Will they ever bring back silver service to UC?

Originally posted by southernbelle
To be honest Pete I don't know if losing Duty Free would be a great loss. Unless Virgin Is The Best has insider information that I am not privvy to then they were (up until last week) looking at ways to improve the duty free service. However we don't make a huge profit on it generally but on some routes (Lagos) we make a killing, they buy us out of stock completely, quite amazing! It's possible that they may look at pre order only on US routes where duty free sales are low but increase the range on Lagos and holiday routes where spending is higher. Believe me if they thought removal of duty free would be a loss of profits then they would not do it!

The product changes concern me as times are obviously as tough they keep telling us. I don't think its the company trying to be tight but more a case of tightening our belts. I wonder if it hadn't been leaked by VITB that these product changes were happening, how many people would have actually noticed. True regulars flyers would, but would it really change the enjoyment of a flight? I'm not sure. I certainly dont support cost cutting when it is visible to the customer and I can assure you all any negative feedback I get from Upper Class pax onboard will be documented straight on the flight report. Lets hope this is where it ends.

With regards to the Oxygen missing from the crew rest areas I know this has been done with the full knowledge that our safety is not being compromised. The CAA would no way have allowed the removal of that if they felt we were in danger so it is an irrelevant piece of information for this topic. That's the sort of cost cutting that we need that is not visible to you guys, the customer.

Thank you enjoy the sunshine

I know we dont make much money on Duty Free sales even on the LOS route. We used to sell everything but now we dont accept CCs on that route its not so popular.

As for the O2 I know its been removed for weight reasons and I also know that safety is not an issue. Not once did I say that.
Also nothing was leaked. Customers are not stupid and would have noticed so it would have ended up on here anyway. You will all have to wait and see if Duty Free is made pre order only. I know its happening.

However in Premium the Brandy and Baileys service is coming back. Also Menus for Premium are being talked about too. So its not all bad

Please tell me that the ice cream hasnt been removed from Economy! That used to make a ncie dessert to the meal, and they always had some unusual choices of ice cream! I now wait for VS to take an inch or 2 off the Y seat pitch.

Originally posted by fozzyo

Originally posted by BlackCat
With regard to the extea-£50 argument, Virgin cannot realistically do this due to the IATA pricing structure.

Whats that?

International listed air fares (not special offers) are governed by IATA, to which nearly all airlines belong. IATA is essentially a pricing cartel; it would probably argue it has other functions but price fixing (they call it "tariff coordination"!) is the main one.

Of course, airlines can (and do) get around this sometimes by special offers (allowed by IATA), large commissions to travel agents (allowing agents to sell at a lower price) and by turning a blind eye to consolidators. However, this is far more likely to happen at the volume end of the market than in premium classes. That's why all airlines will show almost identical point-to-point business class prices to any destination.

BC

Just thinking about the removal of the red satin cushions in Upper - my impression was that they weren't wearing too well, and developing "runs" and pilling.

The last one I had didn't look as fresh as VS would probably like them to. They were also pretty small to be of much real use, IMHO.

I'd happily trade the red satin cushion for a bigger or second real pillow for when the suite is in bed mode!

Cheers,
Mike

[Decker]

Sit in B zone - there are generally a few free seats there so you can borrow an extra pillow [}:)]

Have flown nearly every month this year in UC I have noticed the changes. Such is now the poor choice of food, that I decided to try someone different. So for this month flight to Cape Town I went SAA in J. What did I get that is an improvement on VA current offering to JNB

1 Flat Beds
2 Food I could eat, had red snapper - a great improvement on the VA current chicken & beef.
3 Silver Cutlery - yes the knifes where plastic.
4 On demand entertaiment with a good choice of films
5 Called by my name throughout the flight.
6 A fast and friendly quick meal service.
7 I can still collect miles and tier points!

So why VA are cutting back, the competition is now catching up!

Originally posted by mike-smashing
Just thinking about the removal of the red satin cushions in Upper - my impression was that they weren't wearing too well, and developing "runs" and pilling.

I travelled back from Orlando Saturday night on the VS28 (trip report will follow soon I promise) and I wondered where the little red cushions had gone - the FSM told me them must have forgot to load them!! I kinda like them especially to lean against when the seat is still in the seated position [:(]

Originally posted by kkempton
Please tell me that the ice cream hasnt been removed from Economy! That used to make a ncie dessert to the meal, and they always had some unusual choices of ice cream! I now wait for VS to take an inch or 2 off the Y seat pitch.

They haven't been removed - just temporarily replaced with a Cadburys Dairy Milk bar.

Few. Just how long will the temporary replacement last and whats to come after?

What... No Icecream.

Maybe someone at VS should tell VH that the service is being erroded.
VH are still advertising icecreams in thier holiday brochures.

Don't forget people booking holidays with VH pay a high price for their holidays and they will have high expectations of the service offered by both VH and VS. If these expectations are not met then these passengers may look elsewhere in the future.

[fozzyo]

Just thinking cost cutting and all those HEX and GEX upgrade vouchers that get sent out to Gold and Silver FC members. Do they pay for the voucher or when one is used?

If paying for the vouchers then surely getting rid of these or making them available on request could save a shed load of cash.

Foz xx

The winner of Rebel Billionaire was not given VS to cost reduce was she/he??

Originally posted by kkempton
Few. Just how long will the temporary replacement last and whats to come after?

It's for approximately 1 month....and then the ice cream returns.

Originally posted by Tim
What... No Icecream.

Maybe someone at VS should tell VH that the service is being erroded.
VH are still advertising icecreams in thier holiday brochures.

Don't forget people booking holidays with VH pay a high price for their holidays and they will have high expectations of the service offered by both VH and VS. If these expectations are not met then these passengers may look elsewhere in the future.

The service is not being eroded. This is just a temporary replacement. I think it is rather dramatic to suggest that passengers will base their future holiday plans on whether they got a chocolate bar instead of an ice cream [:0]

Originally posted by Jetstreamer
The service is not being eroded. This is just a temporary replacement. I think it is rather dramatic to suggest that passengers will base their future holiday plans on whether they got a chocolate bar instead of an ice cream [:0]

Well said. Not to mention that I doubt every VH customer has been one before. Most of them probably don't know that there is normally ice cream.

Originally posted by fozzyo
Just thinking cost cutting and all those HEX and GEX upgrade vouchers that get sent out to Gold and Silver FC members. Do they pay for the voucher or when one is used?

If paying for the vouchers then surely getting rid of these or making them available on request could save a shed load of cash.

Foz xx

Fozzy dude - it's not our job to identify cuts! Mind you, I do agree with you quietly ([:0]) and judging by the number on offer in V-Flyer and on eBay these might not be used by an awful lot of people?

Originally posted by Jetstreamer

Originally posted by Tim
What... No Icecream.

Maybe someone at VS should tell VH that the service is being erroded.
VH are still advertising icecreams in thier holiday brochures.

The service is not being eroded. This is just a temporary replacement. I think it is rather dramatic to suggest that passengers will base their future holiday plans on whether they got a chocolate bar instead of an ice cream [:0]

I dont't think that was being suggested at all.

It was more a case of misleading advertising - which I think that you will find to be illegal.

Originally posted by kkempton
Few. Just how long will the temporary replacement last and whats to come after?

ice creams are coming back we just got a really cheap deal from cadbury.

Originally posted by PatDavies

Originally posted by Jetstreamer

Originally posted by Tim
What... No Icecream.

Maybe someone at VS should tell VH that the service is being erroded.
VH are still advertising icecreams in thier holiday brochures.

The service is not being eroded. This is just a temporary replacement. I think it is rather dramatic to suggest that passengers will base their future holiday plans on whether they got a chocolate bar instead of an ice cream [:0]

I dont't think that was being suggested at all.

It was more a case of misleading advertising - which I think that you will find to be illegal.

Actually the original poster said:-

What... No Icecream.

Don't forget people booking holidays with VH pay a high price for their holidays and they will have high expectations of the service offered by both VH and VS. If these expectations are not met then these passengers may look elsewhere in the future

which (rightly or wrongly) suggests to me that passengers will base their future holiday plans on whether or not they received an ice cream.

I just hope I'm not called as a witness in the "I got a Cadbury chocolate bar instead of an ice cream" court case! [:p]

Originally posted by fozzyo
1) Outsourcing all US ground staff
2) Removing satin cushions from UC
3) Removing the vase and flowers from the UC bar
3) Cutting the Lite Bites from the UC menu on certain sectors
4) Drastically cutting service and food levels in UC on post 9pm flights (GNF service)
5) Mid flight snacks on night flights in Economy no longer offered
6) UC amenity kit has items removed or replaced with cheaper ones
7) Economy amenity kits having tissues and notepad removed
8) Duty free may be becoming pre-order only or pre-order on certain routes
9) A noticeable reduction in the availability of reward flights on certain sectors - West Coast USA being one.
10) My impression is less Flying Club Gold events

Couple of others I've noticed....

1) No more drive-thru check-in when using miles for a car on UC reward flight.
2) 'Flexible' tickets now have a £30 'admin' fee for refunds, semi-flexible tickets £15.

With regards to fuel price increases mentioned, Virgin have upped the fuel surcharge to £30 from £24 as of 7th September ( BBC News ) I think BA followed suit.

Regards,

David.

Originally posted by David_Doyle
1) No more drive-thru check-in when using miles for a car on UC reward flight.

Strictly I think this may have been for a while, certainly last November when the GF & I were last on UC freebie tickets the check in staff were snooty about letting the (privately funded) Tristar car use the drive-through check in at LHR. I felt as though they thought they were doing me a favour. The way I look at it is that if you've earnt that sort of mileage then you don't deserve that kind of service thank you.

I will let you know if this holds true in a couple of weeks on a Limobike I've booked privately taking me on another free UC award ticket.

I am aware that if you arrange your own transport you can't use the drive through check in because the insurance only covers Tristar and Limobike - or so they say [B)]

Cheers, Howard

[preiffer]

Originally posted by Howard Long
I will let you know if this holds true in a couple of weeks on a Limobike I've booked privately taking me on another free UC award ticket.

To be fair to VS - why are you even trying?

They've made it perfectly clear that the policy has changed, and that the service is now strictly for D & J ticket holders. Why push the issue?

[Pete]

Originally posted by Howard Long

Originally posted by David_Doyle
1) No more drive-thru check-in when using miles for a car on UC reward flight.

Strictly I think this may have been for a while, certainly last November when the GF & I were last on UC freebie tickets the check in staff were snooty about letting the (privately funded) Tristar car use the drive-through check in at LHR. I felt as though they thought they were doing me a favour. The way I look at it is that if you've earnt that sort of mileage then you don't deserve that kind of service thank you.

I will let you know if this holds true in a couple of weeks on a Limobike I've booked privately taking me on another free UC award ticket.

I am aware that if you arrange your own transport you can't use the drive through check in because the insurance only covers Tristar and Limobike - or so they say [B)]

Cheers, Howard

The reason for the new policy, as I understand it, is because Virgin had complaints from BAA for causing congestion at T3.

Originally posted by pixuk
The reason for the new policy, as I understand it, is because Virgin had complaints from BAA for causing congestion at T3.

I'll vouch for the truth of that. There were often blockages trying to get into the short term parking lot at T3 because of backlogged VS Tristar cars.

Cheers,
Mike