V-Flyer

I'm off on an UC trip to LA next weekend, and having experienced a "variable quality of experience" perviously, I wondered if any of the more frequent fliers in UC have any pearls of wisdom on how to try and ensure that the level of service and experience is tip-top (on the flight mainly).

Obviously I'll be carrying out my own quality control in the CH , however it's on the flight itself where I've previously experienced the "variability" of Virgin's UC product, sooooo... any tips (short of bribing the FSM to ply me with fizz and cocktails throughout said flight) to ensure a great experience onboard (the '23)?

Ditto for return flight a week later (the '8 out of LAX).

Thx y)

I always remind my self that I am not in a restaurant so the food will not be brilliant, I am not in a hotel so the bed will not be soft, I am not in a private room so there will be 30 other people wondering about.
I am in a metal tube flying through the air to get me from A to B - that feat in itself is enough to satisfy me.

Relax, smile and enjoy yourself. I am sure if you go in with a good attitude, it rubs off on the crew and they return the good vibes.

It would be great if everything was perfect, but the chances of that are ....... but the plus side of things are that you aren't sitting at your desk y)

David

David wrote:Relax, smile and enjoy yourself. I am sure if you go in with a good attitude, it rubs off on the crew and they return the good vibes.
David

Vizbiz

David's point is really true. The crew work better and interact more freely with happy pleasant people.

I was on a flight in J a few weeks ago and whilst chatting to our FA who was looking after us on the K side, she mentioned that her opposite number (looking after the A side) said how come you have got all the nice friendly pax on your side of the aircraft and I've got all the grumpy bu99ers on mine! [My words here]

She was a delight, very friendly and attentive - so we had a great flight.

JCBR wrote:I always remind my self that I am not in a restaurant so the food will not be brilliant, I am not in a hotel so the bed will not be soft, I am not in a private room so there will be 30 other people wondering about.
I am in a metal tube flying through the air to get me from A to B - that feat in itself is enough to satisfy me.

So... to enjoy the experience to the fullest, you basically assume the exact opposite of Virgin Atlantic's product marketing ?|

Because apparently the bed is designed for "maximum sleeping comfort"

And the food? Well apparently "you'd be forgiven for thinking you were in a restaurant, not a plane."

I'm beginning to understand why opinions on the UC experience vary so wildly... There seems to be division between those who expect what is advertised - and those who are resigned to the fact that the adverts aren't particularly accurate.

Which is kinda sad.

PS. This is not a personal pop at JCBR's post - merely that it highlights how opinions and expectations on service standards can be poles apart from one PAX to another

vizbiz wrote:
... sooooo... any tips (short of bribing the FSM to ply me with fizz and cocktails throughout said flight) to ensure a great experience onboard (the '23)?

Ditto for return flight a week later (the '8 out of LAX).

Thx y)

Don't confuse the eclair for a cup cake for starters ! ): ):

Go with a positive frame of mind, there are some miserable bu99ers out there who get on board with a bad mood and it stays with them. Others just want to find fault with anything and everything whereas others go wanting to have a good time and so will have a good time.

How anyone can fail to have a good time in UC is beyond me! My first ever UC flight was last May (a blast!) and we're already booked UC again for next year. As folks on this forum often say, once you go UC once, it is really hard to turn right ever again

I can remember arriving into T3 ready to check in for an Upper Class flight and, thinking of my forthcoming trip report, mentally switching on my antennae ready to find fault so that I would have something to report on. Fortunately almost at the same time I realised that if I looked for negative things I would find negative things and if I looked for positive things then similarly they too would rise to the surface. The antennae were switched off and I decided to "go with the flow". It was a wise decision as I had one of the best flights ever.

My advice to you is to go out there prepared to enjoy yourself. Think of the positives:

You are off to LA
You are in UC
You have a smaller queue at check-in followed by a private security channel
You will be in a large, airy, uncrowded Clubhouse as opposed to a busy, uncomfortable and noisy departure lounge. You don't even need to look at the departure boards as you will be told when to leave.
You will have access in the Clubhouse to a wide selection of food and beverages all free of charge together with a treatment which is free unless you choose a more luxurious one
You will have priority boarding (although that admittedly could be hit and miss)
You will be in a large seat and not squashed alongside someone who spills over into your personal space and later if you so choose you can convert it into a bed
You will be served food an drink in proper glasses and plates and not with plastic cutlery nor out of a foil-covered container
You will have access to a bar if you so choose and when the flight is over you get to leave ahead of the posse where hopefully your bags will be the first out

You know all this but it is well worth stating the obvious as some people have greater expectations which are not met and therefore they lessen the experience for themselves. The crew work hard and may be down a member for what ever reason. More often than not you will not be aware of it. They are obliged to take rest periods and on the longer flights such as your these are mandatory so that in between meal services there will not be as many crew around. They are there for your safety and comfort but they are not your personal slaves.

Bear all of the above in mind but most of all sit back and relax and you will have a good flight |:)

Frenchy78 wrote:So... to enjoy the experience to the fullest, you basically assume the exact opposite of Virgin Atlantic's product marketing ?

Marketing promised me pole dancers on their advert but they have , so far, failed to deliver

JCBR wrote:

Frenchy78 wrote:So... to enjoy the experience to the fullest, you basically assume the exact opposite of Virgin Atlantic's product marketing ?

Marketing promised me pole dancers on their advert but they have , so far, failed to deliver

Oh, I don't know........... :w

honey lamb wrote:

JCBR wrote:

Frenchy78 wrote:So... to enjoy the experience to the fullest, you basically assume the exact opposite of Virgin Atlantic's product marketing ?

Marketing promised me pole dancers on their advert but they have , so far, failed to deliver

Oh, I don't know........... :w

Oh yes - you were really rather good at it !

(I have other pictures of that too - available for £ 5 )

tontybear wrote:Oh yes - you were really rather good at it !

(I have other pictures of that too - available for £ 5 )

Only £5 Tsk!! v(

Do certain routes have a reputation for being better than others? For example one route might attract more senior crew...

honey lamb wrote:

tontybear wrote:Oh yes - you were really rather good at it !

(I have other pictures of that too - available for £ 5 )

Only £5 Tsk!! v(

I will sell you exclusive copyright for a larger sum

tontybear wrote:

honey lamb wrote:

tontybear wrote:Oh yes - you were really rather good at it !

(I have other pictures of that too - available for £ 5 )

Only £5 Tsk!! v(

I will sell you exclusive copyright for a larger sum

Oh I'm not looking for copyright. I'm just disappointed that you think I'm only worth £5 v(

Make the most of the Clubhouse as it really is fantastic.

On board, I was one who had great service on the way to LA in July and pretty inconsistent on the way back. Don't let it ruin the experience, just enjoy the feeling of being in UC.

Look around, do a little celeb or zeleb spotting and you never know, you may bump into the at thebar and have a great chat.... or indeed get "told off" by one (well, one who thinks they are a zeleb) for being too loud :w

One of my mates travels in UC probably once or twice a year employs a pretty cheeky tactic - which is mentioning to the cabin crew that its his first time in UC (always with an excited little smile on his face ) even though it isn't.

He seems to think that crew in the UC cabin are always a sucker for a an excited first-timer and that this always seems to make them more attentive and smiley. He swears by it.

I think this stems from the fact that when he took his first ever PE trip with Virgin he told the check-in agent how exicited he was - and ended up getting an op-up to UC at the gate - and mentioned his excitment to the crew on board and was given all sorts of little treats.

I've warned him that he will come un-stuck one day when a crew member recognises him from a previous flight :w

Frenchy78 wrote:One of my mates travels in UC probably once or twice a year employs a pretty cheeky tactic - which is mentioning to the cabin crew that its his first time in UC (always with an excited little smile on his face ) even though it isn't.

He seems to think that crew in the UC cabin are always a sucker for a an excited first-timer and that this always seems to make them more attentive and smiley. He swears by it.

I think this stems from the fact that when he took his first ever PE trip with Virgin he told the check-in agent how exicited he was - and ended up getting an op-up to UC at the gate - and mentioned his excitment to the crew on board and was given all sorts of little treats.

I've warned him that he will come un-stuck one day when a crew member recognises him from a previous flight :w

hahaha! That's excellent.