Latest news on IFBT's

[RichardMannion]

Sorry to be the devils advocate here as I do like the IFBT's, but reading the thread on CC about the changes overall one does only have to cast their mind back to the pay dispute and think 'repercussions'. [:?]

Actually I got treatments both ways on my last U/C flights to Dubai[:D]

Originally posted by preiffer
I get the feeling the ugly sweaty dudes might not get 'randomly selected' that often... [;)]

Originally posted by McCoy
I would sacrifice the IFBT (not in an Indiana Jones film kinda way, obviously..) for a chef/cook/food dude. And turn in-flight catering into a big selling point. Yesterday, I had a business breakfast on a BMI shuttle to LHR, and a PE meal on the VS11. Guess which one was better?!!

The last BMI business brekkie I had was last month LHR-JER, and I was unsure whether to wait until something else other than a tiny bag of cut apple and a muffin turned up. Not sure if this is because of the short route, but BMI business has been gooing seriously down hill for several years, starting with the packed lunch cardboard boxes, and then the dropping of Business on all but a few domestic routes, when even Champagne disappeared from the service. At least you can still get Champagne on BA Club Europe.

Which doesn't answer your question - so which is it, BMI business brekkie or PE?

H

Tut and big tut!! Just when I have our first UC flight from LAX booked(May)! Tut!

I hope the IFBT's do get jobs within the company and are looked after.

It's a worrying time when anyone's job is on the line so I sincerely hope that the IFBTs are offered a decent alternative within VS if indeed the service is to be scrapped.

All of the IFBTs I have met over the years have been some of the most enthusiastic members of CC who really do love their job. I've also had some fantastic treatments too.

On the issue of chewing gum, I'm afraid that I do indulge in this disgusting habit from time to time, but NEVER when working. It's one of the most unprofessional things you can do, especially in a customer service role!

As for chewing gum, I think crew should be allowed to have it in the galley. I always bring mints, but I would use gum if I had to. Getting off of crew rest = morning breath. You don't want that breathing on you with your coffee. lol. But seriously, I think mints are a better alternative and only should be consumed in the galley.

I'll be very sorry to see them go. On our Oz trip last year I was offered a treatment on every leg (made up for the times when I haven't been so lucky). IMHO some of the best cabin service I've had has come from the IFBTs (doing other crew related duties in addition to their own).I do hope VS looks out for them.
Crew chewing gum? Yeuk.Please make it a disciplinary offence.

VITB - was the gum chewing bit a red herring. Of course, like in Singapore, CC should be hung, drawn and quartered if publicly chewing (gum that is).

Now on the real issue - seems from cc.com there's a real worry about this, and if the leaks are true then VS's management of this is pretty damn apalling. But sadly atypical.

As to the IFBT service, almost all the therapists I've met have been great, but frankly I see it as a pointless marketing gimmick. The treatements are so limited that they can sometimes be half arse, the random (?) lottery inadequate on a full flight - I normally now just politely decline in any case.

And for those of you who think this means VS investing in kitchens and chefs, food, stocking adequate levels of crisps and drinks, ha ha ha (mad) ha ha - no way in a million years, try a new planet.

It is not just the IFBT role which is being looked into but all crew onboard.

Galley FM is red hot at the minute, there is talk of possibly getting rid of the Upper Class CSS and only having one in economy with the FSM doing both roles in Upper Class.
I have also heard the FSM might get the boot and have just 2 CSS onboard and the CSS in Upper in overall control.

I have also heard the bar might go to make way for more J suites.

No one seems to know what will happen but I do know one thing for sure, this is totally 100% to do with saving money by losing 2 crew positions. There will be NO chef or better food onboard, just more profit in VS pocket!!!

Originally posted by vscss
It is not just the IFBT role which is being looked into but all crew onboard.

Galley FM is red hot at the minute, there is talk of possibly getting rid of the Upper Class CSS and only having one in economy with the FSM doing both roles in Upper Class.
I have also heard the FSM might get the boot and have just 2 CSS onboard and the CSS in Upper in overall control.

I have also heard the bar might go to make way for more J suites.

No one seems to know what will happen but I do know one thing for sure, this is totally 100% to do with saving money by losing 2 crew positions. There will be NO chef of better food onboard, just more profit in VS pocket!!!

Exactly, we all need a reality check. All LHR carriers are having to take a very long look at the books, oil prices are squeezing out all of the profits and anything that doesn't make the company extra money is being looked at. Open Skies is just another reason that we need to make this even clearer.

Originally posted by vscss

I have also heard the bar might go to make way for more J suites.

I wonder will this happen on the A346? Unless the suites are lighter than the bar, I've read elsewhere that Airbus have warned airlines about the weight of the business cabins potentially causing 'droopy nose syndrome'. I think VS were the most targeted by this due to the suite's weight and the sheer number of them in VS in front of the wingbox.

I understand the economics involved here but if all VS USP's are dropped except the CH (and you have to visit it at least once to appreciate it is different), what will be the attraction over the competition?

[Neil]

At the moment all of this is just rumour and 'thoughts', for all we know the IFBT could being called to a meeting to inform them of a huge pay rise......ok maybe I am stretching it a bit but until VS announce anything then all we are doing is making assumptions.

As a new UC pax with 3 sectors coming up, the fact that VS had the IFBT had no bearing on our decision to fly J with VS what so ever, and I very much doubt we would have used the facility. I personally think whilst it is a nice gimmick/USP the money could be better spent on other more important areas, like the food which obviously needs looking at and in any case I imagine most pax who want a treatment make the effort to get one in the CH.

VS, like every other business will be being hit by rising prices, especially fuel but as they are in a very price sensitive and competitive market they are not able to push the increases onto the pax very easilt. Would a J pax be happy to pay say another £x amount to have the IFBT on board? The 'credit crunch' is really starting to hit peoples pockets and I read that 90% of consumers are likely to decrease their spending of 'luxuries' like holidays because of it. I am sure whatever VS have decided it will not have been taken lightly but if it is the worst then I am sure there are lots of different reasons behind it.

Hi guys, first time posting and in light of todays topic i'm sure you'll understand my need to chip in here.

So, random selection works like this..we call the clubhouse and get names of who have been treated, not seat numbers, names... Virgin likes EVERYONE to be treated at least once in their entire journey..that is the aim we try to achieve. So we have ranking 1-5 and have to follow that! We can only do 2 back in the clouds in a row and are limited to 10 per flight, so usually the random selection works by calculating treatments to which we can work to health and safety standards.

Us IFBT's are extremeely busy, not only do we make up the crew component but we are also always busy, i have never had one flight where i had less than my mnimum target wanting treatments, on top of our own service we assist crew with all number of things from making up beds, doing water rounds to answering call bells.

Somebody mentioned crew rest, we are entitled to breaks on certain flights for legal reasons... ALL crew have rest it's just more obvious when we do because we are the only ones in white! Even the captain rests!

I have worked hard at my job and love it, i love making our passengers feel special and making your flight as enjoyable as possible...i know most of you on here support us, and are hoping we get crew positions etc but we just have to sit and wait until we know what is going on.

P.S On your note of gum...i think it's disgusting, rude and certainly not professional.

[Decker]

Welcome the-IFBT - definitely hope it all works out as well as it can for all y'all. Some of my most interesting chats on flights are with IFBTs (or BTSs [;)]). I suspect that one of the reasons people might mistakenly think IFBTs shouldn't take crew rest it that they overlook the overall length of the working day and just see the flight element! Thanks for posting!

Thankyou Decker

[mitchja]

Another welcome from me as well, the-ifbt [:D]

I also hope things work out for you. I for one will miss you guys if this turns out to be true [:#]

Regards

Thankyou James but surely should i become crew i'll just make sure i carry my handcream so you can still have a hand and arm massage at the bar, lol.......

On a serious note, i love this company and although employed as an ifbt i would rather work in economy for 10years than leave. Flying, fellow crew and our lovely passengers is my passion, so by whatever means i hope to remain..and red is so much nicer than white!

Thankyou all for your kind words and messages.x

[HighFlyer]

Welcome to V-Flyer, the-ifbt [:)]

Its good to have your side of the story, and I think everyone here is genuinely hoping that there will be good news for all you IFBT's as we can only imagine that you are all worried right now.

I think it might have been me that mentioned crew rest. I just wanted to explain a little there. Of course all crew deserve crew rest, my reference was back to a particular trip a while back where the IFBT performed only a small handful of treatments, claiming that everybody else onboard had had one in the Clubhouse so she had no obligation to treat them and then was hardly seen in the cabin as she took extended crew rest. Fortunately most IFBT's i have met have been really good, and provided a great service in the air, and I for one really enjoy the treatments onboard and would be very sorry to see them go.

Thanks,
Sarah

Hi Sarah, thanks for explaining..yes in that case it is completely unacceptable..our targets are not what treatments we do but the MINIMUM required..so to leave passengers cos they had clubhouse treatments is wrong..they should still be on her list just further down her list.

I am sure the IFBT is safe. This is about changing the role in the cabin, extra duties and a shake up of the UCS. All done rather dramatically, but surely no-one is sacked by megaphone anymore.

The IFBT is rather valueless imo. The A346 suffers from a lack of lavs (average queue to change from PJ's 10mins). Ditch the IFBT and replace the space with another loo. The treatments aren't really that impressive either. VS has enough else to differentiate the product - the UCS, Clubhouse and drive through check in are really strong elements of the product. For the 'core' businss traveller, all of those make much more difference than a mediocre masage or manicure. A couple of extra seats would also be welcome - getting J class on popular flights is often very tough.

Happy for the bar to go too - generates too much noise thus makes a reasonable chunk of seats undesirable. Those of us unlucky enough to travel last minute and desiring to sleep often end up with a rubbish nights kip as a result.

Chewing gum on board? Very, very bad.

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by barfly
I am sure the IFBT is safe.

I hope you are right, barfly. Are you saying this from a position of knowledge?

All we know at the moment is that IFBT's have had their trips suspended and they all have to attend a meeting next week, where all will be revealed. I hope this is more than an update on new H&S regulations. [):]

I have to admit that I am ambivalent about a treatment on board - I am not a regular UC flier, and when I do fly UC I prefer a treatment on the ground. Having said that, every IFBT I have seen and spoken to on board has been pleasant and apparently hard working; and I would hate to think they are being made redundant, or forced into a career change against their will, as has been suggested on cc.com.

Time will tell - in the mean time all the best to 'the-ifbt', and your colleagues, and a warm welcome to V-Flyer. I hope it turns out for the best next week.


Nick

[HighFlyer]

Now the Bar is one aspect that really differentiates VS from its competition in my eyes, and I for one do not want to see it go. The bar is what keeps me sane on a long flight like the Asia routes. [:D]

the-ibft - It was a genuine pleasure to meet you, and I hope that Tuesday brings very good news for you and your colleagues.

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Now the Bar is one aspect that really differentiates VS from its competition in my eyes, and I for one do not want to see it go. The bar is what keeps me sane on a long flight like the Asia routes. [:D]

Clearly you have a stronger liver than mine![:D] The sane assuring device for me is the bed, and 8 hours sleep.