This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew

The Prologue
Whilst Mrs Buns and I had managed to get away for a few weekends, because of work commitments, neither of us had had a long break since March, so to be able to grab a couple of Gs to Orlando in November and combine with the VS offer to double up on Tier Points and thereby re-qualify had all the Hallmarks of a Lottery win


I thought I would be clever and burn some miles in getting a car to take us to Gatwick and bring us home from Heathrow (the only downside of grabbing the Gs was that we had to come back from Miami) but to pre book an Alamo Car at Orlando to drive to the Gulf Coast when we got there - bad move on Buns' part as it was to transpire
The Trip
Grateful in the knowledge that Tristar would be picking us up and fellow V-Flyer DeneM and Mrs DeneM had also grabbed Gs on the same flight

No wait and a very pleasant agent attended to us - as we finished I turned to see a new party coming along the PE Queue and after a double take realised these were some people I knew from scouting. This was a real chance meeting and after they had checked in Mrs Buns and i took great delight in saying they were to be our guests in the Clubhouse


Security was an absolute breeze and within 10 minutes (after using the door opposite the security lanes rather that using the escalator) we were entering the doors of the Gatwick Clubhouse with looks of amazement from our unexpected companions.
The usual warm greeting from the staff on the door (who have known us for years) and we were quickly settled in for our breakfasts. Mrs buns was able to book a treatment so everything was going according to plan. A little later DeneM and Mrs DeneM arrived and we had a brief meet up, with me explaining about the newly acquired guests - knowing we would be sharing the Upper cabin later
The celeb count for Mrs buns was maintained with the TV presenters reporters from Sky News clocked

Well time came for us to be called for the flight and I was then (and only then) a little excited we would be on a refurb


Greeted on board, but not by name, and got to our seats where we were able to at last catch up with DeneM (not before I had spied a delightful little girl in PE merrily kicking the seat in front with no intervention from on looking parents

As I would be driving at the other end, I declined the Champagne (intending to save myself for a JD in flight) and went for the orange juice instead and were making pleasantries when an announcement came over the PA that the flight would be delayed by an hour as there was a technical issue to rectify. The crew were good with coming round with freshly brewed coffee and as time progressed there was great activity on the tarmac as the part / engineer had arrived from Heathrow
However all was to be dashed - a further announcement was made stating we would have to de-plane and go back to the Terminal whilst a replacement plane was made ready



£15 vouchers were given as we exited the aircraft but in the knowledge that the Clubhouse had re-opened to accommodate the Upper and Au passengers, i was not really interested
Top Marks to the Gatwick Clubhouse team



Eventually the flight was called - and you guessed it -the replacement plane was the only one that has not been refurbished. Goes to show that the saying "it is not over until the fat lady sings" has some truth in it
Furthermore the Captain came on the PA and explained that the crew had worked hard to turn round onto the replacement aircraft and that as a consequence, there would be no main meal service (obviously the original main meals were no longer in a suitable state). This became a bit of a running joke on the flight between the crew and passengers in upper as we were able to choose from the graze menu.
Once airborne, drinks service commenced and shortly after took the burger from the graze menu (which was not all bad) and all credit to the crew who had volunteered to stay on prevent the flight being cancelled. Watched "Ted" on the IFE and perhaps it was good that I saw it on the loop system because I had been expecting so much and was disappointed.
"Afternoon Tea" (it now being close to midnight back home) was served and clearly the tiredness of everyone on board subdued most
Finally arrived at 10:30 pm and to add insult to injury, we were held on the aircraft for an hour whilst the Immigration Staff were recalled to duty. Being in Upper it was not too long to be seen by one of the 6 immigration officers on duty but by the time all this had been done we were entering the Car Rental after midnight and there followed a two hour drive to St Pete Beach - an experience I am not too keen to repeat and I will revert to my usual plan of staying in an Airport Hotel and picking up the car the next morning
All in all, a dire experience, but recovered by the professionalism of the VS staff involved - both in the Clubhouse and on board
Thanks for reading
buns