Flew out yesterday on the VS073 from MAN at 14:05. I posted a couple of days ago saying seats had opened up but were not changeable, as a follow up they apparently had a glitch and online check in wasn't available so everyone was in line on the day. I know it's only one more minor thing for the quite substantial and ever increasing price, but the separate queue for PE is another reason I still like it despite the cost and cuts elsewhere. We waked straight past everybody and checked right in. I did feel a bit bad again!
Flight was good, very little turbulence and upstairs in the bump probably for the last time given the config changes coming. Because it was the jumbo the flight was an hour quicker (really hate the switch to A330) and only spoilt slightly but two late teens in front of DW and DD who whacked their seats back at high speed as soon as they were allowed and left them there. I really do think it shouldn't be allowed on a daytime flight. Or at least ask first!!
We land an hour early, weather out of the window looks good, get bags together, shoes on, kids ready, me loaded with all the hand luggage so DW can marshal the kids down the steps and the Captain announces immigration has had to close due to congestion, apparently the hall is so full, no-one can even disembark. We then sit on the plane for 40 more minutes boooo. Kids were brill though and at least the aircon was left on. Thank God for iThings as well.
So that set the tone for the rest of the evening, even when off, long queue for immigration, fortunately that meant cases where all ready and lined up but then a queue for customs snaking round the baggage hall which I've never seen in some 10 trips.
Queue for dropping luggage at second conveyor followed by no queue for the shuttle monorail thing strangely.
Short queue at the Dollar Desk but still took a long time and they insisted I buy a tank of fuel on a USRentaCar booking which doesn't normally happen but no big deal. They didn't try too hard to upsell but I am a 6'5" skin head (partly due to age rather than aggression but still) not so fresh from many hours travelling.
Out of the parking lot and onto those lovely US roads, I know I'm preaching to the converted here but I just love driving over here.
First time onsite for us and straight to Old Key West for a 2 bed villa. I'm a grumpy pants and hate noisy neighbours so to minimise that I asked for a top floor apartment which meant waiting and getting that sorted so we finally got to our lovely villa at about 9:30 pm! Manage to talk Daisy into staying in (I'd let slip stupidly that MK was open until 2am) while I got some emergency supplies from the the store and then gradually one by one fall asleep on the sofas.
MK today and lunch at the Royal Table, can't quite believe we're finally here.
Flight was good, very little turbulence and upstairs in the bump probably for the last time given the config changes coming. Because it was the jumbo the flight was an hour quicker (really hate the switch to A330) and only spoilt slightly but two late teens in front of DW and DD who whacked their seats back at high speed as soon as they were allowed and left them there. I really do think it shouldn't be allowed on a daytime flight. Or at least ask first!!
We land an hour early, weather out of the window looks good, get bags together, shoes on, kids ready, me loaded with all the hand luggage so DW can marshal the kids down the steps and the Captain announces immigration has had to close due to congestion, apparently the hall is so full, no-one can even disembark. We then sit on the plane for 40 more minutes boooo. Kids were brill though and at least the aircon was left on. Thank God for iThings as well.
So that set the tone for the rest of the evening, even when off, long queue for immigration, fortunately that meant cases where all ready and lined up but then a queue for customs snaking round the baggage hall which I've never seen in some 10 trips.
Queue for dropping luggage at second conveyor followed by no queue for the shuttle monorail thing strangely.
Short queue at the Dollar Desk but still took a long time and they insisted I buy a tank of fuel on a USRentaCar booking which doesn't normally happen but no big deal. They didn't try too hard to upsell but I am a 6'5" skin head (partly due to age rather than aggression but still) not so fresh from many hours travelling.
Out of the parking lot and onto those lovely US roads, I know I'm preaching to the converted here but I just love driving over here.
First time onsite for us and straight to Old Key West for a 2 bed villa. I'm a grumpy pants and hate noisy neighbours so to minimise that I asked for a top floor apartment which meant waiting and getting that sorted so we finally got to our lovely villa at about 9:30 pm! Manage to talk Daisy into staying in (I'd let slip stupidly that MK was open until 2am) while I got some emergency supplies from the the store and then gradually one by one fall asleep on the sofas.
MK today and lunch at the Royal Table, can't quite believe we're finally here.
