Originally posted by vscss
2)After take off there is no drinks service.
I can understand this, as it probably will save about 20 mins in starting the meal service.
Maybe what could make this work even better is to have the bar available (along with crisps and nibbles) as soon as the seatbelt sign is off, for those who simply have to have a drink!
3)Onboard you can choose 3 options: sleep, cold tray or hot tray.
4)Sleep option the bed will be made and you will have no service.
5)Cold tray will be your drink, cold snack or salad. Served 20 mins after take off.
6)Hot tray will be your drink, cold snack or salad and hot entree all served at same time 40 mins after take off.
Are we allowed to change our mind? So, say that I want to go to sleep, but then find that I can't drift off into the land of nod, can I change my mind and have a hot meal, for example?
7)There will be no table linen used and no wine service unless you ask.
As long as it's made clear that you have to ask for wines and alcoholic beverages with your meal, that's fine. Otherwise people will get the wrong idea, and think VS just don't have it available.
8)The cabin lights WILL be turned off 50 mins after take off.
Yay!
9)Breakfast will only be served at the bar with the hot breakfast entree removed from the menu alltogether!
Yuck. I don't think I like this. I like the idea of if you fill in a breakfast card, you get woken with breakfast. If the breakfast is lighter, maybe it can be served less than an hour out? Otherwise, fend for yourself from the selection at the bar!
Does no hot breakfast = no bacon rolls too?!!!! I'm worried!
This has just been sent to me, I am a CSS with Virgin, what do u think?
Well, on some late flights, like ex-JFK/EWR, I've noticed that snooze is very popular, often totally full. Other times, I know that I don't want to snooze, I'd like a meal (usually because I've been rushing all day and late to the airport), but I'd like a quick meal, and then lights out, or time to work - rather than the full-blown 2 hour long thing.
There is possibly some fine tuning required. VS have said this will apply to all flights departing after 9pm, but it's not departure time which is the real issue. It's also the flight duration, and to some extent the time change.
So, for example, on a longer flight, say JNB, which doesn't have a Revivals at the far end, I wouldn't mind a light supper, but I would also prefer a larger breakfast to set me up for the day.
On a flight such as MIA-LHR, which I know doesn't leave before 9pm, there isn't a Clubhouse, and the crossing time can be short because of tailwinds, I would prefer the option of a lighter meal, sleep as much as possible, and get breakfast in Revivals.
I do like the idea of getting stuff out on one tray. This will definitely reduce the number of people scooting up and down the aisle, which is great for people who want to sleep.
So, mixed feelings, but I'm really glad there's some midway point between snooze and 2-hour long dinner. As I said, there's room for tweaking.
Also, some people will arrive on the aircraft expecting the same service as they got on a daylight flight, and I guess that could spark some hostility.
So, I'd say that the main thing is managing the customers' expectations over the change in service - long before they get on the aircraft.
Cheers,
Mike
