GTW - Crew are sweeties!!!

Hey all,

I have flown with AA for so many years now and they are generally a miserable crew to deal with, only stayed with them for the seat pitch.

Travelled to Orlando last Dec with Virgin and just back from Vegas - what a crew, I swear every stewardess was so lovely!!! Never known such a great crew - couldnt do enough for you and they were so chatty and friendly. I spilt coke down myself going and the stewardess who helped was so attentive and helpful!!!

Do the Gatwick and Manchester crew work from both locations? I ask this as there were a couple of 'northern' crew.

I was outbound on Jan 24'th to Vegas and inbound on Feb 1'st (arriving back on 2'nd).

Thought I would mention my experience here as there are so many complaints and 'moans' that I thought I would write something positive about the great people who work at Virgin!

After this experience I will probably use Virgin for my Miami flight later next month rather than use AA - even though I prefer the earlier AA flight time and the fact that its from Heathrow (I'm in Milton Keynes)!!!



Edit by mod to remove crew member's name.... Nick

Originally posted by nickdolphins
Do the Gatwick and Manchester crew work from both locations? I ask this as there were a couple of 'northern' crew.

After this experience I will probably use Virgin for my Miami flight later next month rather than use AA - even though I prefer the earlier AA flight time and the fact that its from Heathrow (I'm in Milton Keynes)!!!

It's great to read some positive feedback about the Cabin Crew.

The London based crew occassionally operate flights from Manchester and vice versa. Within the London base there are crew who live all over the UK and mainland Europe.

Our Miami flight is also from LHR and from March 25th the departure time is changing to 09:20hrs.

Hey Jet,

Gutted about that time change as I would have loved that from late February!!! As far as I remember AA is 9.45 and I cannot remember what your time is now but its later, 10.45 maybe?!

I got my wires crossed on your Miami flight, I had read its from LHR but I forgot [:I] Gatwick adds another 40 miles on M25 and after a night flight its not nice!

Are you a crewmember then? Do the same crew do Gatwick and Heathrow? I had the feeling that one crew would do LGW and another would do LHR as my neigbour (BA pilot) sticks to one airport??

Welcome Nick!

Yes, the crews do operate from all the UK airports. There is a possibility, over time and if LHR becomes an Airbus only centre, that the crews will separate (as told to me by a crew member last week). Until then you stand a chance of seeing the same crew on any flight.

A few years ago I switched completely to VS for transatlantic flights after many years (company policy) of AA. I too watched as service and standards declined and, apart from the odd ray of sunshine, got fed up with miserable crews. Switching was soooo pleasurable!

Originally posted by nickdolphins
Are you a crewmember then? Do the same crew do Gatwick and Heathrow? I had the feeling that one crew would do LGW and another would do LHR as my neigbour (BA pilot) sticks to one airport??

Yes, I'm VS Cabin Crew. BA have separate bases at LHR and LGW whereas the majority of our crew are based at LHR but operate the LGW flights as well. We also have a small crew base in Manchester.

[Pete]

Really good to hear some positive feedback. As we all know, it's easy to complain when things go wrong, but none of us are as quick to praise when things go well. So thanks Nick.

Can I also encourage those that encounter really great service onboard to ask your FSM for an Onboard Heroes form? They look like this:

[img]/OnboardHeroes.jpg[/img]

This gives you the opportunity to officially recognise exceptional service - and your crew will be most appreciative (as few passengers even know these forms exist!)

Pete

PixUK - I am doing it on the website this time, just nervous about getting names wrong but pretty sure they are right

Next time i will ask for a form when aboard, thanks!

Nick

Hi Nick

Glad you decided to switch to Virgin

I have travelled VS twice within the last ten days, the CC on our outbound flight were not good. However, on our return trip they were outstanding. A good crew makes such a difference to your flight experience.

Originally posted by MrsG
Hi Nick

Glad you decided to switch to Virgin

I have travelled VS twice within the last ten days, the CC on our outbound flight were not good. However, on our return trip they were outstanding. A good crew makes such a difference to your flight experience.

Hey Amanda,

What you said made me think of something.........i wonder if the same crews always work together as a team on various trips or if like pilots they work with different collegues all the time!!!

Nick

Originally posted by nickdolphins

Originally posted by MrsG
Hi Nick

Glad you decided to switch to Virgin

I have travelled VS twice within the last ten days, the CC on our outbound flight were not good. However, on our return trip they were outstanding. A good crew makes such a difference to your flight experience.

Hey Amanda,

What you said made me think of something.........i wonder if the same crews always work together as a team on various trips or if like pilots they work with different collegues all the time!!!

Nick

Nick,

I don't know the answer, but there will be VS crew on this forum who do.

[Decker]

They work with different colleagues all the time.

Decker,

thats what I figured, just made me wonder when poster said she had a bad crew! If its anything like the pilots they get to 'bid' for routes anyway and depending on seniority they are given those routes accordingly!

We work in different teams all the time. We get to bid for trips using VSwap, if anyone has access to it you'll see all my MCO's! We can request trips after working there for a certain period but swap trips from day one.

In my experience if people find there is bad crew it's usually something to do with the FSMs - their attitude easily reflects on the rest of the crew. Personal feelings and happenings downroute don't usually have an affect on how the cabin crew are peforming.

Originally posted by FlyCC
We work in different teams all the time. We get to bid for trips using VSwap, if anyone has access to it you'll see all my MCO's! We can request trips after working there for a certain period but swap trips from day one.

In my experience if people find there is bad crew it's usually something to do with the FSMs - their attitude easily reflects on the rest of the crew. Personal feelings and happenings downroute don't usually have an affect on how the cabin crew are peforming.

Hi, thanks for reply - interesting!

What is an FSM? Flight Senior Manager maybe?!?

When people complain about rude flight attendants I often find its the passengers themselves. I speak to anyone and am always friendly and chatty with crew, others who I have witnessed are rude with the crew but then expect them to be all over them!!!

As for you bidding on routes, thats just what I thought and its the way the pilot I know gets his schedule (a month in advance).

Thanks again for info Nick

[Decker]

Flight Services Manager