Adding to the annoyance.

Where does this "21 is young for a gold card holder" thing come from?

I had one at 22, and I was getting on a bit then. I know MANY, many, people who have kids (and I mean real kids - 13/14/15 : not those who are trying to deny they're getting older) who have held gold cards for some time. I've also travelled myself as a so-called "young gold" many times and have travelled with friends who are 20/21 with the same.

I've never once seen VS crew treat a young gold card holder any differently to an older one. Nor any Upper Class passenger for that matter. Maybe it's down to that two-way relationship thing : crew can sense attitude a mile off.

If you're waiting to be treated differently, you most likely will. 21 year old gold card holder in the J cabin? These days, you're just one of MANY.

While you may be generally right about everyone getting equal treatment, you may find that there are several ocassions where the VS inconsistency gremlins come out to play.

Attitude or no, I think the line should be drawn at using expletives on a customer where s/he can hear or just being rude to the customer. I have seen many innstances where people have crossed the line between being firm and being rude. I don't think it's called for under any circumstances.

Why are people saying that I must of been rude to the crew or had an attitude? I can honestly say I am very polite and have no attitude at all.

I don't expect any special treatment for being gold and being young. I said that I felt my gold status was ignored because of my age. If the fsm hadn't gone round to the other Golds there would be no problem. But both did, both did not talk to me, so I felt it could be to do with my age. Maybe they thought I had gotten gold from my parents wallet, but no. I have paid for every one of my flights on VS, achieving the status purely with flights.

As I said, I don't expect sympathy on here. But didn't expect to be told that I must of been rude/have an attitude problem? Never mind, it has still given rise to some good conversation.

Where does this "21 is young for a gold card holder" thing come from?

Surely 21 is considerably below the average age of a gold-card holder.

Sorry to rock the boat but I do think it's unfair to judge without hearing both sides of the story.

I agree with you that there are usually two sides to a story, but we are not a court of law -- we can't call people to the stand! We can just go on what is told to us and judge it accordingly. Is there any particular reason to disbelieve Hamster? He is not a new poster; he is not prone to ranting about VS; he has come back and answered criticism without getting cross.

In this instance I wonder what is more likely -- that Hamster and his friend were so rude to the crew-member that the latter lost his cool, and then they subsequently pursued him tenaciously through the complaints process; OR just that that a member of staff was having a bad day and said something in frustration that he shouldn't have.

Personally, I think the latter is much more plausible.

... but we are not a court of law -- we can't call people to the stand!

Oh but we can.... will fire off a subpoena to Crawley towers this afternoon ):

Another thread to make me regret my career choice.
Damn you hospitality!

This is an interesting post and I can't resist my tuppenceworth.

Firstly I'm impressed that Hamster has been so professional with his arguments. Despite the best efforts of the mods, some posts can get a bit testy.

Now for my viewpoint. I was brought up to abhor the F word, but the reality is that you rarely hear a sentence in a natural public scenario where the F word is not used as an enhancement to most conversations - from Tube travellers to Oxbridge blues. I think anyone who takes offence at the F word is being a bit sensitive. Its possible the CC member was having a bad day and the expletive slipped out. That doesn't justify it but it may just have been frustration rather than directed at you. Unless VS loads enough choices for everyone (a huge waste) then folk will be disappointed. I think the CC would approach people who look least likely to cause a fuss - you may be selected for your politness rather than your age - an old self opinionated gas bag (like myself) would be more likely to refuse.

As to the complaint - its likely that virgin will have addressed it and action been taken, however it would be inappropriate to share that with you.

I recently attended a meeting of about a hundred people in a good hotel. One of my colleagues (whom I hardly know!) was served fish in her vegetarian meal - she caused a fuss and the management acceded to her request and made the chef apologise to the entire gathering. I was appalled - the punishment did not fit the crime (especially as many vegetarians (strangly) eat fish).

It think its also worth bearing in mind that if CC treat passengers (whether UC, PE or Y) as if they are hugely important it would not be genuine - just an act which they were paid to do - I prefer people to be natural.

I personally would be surprised if you find BA staff to be be any more professional than the VS crews, but BA is certainly worth trying.

[Decker]

BA more professional? I have yet to be called "Mate" in Club. Now whether I like being called "Mate" or not is irrelevant - it is difficult to consider the practice professional.

Three flights in Club in 2 months and nowhere close to being addressed as "mate" - I almost have the opposite problem, find them a little too formal from time to time.

AA have an interesting practice too which has sparked some debate on FT - some of their flight attendants slip into referring to you by first name in their F cabin, as opposed to "Sir" or "Mr <last name>", usually when the flier is casually dressed and/or of Hamster's age. Must say I haven't come close to hearing anyone ever utter the F word on any flight I've been on, and no matter my own feelings towards such a word I would find it pretty remarkable for this very reason.

[Scrooge]

An interesting debate for sure, my input.

For many years VS touted itself and we also promoted VS as the younger, fresher, more relaxed airline experience, now all of a sudden a cabin crew member is acting more relaxed, a little fresh with a passenger and that is wrong....

Yes the use of the F word is going to far, that I will certainly agree with and yes, in VS's reply a simple "we are sorry this happened and we will certainly have a word with the crew member" would have worked wonders, but I do have to wonder if we are not expecting a cabin crew that has been trained to be more, laid back than certain other airlines to suddenly snap to, you're probably not going to have much luck.

Another thread to make me regret my career choice.
Damn you hospitality!

Don't .... I'm not a lawyer btw Think financial industry that everyone hates B)

Despite the best efforts of the mods, some posts can get a bit testy.

For real??? No forum rules been broken, just a healthy debate!!!

I think anyone who takes offence at the F word is being a bit sensitive. Its possible the CC member was having a bad day and the expletive slipped out.

In my book I would disagree. People expect service industry staff to surprisingly provide a service that is foremost courteous. Whether they were AU, travelling in UC, PE or ECO is irrelevant. To have a CC swear at customers is unacceptable.... If they are feeling overwhelmed might I suggest CC go and swear into a pillow in the crew rest areas or at least somewhere you may not cause offence if you feel the need to express anger in such a way.

I personally would be surprised if you find BA staff to be be any more professional than the VS crews, but BA is certainly worth trying.

Agreed Paul - get a moody CC you will get a bit of foul language plain and simple.... airline makes no diff!!

Sorry Hamster, I am on you side as to the moody CC swearing at you.. not acceptable. I would have confronted them there and then as I mentioned earlier, but all unto their own in terms of action. VS have tried to come around to make things right by you but honestly if the CC denies it happening it is a straight forward your word vs theirs... I'm sorry to say that I back VS position in that they cannot do anything :# If they apologise they are admitting their CC spoke out of turn towards yourselves.... that would lead to disciplinary rubbish at the dream factory in Crawley.. perhaps why no apology was forthcoming if there was any doubt in the equation

As you have already said they have already given you some miles...I'd say take them and move on.

As for the young factor, you are not the only v-flyer out there to garner the look of: really he is AU..... my advice, take it in stride and almost complementarily.. they are no doubt surprised and poss a little jealous. If they call you and your partner lads... ok fair play, they are just trying to be personable and it has never been conveyed to me that VS is ageist in any way shape or form.. Again benfits of youth and all that.... however, never fear, heading through SFO next month so will make sure to give the VS ground crew your best

[honey lamb]

As for the young factor, you are not the only v-flyer out there to garner the look of: really he is AU..... my advice,

Erm, some of us oldies have had it too. Cabin crew thinking "How can grandma possibly be Gold? She's probably doting to think she's flying UC" ):

Oh should also point out, the reason the email wouldn't go through in the first place was due to leaving the F word in the raw.

HoneyLamb wrote:

"Erm, some of us oldies have had it too. Cabin crew thinking "How can grandma possibly be Gold? She's probably doting to think she's flying UC" "

Reminds of a holiday years ago touring the west coast of Ireland with some family. My 70 yo aunt went into one of the hotels in Galway and asked if they had any vacancies. The reply was "Only washing up in the evenings". Luckily she had a good sense of humour.