNR VS issued ticket because the UC allowance prevails.

Thank you again to everyone for replies I think we're are going to go with Atlanta a £2000 saving for 3 of us but a 3 hour difference going out and 4 hours back its a no brainer!

Kraken

I have just come back from Orlando a couple of weeks ago via Atlanta. Went out Direct from Manchester. I had originally booked via Atlanta both ways on G's on the phone and they ticketed all four flights on the same ticket. Then a G turned up direct to Orlando from Manchester on the day of departure so exchanged for the £100 each fee. The reasons for swapping were the Virgin rep had only left 1hr and 10 minutes to connect to the Orlando flight in Atlanta! And the draw of the 747 cabin. I once did a flight via Philadelphia and didn't get my baggage till the next day and it was no fun. Apparently Virgin say you only need 40 minutes connection time! On my return we checked into the Delta desk and the woman was more interested in fineing me $100 for a bag over 23 kg. Infact after haggling she forgot to give me the boarding cards and only when we got to the front of the queue to go through immigration we realised! It was certainly not the same experience as with Virgin check in. Then when we boarded I thought I would be at the front of the plane as purchased Comfort plus tickets but ended at the back next to one of the engines on a MD88. Even my noise cancelling headphones couldn't drown the noise. I couldn't move as the flight was full! The transfer was easy at Atlanta and the lounge was a lot nicer than the MCO one but I sure was glad to get on the Safe haven of a Virgin plane and their excellent staff.