What will go next?

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler

Originally posted by VS045
What about seats - they just get in the way dont't they. You could could get far more pax into the aircraft if they were just shoved in[}:)][:0][B)]


VS.

Isn't that what Economy is for?? [}:)]

Bad, but good [^]

Why no take the "paring down the cost based" to its logical extreme, and do away with the plane altogether?

Instead you'd check in as normal, select seats, go through security and so, but once inside the Clubhouse, the complimentary hypnotist would induce a profound trance in which you are transported half-way around the world to your destination without ever actually leaving Terminal 3.

Low-cost, zero CO2 emissions, no DVT risk - has to be a no-brainer.[}:)]

No, you are just being silly!! Everyone knows that the ultimate in airtravel will be the following:

Arrive at the airport - have a little injection and some gas to put you to sleep then you are packed into a baggage container - They are suggesting 12 pax per container and then these are piled into the cargo 747's or Antimovs ( sp?). Sailor - can you help design the container please - needs to have a "grill" floor to allow "stuff" to be flushed away!!

This allows 3000 passengers per flight.

You have no need of anything - no seat, no drinks, staff, food amenity kit or anything.

Then at destination you are woken up with a bucket of cold water and sent on your way for a gruelling immigration interview and search.

Return to JFK £50.16

Perfect[:w]

LOL... Loving the topic... oh and making some notes! (Only joking!)

I'm probably going to get flamed for what I write next, and what I do write next does not detract from the fact that I too miss those little extras that have gone when flying Upper for work or pleasure...

But one simple observation...

VAA Have invested enormous sums in Upper over the past 7 years.

Yep, they installed a red elephant (J2000) and so spent money on a product for 2/3 years that should have lasted 5/6, then had to invest very heavilly in another product (UCS). They still kept investing literally millions in the clubhouse at LHR, and do have quite a few other product investments going on.

Perhaps if J2000 hadn't been eclipsed by the fully flat BA New Club World things might be different.

But ultimately I firmly believe VS have spent much more than most carriers in their premium cabin in the past few years.

I fully understand and have read ALL the arguments here regarding reduction in service levels and onboard products... I've seen the reduction myself... but I just wanted to point out, everytime I read someone posting a 'Bean Counter' remark... there have been a aweful lot of Beans spent on Upper this Millenium.

.... despite what is sometimes posted here... there are MANY managers at VS that are trying every day to keep the standards and get back some of those little touches we all love so much.

Anyway, serious post over... back to my glass of Sauv Blanc.

I bet we could save money by getting rid of ALL the crawley managers and making V-flyer the sole decision making process at VAA! LOL

Originally posted by V-Ben

Anyway, serious post over... back to my glass of Sauv Blanc.

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Originally posted by V-Ben

I bet we could save money by getting rid of ALL the crawley managers and making V-flyer the sole decision making process at VAA! LOL

Surely this is the serious bit????[y]

Originally posted by V-Ben

I bet we could save money by getting rid of ALL the crawley managers and making V-flyer the sole decision making process at VAA! LOL

Surely this is the serious bit????[y]

MUTINY!!!!!! I'm partial to a bounty bar myself!

[Neil]

Originally posted by V-Ben
I bet we could save money by getting rid of ALL the crawley managers and making V-flyer the sole decision making process at VAA! LOL

mmm - not sure on that one (love everybody here at VF ) but with some of the weird and wacky suggestions that are made I think VS would turn into a long haul RyanAir , god can you imagine....[V]

[RichardMannion]

V-Ben,

Thanks for your post - interesting viewpoint. I'm aware of the sums that VS have invested not just for J, but across the board - but then that is what is required if you want to stay on top. You have to continue to invest and innovate, even if you are the market leader. Look at the Ipod, the first generation was a runaway succes, yet they have still continued to invest and innovate to stay on top. Complacency is a bad thing.

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by RichardMannion
Complacency is a bad thing.

I agree!
I think any complacency inferred from outside is perhaps a result of a couple of PR disasters (GNF, Snooze packs). The vast majority of VS staff are trying to keep everything top notch.

If anything, I think we need to see what BA are about to unveil. I know that will be keenly viewed at Crawley. I can guarantee VS will continue to innovate... perhaps, after the J2000 mistake, waiting for BA to proclaim might be the right thing to do?

*Starts next bottle*

Most people have sleeping bags yeah? Juts ask Upper Pax to bring their own... no need for expensive to clean duvets!

I seriously hope VS don't do any more cuts as I'm really looking forward to travelling to SYD with them next year - after BA's 777 downgrade....V-Ben you're right about all the money spent on J and most of the time it's noticeable - just little things like duvets in J, sleepsuits, the bar!!!

However, I'm really interested in NGCW! BTW - may be really stupid but what was the GNF disaster??

Kind Regards

tom139

Originally posted by tom139

However, I'm really interested in NGCW! BTW - may be really stupid but what was the GNF disaster??

Kind Regards

tom139

It stands for Good Night Flight. You can have hours of fun reading the 23 pages that VF members wrote about it if you really have nothing else to do!!!

Hi v-ben,

To quote you:
"there have been a aweful lot of Beans spent on Upper this Millenium".

This is exactly why these latest cutbacks are so silly. When you have spent a fortune on the fundamental infrastructure of your product, trimming the frills is irrational and detrimental to the perception of the inherent quality of that infrastructure. The airline is profitable, and the cash savings it makes from these trivial cutbacks are chicken-feed. The way they tarnish the brand is anything but. The company spends millions of pounds a year in advertising, in newspapers like The Times. To have an article printed inside the same newspaper about the airline's falling standards and parsimony is a PR disaster. Had this sort of result been produced by a manager in my company, he'd now be on his final written warning - if he were lucky.

I'll use an analogy of a decision I made recently. We bought some quite costly hard-wood flooring for our living room. Really nice stuff. My wife and I were then looking at varnishes for it. I was about to choose the cheaper tin, when she rightly said "we've spent all this money on a good, strong floor. Why ruin the effect with some nasty varnish which flakes off after a year". Of course, she was correct. If we'd bought some cheap, crap laminate, then it wouldn't really matter what rubbish we spread on it. But to buy a good substrate, and then suddenly become penny pinching on the 2mm-thick surface that you actually see of it is ridiculous!

Similarly, Virgin have spent a fortune on a quality underlying infrastructure. For the Bean Counters now to start being stingy with the varnish is a decision that is rendered worse by the quality of the underlying product, not better! People notice the varnish before they appreciate the floor underneath.

Gratzie! I'll enjoy reading those [:p]

Why spoil the ship for a ha'peth of tar!!

Originally posted by MarkJ
Why spoil the ship for a ha'peth of tar!!

OKay, back to the mutiny... what rum would be better for Upper.. with MRU next year we should be able to get some decent grog!

Originally posted by V-Ben

Originally posted by MarkJ
Why spoil the ship for a ha'peth of tar!!

OKay, back to the mutiny... what rum would be better for Upper.. with MRU next year we should be able to get some decent grog!

Where's Sailor when you need him!!

Come on Jeremy there's a RUM question!!!

[oo][oo]

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by MarkJ
It stands for Good Night Flight. You can have hours of fun reading the 23 pages that VF members wrote about it if you really have nothing else to do!!!

And that thread is one of the few, if not only, one to have an official posting by Virgin too. They have remained very quiet on the Scrooge Pack. [xx(]

Maybe the welcome bottle of water in UC will go - they have plenty on board already, why buy more?

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by fozzyo

Originally posted by MarkJ
It stands for Good Night Flight. You can have hours of fun reading the 23 pages that VF members wrote about it if you really have nothing else to do!!!

And that thread is one of the few, if not only, one to have an official posting by Virgin too. They have remained very quiet on the Scrooge Pack. [xx(]

They haven't really if you consider the response from vscss on this page which fanned the flames once more [:(!]

Well, the second bottle of Sav B is finished and my flat mates asked me if the reason I'm always on my laptop is that I'm looking for sex on t'internet... time for bed I think.

I'll be sure to feed back your suggestions on Tuesday after my long weekend off.

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by V-Ben
I'll be sure to feed back your suggestions on Tuesday after my long weekend off.

Oh, yes, do! That way for once we will know who to blame and be able to re-christen you "bean counter"

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by honey lamb
They haven't really if you consider the response from vscss on this page which fanned the flames once more [:(!]

Sorry, i meant the GNF thread had an official VAA response to it - as can be seen here.

Just as V-Ben was giving the thread a decent burial, I'd just like to wrest it roughly back to life by heartily seconding Frangipan's comments re "spoiling the ship for a haporth of tar".

True, it's a lot easier to take the piss (as in my previous posts) than to come up with something constructive, and the investment VS have made to their premium offerings is plain for all to see; that is precisely why I've just chosen to spend the very thick end of three grand of my own notes with them on a trip I could do for less than a fifth of that - and do with the likes of Gulf Air in biz class for about half of that.

It's just good fortune for VS that I don't give a flying one about amenity kits (I can pack for myself, thanks, and even choose my own cufflinks) - but it's a gamble that seems wantonly reckless to take when you're asking for top money and ought to be striving to iron out every little wrinkle that might make you less appealing to most premium customers.

Suppose I'll never understand it - and that's why I'd never make an airline exec...

Engines.... Who needs four anyway?

[fozzyo]

Does anyone remember in one of the Monty Python films, probably Holy Grail, the cow being errr launched into the castle by means of a very large catapult. Wonder if one would reach across the pond?

Originally posted by fozzyo
Does anyone remember in one of the Monty Python films, probably Holy Grail, the cow being errr launched into the castle by means of a very large catapult. Wonder if one would reach across the pond?

Err, Dean, are you suggesting some description about V-Flyers? He he he