LAX Best Airport & SFO Best Clubhouse

[Pete]

From the press release...

San Francisco and Los Angeles beat off stiff competition from airports around the world to take the trophies in the V-Flyer Awards 2005. The awards recognise the best passenger facilities offered by Virgin Atlantic, and are organised by the independent Virgin Atlantic customer site, V-Flyer.com.

San Francisco (SFO) picked up the award for Best Clubhouse, acknowledging the outstanding service and staff at the Northern Californian airport. The Virgin Clubhouse at San Francisco, which is situated in the International Terminal, was a clear winner with customers who described the facility as a "haven away from the hustle and bustle of the airport", and an experience that "makes going home worthwhile". Also highly regarded in the Best Clubhouse category, were both London Gatwick (LGW) and Washington (IAD).

Los Angeles (LAX) collected the award for Best Airport, recognising how Virgin Atlantic staff at LAX ensure the normally stressful task of international flying is turned into something to look forward to. One nomination explained, "Even when there is a direct flight to my west-coast destination, I prefer to take an indirect flight via LAX purely because I know how well I will be looked after". Others commented that Los Angeles was "a joy, because of the Virgin staff, who clearly love what they do". Other top contenders for the Best Airport included Hong Kong (HKG) and San Francisco (SFO).

[Bazz]

Excellent news Pete, there could not be two more deserving winners [y][y][y]

[buns]

Pete

I agree with Bazz, two well deserving winners - especially when you consider the intense competition[y][y]

buns

[Pete]

Tiina Sauri, Acting Station Manager for LAX had this response;

"I am absolutely thrilled and the reason is....

You know our Airport is not up to standards of other airports with
nice comfortable lounges, great shopping and spacious check-in areas. I think it would be fair to say we are the opposite! But I would like to think that we try to compensate by offering PAX a part of our own personalities, and I have often heard from passengers how comfortable they feel at LAX. They know the people and we remember them as part of our flying family.

No need to say this award is a great honor to us and on behalf of all the employees my sincere thanks to you all."

You know our Airport is not up to standards of other airports with
nice comfortable lounges, great shopping and spacious check-in areas. I think it would be fair to say we are the opposite!

Think this says it all about VS at lax[:0]

[Pete]

Originally posted by jaguarpig

You know our Airport is not up to standards of other airports with
nice comfortable lounges, great shopping and spacious check-in areas. I think it would be fair to say we are the opposite!

Think this says it all about VS at lax[:0]

Well, LAX itself isn't exactlly the prettiest airport, but the VS team there are a fantastic bunch of people. As with SFO, the VS ground staff are the main reason for these winners - as was clear from the nominations.

Pete

Well, I can't speak for LAX as I've never been there (hmmm, maybe it's time to rectify that one!) - but SFO's award is thoroughly deserved [y][y][y]

Cheers

Michael

Do the winners actually receive a trophy like the one seen on the news spot about the awards?

[Pete]

Yup - there's actual glass involved So look out for it if you're passing through either airport!

Pete

Well, LAX itself isn't exactlly the prettiest airport, but the VS team there are a fantastic bunch of people. As with SFO, the VS ground staff are the main reason for these winners - as was clear from the nominations.

Pete

My experience of LAX was grotty check-in area quick if unfrendly check-in, horrendous security,poor AC lounge and the only VS staff member was one guy on the desk who disapeared when the champagne ran out after 2 bottles,defo the worst airport I have been through with VS.Now SFO lounge[y]

Yes - couldn't agree more - LAX is terrible - our limo driver gave multiple progess reports culminating in a 'we are on the ramp' - on arrival there was nobody greeting[:o)] we dragged our own bags to the unmanned UC check in zone waited, waited - gave up waved at a lady on the PE check in who waved us to the back of the PE queue - got checked in were told we couldn't have fast track security passes - asked her to check - were given fast track passes:D

Then the lounge! We were asked if we would like a snack but were told we would have to move to eat the snacks as the Air Canada PAX in the lounge couldn't have snacks and they didn't want to upset them[:o)] This disn't work as we overheard some fairly heated discusions regarding the lack of snacks from the AC pax - all in all a total zoo

When I first read this topic subject I thought I had misread it. Then I read all the other comments and I thought it must just be me.

Finally JP and JohnDs thoughts ran true. Flying through LAX is always a reasonably unpleasant experience for all the reasons mentioned above - check in is just a mess. In fairness I think most of this is more about the airport than the staff - and they have improved over the awful experiences I had a few years ago. But IMHO they are just not in the same league as the staff in JFK or even EWR.

Phil (Buffy)

[RichardMannion]

Hi Guys,

Everyone is entitled to their opinions. I personally like LAX, the staff there are first to admit that they suffer due to not having the greatest facilities to play with but there is not too much that can be done as space is at a premium there.

I have never had a dull moment at LAX though in regards to the staff, always good fun in my opinion and very essence of the Virgin spirit. Granted I may not be the standard passenger but I have many friends that have enjoyed travellign through LAX (though I think my recommendation to stop off at Encounter for lunch may have helped, but then again that proves a point - I asked one of the staff at check-in where was good for food, and they told me to avoid the restuarants inside and head off to Encounter (and to take a camera!).)

So in my opinion LAX a deserved winner and same too for SFO!

Thanks,
Richard

[preiffer]

Originally posted by RichardMannion
Granted I may not be the standard passenger

Does that mean you travel in the hold, Richard? :D

Personally, (sorry!) it's a [n] from me on LAX. But well done to them - they've obviously impressed enough people at the right time.

[Decker]

Paul

Nicely put

[Bazz]

Well no one is saying that the facilities or creature comforts are the best at LAX. Birkin and I have been going there with VS since they opened the route, initially out of LGW fifteen or so years ago. Generally we have found the VS staff there to be very good and professional and Tiina Sauri epitomises this and won the FC Virgin Hero award last year to prove it!

I think it is because of the obstacles the staff (and pax) have to deal with there, cramped terminal, no Clubhouse, shared lounge, two flights per day, thats a lot of pax for a relatively small staff to deal with, that they get my vote [y]

I also look forward to the move to the International Terminal, the new VS Clubhouse and the A380 (in UC of course) but that's another story.

Congratulations to all at LAX and SFO.