Snooze Packs I eat my words

Silly me, I assumed my ticket price covered these 'freebies'. That letter was frankly insulting. Any business is a fine balance between income and expenses. However when your frugality begins to impact your product you have issues.

I wonder how much they could save by restricting UC pax to only one drink upon boarding with no refills, or by not offering bread during the meal service, or by not having a printed menu (like AC biz) etc etc. Bean counters, got to love em.

In October me and my OH are going on our one and only UC experience. If I hadn't read all the posts on this site I would have been so dissappointed in being given the amenity kit. I have now prepared us for the flight. I have bought from ebay an Emirates first for myself and a BA first set for my OH. They are new and sealed, I will take great pleasure in having these on display when they come around with the scroog packs!

We too are going on our first and now no doubt our only UC trip this November, and have become more and more disappointed about the whole trip! I think we would not have booked and spent the considerable extra amount of money if we had known how things were to be downgraded. On top of that, we are flying from Manchester which is very much a poor relation for services.
I think the idea of buying our own luxuty kit from ebay is a good one.
I have just read a trip report of First Choice new Star Class Premier and it looks excellent, with IFBT(to pay for), good food, and a decent amenity kit! Apparently Thomson are also going to be doing a similar upgrade from next year. Now I realise these are only to holiday destinations but they may be some competition.
That reply from Virgin is disgraceful.

I am now worried about my flight to Shanghai - VS standards dropping / And with no saving - I am now considering changing my flights next month to BA, I only get to fly once or twice a year long haul and love to being spoilt in business or first class - lOOKING at all the comments I am now thinking - why should I take any chances?

Originally posted by maz
That reply from Virgin is disgraceful.

It doesn't read like a reply to me, more internal communication that has been "made available" to this forum (though as always ISTBC). I feel for the cabin staff as the way it reads is that they are being put in a position of explaining this to the passengers.

Paul

Yes, I see that now Paul, thanks for pointing it out. I agree with what you said about the cabin crew.

If we do start buying our own kits or taking own items on board I guess that will help virgin our in saving even the small amount of money they now spend on the ameanity kits!

Originally posted by pjh
It doesn't read like a reply to me, more internal communication that has been "made available" to this forum (though as always ISTBC). I feel for the cabin staff as the way it reads is that they are being put in a position of explaining this to the passengers.

That's exactly it. The management have made a decision, which may have some merit (environmentally better pack, less waste), but won't back down, and expect the staff to take the flack.

Cheers,
Mike

well i disagree - I feel is I am being charged 3.5k for an flexable business class seat to shanghai - I should be given all the bells and etc that gop with that - whats next - bring our own sambos - the breakie roll reduced to one slice of bacon - Its just not good enough for a so called 4/5* airline - just not good enough

[Decker]

Any forum members with a pukka "special treat" UC flight coming up - Mrs D and I have a number of spare Pre Scrooge OB kits unopened. PM me and we'll send. This is offered in good faith so no e-bayers please.

Originally posted by porsche911
well i disagree - I feel is I am being charged 3.5k for an flexable business class seat to shanghai - I should be given all the bells and etc that gop with that - whats next - bring our own sambos - the breakie roll reduced to one slice of bacon - Its just not good enough for a so called 4/5* airline - just not good enough

We know we're into a downward spiral of reducing costs here:

* "Dead weasel" Y cabin breakfast on shorter sectors.
* Reduced second meal (drink and biscuit) on shorter sectors.
* Reduction in amenity items across all classes (not just "Scrooge Pack").
* Removal of 3rd starter and 4th main-course choice for J meals.
* Some could argue the "Good Night Flight" also constituted a cost-cutting measure, rather than a service improvement.
* Preiffer's red pillows and flowers on the bar.
* El-crappo chocolate and bland fruit selections on the bar.

I can't help wondering if the maintenance cost of the suite has turned out to be much more than VS originally expected, as well as the increased overheads we've already heard about such as fuel costs, etc?

Cheers,
Mike

Well now I am seriously depressed!!

[mitchja]

The response I got back from VS the other week basically used the new LHR Clubhouse as the excuse:

As I am sure you will appreciate, it is important that expenditure on complimentary items is used to best effect. For example, one area that we have been encourgaed to develop further is our Clubhouse and as you know, or new Clubhouse now offers the very best in pre-flight relaxation and facilities

I read that as saying 'well if you want new Clubhouses you are going to have to sacrifice on in-flight service' [V]

I also feel the internal response that vscss posted is also beyond words and the person who wrote that should not be doing the job they are doing.

Regards

Originally posted by preiffer
I have no words.

Whoever wrote that communication should NOT be in a role that influences product development or customer experience.

It was a little brusque wasn't it. Now now, you've made your complaint now go away (where to, BA, CO, UA....?)

I will continue to read this thread with interest and btw I did take my 2 year old "pencil case" kit to the Thames Hotel last weekend.

Dean

P.S - sorry this looks like I'm slagging off Pauls comment, mean VS's

[fozzyo]

So VS are saying all those passengers who don't use the LHR CH have got to suffer, but they should understand why its so amazing just flying with the airline that has the best lounge in the world should be enough.

Hey - will I be subjccted to yet less wine on board - I love to have a few beers - get merry and have a good sleep on the long haul - does that now mean - the "vs" scrouge on drink mean i cannot any longer have a few beers at the bar without having to beg for "another glass please" - jesus i was in sia last year and they spoilt me - i hope i wont have to cancel my uc flight to shanghai now and go with ba

Oh, and before I forget you can buy a lot of flowers with £1000000 [}:)]

Dean

[B)]We spend more time in the air than in clubhouses![B)]

exactly monkey - i agree with you- its nice to have a good club house - BUT- we fly with the airline for one reason - The experiance - the luxury - the food - the entertainment - the staff - and if vs start buggering that around - Im otta there and BA here I come - and with the new BA product due to be launched late this year - is is VS going one direction and the "competitor" heading upwards

It's getting a bit silly now I would have thought it would have dawned on someone at VS that consistent premium travel is about the entire package of service. Instead now it's glorious clubhouse at LHR and flat bed - now sleep!

A bit over simplified but I'm started to get really upset with their pathetic responses.

does anyboody know if there is a simular ba site to this?

Originally posted by porsche911
does anyboody know if there is a simular ba site to this?

I assume that is a comment on the quality of UC v BA. You might find BA NrevisedN,n,CW is still not up to the same level as VS UC

However just in case you really did want to know an equivelent BA site, there is not one as comprihensive as this one that I know of. The nearest equivelent is Flyertalk I suspect.

thanks - it will be worth a look anyway

Originally posted by ade99
It's getting a bit silly now I would have thought it would have dawned on someone at VS that consistent premium travel is about the entire package of service. Instead now it's glorious clubhouse at LHR and flat bed - now sleep!

Exactly - and even the internal messages to staff are being spun to make it seem like passengers should be grateful for the superfluous other things that they get rather than improving the core elements and justifiably shouting about them. VS saying "reasons people fly Virgin is because of our legendary service: our staff, Clubhouses, limo transfers, the Upper Class Suite, onboard bar, in-flight massage" just to me how much Virgin is missing the point altogether at the moment. As has been pointed out, you can spend only an hour in the Clubhouse but 10-12 hours in the air.

I feel there's a real arrogance within VS at the moment which is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. I thought I was a bit extreme by recently looking at other carriers for next year but I now realise I'm not alone - I've got a reward flight upcoming in September and I'm going to be considering future plans on how that flight goes.

Sorry to be negative, but it seems I'm not alone.

David.

Originally posted by David_Doyle
I thought I was a bit extreme by recently looking at other carriers for next year but I now realise I'm not alone.

Nope, you're not. I've got an SFO coming up with VS in Sept. That requalifies AU for me, and makes dealing with VS over the phone bearable for another year.

I've got two other trips to the US before year end, too - it's looking like one will be on UA (as it involves flying somewhere you can't reach direct from the UK, and I avoid interlining at all costs), and the other (another SFO) will be on UA or BA, looking most likely UA, rather than VS.

Cheers,
Mike

[Decker]

Well so far in my qualifying year I've gotten (I do like that construct - thanks America!) nearly 60TPs and still have decided to fly 6 premium sectors with people other than VS due to an assortment of factors of which this is just one example. But as a friendly BA FA explained, airlines go through sine wave customer satisfaction patterns. VS and BA just seem to be completely out of phase .

Let's hope management realise.