MAN / MCO Getting Worse?

Hi all back from my latest trip to Florida. Incurred 90 min delay outband VS075 (Island Lady)13/5 due to internal phone system going tech just after UC passengers sorry club Orlando had arrived at the gate having been paged from lounge. Cant understand how this can be discovered this late after plane had been at gate for three hours. Plus Honey Pie was parked in centre are of Apron. Could that not have been substituted. On return flight 31/5 2 3/4 hour delay due to Honey Pie leaving late from Manchester Hydraulic failure.

These two planes really need replacing now. In flight entertainment always has at least one channel not working and the map has not worked on either for over twelve months. Out of the 8 flights I have taken in the past 11 months 5 have been delayed one being cancelled.

The three Gatwick 747 400 proudly display flying a younger fleet, its time we northerners had the same service. A lady American passenger flying what she consider UC in row 6 was less than impressed with the brand and whilst ever these old 200 series continue the brand will be damaged.

Looking forward to the meeting

Paul

I had the major mis-fortune to fly this route last year. We were delayed for 3 hours going out to Orlando.

However that was nothing compared to the 24 hour delay coming back. Even worse was that I was only told about the delay 1/2 hour before we were due to depart, and even then it was by the lady in the duty free shop!!! When I handed over my boarding pass while paying for duty free she made the comment that my flight had been cancelled.

The level and quality of information was shocking in Orlando and reflected very badly on Virgin.

To be fair to Virgin customer service they have retrieved the situation with offers of half price flights, but the comment is still valid that while Virgin are putting their brand on this poor excuse for a service it can only do damage.
It leaves Virgin open to the charge that they are by no means "Britain's flag carrier" - more like "the home counties flag carrier"

Hi, find your forum very interesting. Fly MAN to MCO 3 to 4 times a year always Club Orlando. This service is certainly getting worse. Tatty cabin & often unreliable. I was on the cancelled flight of Feb 19th but Virgin were great with the offer of free flights. I also think the supplement for this has been increasing rapidly over the past 2 years. Wonder what will happen when it becomes a full UC service next year. With no Clubhouse at Manchester don't know if I will pay the supplement, will probably start to fly PE.

I think that the two 742s will stay for a while, about two or three more years.

then as more A346s come in, and the chance of 777s or A346s coming in the fleet, then the 742s will leave.

there's still two 742 in the desert though. They could be making a return/being sold off.

and as a side note, whatever happened to maiden voyager?

Interesting thought. But have you seen the prices qouted for this service on VH web site for next year? Last time I looked it was the same fare as LGW UC. So, no Clubhouse, continued use of the 742 (even after a refurb), who is going to pay this?It would be interesting to note how many forum members use this route & how they feel about being the poor northern relations. I can still remember how excited my family & friends were when Virgin finally started a service from Manchester. Has anyone noticed how popular it is as well, especially at peak times? Try making a family booking for the school holidays anything other than months ahead, and yet there are often stil seats from LGW to MCO long after the Manchester flights are sold out. We are having to do this in July, LGW-MCO return MCO-MAN.I tried to suggest we flew Delta via Atlanta which we used to do prior to Virgin's Manchester service,and nearly had a riot on my hands!! As far as my children are concerned there is only one airline to cross the pond on!!So Virgin's next generation of frequent flyers is assured.

I am making an assumption.

If Virgin are going to charge the same for the UC service from MAN as LGW from next year then suely they will have to replace the current Club Orlando cabin with suites? Eventually?

Maybe someone in the know could enlighten us on this one

DMH

I thinbk you answered your own question. They can charge the same as they can fill every seat from Manchester. I though there was use of a clubhouse, though not Virgins (Only one flight from man, so I suppose it can not be cost effective to have their own lounge, same as at Orlando)

Don't forget by the way that Gatwick is the poor relation in the south. No UCS, no decent tv system, no arrivals lounge...

They can fill the seats at the Club Orlando price which is still a lot less than UC.

There used to be access to the Air France lounge, drinks & nibbles, you could here a pin drop & nothing like the Clubhouse at LHR, haven't tried LGW yet, looking forward to July.

Now you get access to Manchesters Escape Lounge, drinks & even fewer nibbles. Children aged 8 & over can use this,the Air France Lounge was 12 & over. My children had a great time at LHR, a fabulous atmosphere for all of us.

I won't pay UC from MAN without a better lounge, having experienced LHR. May as well fly PE.It certainly wouldn't be worth Virgin having a lounge for only the one flight a day but perhaps a small discount or maybe extra miles as compensation would be a good idea?

quote:Originally posted by DMH
It certainly wouldn't be worth Virgin having a lounge for only the one flight a day but perhaps a small discount or maybe extra miles as compensation would be a good idea?

remember that SFO, JNB, HKG and NRT have only one flight per day, and get clubhouses!

I say MAN should get one - stick up for your rights

DMH,
If you have paid a full fare for your child, why do they not get lounge access? seems wrong somehow.
I checked with Vs for LGW and they said as I had paid a full fare for my 2 year old, he would get access to LGW clubhouse.

quote:Originally posted by Blythy

and as a side note, whatever happened to maiden voyager?

I believe it was sold to Kabo Air, a Nigerian based operator. Apparantly used to fly pilgrims between Nigeria and Mecca!

Incidentally, G-VJFK and G-VLAX also went to Air Kabo....

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/178686/L/ - G-VLAX

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/177511/L/ - G-VJFK

Virgin were really apologetic at MAN the first time we flew Club Orlando & couldn't get lounge access for the younger children. As it was not their lounge they had to abide by Air France's rules.

To be fair there isn't anything of interest to children in the Manchester lounges and as I said you could hear a pin drop.The atmosphere in the Clubhouse at LHR was fabulous, could have stayed all day.

Good point about other airports with only one flight having a Clubhouse. Maybe us norhern flyers should lobby Virgin.

hmm, my experience MAN-MCO too was fraught with problems on Honey Pie. Tatty plane (we were seated 2nd row from back, panneling all coming away). 1 hour into the flight, we had to turn back due to the 4th engine failing.

27 hours later, we left on another flight with no more probs.

Did expect better from Virgin, but compensation wasn't bad so going to New York in Nov.

(Have posted this on another thread)

aimees angel

>and as a side note, whatever happened to maiden voyager?

first time , infact only time so far , i have traveled on vs was from lgw-mco on maiden voyager and it was so bad we said we would never go again , but 4 years later we have been talked into tryimg it again .
i feel sorry for all those pilgrims going on it cause all that time ago it well well past its sell by date.

picking up from alana's post

your 2 year old paid for a ticket so he was welcome in the club house
can i ask we have not paid for a seat for our 18 month old will he still be allowed in to the club house with us , 2 adults and one other child , 9, have all purchased uc seats


your advise would be welcome here

steve

Maiden Voyager has been scrapped!

safest thing
if it had been done 5 years ago i might have traveled more on vs
steve