Dear all.
Having only flown PE or UC with Virgin (on my two flights so far!) I've not had to experience the full economy check in process... we'll, up until last night [:(]
My girlfriend needs to go back to the US Embassy in London to get her passport stamped with her new visa (most odd seeing as we are in America!). I've just introduced her to Virgin but as her work would only pay for Economy and I wasn't flying back with her I decided to do the check in process with her.
So, before I tell you about it I have one thing to say... if you ever think that Silver doesn't have too many benefits the fact that I'm now 3 TPs away makes me happy as being able to use PE check in is worth it's weight in silver (can't really say gold
) especially if I ever fly Economy.
Step 1 - security screening (where you get your passport stickered) had a guy who couldn't speak english. We ended up asking him more bloody questions than he did us!
Step 2 - 60mins in the queue waiting to get to a check in desk - got there and as my g/f had made a slight alteration to her flight date she was sent to yet another line (the ticketing line)
Step 3 - 30mins waiting for her to pay for the change in ticket and only to be told then that the flight was delayed by an hour (8.30 departure instead of 7.30)
NOTE: Virgin came up trumps here as they gave her a $10 voucher for food and then saw me as not travelling but staying with her for check in gave us another $10 for me. this was great customer service.
So, the total check in time was at least 90mins. I then left her about 45mins before boarding only to get a call 2 hours later saying that they still hadn't boarded. Poor girl was mega bored in what can only be described as the worst departure lounge in America (Boston Terminal E). A 5hr 10min flight made up for it slightly (finally taking off at 9.45) but then she was neglected by the crew (asking for a blanket three times and being ignored).
As someone who has happily made the switch to Virgin I am worried that this Economy experience isn't going to make her feel good about the airline. I have the financial power (e.g. work) to fly a better class or even from my own pocket but lots of people don't and it's times like this I worry that of the 75% of people who fly in this class a large number don't get to see some of the quality that I have already experienced.
Trouble is... and I can imagine you thinking this... what could VS have done to make this better?
Anyway, just thought this might prompt discussion.
JC.
Having only flown PE or UC with Virgin (on my two flights so far!) I've not had to experience the full economy check in process... we'll, up until last night [:(]
My girlfriend needs to go back to the US Embassy in London to get her passport stamped with her new visa (most odd seeing as we are in America!). I've just introduced her to Virgin but as her work would only pay for Economy and I wasn't flying back with her I decided to do the check in process with her.
So, before I tell you about it I have one thing to say... if you ever think that Silver doesn't have too many benefits the fact that I'm now 3 TPs away makes me happy as being able to use PE check in is worth it's weight in silver (can't really say gold
) especially if I ever fly Economy.Step 1 - security screening (where you get your passport stickered) had a guy who couldn't speak english. We ended up asking him more bloody questions than he did us!
Step 2 - 60mins in the queue waiting to get to a check in desk - got there and as my g/f had made a slight alteration to her flight date she was sent to yet another line (the ticketing line)
Step 3 - 30mins waiting for her to pay for the change in ticket and only to be told then that the flight was delayed by an hour (8.30 departure instead of 7.30)
NOTE: Virgin came up trumps here as they gave her a $10 voucher for food and then saw me as not travelling but staying with her for check in gave us another $10 for me. this was great customer service.
So, the total check in time was at least 90mins. I then left her about 45mins before boarding only to get a call 2 hours later saying that they still hadn't boarded. Poor girl was mega bored in what can only be described as the worst departure lounge in America (Boston Terminal E). A 5hr 10min flight made up for it slightly (finally taking off at 9.45) but then she was neglected by the crew (asking for a blanket three times and being ignored).
As someone who has happily made the switch to Virgin I am worried that this Economy experience isn't going to make her feel good about the airline. I have the financial power (e.g. work) to fly a better class or even from my own pocket but lots of people don't and it's times like this I worry that of the 75% of people who fly in this class a large number don't get to see some of the quality that I have already experienced.
Trouble is... and I can imagine you thinking this... what could VS have done to make this better?
Anyway, just thought this might prompt discussion.
JC.
