Pathetic - News for anyone flying over NY

Originally posted by stu
Sorry i think i havent made myself clear. I am not actually going to change anything right now but to plan ahead and find out if i can, and make best a back up plan to take effect if the strike does go ahead.

However in regards to the inbound flight i personally think it should be able to be moved. If for example i had only booked a weekend in New York and the Friday flight was delayed until Saturday evening but the inbound was not effected are you suggestion one should fly out only to return the next day since VS should not and are not required to alter both flights as per the travellers original schedule? After all is it the passengers fault that Virgin and its staff cannot find an agreement? Why should a passenger who had originally booked a 2 week holiday be penalised?

Unfortunately, although you may have bought your tickets as a 'round trip', each segment acts independently, so VS has no reason to modify both. VS's job is to get you from one place to another and back (in most cases), and even though you'd lose a few days that job would have still been accomplished.

Thanks Pete, as you say it does indeed look promising and i thoroughly respect your opinions and help so thank you. It certainly has helped.
VSEWR whilst i do to a certain extent agree with you i feel your argument is flawed. You say Virgins job is to get me from A - B and back again, it is. But when i entered into a contract with them it was to get me there and back on a certain date.
If they are moving the goal posts and relying on terms of the contract to alter my outbound flight then surely as a way of compensation my inbound flight could also be moved to accommodate my best interests since i am the innocent party?

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You say Virgins job is to get me from A - B and back again, it is. But when i entered into a contract with them it was to get me there and back on a certain date.
>>>

Unfortunately this isn't the case. Your contract is for Virgin to get you there and back, but not on specific days....

This is another downside of making separate arrangements yourself; if you had booked a package with Virgin Holidays for example, you would have much better rights. But this typically comes at a cost, and is one of 'risks' you take by booking in this way. For example if you book your own connecting flights, and the first flight is delayed for any reason, then Virgin have no responsibility for the connection at all.

As has been said, the chances of your holiday being disrupted are very low and I am sure that neither Virgin nor their staff want the strike. But at the end of the day, Virgin will make a business decision, weighing the cost of the offer that staff will accept, versus the costs of the disruption of a strike. And staff will decide whether their lost earnings would be balanced by a better package in the long term.

I think there are very few winners when the workers and the company fall out, and many losers with lots of 'collateral damage' as the military say...

I feel an inner compulsion to delete this post every time I see it as the title irritates me intensely. Fortunately for democracy that is not within my power. The word 'pathetic' is just not appropiate to this situation; neither is the characterisation of VA as 'an arrogant and obnoxious company' - not in this instance at any rate.

That is not say that I don't have sympathy for Stu's anguish; thousands, myself included, are in a similar situation. VA are between a rock and a hard place on this one too.

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by pkatmk
I feel an inner compulsion to delete this post every time I see it as the title irritates me intensely. Fortunately for democracy that is not within my power.

The mods won't delete or censor a post just because we don't agree with the views expressed or, more specifically in this case, the inflammatory manner in which they are put over.

Provided the post doesn't breach any of the rules of the forum, it will be left as is, unless the OP decides to edit it.

Nick

Hi Nick

Your point was already well understood and appreciated. I was just expressing my personal distaste for this kind of hyperbole.

Ironically, my replying in this post will do nothing to help its title disappear from my screen.[:?]

I personally feel the title reflected my feelings after having spoke to a telephone operator at Virgin.
I got the impression of a care free nothing is happening attitude and there was very little concern at all.

The fact is Virgin may end up having a strike, their shareholders may end up losing money. But it wont go bust. People will still fly Virgin.

Passengers - the innocent ones in all this are the ones who stand to lose out. People who have looked forward to, have finances tied up in and who are expecting a holiday will lose out.

Pathetic described the help i am expected to receive if there is a strike, people keep relying on the 'compensation package' virgin will offer. I hgave already explained this and as part of their terms there will be NO COMPENSATION.
Arrogant described the self importance that was displayed, the way that Virgin are practically denying all knowledge and appearing to just think that they will survive this on their name an reputation - which most likely they will.
Obnoxious perfectly described the way i was spoken to, like i was being unreasonable for wanting to have some sort of provisional plan in place.

I am now looking on the whole situation a little more positively, but my opinion on Virgin has not changed. I am a Silver tier FF (mainly through business) and always opt for Virgin where i can and i have to agree, the attitude i have experienced regarding this is a reflection of the service i have come to expect from VS in the last couple of years.

Thanks to democracy that this topic stays live and i thank the impartial moderators for recognising the importance of views from both sides.

I for sure hope the strike doesn't go ahead! As i've been looking forward to fly UC on VS19 on Jan 2nd for a year!!! And i've already booked hotels etc at SFO..