The use of the UC bar

So the thing i wonder since i moved to London and started to use Virgin for 95% of my flights overseas: why does hardly anyone ever use the bar onboard?

Oh how excited i was the first time i flew with virgin. They had a bar on board! How 'different and fun' i thought. Well on board it seemed to be a bit different and less cool (by now i know Virgin master the 'making it cool online, lesser in real'). But from experience on about 12 flights i think i can tell that hardly anyone ever sits at it or uses it. I always like to do so as its nice to sit in a different environment and just read a magazine at it, having a drink and all. But i hardly ever see anyone else use it.

So i was just wondering what everyone else's experience is? Do you ever use it? Why? For how long then? Just to get something quick or did you sat down for a while and had a chat or anything else?

Only time i saw it a bit more crowded was when there was really a flightcrew member standing there serving drinks for a while, chatting to everyone, pax chatting to each other and all (flight to lax). But this is hardly the case. Whenever i sit down there's almost never a crew member standing there serving you or having a chat and other pax seem to be scared to sit there for longer then 1minute. Am i expecting too much from it?

Anyway: share your thoughts on the bar! |:)

I have to agree - it seems rarely used on many flights. I have sat there on my own a few times. I love the thought of it, partly because I fly EC and PE as well, so the bar is a treat when I'm up front. It is also a good place to chat to the crew on occasion.

I think there are a few reasons for its lack of use.
* On night flights, people like to eat then get their heads down.
* Use by the crew for getting drinks, nibbles & meals ready keeps some people away (they wrongly feel they are intruding on the galley worktop!)
* Some people are lazy and prefer to be served at their seat.
* In turbulence you always get sent back to your seat. (I gave up on my last UC flight by the third sending off!)

[preiffer]

It's (IMHO) a bit of a chicken and egg situation.

The bar *used* to feel inviting. There would be a member of crew there, actively engaged with passengers, serving, chatting, making drinks, and the whole area felt like somewhere different to go - and broke up an otherwise tedious flight. I remember when it was a real feature of many flights I was on; indeed, I've made some good friends through "drinks at the bar" in the past.

Over the past few years that's changed. Crew don't *seem* to have time to be there serving. The bar is seen by many crews (ALL of those I've had on the past 8-10 flights) as somewhere that's *theirs* to prep trays, food, drinks, do paperwork. Turbulence is a factor, yes - BUT the key reason I personally believe people no longer use it as much is because it doesn't give the impression that it's there to be used any more. (Well, by passengers, anyway).

I've seen people sat there waiting for crew to "turn up" for ages - nobody did. I've seen people try to sit down amongst piles of paperwork and prep items, to be looked at like they're "in the way" of what the crew are doing. Neither of those things make the passenger feel like it's a place they SHOULD be using - so they won't.

Over time, that means it becomes completely unused, and with just a little more time I have no doubt the bean-counting department of VS will take that to mean passengers "clearly don't want it" so it'll be viewed as wasted space and scrapped.


May sound rather melodramatic, but watch this space - I'll quote myself in a few years, I bet. Just because it's not used doesn't mean passengers don't WANT to use it - just maybe they don't feel they CAN any more...

most of my flights these days are on my own and I'm one of those people who like to chat to others. some do some dont and if sat next to someone you never know if they really want to talk. the bar is an excellent palce just to socialise, i always think that if someone doesnt want to lsiten to my drivel they can always go sit down....its a great way of passing time and meeting interesting people

I once saw someone off Coronation Street sitting there who had all meals served there presumably because he wanted to be noticed.
Otherwise I only see people sitting there waiting for the toilet and it seems to have become a galley for the crew to prepare the service more than anything.

When I fly UC I always sit at the bar, as has been said earlier it's a great place to meet people and have a chat especially when flying on your own.

I took a flight to SFO in March and the bar was busy for practically the whole flight yet on the way back from Delhi in April I was the only one using it.

I have also had to wait for service for what seems like an age (but in reality probably no more than ten minutes) at times, and indeed there have been occasions when getting space at the bar due to paperwork and food prep have made it difficult.

The bar still remains a novelty to me so as long as it it there I will pay it a visit.

I once saw someone off Coronation Street sitting there who had all meals served there presumably because he wanted to be noticed.

Or because his table was broken ?.
I have met some great people and crew there over the years but have also at times been dissuaded (ie told not to use the bar area) as it's been needed to prepare meals etc v( so agree that there is a feeling that some crew see it as an extension of the galley.
DL

I just found it more comfortable to sit in my seat than at the bar - simple

DL - you've actually, explicitly, been told not to use the bar becasue they need to use it for food prep? :0 I mean, I know it can feel subtly uninviting at times (which is why I had to laugh at the Bond scene at the bar in Quantum of Solace - had all the visual realism of a Big Mac advert...), but that's pretty shocking...

To the original question though, yes, I tend to spend at least a short time at the bar on most flights I'm on. There are often people that I know/work with that I bump into in the CH, and it's a natural continuation of that social scene, either that, or I want to stretch my legs. Having cheese there is another thing I enjoy...

So yes, the ambience can be a bit hit and miss, but it's still one of the little things that 'makes' the flight for me, when done well...

Over time, that means it becomes completely unused, and with just a little more time I have no doubt the bean-counting department of VS will take that to mean passengers "clearly don't want it" so it'll be viewed as wasted space and scrapped.

Perhaps it needs a concerted V-Flyer campaign of attempting to use the bar during the flight and letter writing if denied.

I've only felt motivated to use it a few times. Once back from SFO (when it did break up the flight and we had a long chat with the crew member serving us) and we would've used it on the way out to UVF except it was hogged by a couple who weren't in UC.

DL - you've actually, explicitly, been told not to use the bar becasue they need to use it for food prep? :0 I mean, I know it can feel subtly uninviting at times (which is why I had to laugh at the Bond scene at the bar in Quantum of Solace - had all the visual realism of a Big Mac advert...), but that's pretty shocking...

Told, as "we'll be needing the bar to prepare the meal service but you can use it when meal service is over" ?
Yes.

DL

I had the opportunity to fly UC last September (normally fly PE). Wonderful experience. Sadly, did not use the bar area, which remained empty during entire flight (morning flight to JFK). However, did note crew using space as prep area.

Told, as "we'll be needing the bar to prepare the meal service but you can use it when meal service is over" ?
Yes.

DL

That isn't very friendly of them. v( v(

Experienced a similar thing on a flight last month, they attempted to dissuade me by saying we would love to have you here but with all the chaos of food service around we are not sure you would like it... hmmm clever, but a quick line about how I like chaos shut that down... then I camped at the bar the rest of the flight. Had some food there and a lot to drink ii) People from the cabin obv heard the banter as people were coming up, joining in and the crew were always around filling up drinks and joining the conversation too.

On most of the flights I have been on, the bar always seems to get used by pax in one way or another - and no not always by me Have seen people taking the full meal service there, cheese or desert with a few drinks or just simply to sit and chat with fellow pax or the crew.

It is definitely something that is a good part of the UC experience for me and long may it continue y) y)

During the two day flights I've had in UC, I haven't used the bar - the first time the bar was busy all the trip and the second - was simply because I was on my own and felt awkward....(just me not because of staff issues / being busy.)

The returns I've done, I've eaten my meal service at the bar. First time, hubby and me because it was my Birthday and and it was kind of a treat to say that you'd eaten at a bar 36,000 miles up in the sky! The second time around, I asked for it at the bar and I was the only one there - but I had a friendly chat with the two stewards that were floating around. After declining a second offering of port, I went back to my seat. Didn't see anyone else at the bar for the rest of the flight. (Brilliant crew all round that flight btw - couldn't fault them on anything at all - very attentive.)

I don't tend to watch the IFE apart from the sky map and its a change of scene. But I am conscious on a night flight that the cabin gets very quiet (even the non snooze zone) very quickly.

On a recent flight back from ANU the CC left open bottles of Champagne and wine on the bar and we helped ourselves.

Told, as "we'll be needing the bar to prepare the meal service but you can use it when meal service is over" ?
Yes.

DL

On our flight to LAX in May this was part of the announcement by the FSM just after take off. To be honest, I wasn't really bothered, it's an 11 hour flight, I wasn't exactly going to jump to the bar as soon as the seatbelt signs were off anyway. I do appreciate they are trying to deliver a premium service with extremely limited space. Excellent service on this flight more than made up for any restriction on the bar for an hour or so. When the bar was available however, it was full for almost the whole flight - to our disappointment lol. But the bar was fully available after the meal service. Return flight unsurprisingly was empty due to being a night flight. I went to the bar during the last third of the flight and found it to be completely clear of any crew bits and pieces and fully available to me as a passenger, complete with CC and FSM who spent time chatting to us (but still busying about with their tasks, both can be done at the same time and passengers appreciate they are working not socialising). Like alot of aspects of VS service, it seems to be your pot luck as to which crew you get.

My UC experience was a one off, but I do wonder if the use of the bar by crew as a food prep area has increased with the removal of the freedom menu - was the bar less used as a prep area when the pax could eat anytime during the flight and thereby spread out the meal service?

Often use the bar and don't ever feel unwelcome by the crew, yes it does get busy prior to drinks and snacks starting but a little patience doesn't hurt.

Like other comments, when I fly alone (frequently) it's a nice break to the flight to sit and chat. That said some flights do get busier at the bar than others (SFO, LAX, HKG, SYD being those that I notice) whereas shorter flights or night flights tend otherwise.

I encourage all V-Flyers in UC to spend some time there!

On two occasions, on a flight from LHR to MIA, I tried to use the bar, there simply wasn't anyone around to serve. My 1st assumption was that the crew were serving other passengers, but after a couple more attempts 1/2 hour apart I gave up. I just pressed the call bell and got my drink at my seat. he 1st flight it happened on I asked why there was no one on the bar and told it wasn't set up because of turbulance (which never appeared). Possibly the crew was helping out in PE or Y, but I consider the bar an essential part of the UC service.

On every one of my UC flights (5 so far) I've visited the bar.
It's part of the UC experience and part of the UC sales pitch so why not use it.

Every time, apart from the last one, I've had the most pleaseant time talking to fellow pax and CC whilst they were doing paperwork or even being sociable and adding to the customer experience.

I have no issue with CC doing paperwork at the bar, especially if they are making a conversation with pax as well.....doesn't this admin/office set up at the bar happen in some land based bars/pubs as well?

Hopefully the "use it or lose it" bean counter thinking won't kick in here.
Paul

We spent a very enjoyable hour or so at the bar on our recent VS18

I try use it every time but have noticed its been less inviting and sometimes just been used as a work surface.

On two occasions, on a flight from LHR to MIA, I tried to use the bar, there simply wasn't anyone around to serve. My 1st assumption was that the crew were serving other passengers, but after a couple more attempts 1/2 hour apart I gave up. I just pressed the call bell and got my drink at my seat. he 1st flight it happened on I asked why there was no one on the bar and told it wasn't set up because of turbulance (which never appeared). Possibly the crew was helping out in PE or Y, but I consider the bar an essential part of the UC service.

I totally agree with Paul's comments. We have sat at the bar for ages waiting to be served and in the end just got our own drinks and went back to or seats. Not the kind of service expected in UC.

I have enjoyed spent many happy hours at the UC bar over the year. I am most likely to use the bar when a} travelling with someone & b} on a holiday flight, if traveling on holiday with someone I probably end up spending to much time at the bar. When traveling alone on business I rarely bother. Service at the bar difers massively, on a recent trip to Barbados we enjoyed a very nice couple of hours with several other passengers with a cabin crew member in attendance at all times, on other occasions we have poured my own drinks. I have seen oictures of the business class bar on the Emirates A380 which looks very upscale.

oldboy

I always travel alone on business, the bar is a huge attraction for me, a little like choosing a hotel with a "real" bar [i.e. the Dickens bar, Excelsior HK] it is a place to break up the journey, chat to complete strangers, even sitting upright on a stool can be relaxing [or is it the alcohol!] Have always found the crew talkative and attentive and if they are not around for any reason, feel comfortable helping myself and any other passengers who have joined me at the bar.
The crews on Shanghai and Hong Kong flights have always been superb and apart from returning to seat for turbulance or of my own accord have always felt most welcome.

I was invited to use the bar by the FSM on my last flight when I was sat in PE, an amazing gesture and one I was happy to take up. Basically just said to wait until meal service was over....it was strangely quiet at the bar most of the time for an SFO flight.