Chris and I went to Florida in March but my sister had to cancel at the last moment due to her husband's ill health.
We had waited until the end of November to book her ticket knowing that if she had to cancel then the ticket would still be valid for us to go again to celebrate Chris's 50th.
What she didn't know was that she was flying upper class.
We set out for the airport and I'd arranged for park and go valet parking at 6am. When we were near the airport I rang the mobile number I'd been given and found I was talking to a Tesco voice mail[:O] Tried several times but still the same message.
We were then coming off the last roundabout and about to enter the entrance to Gatwick South, when someone drove into the back of us.
Exchanged details and carried on into airport where chaos reigned. Parking wardens everywhere so I got Chris to drop me off whilst I tried contact numbers again.
Shock had set in from the accident and I was close to tears wondering what to do next, a warden came over and when I explained he rang a colleague to see if they knew the company and had a different number.
By this time Chris had completed a lap of the airport and pulled up. No one at the airport had heard of the company and we'd nearly given up when someone approached with a clipboard. They had also been circling the airport looking for us and had seen the aftermath of the accident.
Baggage out of the car and we were setting off to the check-in. Virgin had people around to assist with the new automatic check-in machines but I wanted to delay the surprise as long as possible.
When we got to the Upper/Premium check in desk, there were no passport checkers baring the way. No one was checking in so I told Chris and Joan that I would ask if it was ok to check in now. Luckily as I approached the desks, the person on the Premium side picked up a phone so I was able to speak to the First Class person without Joan being suspicous.
I explained that she had no idea she was flying Upper and went back to tell them we could check in at that desk.
Whilst we were being dealt with Joan was being handed a leaflet about the lounge and that now you could gain entry for £25. Thinking fast I told the lady she had spoilt our surprise as we had already paid for entry and joking that Joan now knew how much we had paid.
Joan's bags were dealt with next and she noticed that Upper Class labels were going on her case but the assistant said that she was doing us a favour and our luggage should come out quicker. [high5]
We went through to the lounge and had our treatments, she kept looking at her ticket and I thought she had realised but she had noticed that she in 7a. We have always been upstairs in Premium Economy so she knew the numbers started at 70 to 80 and she likes to sit on an aisle seat. I felt mean lying to her but it was worth it in the end.
We were eventually called to gate 83 and were one of the last to board. We made her go first and Chris kept telling her to keep going, when we entered the cabin she thought the ottoman seats were a child's seat. When she realised her face was a picture which I will always remember.
We had been delayed an hour so we were late arriving, normal delays at carousel awaiting our luggage to arrive at B but made up some time with using Dollar Express.
Given the keys at desk so we were soon on our way, unfortuneately we followed an elderly couple out of the garage who were also going our way. They had the courtesy light on so I don't think they knew where they were going. There're roadworks on the South Access Road so we couldn't get past them for some time, when we did manage to we went the wrong way and came off the road at Hidelmans? Blvd. We did a uturn and on the way back could see the same couple travelling down on the other side still with the courtesy light on. I wonder if they ever reached their destination.
We were back on track and soon at our rented villa. Quick unpack and on our way to Perkins for dinner although we weren't really hungry.
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