Latest news on IFBT's

Originally posted by barfly
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.

If that is the case why stop all IBFT's from flying and not produce any rosters for the forthcoming routes?!? Personally it smells a bit fishy to me.

It is all very sad as many others have said and I do feel for 'the- Ibft' and all his/her colleagues.

From a business point of view I guess I can understand exactly why this has been done, increasing oil charges, uncertainty in the industry and open skies are all mounting pressure on the airline. Crucially this is a big change from the previous skimping on Champagne on board or from being tight on amenity packs, this now affects peoples jobs directly.

Many have mentioned that the ibft station and bar could be replaced by extra seats. I am sure someone like Denzil maybe to clarify but surely the 346, in particular, is operating at its maximum limits with the UCS installed. For example I know that Air NZ can't install their UCS on the 767 as the floor is not strong enough and the a/c would not be able to get off the ground.

Personally if I was the PR department at VS, and if the rumour is true, I would be worried at the fact that this has been released into the public domain. I would imagine VF is the last place they want this kind of stuff coming up on!

[Decker]

Sorry to say I'm with Sarah. On my recent series of trips to NZ with ANZ the thing I missed the most was the bar. On the return VS251 this week I estimate I spent about 80% of my time there. I'm not claustrophobic per se but I'd prefer not to be in a cocoon if I'm awake... (I also estimate I drank 3 litres of water...)

I have to admit that after I posted I thought again and also smelled fish. Over half of VS flights are going 1 or 2 crew down at the moment, are they going to persude the beauts into a red skirt en masse?

[mitchja]

I too think if the bar goes as well then so will a lot of J pax.

The bar is so much more than just a drink serving area. You get the chance to meet many different people during the flight. It's somewhere you can chat to fellow pax and crew.

Regards

[Darren Wheeler]

If the IFBT does get dropped, and lets not forget it is a big IF at the moment, I cannot see how they can fit extra suites in.

Looking on the seat maps, and from memory, I can only see a suite being fitted if it's turned through 90 degrees. Hardly enhancing the privacy of it as the suite opposite will be looking straight out you.

The bar being removed, yes I can see 2 being fitted there.

To do these changes won't be a couple of hours so will have to be done on one of maintenance cycles.

Originally posted by willd
Personally if I was the PR department at VS, and if the rumour is true, I would be worried at the fact that this has been released into the public domain. I would imagine VF is the last place they want this kind of stuff coming up on!

It was on a public board well before VF.

Not the best way for this sort of news to be put out!

!!!

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

Nick, the only knowledge I have is that the meeting,about changes to the UCS service ,is 'highly confidential'

If you want to scare the c**p out of your workforce this is a good way of doing it.

[buns]

I do sincerely hope that the suppositions both here and on CC prove to be unfounded and that IFBTs remain with VS.

I have only ever had a few treatments on board and fully realise the limitations on the number of treatments able to be provided - when i have had the privilege i have found every single IFBT to have the ability to make me feel special.

VS please keep the service

buns

We have had treatments on most of the flights we have taken in the last year - on two occasions we have had the same IFBT who has remembered us. Maybe we have been lucky but we have only ever had faultless service from both the CC and the IFBT. I always go for the neck and shoulders massage and although too brief, the treatment certainly unknots the tension.

As for the bar, Mr Avalon loves it - he is a tall guy and for him the ability to get up, have a stretch and a drink at the bar is a real bonus - having just done more than our fair share of BA long haul in J I can honestly say that I missed the bar - and I dont really drink but I found it quite claustraphobic in the NGCW seat and would have appreciated the bar if only to have the ability to get up and stretch and have a drink standing up (not in the way of the CW Kitchen)

Originally posted by Bill S

Originally posted by willd
Personally if I was the PR department at VS, and if the rumour is true, I would be worried at the fact that this has been released into the public domain. I would imagine VF is the last place they want this kind of stuff coming up on!

It was on a public board well before VF.

Not the best way for this sort of news to be put out!

I was aware of that. I would imagine that the PR department were praying that no-one on here would notice/be informed until the official announcement. After all VF is the number one independent source for travelers on VS. I wonder just how many potential UCS flyers have/will check this site before any official announcement and decide not to go with VS as a result. After all CC.com is a bit like a.net or pprune, you only know of it if your in the industry or a regular traveler/aviation enthusiast.

I clicked the link to CC intenting to skim read a few posts.

However I ahve just spent, goodness knows how long, reading all 14 pages.

Truly a worrying time for the IFBT who are feeling like 'dead men walking' right now.

Sad also to see them grasping at straws hoping they will get senior cabin crew positions, then seeing the jnr's getting irate.

As if morale with VS crew was not low enough after the pay deal fiasco, they now have this to deal with.

Being made redundant is a risk for many people in employment, especially in todays financially turbulent times, however my thoughts are with those IFBT and JNR crew who are worried about their futures.

[Darren Wheeler]

CC is always good for a read. It amazes me how some of the posters slate VS management about how badly it's being handled while at the same time turning rumour and gossip into gospel.

To be fair to management all they have done is arrange for all the IFBT's to be in one place at one time for an announcement. OK, it doesn't look like a good announcment but the rest of the crews need, to be blunt, to shut their big gobs and stop causing worry by spreading rumours.

Could not agree with you more Darren, a lot of what is said on there is what we call galley fm and as regards to management i will say this. I have never had a problem and if i did i would never air such on a public forum, however with this whole IFBT talk i understand they have tried to get us all together first to announce whatever it is they are going to announce.

[Darren Wheeler]

Having been in a similar situation before, you can never second guess what it will be about.

Once it was to announce my team was at risk of redundancy and another was just to inform us of a sacking, but to ensure we all got the same information at the same time to stop rumours.

Doesn't stop you worrying though.

From tomorrow's Times:

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/b ... 678398.ece

[Darren Wheeler]

Big emphasis on the word may

According to the article, it's for a product review which includes the CDC and menu. Oh please let the menu be reviewed!!!

Wow is all i feel i need to say, interpret what you will from that!

Just wanted to say that some of you have sent me private mail but for some reason i can't gain access to read it, not sure why so if somebody could explain how i sort it be much appreciated..and just so those of you know i'm not ignoring you, lol.

[Darren Wheeler]

Originally posted by the-ifbt
Just wanted to say that some of you have sent me private mail but for some reason i can't gain access to read it, not sure why so if somebody could explain how i sort it be much appreciated..and just so those of you know i'm not ignoring you, lol.

To access PM's you need to be a paid-up member.

But for VS crew (from help section):
'If you are Virgin staff, then we offer complimentary membership of the site. Contact [email protected] if you'd like more details about staff membership.'[;)]

Thankyou Darren!

Mods i have tried mailing you but keeps coming back failed and as i am not a paid up member i can't pm you!

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by the-ifbt
Mods i have tried mailing you but keeps coming back failed and as i am not a paid up member i can't pm you!

Pete has now sorted it - you shouldn't have any more problems.

Nick

Looks like very sad news,can't say I was a big fan of inflight treatments but always enjoyed a chat with the IFBT hope everyone gets sorted.

They've had IFBTs for 18 years?? [:?]

Now on BBC News too link

Speaking with my passenger hat on - I'm very interested in another post on that cabin crew site, and the regular issues with being crew down and the effect it has on in flight service and timely departures.

I wonder, is removing the IFBT squad, as rumoured, a way of addressing this by offering them a move to crew without increasing the payroll???