Blogs start noticing lower quality UC

Now this is the type of UC customer that VS should be trying to keep. He has oodles of money and up until now had plenty of choice. Unfortunately as others have predicted, the VS UC experience doesn't end with the Heathrow Clubhouse. link

[Scrooge]

Well this pretty much sums up what a lot of us have been saying on here.

Has VS cut to deep in the UC cabin, only time and pax numbers will tell.

Even my LHR Clubhouse experience was a bit 'varied' during my visit on Saturday: 'no seats' in the 'brasserie' area I was told, well, except for the booths which seem to be reserved for Zelebs or VS staffers having a meeting, then being ignored by staff when I wanted food elsewhere in the CH.

Also, regardless of what they say, the menu/service isn't the same everywhere in the CH. Sat in the brasserie, you are offered water, bread, etc., with your meal. Sat elsewhere in the lounge, you are only brought the thing you ordered, to be consumed using some dirty (and wrong, i.e. a knife for eating pasta) cutlery.

Somewhat made up for by a splendid haircut (really, the best haircut I've had in a while), and rock solid mojitos from the bar.

The gate experience was dire - a long story, but I spent 25 minutes sat in the gate room while they tried to work out why I was already shown as being on board (turns out I had a boarding sequence number collision with someone else with the same surname - how the hell that happens, I don't know).

Oh, and when I boarded, I found someone had sat in my allocated seat (because they didn't fancy their seat near the galley).

The flight itself was okay, but apart from the nice crew (who also seemed equally as nice in PE when I stuck my nose through the curtains), I wondered why I'd bothered upgrading, I'd probably have been just as happy in PE. The food was okay, fairly reasonable, but I got served some utter dishwater disgused as a 'cappucino'.

Like the blogger, I found the bed very hard, the foam just seemed to squish down to nothing, so you are lying on the hard framework of the seat.

Is it just me, or does the pillow in UC seem slimmed down and shrunken in size too?

At least I was on a Boeing, with it's nice, broken up cabin. The toast rack the blogger was travelling must have been the 340-600. I think you actually get more space in PE on the Airbus!

Mike

The luxury silk goodies bag had been replaced by a nasty black rough cotton shoe bag. Inside there were some Chinese made socks and a nasty second hand toothbrush. The old satin face mask was replaced by a piece of elastic and a thin piece of material to cover the eyes.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to mourn the passing of the VS AMENITY KIT, a friend to all who knew it and a dearly missed presence in all our lives.

GJ

Having now relinquished the IFBT which must have saved a few quid surely its common business sense to give a little back to the GOOD OLD CUSTOMER

I fear the best amenity kits are that given to the kids travelling to ORLANDO

Why not start a petition and demand better kits or a Vote if it hasn't been done before
I may put one on eBay just to see how much the JOE PUBLIC would pay for such quality merchandise !!!!!

If the in UC BAR goes (A Rumour I heard) would there be any point flying VIRGIN other than the CLUBHOUSE at LHR

Originally posted by Flashboy
Why not start a petition and demand better kits or a Vote if it hasn't been done before
I may put one on eBay just to see how much the JOE PUBLIC would pay for such quality merchandise !!!!!

I fully support an amenity kit uprising!!!

GJ

Well I'm sorry to take issue with the title of this thread 'Blogs start noticing lower quality UC' ... one blog does not make blogs and frankly the opinions of one fairly lunatic person ('the back packers airline', I thought that as EJ? 'I asked for lip gloss', really were you in Sephora? 'nasty second hand toothbrush', ouch have things got that bad? 'no wonder I sat at the bar alone', what a surprise?) are more humorous than any objective commentary on declining service.

Well I would say that since I am a total VS apologist LOL! But after two recent flights in UC (last week back from LA, yesterday to ORD) which constituted some of the best I have ever had (LHR-ORD was exceptional in almost all regards from staff on the ground, ontime departure and landing, superb crew, decent food, champagne that lasted all through the journey - OK the films were not to my taste but hey you can't have everything, the club house was busy and I waited two minutes for a table to be cleaned for breakfast, oh and there was a tiny scratch on my suite [:D]).

Originally posted by slinky09
there was a tiny scratch on my suite [:D]).

That's got to be worth 20,000 miles if you write in... [:w]

GJ

I may put one on eBay just to see how much the JOE PUBLIC would pay for such quality merchandise !!!!!

I was only joking but just looked on eBay for 'VIRGIN AMENITY' and was astounded that people actually sell this stuff

Please Note
I'm not Knocking Virgin and have travelled UC 3 times in the last 6 months to Barbados and Mauritius. Wine is plentiful and the crew are a joy even if they did lose my passport on the plane (Found just before landing, I saw the funny side[:D])

But I do challenge anyone who thinks the current kits are acceptable for UC
Continental, AA and Emirates kits are far better, Virgin should be the best out there. I have always found that the little things in life make it what it is (No sexual innuendo intended)

My mission now is to obtain UC/First Class Amenity kits from the world's top 10 AIRLINES and compare

Originally posted by Flashboy
But I do challenge anyone who thinks the current kits are acceptable for UC, Continental, AA and Emirates kits are far better, Virgin should be the best out there. I have always found that the little things in life make it what it is (No sexual innuendo intended)

Emirates only give kits on night time flights over 7 hours ...

My mission now is to obtain UC/First Class Amenity kits from the world's top 10 AIRLINES and compare

GJ just fell in love [:I].

Originally posted by Flashboy
Knocking Virgin

Isn't that an oxymoron?

My mission now is to obtain UC/First Class Amenity kits from the world's top 10 AIRLINES and compare.

How quickly can you be in Seattle, ready for a life of wedded bliss?

GJ

Gary Bembridge at http://mytravelreviews.blogspot.com/ has gotten very displeased with VS, albeit after slightly different circumstances. I've generally come to think of his reviews as being fairly unbiased.

soyy couldn't agree with the first bloggers blog more.

i recently flew UC with VS for the 1st time, (see my trip reports) and was thoroughly dissapointed, fortunatly that was 'paid' for with airmiles, my next trip will be PE, I see no advantage to going UC other than the Heathrow lounge and as I'm going from LGW for my next trip that isn't even an option. [n]

Sounds to me like there needs to be a big style TLC by Virgin Atlantic in UC.

Actually meeting the hallowed RB next week, so will mention it to him, hopefully we can get something done - he knows of this site and does dip in from time to time, so keep the thread going....

And yes... lets get some better amenity kits going!!! [:D]

It goes deeper than just UC. As a homeowner in Florida i am also a member of a homeowners forum with over 2000 members and at present VA are doing a fine job of losing many potential PAXs many of who (myself inc) fly PE or UC. The thread running on there has many posters all who are moaning about , timekeeping , breakdowns , equipment failure on board, service etc. Sadly there are no direct alternatives to MCO from MAN or i would be voting with my feet and in all probability so would a few hundred more. Pass that on to RB baloobear.[:(]

Originally posted by Bazamor
It goes deeper than just UC. As a homeowner in Florida i am also a member of a homeowners forum with over 2000 members and at present VA are doing a fine job of losing many potential PAXs many of who (myself inc) fly PE or UC. The thread running on there has many posters all who are moaning about , timekeeping , breakdowns , equipment failure on board, service etc. Sadly there are no direct alternatives to MCO from MAN or i would be voting with my feet and in all probability so would a few hundred more. Pass that on to RB baloobear.[:(]

I will do that with pleasure - having done a number of projects with RB for VS I know that he does scour these pages quite regularly and will not be happy if any class is not meeting expectations.

Just read the article in THE FINTAG NEWSLETTER from the link earlier in this topic,

I love the writers quote of, 'Bring back Eos'
Eos like a few other airlines that have recently folded could not cope nor afford the type is service it was offering hense why they are no longer flying. As much as UC could do with a little TLC lets not forget the current climate all airlines are in. So with regards to VS cutting back alittle, Im all for it 'IF' it help hedge out costs. Id rather have that than us grounding aircraft like FR and cutting routes like AA and UA. I work with the Upper class product day in day out and still think its one of the best in the sky. Sometimes I feel ppl forget its a business class cabin and not first.

Of course UC is a business class cabin, but I am sure that in the past SRB has said something along the lines of UC being not much short of first class service / product for a business class price.

The VS website is still happily stating that the UC seat is wider than BA's business & first class offerings. You have to be careful how far you go with claims like this - whilst I am sure the bit about the seat width is true, it is a common theme on here that UC food on VS is not as good as some of it's competitors business class offerings. Indeed, the indifferent food in all classes on VS seems to be a common theme.

From my own personal view - a relative newcomer to UC - the standards are OK. My last flight back in November was better than the first a year earlier. That said, I am not the sort of customer that VS need to appease - they need to get/keep the regular J class business travellers on-side.

James

Well Baloobear

Tell Mr B to sort his act out when you see him if he is going to take control of Gatwick when BA have to pass it on

Also he owes me a G&T for MAN UTD winning the Champions League this season (Passing bet in one of Ramsey's Establishments)

It isn't rocket science, a bit of TLC with a nice AMENITY KIT goes a long way, better than IFBT

2 down, 8 to go with kits (SEE PREVIOUS)

Im only new to this SITE so dont shoot me

As per my previous post I work with the UC product daily and the percentage of customers dissatisfied with the snooze pack it not worth mentioning. [:w]

Originally posted by SurferGirl
As per my previous post I work with the UC product daily and the percentage of customers dissatisfied with the snooze pack it not worth mentioning. [:w]

[ii]

GJ

Originally posted by SurferGirl
As per my previous post I work with the UC product daily and the percentage of customers dissatisfied with the snooze pack it not worth mentioning. [:w]

The snooze pack is certainly nothing to write home about, but personally I would even go without it if it saved money that could be spent elsewhere. For me, the food is the biggest issue right now. Not only is it poor quality, but on my last 3 trips I couldn't even get the desert I was hoping for. Now I have to be honest and say that I make up for this in the clubhouses, but my number one reason for flying UC is to make the 9 hours in the air go by as fast and as pleasantly as possible, not so that I can eat like a horse in the clubhouse.

The one touch I do like about the food are the airplane salt and pepper shakers. One of these days they will follow me off the plane...[:w]

Originally posted by SurferGirl
As per my previous post I work with the UC product daily and the percentage of customers dissatisfied with the snooze pack it not worth mentioning. [:w]

OK, I'm waiting for the VS002 at EWR ... what is the snooze pack, what does it look like and where do I get one?

Originally posted by baldbrit

The one touch I do like about the food are the airplane salt and pepper shakers. One of these days they will follow me off the plane...[:w]

erm make me an offer, i may have a set or 2!! [}:)][:#]

I do agree about the food...its not great. However I was at LSG last week the new menu and its much better there will be 3 deserts that will change around as well as the ice cream.