""Good Night Flight"?"

[Decker]

Paul

I like to work for a couple of hours to "earn" my rest . The only caveat the crew normally provide is that once the ovens are fired up I'll have to wait for them to finish that cycle before I can order my food - do a minimum 45 minute delay before I can order. I preorder my choice to ensure that I get what I want though.

Originally posted by Decker
Paul

I like to work for a couple of hours to "earn" my rest . The only caveat the crew normally provide is that once the ovens are fired up I'll have to wait for them to finish that cycle before I can order my food - do a minimum 45 minute delay before I can order. I preorder my choice to ensure that I get what I want though.

Yes, me too ... when travelling for business I usually do email and other urgent tasks for the first hour or two with a glass of something soothing. Only then do we turn our mind to food ... whereas when travelling for pleasure I find that food is more urgent.

Anyone reported yet on Goodnightfright?

Originally posted by s0436
A little tray of food *laughs audibly* [B)]


And the 'freedom menu' is a joke, I wouldn't dare ask the cabin crew whether I can have my meal at a different time to everyone else, I can imagine their faces.

You get the same size tray of food as you always have the only differance is there is no seperate drinks service and it all get brought to you at the same time.

I have done 2 flights this month with GNS and the comments of customers have all been really good. So why not wait and see for yourself you may just enjoy it. Although you may not say you did.

As for asking for your meal later
This is never a problem unless you ask when we are half way through the meal service with the rest of the customers and all the ovens are being used.

If you think freedom is a joke and you are too worried to ask thew crew a simple request then why do you pay all that money to fly with us.

I have now operated several sectors with the new "Goodnight Service"
All the pax seemed to like it.

Since there was SO much talk about this even B4 it was launched I would like to know what people who have tried it think of it!!

Just this minute got in from a Good Night Flight (trip report to follow when I'm conscious again!).

The flight was delayed due technical problems, so we didn't take off until well after midnight local time. This obviously made quite a difference. I had eaten in the Clubhouse to prepare for the Good Night Flight, but with the length of the delay, I was getting hungry again. On the other paw, by the time we did take off, I was also very tired. I think my feeling was it was OK, but somehow didn't feel as special as the journey out and I was definitely eating in the gloom.

Crew were wonderful though!

E

Was there real of a choice of food and frinks Edna, or did you feel you were being pushed towards the airlines "preferred choice"?

99

We were told that this was a new service and given a choice between: bed now cold supper tray, then bed hot supper tray, then bed

Essentially, it was bed time!! There was certainly no encouragement to veer from the given options and I didn't see anyone try to have a Freedom service. I suspect most people just "go with the flow".

E

[Nottingham Nick]

I have just come back on VS20 from SFO,(TR to follow) this wasn't a officially a GNF, but it was in everything but name.

We were upstairs, we took off at 4.30pm and the meal (Freedom menu) was finished by 7.30pm (PT) ish. The lights went off and everyone got their heads down.

I went downstairs and it was exactly the same [:0]

Nick

Nick -- I hope you sat at the bar despite the gloom!

No one tells me when to go to bed, so perhaps I should bring a Maglite for my next VS flight?

BC

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by Edna Cloud
Essentially, it was bed time!! There was certainly no encouragement to veer from the given options and I didn't see anyone try to have a Freedom service. I suspect most people just "go with the flow".

Encouragement or not I will do my own thing I think. If i feel like having a bite of food and then sleep I will, if I want to wait a little i'll do that. One of the things I have got from this forum is not to allow yourself to be forced into a given routine when flying UC, thats part of the price you pay.

Foz xxx

[Scrooge]

not having it done it myself I have to leave it to word of mouth,had to of my VS regulars in last night and they said they had done one of these and were not impressed by it at all.

I did give them a v-flyer biz card so with any luck they will be joining soon and can give us a trip report.

Edna C's experience of 'bed, bed or - if you like - bed' still seems a hell of long way from what VS are still describing on their website (if you don't want to eat straight away, blah, Freeedom Menu, blah, drinks served at seat blah, blah, blah). Early days yet, I admit, but it certainly doesn't seem to bode well.

Just think, maybe VS could start marketing the GNF as 'the first business class service to send you to bed without any supper'!

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
I have just come back on VS20 from SFO,(TR to follow) this wasn't a officially a GNF, but it was in everything but name.

We were upstairs, we took off at 4.30pm and the meal (Freedom menu) was finished by 7.30pm (PT) ish. The lights went off and everyone got their heads down.

I went downstairs and it was exactly the same [:0]

Nick

If it was a GNF the lights would have gone off at 5:30pm not 7:30pm.

Your flight sounds like what happens 9/10 on an overnight sector - the meal service takes around 2hrs 30mins and then the cabin lights are dimmed.

Look forward to reading your trip report.

Originally posted by mdvipond
Just think, maybe VS could start marketing the GNF as 'the first business class service to send you to bed without any supper'!

We're not sending anyone to bed without any supper - it's your choice whether you want to eat onboard or not.

As Foz has said, you can do your own thing. There's no need to feel coerced into following a routine.

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by Jetstreamer
As Foz has said, you can do your own thing. There's no need to feel coerced into following a routine.

No matter what I want to do I know the cabin lights will be dimmed and i'll be plunged into mid-air darkness after an hour or so. As long as you are aware of that then all is groovy.

Out of interest, has anyone booked a post 9pm since this service was introduced? Are you at any point told about the GNF routine before boarding? Does anyone advise you when you check-in so you know to eat before hand?

Foz xxx

NO, we're on the VS10 in december...and at the moment i wish i was on the vs4!Hopefully things will have changed by then...

Originally posted by jamie
NO, we're on the VS10 in december...and at the moment i wish i was on the vs4!Hopefully things will have changed by then...

To be honest, the VS010 is an ideal flight for the GNF service. I've operated this flight many times and because of the late departure time it is very rare that any of the Upper Class passengers want a 3 or 4 course meal. Breakfast is a much more popular option.

Are you at any point told about the GNF routine before boarding? Does anyone advise you when you check-in so you know to eat before hand?

My experience was that we were not told at check-in or in the Clubhouse that it would be a Good Night Flight. In fact, I only knew to be prepared from V-Flyer, otherwise it would have been a bit of a surprise / shock on board. Some of the other passengers were asking about what it all meant, so I am guessing that no-one had had an explanation before boarding. It would certainly help to manage expectations if people were warned beforehand. Perhaps there should be a different Clubhouse invitation printed for Good Night Flights which outlines the service provided onboard???

E

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by Edna Cloud
Perhaps there should be a different Clubhouse invitation printed for Good Night Flights which outlines the service provided onboard?

Thats a really good idea! This could be a big falling down of the GNF service. Unless you look around the UC section of the VS website then you probably won't know about this service. It will come as even more of a dissapointment if you are aware of things like the Freedom menu.

Foz xxx

[preiffer]

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
Why all the complaining? I come here for GOOD NEWS ONLY about VS. All this has me ready to chuck it all and go BA. I sure wish everyone would just say nice things...

I mean, at least you have a great bed in the sky and some water and juice. And a sleep suit. And a reading light.

Stop it. [:(]

Umm... No, we come to the site to discuss, learn and share thoughts & ideas about Virgin Atlantic. In some cases, where appropriate, this will take the form of criticism.

In this particular case, many of the site's members disagree with the removal of choice of some existing services on flights that this change affects.

Remember, several people on here pay £6,000 to sit in an Upper Class Suite. They certainly deserve the right to air their disagreement when something is changed about the product they've purchased.

Well I am sorry to hear that ... but I do feel that when there is criticism it is because people genuinely want things to be better. There's a lot of protectionism of quality of service from VS and that's what we see expressed - sometimes in quite direct language - as well as a huge amount of heartfelt praise for the good staff and crew we come across.

Please don't go to the dark side

Last week I had dinner with a bank worker I know who regularly flies LON-NYC and has a choice between VS and BA.

He used to prefer VS but BAs sleeper service won him over because of the need for more sleep, and he had time in the lounge anyway. He was pleased when I told him that VS now does the same on late departures.


Cheers
sky

[Decker]

Arrgghhhhh NIMBY attack NIMBY attack...

Jusr realised we'll be doing a GNF back from EWR on Sunday... given how poor the lounge food is there compared to JFK - has anyone done a EWR routing since the "improved choice of food in the lounge" was introduced?

Originally posted by sky
Last week I had dinner with a bank worker I know who regularly flies LON-NYC and has a choice between VS and BA.

He used to prefer VS but BAs sleeper service won him over because of the need for more sleep, and he had time in the lounge anyway. He was pleased when I told him that VS now does the same on late departures.


Cheers
sky

Sky

I may be 'reptition repitition' but I don't think anyone said this is a bad idea on late evening New York flights, but rather that on longer night flights we just wanted a choice between the normal full service and either GNF or sleep zone. So claps to Virgin for offering better service, but boos by making it restrictive on certain flights where there's no option of pre flight dining, or where the length of the flight should offer up better service options. I also do late night new york to london and welcome fast service, I also do LA to London on vacation and welcome slow service

[fozzyo]

And its also really important that Virgin don't seem to be bothered in telling people about the different service that operates on the post 9pm flights.

Foz xxx