VH: New offer when upgrading next year (MCO)

Hi all,

Not sure if anyone knows or if this has been discussed before (sorry if it has!) but....

From Jan1st if you upgrade to Prem. Econ from Econ. to florida you get free clubhouse access at gatwick.

Thats whats in next years Virgin Holiday Brochue

cheers, londonguy

Nice Perk, did not know that............thanks

Regards
Nevil

[preiffer]

Umm... That's a LOT of free Clubhouse access they're giving away [:0][:?]

[Decker]

Well it's not like the LGW Clubhouse gets busy... oh, wait a moment... and currently these people can all prebook treatments... hmmmm

[HighFlyer]

Free CH access? I'd give merit to the idea of offering access at a small additional fee as im sure it may encourage a few passengers to upgrade to Upper at some point, but a free-for-all would surely allow all those passengers who have no intention of ever paying for an Upper flight or going Au to make the most of the facilities and reduce the experience for Upper and Au passengers?

I guess VS see the LGW CH as under utilised, i find it a very nice, relaxed and uncrowded place to be - perfect for that relaxation before a flight. I for one would not be happy if hoards of passengers (especially those with rugrats in tow) began to storm the facility as LGW does not suffer in the way that LHR does from the number of flights.

Service at LGW is always top notch as the staff have the time to care for you, i would hate to see that slip.

Thanks,
Sarah

Personally I think that sucks when you consider the crap lounge a Manchester Upper class passenger has to suffer.[:$]

Originally posted by HighFlyer
I for one would not be happy if hoards of passengers (especially those with rugrats in tow) began to storm the facility as LGW does not suffer in the way that LHR does from the number of flights.

The offer excludes children under 12

DD

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by DylanDog
The offer excludes children under 12

DD

Indeed it does! (phew!)

More details here where the offer states that you need to"Upgrade to Premium Economy by 31 Aug '06 for departures in 2007" to gain the CH entry, so i am guessing it is a temporary measure to gage its success.

Thanks,
Sarah

*looks again at £560 upgrade to upper class*

*still debating to go UC!*

mmmmm!

I've done some price comparisons for next year and Z class seems cheaper than upgrading through VH for Upper, even with the 10% discount available with VH

Very nice for VH PE customers, but what about those of us who are flying PE after booking directly with VA? I don't expect CH access, obviously because I'm flying PE and PE doesn't include CH access (plus I've got access later in the year when I'm flying UC ), but from a 'fair' point of view it's a shame that VH are offering 'their' PE customers access and VA aren't offering it. Not saying that I believe it's right that VH are offering this, afterall the clubhouse is a premium product for premium customers (sorry, don't want to start a debate here), but I'm just talking as a comparison.

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by firsttimer
(sorry, don't want to start a debate here), but I'm just talking as a comparison.

Why not? That's one of the things we are here for. [8D]:D

There has always been the debate of unfairness towards people booking with VS. For a while it has been possible for VH pax to buy CH access, but the same 'perk' is not available to VS PE customers. [n]

I assume this latest offer will be capacity controlled, in some way, but I can't see how this can be done easily.

What happens for people travelling with under 12s?.. I assume the adults will be allowed in because they have paid for the upgrade.
Will they be expected to sort out child care? Or will they have to visit in shifts, leaving one adult looking after the children?

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
For a while it has been possible to VH pax to buy CH access, but the same 'perk' is not available to VS PE customers.

We booked PE flights with VS and got CH access through VH with no problem

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by homerdog

We booked PE flights with VS and got CH access through VH with no problem

It was only possible to do that for a short period of time, if you look at the relevant page on the Virgin Holidays website, you will see that there is a check box to confirm that you have booked your Virgin flights through VH. [n]

Nick

I think the VH access to the clubhouses is limited - on occasion I've tried booking it as a family treat and it's almost always been "not available".

I imagine a number of PE passengers on the routes ex LGW book with VH. Given that there's over 50 seats on each flight potentially there could be a large number of people, where the hell are they all going to sit?? Often on a weekend the clubhouse is very busy and I could imagine it turning into an extension of the departure lounge!!!

Hopefully they will add a rider and limit the number of people as it is not only unfair to the upper and AU members but those people who are pursaded to pay more to upgrade to PE and get an inferior experience simply because they've been piled into the clubhouse.

The other question I supposde if you take another perspective on it is are the loads for PE down at the moment for next year and VS/VH needing to boost the loads?

Maybe by then the clubhouse will be bigger

[mcmbenjamin]

They could offer a special UC (include Gold) Area and also take the issued CH passes for the promo from the normal pass allotment VH people can buy. Then there would be no 'extra' people.