This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I would dearly love to post a trip report that paints what was my favorite airline as the greatest airline in the world, before this flight I would've been delighted to.
Indeed 14 days before this flight I spent a few hours in the greatest lounge in any airport I've ever flow from at Gatwick, the Clubhouse and it's staff were faultless (as always), I then had the pleasure of a flight on VS065 that was as always an absolute pleasure, an attentive FSM and cabin crew that ensured my flight was what we have come to expect from my favorite airline.
So here goes.
I travel this route twice a year and have done for many years, I always choose 8K on the way out and 8A on the way home, 8A on the way home as it was always the seat my wife (who sadly passed away) 2 years ago always chose, it was her favorite seat and always insisted we book early so we could be one of the first to request seats as soon as they were available.
I realise that no member of VS staff could possibly know why I choose this seat and I've flown enough times over the years to know that a seat "request" is just that a "request" but I've pondered over the past few days as to whether I should post a trip report detailing the atrocious way the FSM on the flight treated me and although I've calmed down some what since returning home and had an apology from VS I've decided to post it anyway.
I entered the cabin and took my seat 8A, after a short while as the cabin filled the FSM entered before introducing herself asked a family of 4 that were seated in 7K,8K, 10K and 11K if they would like to all sit together, she then "asked" the man in 9K if he would mind moving to 7K and allowing the family to take 4 seats next to each other, he quite rightly informed her that he had selected his seat as his wife was opposite him in 9A and would prefer to stay where he was.
The lady of the family of 4 said at this point that they were happy in the seats that they were currently sat in, but the FSM who appeared to be on some sort of crusade to stamp her authority then rudely pointed at me and said "are you traveling alone sir?" to which I replied yes, she then instructed (not requested) that I move to 7K, the man in 9K move into my seat 8A and the family of 4 would take up 8,9,10 and 11K.
I did move to 7K and as I sat down I told the FSM the reason that I always choose 8A , the rest of the cabin heard me and it was my fellow passengers that insisted I return to my chosen seat, the FSM left the cabin and as far as I am aware never returned, I can only assume through embarrassment, if she did return she certainly never came anywhere near me.
Later in the flight a member of the cabin crew who had witnessed the whole episode apologised for the way I had been (mis)treated.
I won't post all of the apology I've received from VS but I will quote part of it "In an effort to assist our passengers with their seating arrangements, the crew will sometimes ask passengers if they would be happy to swap. However, they shouldn’t put pressure on anyone to move from their allocate seat.
I was most concerned to read about the way that you were treated by the flight service manager. This really was most unacceptable and we would never want our valued customers to feel this way and I cannot apologise enough for the way this was handled."
I accept the apology from VS but it has left an extremely sour taste in my mouth and I will take time out to decide whether I choose a different airline.
I'm sorry I couldn't have posted a better review, I'll take some time out to consider where to go next as far as flying goes.