V-Flyer

Was on VS7 yesterday to LAX in PE. Surprised not to see amenity kits on the seats when we boarded. Waited for a while but nothing turned up. I asked our crew member who said they have got rid of them due to cut backs. Apparently they wanted to get rid of the blankets as well. Crazy. You'd think for the price of a PE ticket you'd get a little something!!

I dont think they are given out on the day flights anymore, but you can request some of the items if available, ie socks, eye masks

Just Googled Amenity Kits ( Virgin Atlantic ) and found this!

http://blog.vtravelled.com/virgin-atlan ... -on-board/

They are only given out on night flights now. Items including eyeshades, toothbrush and socks are available on request

Flagged up by Neil here on V-Flyer in late October.

I am a bit sceptical of the new policy of not announcing the availability of various items, and then expecting people to request them if they want them.

People who are new to VS will not know these items were previously available, so they probably won't request them. People who are seasoned VS flyers may assume they have been junked, and thus not request them.

My guess is that the upshot of this is that few people will request them, at which point they will be removed entirely, thanks to 'minimal customer demand'.

Cynical, moi?

at240 wrote:I am a bit sceptical of the new policy of not announcing the availability of various items, and then expecting people to request them if they want them.

People who are new to VS will not know these items were previously available, so they probably won't request them. People who are seasoned VS flyers may assume they have been junked, and thus not request them.

My guess is that the upshot of this is that few people will request them, at which point they will be removed entirely, thanks to 'minimal customer demand'.

Cynical, moi?

Surely that's the point when it comes to cost-cutting though.. Isn't it? If it's announced then everyone on-board will request them and they'll be back to square one.

at240 wrote: People who are new to VS will not know these items were previously available, so they probably won't request them.

On that basis they probably don' t need them then.

PE had them on the vs035 last Wednesday. But they were the red socks from economy I saw people walking round in.

StillRedHot wrote:Surely that's the point when it comes to cost-cutting though.. Isn't it? If it's announced then everyone on-board will request them and they'll be back to square one.

True, but the same thing can happen if someone asks for something, and then their neighbour does the same, and so on. I think it is better to provide essentially the same level of service to everyone -- advertised in advance, available in practice. It is an easier way of managing expectations (and disappointment).

all I want is the pen

Olas86 wrote:all I want is the pen

I think you may be looking for a WHSmith

Being honest on this guys, I am not overly fussed if they go the way of the dinosaur.

Having these amenity kits was always a nice addition to the service, but just had a look in a drawer and found a stash of the things from across the cabins whoops, thats where the VS bottom line is hiding. Will see if I can get a few quid for them on ebay, or perhaps become a black market amenity dealer on my next flight ):

I always pack into my carry on what I foresee needing (pen, good headphones, toothbrush, PJs) and anything I forget I usually appropriate from the CH or buy at the airport.

I can see the waterfall effect happening though, esp in the small PE cabin where you can hear most of what goes on and gets asked for. A difficult thing for them to get around.

Perhaps VS should not have invested in the full redesign and gone for the basket lined with a serviette that they take round UC and PE and offer in case people forget things... What you see is what you get kind of thing... Just a thought.

Hmm, now how to treat the amenity kits in the much larger Economy cabin.. perhaps a sleep pack for night flights with eye mask, ear plugs, and a blanket left on the seats. As for the day flights just keep a stash back that people can ask for if needed and a "should have gone to WHSmith" sticker for anyone that asks for a pen. 8D

Ha ha - love the idea of running a little market stall mid-flight. The perfect way to get rid of the amenity mountain!