V-Flyer

Most of us I suspect are members on here because we either love or loved the VS brand, however gone are the days when I could say with a real glint in my eye that I have just booked or flown VS.

Please do not let this post descend into a list of rants and negatives, I still love VS, the LHR clubhouse must be the envy of many a carrier, ---- lets have a list of real positives on why you still fly VS!

1) The Clubhouse's is fantastic around the world.

2) I love the Bar and meeting new people round it.

I'll start with the welcome you receive when entering the Gatwick Clubhouse.

Even after months away and flights from Manchester, I am still welcomed like a member of the family.

(I know everyone probably gets the same welcome, but it puts a smile on your face - much like being welcomed back on board by name )

David

Having only taken 3 trip with virgin starting last August I'm not in the best position to judge the 'decline' but I've pretty much enjoyed every flight and every experience.
The obvious standout is as already said the CH ,such a fantastic area with great staff,food and drink,I'm planning on getting there around 9 am on sat week (the 23rd) for the 15.00pm flight to Boston ,also just booked the dtci today so that will be interesting to see what it's like,I also think the t3 location is nice and easy to get to and from.
Blacky

A good question. For me it is def all about the service.

CS line - Ok so I'm a frequent flyer.. the CS staff that answer the AU line are fantastic and probably going to be the same as with the other FC lines come to think about it, they always want to help save you money and figure the best route for you - even if that means breaking out the abacus to work out the fares of an open jaw return flight

Check-in desks - with some other carriers I usually get the impression of being just another pax.. which I suppose is true.. but with VS a bit of banter and a smile really starts my travel experience. There are always exceptions, but these are rare.

Clubhouses - all of them, excellent surroundings, brilliant servers and, aside from IAD where a good mojito still alludes them, fantastic bar staff.

Onboard service staff - got to love them one and all... some of the FSMs out there do deserve being held by their feet dangling over an active engine, but with an on the ball FSM and good crew the experience is second to none across the cabins.. the personable service offering is what appeals to me.

Food and Drink.... ha ha ok uber failing with the mushroom fixation in PE, the constant first choice shortages in ECO and the lack of JD and green tea at the UC bar.. n( Sorry, positives.... they have a bar onboard

Revivals - if flying into LHR then revivals is a real treat and def needed after the long flight, other airlines have them, yet I still think the revivals lounge is way out in front in terms of service - ignore my last TR.. new staff, can't have everything

Best PE product across the pond.

(Except maybe NZ to LAX, which I haven't tried)

Clubhouses - outstanding
Welcome generally very good
Product great at first but needs a little more i think
Staff well as we see on here going from the sublime to the absolute minimal.

I think we as a community also say it as it is and will condone as quick as give credit where it's due . Personally I think Virgin are very lucky to have a loyal and yes critical network all types of passengers to give them real and honest feedback.

Only negative is that Crawley towers need to listen a tad more to us on a few issues. And the biggest plus for me is I have met a great bunch of flyers here

Well I think for me I have a choice of 3 carriers to fly direct to IAD from LHR.

Compared to UA the free bar and better tv wins hands down
BA wins Terminal wise but tv is poorer but again free bar
I say to people when VS good its good and when its bad it sucks!

I would say in economy it still has a "hipper" more laid back feel than anyone else

For me its simple,

You cant beat the VA / VH combination, no other travel company comes close to offering the experience you get.

regards jason

1. Really great ground product at LHR
2. I think PE is a great all-round proposition still
3. Some of the crew are really good
4. Double-cabin upgrades with miles

I get a genuine excitement about booking Virgin, and while we may all be too close to them, people I know still say "Oh wow" when I say I'm booked on them.

Staff: VS staff are amazing...lol!
Catering: Well, my Mum loves mushrooms!
IFE: Despite being named after an old lady, it has a vast array of well chosen content.
Advertising: I was in hysterics once to see Virgin owned the whole back wall of T5B for advertising, and the advert said "service down to a T3" along with photos of chauffeur, the wing and clubhouse. Hit BA where it hurts!

UK carrier where you can rely on not paying for the fun of being disturbed by / having to disturb a fellow business class passenger when nature calls....

We have a Son with severe learning difficulties, and have always received excellent service by VS special assistance. Even ground staff have been extremely helpful.

Yes, a few cracks may have appeared, no doubt compounded by the dark side's recent preeminence, but i have no doubt that VS can, and will fight back.

The Wheelchair army going towards and back from Montego Bay?

(I've heard some comment that's why they love flying VS).

Small thing, but the whole G-V*** registration and naming of planes is something "hip and funky" about VS. It gives the planes a personality (yeah, I know, it's not everyone's cup of tea).

I recall my daughter being fascinated at age 9 that she was flying home on "Lady Penelope", and to this day asks whether we're going on Lady Penelope...

I always felt it was something different, quirky, fun about VS...

Some of the staff.

Totally agree with Concorde RIP - I love the fact the planes have names.

They have a really good (independent) forum run by some excellent mods where it's great to hang out.

Having just left a fight on VS, I remain of the opinion that the staff are still committed to the Virgin Brand - they sometimes need to be reminded by front line managers that this is crucial to their continued survival

bund

jasong wrote:For me its simple,

You cant beat the VA / VH combination, no other travel company comes close to offering the experience you get.

regards jason

I totally agree with this as well y)

Wow, what an amazingly diverse set of positive posts --- I think this comment from Sealink sums up a lot of the negativity "and while we may all be too close to them"

You always hurt the one you love