As we do not live in the UK, we had already travelled internationally before boarding the plane at Gatwick.

As a family of four, we only had one item of hand luggage, a Samsonite cabin bag which only had a few items in it - a portable dvd player, a few dvd's, 2 books and a couple of long sleeve tops. We were told that it was too heavy and we had to remove items. In the end it seemed the bag itself only just made their 4 kilo limit! In order to justify this ridiculous ruling, the check in employee stated that all airlines had the same ruling - rubbish - better inform Samsonite that no one can use their specially designed cabin bags!!

She told us to carry the contents and take the empty bag - we musn't put the stuff back in as it might be weighed again on boarding - nonsense nonsense nonsense. All this inconvenience for nothing. It then transpires we could not sit together, and with a 7 year old child this was a concern. The staff were not bothered. I guess they get this all the time. We were told to tell the staff on board the plane - which we did, but they did nothing. (Incidentally we put the stuff back in the bag, as any sane human would do).

The flight, though cramped, was smooth and the food was OK. The entertainment system did not work though - and for an eight and a half hour flight loaded with kids, this was problematic. I had a feeling that this normal for them.

The return flight was delayed for a couple of hours and it was that same plain plane, which was tatty inside and out, that someone else mentioned.

As we had a bad experience not sitting together on the way out, we tried to book seats together on the way back by calling a number we had been given. Despite repeated calls and hanging on the line from the U.S. to the U.K. for 20 minutes, no one ever answered the phone.

Fortunately we managed to sit together on the way back and despite the plane's appearance, it was a very smooth return flight.

Great holiday in Florida though.