""Good Night Flight"?"

Originally posted by sean modi
Thanks for explaining the point Paul, I agree with you on that. I was just making slinky09 aware of the poll because i don't think he knew there was one at all, sorry for not making it clearer [:I].

Actually I was aware but wasn't going to be a pedant by pointing out the two dimensional nature of the poll

Dear all

I would like to clarify for all what the Good Night Flights service will offer.

A choice of full meals will still be available on board and these will be of the same quality and size that you are accustomed to from today's menu. The only real change here is that, in response to a great deal of passenger feedback, the delivery of these has been restructured so that we can offer this service more quickly after take-off, by grouping certain dishes together to form a selection of "supper trays". This feedback was not from a focus group of 50 passengers as has been suggested, but from a broad cross-section of channels including in-flight questionnaires, letters to customer relations, interviews with passengers, comments made in-flight and more recently, in-flight trials of the new service. The strong message we have been receiving from passengers since we launched the Upper Class Suite is that the normal service can take too long on night flights for those who want to get to sleep quickly, hence this change.

In addition to the supper trays there will be a choice of other stand-alone savoury items and dessert. This is still a Freedom menu in that once the main post-departure service has been completed, you can order any combination of the items on the supper trays, or any of the other options, at any time during the flight and you are completely at liberty to pace your meal as you like, ordering one dish at a time if you wish. You can dine with a partner, alone, at your seat or at the bar just as with today's service. Wine and other drinks will of course be served with your food, and also at your seat or at the bar throughout the flight. Breakfast, including hot options, will still be available as now at your seat, or of course if you are on an applicable flight into Heathrow you can take a lie-in and enjoy breakfast at Revivals.

An additional element we will be introducing is the "Nightcap and Turndown" service. As we have been upgrading our ground catering facilities at the Clubhouses, we have noticed more passengers eating full meals on the ground, so the Nightcap and Turndown choice is really aimed at those people: a drink and goodnight snack for those who wish to go straight to sleep on board. Of course, you can choose this option and then enjoy a supper tray or one of the other options later in the flight should you change your mind.

All of the above options will be available throughout the cabin, apart from Snooze Zone. There is no change to Snooze Zone as we realise that some passengers still wish to sit in a part of the aircraft with minimal interruptions, and Snooze Zone will stay for as long as there is a demand for it. There is no change at all to what else you can do in the cabin and when you can do it - the In-Flight Beauty Therapist will be on board, you can watch movies or spend time at the bar as you wish - just as with today's service.

As mentioned we have trialled this service on several sectors and so far it has received a resounding thumbs up, with passengers being very pleased with the speedier service. Passenger feedback is absolutely paramount of course and we will be listening closely (and monitoring this site) once the service has launched. As always we will be aiming to apply any learnings and it is great to know that many of you are so passionate about the onboard service.

With best regards

Virgin Atlantic Marketing

WOW, this site does get noticed huh;)

VAA could you please bring the LAMB back, I keep putting that on my questionairre in UCS, pretty please:D

[fozzyo]

Thankyou for that official clarification, I think that is what we have been waiting for / trying to get - much appreciated.

That does but my mind at ease a bit more. For me the impression has been a much more tightly controlled flight structure, and loss of focus on the Freedom menu / options.

Actually I think i'm rather happy about this situation now, that clarification has put at rest some of my fears. I think the big one has been an assumption that this is almost an extension of the snooze some to encompass the entire cabin. All the official communications to my mind haven't made this clear and I think that may have been where a lot of the dislike of the service may have come from.

Thanks
Foz xxx

PS: Welcome to V-Flyer VAA

Thanks VAA !

I think that post is just what most of us wanted to hear. It's good to hear that you've still got choice, whilst offering a more streamlined service to those who prefer it.

My intension was always to have a big meal in the CH before our HGK flight, but my fear was that we wouldn't have much of a selection on board. I'll probally opt for a snack about 2-3 hrs into the flight (having had lots of food & drink in the CH ) after watching a movie, and then a swift night cap before bed time.

Good to hear about the hot breakfast....at your seat

Thank you & welcome!

Milliemoo

VAA,

Wow thanks for replying to the issues the people have raised here I for one are a lot clearer on what this is all about.

Just one thing now you have the meals on the ground sorted out can you fix the ones in the air please.....

Seriously nice to know you guys read this stuff.

csparker comes late to the thread, and has only one comment:

How many times have people sat in the lounge at JFK (for example) and heard the staff make the following announcement:

"If there are any passengers that would like to take advantage of / experience our Snooze Zone on their flight tonight, could they please make themselves known to the cabin crew."

I never see too many takers...

[Decker]

Well Mrs D Loves it

VAA many thanks for this incredibly lucid explanation. It is fantastic that you took the time and made the effort.

Think I will give it a miss, but only time will tell.

VAA's explanation seems quite encouraging. Curious, however, as to the variance between this and the earlier post by vscss quoting the 'Upper Class Goodnight Service Flow' he'd received. Have VS looked at this site, and others, and altered their plans for the GNF accordingly?

How many times have people sat in the lounge at JFK (for example) and heard the staff make the following announcement:If there are any passengers that would like to take advantage of / experience our Snooze Zone on their flight tonight, could they please make themselves known to the cabin crew."

Strange that when I have upgraded on VS46 out of JFK only Snooze Zone has been free.

VAA, thank-you for the informed respeonse.

The number one issue for most people here was the removal of choice, if things work as described in your post then that no longer seems to be a problem.

I hope this information is being shared throughout VS so that everyone is singing from the same song sheet.

Vslf

My, what a saga this thread has been - 18 pages! However, like vslf, I feel reassured that choice is still very much alive and available. Indeed, it now appears to me that Good Night is an upgrade in the service levels VS provides.

I am also delighted that VS marketing felt so strongly about the debate that was going on here, that they decided to provide a clear explanation; an unusual step (which I hope remains unusual as IMHO the independance of v-flyer is paramount). Nevertheless, thank you VAA for taking posters seriously, and for clarifying the situation.

99

Thanks VAA for addressing our concerns. It's good to know that we will have a choice and stil get a hot breakfast.

Let's hope your clear message is communicated to all involved.

Thanks again

Originally posted by jamie

Let's hope your clear message is communicated to all involved.

Thanks again

Yes, I think I will print out VAA's posting just in case there are any "misunderstandings" in the air.

Luke

[Decker]

And the official VS Website now reflects this description more accurately.

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by Decker
And the official VS Website now reflects this description more accurately.

And now the website is working again, i notice the launch data has changed to 3rd August. Ok part of it is working, the extra info bit isn't.

Foz xxx

[preiffer]

Originally posted by fozzyo
And now the website is working again....

Seems to have been down for most of today - still off for "essential maintenance" at the moment, too.

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by preiffer

Originally posted by fozzyo
And now the website is working again....

Seems to have been down for most of today - still off for "essential maintenance" at the moment, too.

Just because it was soo much fun in the RTW thread - Booooooo!

V surprised that today with websites being such an integral part of a business's marketing strategy they have allowed it to go down for so long. Unless they are experiencing "technical difficulties".

Foz xx

Well come on, it is "essential" maintenence. Maybe Virgin's server shut down because too many people were trying to find out what the deal is about the GNF.

[fozzyo]

Just read the updated webpage, a slightly fuller description of it. Nice to have it all clarified and that it was / is slightly more optional then originaly feared.

One thing that may be of interest to people:

The Good Night Flight service launches on 3 August 2005, apart from the VS201 Hong Kong to London Heathrow, which launches on 1 October 2005

I guess that is to go with a menu rotation or something.

Foz xxx

local caterer may not be able to provide new menu that fast no doubt.

Its good to see that VS has finally updated the website to give a much more detailed of what the GNF service offers. That and the post from VSS has reassured me somewhat.

I would like to think that some of the wording on the website was a direct response to some of us V-Flyers

Dean

I too have read through the info on the VS website and it does sound better. However, on the last flight back from MCO in upper I was in 6A, it was the very late sat flight back and all I wanted to do is get some sleep. I skipped my meal and made my own bed up to get my head down, trouble was that there was a convention load of business people returning from a business trip, all they wanted is get drunk and be loud.

This would obviously not change even with the GNF service. I suppose you could complain, but then have that animosity for the rest of the flight home.

Paul

Originally posted by p17blo
I too have read through the info on the VS website and it does sound better. However, on the last flight back from MCO in upper I was in 6A, it was the very late sat flight back and all I wanted to do is get some sleep. I skipped my meal and made my own bed up to get my head down, trouble was that there was a convention load of business people returning from a business trip, all they wanted is get drunk and be loud.

This would obviously not change even with the GNF service. I suppose you could complain, but then have that animosity for the rest of the flight home.

Paul

Thats the whole idea of the "snooze zone" - one part of UCS cabin is dedicated to those who dont want service, so they can get some shut eye.

This of course is not possible on LGW/MAN config's planes as there are only 14 suites - as you have experienced.