VS to launch community

[Decker]

Comments on a postcard...

[Scrooge]

VS Facebook #2 ?

Of interest though is a link at the bottom of the page saying VS is going to push the RTW fares, from what I am hearing we should be able to earn VS miles on most (excluding Virgin Nigeria I think) airlines by the end of summer [y]

[Darren Wheeler]

I wonder where they got that idea from??? [:w]

[preiffer]

Sounds like a NESTA output...

[Pete]

No, this has been in the works a lot longer than the NESTA involvement; the domain was registered almost a year ago (and you can be sure design-by-committee meant they had plenty of meetings before choosing that name).

What I can't figure out yet is whether this is good or bad news for us. Perhaps early involvement from us will ensure a happy future together [;)]

This appears to be nothing more than a Virgin branded V-Flyer, but obviously Virgin will have a lot more ownership of the personal data etc. I suppose VS are looking at more creative ways of marketing, I read in the new ad brief that BA outspend VS five to one on marketing.

I think it will be interesting, but the 'official' website won't be as much fun as the 'unofficial' one, which is often the case.

This might have a few V-flyers spitting out their champagne- The company involved with Virgin Atlantic,in this venture is ATTIK. Both founders Simon Needham and James Sommerville hailing from HUDDERSFIELD! [}:)]

http://www.attik.com/#/menu-team/simonn ... anded=true

Regards
Bryan

I do not see this as a good move.
The great advantage of VF is it's independence.

Is this a way to attempt to control criticism and information?
To know Who is saying What by having access to IP addresses?

[RichardMannion]

Not a project I'd be greenlighting in this climate to be honest. And the bit about monetising in the future via a booking service is interesting, given the limited ability of the booking service on virginatlantic.com as it is.

Target of 2m members, when only 372k unique visitors last year? The words stale and churn spring to mind.

Though it covers some of the same ground as V-F, it looks to me more like a upmarket holiday marketing exercise than a community.

Paul

[Scrooge]

quote:Originally posted by pjh
Though it covers some of the same ground as V-F, it looks to me more like a upmarket holiday marketing exercise than a community.

Paul




Exactly, kind of like an expanded destination guide.

Ok, and the problem with people from Huddersfield is what exactly?

S.

[Scrooge]

quote:Originally posted by VAFFPAX
Ok, and the problem with people from Huddersfield is what exactly?

S.


He saw the H and assumed Hull [:w]

The idea of a social networking type site may of been thought about a year ago, but I;m sure that many of the ideas possibly came out of the Nesta / VJam event.

Whilst many of us are experienced travellers and quite happy to trust an independant website such as v-flyer, there are probably just as many customers that wouldn't trust v-flyer, but may trust a virgin sponsored website such as vtraveller. My mum, who is down with the youth, as is said in some circles, is certainly social media aware, but wouldn't venture out of virgin territory.

I think that many of us on here have a slightly blinkered view of the world, and forget about the other side of the fence!

[Scrooge]

Not at all, my big worry about this is that VS has proven time and again that they can come up with great ideas, the problems start when they try to turn these ideas into reality.

I just cannot see them dedicating the staff and resources necessary to run a site like that.

quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
Not at all, my big worry about this is that VS has proven time and again that they can come up with great ideas, the problems start when they try to turn these ideas into reality.

I just cannot see them dedicating the staff and resources necessary to run a site like that.



Think you are right there. Whilst many forums tend to be self moderating, you have to have a critical mass of people willing to contribute in the first place, an a bunch of people to step in when need be.

You either do it well, or don't bother

[Scrooge]

Yep, the problem I see is finding people who know enough to answer the questions quickly, without mistakes being made, there is nothing like having a piece of paper from a VS website in your hand saying that yes you do get access to the CH on a VH PE booking (just an example), the VS FB page has proved that they need a dedicated staff and I am sorry, but with staff pay freezes, lay offs on the horizon, I just don't see this going well.....

Plus we are going to give them GJ as a welcome to the internet present [:D]

[quote]Originally posted by Scrooge
[quote]Originally posted by VAFFPAX
Ok, and the problem with people from Huddersfield is what exactly?

S.


He saw the H and assumed Hull [:w]


Hull/Huddersfield, it matters not, both are populated by White rose monkeys. [:D]

Regards
Bryan

[preiffer]

quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
Plus we are going to give them GJ as a welcome to the internet present [:D]


Without the receipt. Non-returnable... [:w]

[Scrooge]

quote:Originally posted by preiffer
quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
Plus we are going to give them GJ as a welcome to the internet present [:D]


Without the receipt. Non-returnable... [:w]


Only exchange for like item...Neil

[Neil]

quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
[quote]Originally posted by preiffer
[quote]Originally posted by Scrooge
Plus we are going to give them GJ as a welcome to the internet present [:D]


Without the receipt. Non-returnable... [:w]


Only exchange for like item...Neil


Rules for a typical V-Flyer thread:

An amusing comment from LRoM - check
Insult Neil - check
Insult Hull - check

I actually quite like the idea of this VS community, although I think they should make it purely for people currently living in the UK....[:w]

[Pete]

Erm, yes. Neil actually makes a point. The in-jokes about Hull are getting a bit much. Can we at least keep them to Off Topic, please?

Apparently this is a screenshot...

http://www.travolution.co.uk/blog/vtravelled2.jpg

Which does seem to be just a bigger version of BA's MetroTwin web/blogsite.

[Scrooge]

Interesting that there is a link to lastminute on there, but it does just look like a normal travel booking site to me.

[quote]Originally posted by sixdownkeepsafedepth
Hull/Huddersfield, it matters not, both are populated by White rose monkeys. [:D]

Regards
Bryan

Say what you will about Hull (no, really, please do - it's positively encouraged around here), but tread carefully when tarring the fair denizens of Huddersfield - or anywhere in the Cleckhuddersfax region - with the same brush.

And this from a man from Cornwall - the Dewsbury of the South West! For shame, sir, for shame.

As for Vtravelled: this lowly correspondent thinks it's a pants idea. Part booking engine, part VS marketing tool, part V-Flyer rip-off. Mind you, I've been proved wrong before now...