Apologies this is a long thread - but I wanted to share what is most likely my past experience with VS.
I had a really bad experience whilst waiting to board the VS020 SFO to LHR on 2nd September 2015. It all started whilst being in the SFO Clubhouse before the flight.
Both my partner and I had just completed our first ever real holiday by ourselves since we had been together (3 years!!) where we didn’t have family or friends in tow with us. We had a fantastic week in SFO and the highlight was a full day hire of the GPS guided Gocar’s to get around the city. If anyone is going anytime soon consider hiring one of these - they were so much fun!
Upon our return we arrived at the airport to check in as normal and entered the clubhouse around 14:30. We are creatures of routine so we usually order a couple of drinks first followed by the CH burger or something more local if it tickles our fancy. By the time 4:15 had come around we had eaten and consumed a few cocktails (5 each) along with plenty of water conscious that I’ll get dehydrated very quickly onboard.
On our 5th drink our server (who was excellent and very attentive may I note!) advised us that the CH Manager wanted to authorise any further alcohol consumption by us and would see us under a separate visit. Both of us were shocked by this and was the first time we had come across this with VS. At this point - she advised that she was very happy with us and didn’t have any issues in servicing our request for more drinks.
The CH Manager came over around 10 minutes after this and advised us that he wouldn’t be serving us any more cocktails. He proceeded to talk over me and allowed me no opportunity to contribute to his one sided conversation with me. Needless to say, I advised him to leave us alone and that his conversation was going no where with us.
He came back another 5 minutes later to re-address us, reinstating his concerns he had with some passengers a couple of weeks back that had caused some issues onboard a flight. At this point I had to raise my voice and asked him to listen to me. To his benefit - thats exactly what he did - after some persuasion. I told him that he had judged me guilty before gathering the circumstances and that he shouldn’t judge me by other peoples actions. I advised him that I work for one of the largest airport operators in the UK and am fully aware of the sensitive nature of alcohol and flying and how this can be a concern for staff and passengers.
He came back 5 minutes later (for a third time) with champagne for us both and advised that he should’ve considered the circumstances before making the decision that he did. By this time, 17 people (yes - I counted them!) around us were fully privileged to all these conversations and had witnessed them first hand - which were absolutely unnecessary and avoidable in the first place. 3 out of the 17 were in the nose of the aircraft with us which made this embarrassing and humiliating experience even worse.
Our departing words from the clubhouse were him telling us he needed to go home for a ‘hot shower’ of which diplomatically - I advised we all need one of them sometimes.
Were both 6’2 burley lads with broad shoulders and take part in a lot of sport and we handle our alcohol extremely well. Once onbaord, we spoke to the FSM who acknowledged this and had no issue with us, to the point where she actively encouraged us to enjoy what was left of our holiday onboard the flight home.
I’m 9 years VS Gold through Upper travel with VS and I think I’ve just taken my last flight with them. It’s just a good job this didn’t happen to someone else where it was maybe their first flight with them. I kicked off on Twitter at the time from the CH in SFO through sheer frustration and embarrassment, and was advised to fill in a complaints form, of which by the reaction on Twitter - I’m not sure I’ll be taken seriously with my issue.
We flew back on Cosmic Girl and to give a fair account - the aircraft is on its last legs inside. It wasn’t an Upper Class experience with ripped seat covers, what appeared to be endless amounts of ‘tippex’ paint job cover ups and dirty suites/floors. I’m not sure who at Crawley towers thought it was a good idea (or even a premium experience) for crew to set up meal services on trolleys by doors in the galley areas, where it was a disarray of food/drink all over the floor, buckets full of used china and general disorganised chaos.
It appeared that Lanson is no longer a provider of champagne anywhere on the VS network, where in fact Valdo Prosecco is on offer at the SFO CH that I usually buy for £6.66 (30% off special offer) at my local co-op. On my last flight 4 weeks ago to JFK with VS (Upperclass) I asked the crew for a coffee and was promptly told that I wouldn’t get it due to the commencement of the meal service... And again - that was only one of the faults with this flight.
We actually flew out to SFO with BA and the service we experienced was completely different to that offered by VS. This has been the case for the past few flights I’ve taken with BA.
What is happening with this airline??
I had a really bad experience whilst waiting to board the VS020 SFO to LHR on 2nd September 2015. It all started whilst being in the SFO Clubhouse before the flight.
Both my partner and I had just completed our first ever real holiday by ourselves since we had been together (3 years!!) where we didn’t have family or friends in tow with us. We had a fantastic week in SFO and the highlight was a full day hire of the GPS guided Gocar’s to get around the city. If anyone is going anytime soon consider hiring one of these - they were so much fun!
Upon our return we arrived at the airport to check in as normal and entered the clubhouse around 14:30. We are creatures of routine so we usually order a couple of drinks first followed by the CH burger or something more local if it tickles our fancy. By the time 4:15 had come around we had eaten and consumed a few cocktails (5 each) along with plenty of water conscious that I’ll get dehydrated very quickly onboard.
On our 5th drink our server (who was excellent and very attentive may I note!) advised us that the CH Manager wanted to authorise any further alcohol consumption by us and would see us under a separate visit. Both of us were shocked by this and was the first time we had come across this with VS. At this point - she advised that she was very happy with us and didn’t have any issues in servicing our request for more drinks.
The CH Manager came over around 10 minutes after this and advised us that he wouldn’t be serving us any more cocktails. He proceeded to talk over me and allowed me no opportunity to contribute to his one sided conversation with me. Needless to say, I advised him to leave us alone and that his conversation was going no where with us.
He came back another 5 minutes later to re-address us, reinstating his concerns he had with some passengers a couple of weeks back that had caused some issues onboard a flight. At this point I had to raise my voice and asked him to listen to me. To his benefit - thats exactly what he did - after some persuasion. I told him that he had judged me guilty before gathering the circumstances and that he shouldn’t judge me by other peoples actions. I advised him that I work for one of the largest airport operators in the UK and am fully aware of the sensitive nature of alcohol and flying and how this can be a concern for staff and passengers.
He came back 5 minutes later (for a third time) with champagne for us both and advised that he should’ve considered the circumstances before making the decision that he did. By this time, 17 people (yes - I counted them!) around us were fully privileged to all these conversations and had witnessed them first hand - which were absolutely unnecessary and avoidable in the first place. 3 out of the 17 were in the nose of the aircraft with us which made this embarrassing and humiliating experience even worse.
Our departing words from the clubhouse were him telling us he needed to go home for a ‘hot shower’ of which diplomatically - I advised we all need one of them sometimes.
Were both 6’2 burley lads with broad shoulders and take part in a lot of sport and we handle our alcohol extremely well. Once onbaord, we spoke to the FSM who acknowledged this and had no issue with us, to the point where she actively encouraged us to enjoy what was left of our holiday onboard the flight home.
I’m 9 years VS Gold through Upper travel with VS and I think I’ve just taken my last flight with them. It’s just a good job this didn’t happen to someone else where it was maybe their first flight with them. I kicked off on Twitter at the time from the CH in SFO through sheer frustration and embarrassment, and was advised to fill in a complaints form, of which by the reaction on Twitter - I’m not sure I’ll be taken seriously with my issue.
We flew back on Cosmic Girl and to give a fair account - the aircraft is on its last legs inside. It wasn’t an Upper Class experience with ripped seat covers, what appeared to be endless amounts of ‘tippex’ paint job cover ups and dirty suites/floors. I’m not sure who at Crawley towers thought it was a good idea (or even a premium experience) for crew to set up meal services on trolleys by doors in the galley areas, where it was a disarray of food/drink all over the floor, buckets full of used china and general disorganised chaos.
It appeared that Lanson is no longer a provider of champagne anywhere on the VS network, where in fact Valdo Prosecco is on offer at the SFO CH that I usually buy for £6.66 (30% off special offer) at my local co-op. On my last flight 4 weeks ago to JFK with VS (Upperclass) I asked the crew for a coffee and was promptly told that I wouldn’t get it due to the commencement of the meal service... And again - that was only one of the faults with this flight.
We actually flew out to SFO with BA and the service we experienced was completely different to that offered by VS. This has been the case for the past few flights I’ve taken with BA.
What is happening with this airline??
