First Post - at last I've joined!
Posted: 09 May 2006, 00:38Now where on earth do I put this? Is there a forum for first posts?
After a lifetime of decision making in a fairly demanding job it’s only right that in retirement procrastination should become an art form and in my naivety I generously thought Virgin Atlantic had a fleet of 747's, which we were quite happy to fly in splendid isolation using PE on the upper deck. What a rude awakening returning home from Washington in November to be allocated 2 centre seats despite using OLCI - changed on check in thank goodness - on an A343.
That experience led me to this site to research the fleet and, several months later, I think I should sign up in order to become a member and contribute to the running costs. All I ask is that MsLiz and I are not referred to as the bucket and spade brigade, which apart from being deeply offensive is condescending in the extreme. You all know that the TSA do not allow buckets or spades on flights!
Following an appalling experience with BA flying to Orlando, and a worse one with Lufthansa to Bangkok, there was no long haul for several years until we found a deal with VS to San Francisco in Feb 2004 and flew out in economy. That was OK, as the flight was almost empty, and we stretched out over 4 seats. However we took the opportunity to research PE, liked what we saw, and on the return flight upgraded, as a BA flight had gone technical and there was standing room only in the rear quarters. Since then we usually fly VS, always in PE, and have reached the dizzy heights of FC Silver.
Being a cynic I sometimes think our obsession with FC miles is playing into Virgin’s hands. The FC is there to maintain customer loyalty, and it certainly does that. Using a Virgin CC as well I have accumulated more than 120,000 miles and MsLiz 75,000 - but what use are they when there never seems to be reward availability? I also have a companion ticket, but it’s not cost effective to use, except perhaps in S, and will probably expire before I use it.
FC Silver provides an 0845 number to VS and a few extra miles, but otherwise is of little benefit. OK it’s easy to retain, looks nice on the carry-on, and gives a few extra miles but not much else. That’s why this site is so useful as informed choices can be made from the in-depth information provided by experts like Messrs Harris, Sailor, Mannion, Reiffer et al, despite the almost compulsory use of acronyms.
Finally I am lucky never having had a desk job, and while I can understand the ease with which posts can be made when sitting at work in front of a computer all day, for me it’s more difficult as retirement brings an increased work load, and after this missive I'll probably need a rest.
After a lifetime of decision making in a fairly demanding job it’s only right that in retirement procrastination should become an art form and in my naivety I generously thought Virgin Atlantic had a fleet of 747's, which we were quite happy to fly in splendid isolation using PE on the upper deck. What a rude awakening returning home from Washington in November to be allocated 2 centre seats despite using OLCI - changed on check in thank goodness - on an A343.
That experience led me to this site to research the fleet and, several months later, I think I should sign up in order to become a member and contribute to the running costs. All I ask is that MsLiz and I are not referred to as the bucket and spade brigade, which apart from being deeply offensive is condescending in the extreme. You all know that the TSA do not allow buckets or spades on flights!
Following an appalling experience with BA flying to Orlando, and a worse one with Lufthansa to Bangkok, there was no long haul for several years until we found a deal with VS to San Francisco in Feb 2004 and flew out in economy. That was OK, as the flight was almost empty, and we stretched out over 4 seats. However we took the opportunity to research PE, liked what we saw, and on the return flight upgraded, as a BA flight had gone technical and there was standing room only in the rear quarters. Since then we usually fly VS, always in PE, and have reached the dizzy heights of FC Silver.
Being a cynic I sometimes think our obsession with FC miles is playing into Virgin’s hands. The FC is there to maintain customer loyalty, and it certainly does that. Using a Virgin CC as well I have accumulated more than 120,000 miles and MsLiz 75,000 - but what use are they when there never seems to be reward availability? I also have a companion ticket, but it’s not cost effective to use, except perhaps in S, and will probably expire before I use it.
FC Silver provides an 0845 number to VS and a few extra miles, but otherwise is of little benefit. OK it’s easy to retain, looks nice on the carry-on, and gives a few extra miles but not much else. That’s why this site is so useful as informed choices can be made from the in-depth information provided by experts like Messrs Harris, Sailor, Mannion, Reiffer et al, despite the almost compulsory use of acronyms.
Finally I am lucky never having had a desk job, and while I can understand the ease with which posts can be made when sitting at work in front of a computer all day, for me it’s more difficult as retirement brings an increased work load, and after this missive I'll probably need a rest.
