VS028 MCO-LGW 3 FEB 13 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

I wanted to write a quick TR following a great return flight.

After a fantastic time in the sunshine state, lovely and warm for the most part it was time to return home.

When waking up on Sunday morning, I checked VF Status page to see which 333 would be operating our flight later that day. I noted it was Ruby Tuesday a 744 - slightly surprised as I had completed OLCI the night before as a 333.

As any good VF, this got my mind ticking - could this mean an empty UC cabin? We were spending time in Downtown Disney anyway so decided to pop over to the check in there to enquire. A short while later, following a call by the agent to FC in the UK and 2 boarding passes for UC in hand 6A and 6K - we used miles to upgrade to 2 x G seats. (We were unable to take the boarding passes as we didn't have passports with us, but agreed to pick up later at bag drop at MCO).

Arrived at MCO at 3:30pm, dropped the car off and popped to check in. Quickly handed passports over and obtained new boarding passes. I found the check in staff at MCO very brash, verging on rude (especially to the elderly passengers next to us).

A short visit to the Delta Crown room - normal basic fare but plenty of seats. I did note that BA have a representative in here who walked around asking each BA passenger if they wanted a British newspaper to read.

Boarding started at 5:15pm, found our way to 6A and 6K. The crew were very attentive and positive (I later found out they had had a shorter than normal stopover in MCO due to them flying in the previous day on the VS15 and returning on the VS28).

The flight was very light - 190- passengers. The FSM told us only 6 in total in UC which would be nice. Then 10 minutes later popped back to say we would be the only 2 in UC - Wow - whole UC cabin to ourselves, a definite first!

All passengers on board, we taxied and took off as the sun set - beautiful.

As mentioned, the flight was very light. PE downstairs was 75% full, Y was empty perhaps 30% - literally rows and rows empty, people used row's of 4 to themselves. Upstairs Y was empty and PE 90% full. (complete contrast to the full flight on the way out)

Back to UC, the FSM spent a lot of time with us - jokingly welcoming us on board our "private jet"! We ended up making the bed up in other seats so making use of the space. I know this will likely never happen again as this route is normally fully booked in UC, it was a great experience - especially on a G.

IFE (VERA Touch) was great, such an improvement. The suites were clean, the newly refitted leather on the seats was lovely.

The only thing that doesn't appear to have had a refit was the toilets, falling apart, the FSM had to use duct tape to stick one of the sides up.

The crew really worked hard and were amongst the nicest crew I have met on any flights I have taken.

Following a short 7 hour flight, it was time to descend into LGW - an hour and 20 minutes ahead of schedule.

Overall, great flight and another good experience.

Great TR and sounds like a great flight. You were very wise to get the upgrade in - and looks like it paid off! A whole cabin to yourself with excellent staff - just like a private jet.

thanks for the TR and well done for bagging the UC not many people return from MCO in a cabin of there own,of all the times we have flown VA only time we got decent ground crew was at San Fran really helpful which was the opposite at Chicago as a ground crew member asked us if we knew this was the UC line only!

What am amazing experience, that beats a time when I was one of 12 pax on an EZY A320! To have the whole UC cabin to yourselves is something else. Glad you had such a brilliant flight Luke :-)

good thinking on the UC upgrade and nice to have the whole cabin to yourselves!

what a great result

Well done on the upgrade, it shows the value of keeping an eye on loads. I've never been lucky enough to have UC to myself but sounds like fun!

Wow what a wonderful experience and it was lovely to read it. Thank you.
Everyone deserves at least one magical experience !

Thank you for the great TR.

Thank you for taking the time to post your TR. What a great experience!

That sounds amazing - did you put a lottery ticket on when you got home as well?

Good for you - that one really worked out well.

Quick thinking and a great result for you.

I wonder if VS offered upgrades at check in for the other seats?

I wonder if VS offered upgrades at check in for the other seats?

Nothing advertised anywhere at check in - probably explains the empty J cabin.

It would have been a good opportunity for some extra revenue.

That sounds amazing - did you put a lottery ticket on when you got home as well?

You know, wish I had bought that lottery ticket!

Wow, that sounds just fab.

The best we had was flying out to MCO on a 747 with only 92 on board. We were upstairs in PE, where there were 24 pax, but to be the only ones in UC must have been amazing!