Goodbye free haircuts..

Good evening V-flyers from the hallowed hall of the Heathrow Clubhouse.

I arrived early for my VS400 to Dubai, I don't need to justify that I am sure... the clubhouse doesn't need a reason

I was a touch peeved when I saw the news earlier in the month that they were pulling my free haircuts from the complimentary list. Sadly I can confirm that the only haircut they offer to men is the neck trim, which really doesn't count for much in my view. Do women still get their free 'hair consultation'? Anyways, £20 is a bit steep of an ask for something I have been getting for free for years so I think I will pass for now, the tenner at my local barber would be less of a shock to the system

I am now sat enjoying a Woodford reserve on the rocks awaiting another V-Flyer (tinuks) who is travelling back to LOS this evening with, and I am sure she will correct me if I'm wrong, 106 suitcases. There was a bit of an issue with the wing not being able to process payments for the excess baggage

I hope all have had a great Saturday and have a relaxing Sunday wherever you may be

Good evening. Have a good time in the CH and a great flight which I’m sure will help you overcome your disappointment over the haircut !
106 suitcases . Wow. Is she related to Dragonlady ?!

No she's not related to Dragon Lady and it was only 4 suitcases Joeyc.

PS. At least the express facial is still free.

Hi Everyone. Just signed up. Have flown upper class a couple of times however i am going to be arriving a wee bit earlier than usual. Flight from Edinburgh on Wednesday due in 3.20. Dubai departure not till just before 10pm. Dont want to use and abuse. (well i do actually lol) . What would be a reasonable time to check in to clubhouse.

When are these due to end? Is there a link to the news?

Hi Everyone. Just signed up. Have flown upper class a couple of times however i am going to be arriving a wee bit earlier than usual. Flight from Edinburgh on Wednesday due in 3.20. Dubai departure not till just before 10pm. Dont want to use and abuse. (well i do actually lol) . What would be a reasonable time to check in to clubhouse.

As soon as you can get there is the answer.

I went to the CH for 0700 for a 14:50 flight last month. They want you to enjoy your time there, and if you are holding a UC ticket there is no restriction to how early you can check in.

I am heading to DXB myself in September and I intend on being in the CH about 14:00! I've always found that from about 1-3pm is a nice time in there and pretty relaxed, especially after the SFO and LAX have been called.

[mitchja]

Hi Everyone. Just signed up. Have flown upper class a couple of times however i am going to be arriving a wee bit earlier than usual. Flight from Edinburgh on Wednesday due in 3.20. Dubai departure not till just before 10pm. Dont want to use and abuse. (well i do actually lol) . What would be a reasonable time to check in to clubhouse.

Welcome to V-Flyer

There are no restrictions for the length of time you spend in the Clubhouse when flying Upper Class, however, TBH I find anything more than 4 hours or so is the maximum time before I start getting bored as there's only so much you can actually do in the Clubhouse.

You say you land at 15:20 in T5 so by the time you de-plane and collect you bags (which often seems to take ages in T5 for domestic flights as I presume you won't be able to check all the way through?), make your way to T3 via the HEX, check-in with VS then head up to the Clubhouse, it's probably not going to be far off 17:00 by that point. Your VS flight will be called around 21:15ish so you will be there about 4 hours or so anyway.

Thanks for the advice folks. Was thinking i was going to have to kill some time before checking in. Excellent news.

For a first time visit to the CH you won't be bored!!

Extremely cheap of them to withdraw the haircut as a complimentary option. They could've at least left it is a benefit for Au/Ag members. I know it's "only" £20 but very disappointing to see them cost cutting on this as it was a nice VS perk.

I can see this from two points of view.

The haircut has been a staple of the Clubhouse for years and it's loss as a free perk will hit many quite hard. It's not the cost that's the issue but the feeling of "cheapness" now that it's been withdrawn.

On the other hand, you must remember that Upper is a business class product and (on the ground at least - the dated UC suite is another discussion) it compares very well to most other business class offerings and also BA's First. Take a look at the Elemis spa offering https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/lounges/elemis-travel-spa at the Concorde room there's never been a haircut option here.

I was given a heads up about this on my last visit on December 21st. The reason I was told was due to ladies complaining that men get a complimentary haircut, but women don't, so to even things out, they've began charging.
Whether that was the genuine reason or not I've no idea.

I can't believe that's the real reason.

I'm delighted with a number 2 on the back and sides and short on the top and be in and out in 10 minutes. Mrs _F has different expectations from a haircut and tends to book in places that have people who call themselves "senior colour stylist" and "artistic director". The two are not comparable and to expect the latter for free is unrealistic.

I can't believe that's the real reason.

I'm delighted with a number 2 on the back and sides and short on the top and be in and out in 10 minutes. Mrs _F has different expectations from a haircut and tends to book in places that have people who call themselves "senior colour stylist" and "artistic director". The two are not comparable and to expect the latter for free is unrealistic.

I quite agree. I will probably still go though as a couple of the stylists/barbers/etc I really like and would be sad to not use them anymore. Besides £20 is almost the going rate in Cambridge so it's not too much of a shock!

I can't believe that's the real reason.

Nor me.

From starting out as a genuine perk for UC & Au flyers, the spa has essentially now become just another source of revenue for VS.

Nothing wrong with that per se - it’s a business after all - but it’s yet another USP gone and a further step closer to VS becoming just another nondescript airline like all the others on the TATL routes.

The Clubhouses and the CDC service are really the only things that still lift VS above its TATL competitors. With recent cutbacks to both, sadly that may not be the case for much longer. But hey - BA, DL, UA & AA are proof that bland and uninspiring works. If you can’t beat ‘em, might was well join ‘em.

I can't believe that's the real reason.

I'm delighted with a number 2 on the back and sides and short on the top and be in and out in 10 minutes. Mrs _F has different expectations from a haircut and tends to book in places that have people who call themselves "senior colour stylist" and "artistic director". The two are not comparable and to expect the latter for free is unrealistic.

I quite agree. I will probably still go though as a couple of the stylists/barbers/etc I really like and would be sad to not use them anymore. Besides £20 is almost the going rate in Cambridge so it's not too much of a shock!

£20? What are you having done? A shampoo and set?

I'm at a 1 lower setting to Stuart_f and 10 minutes is probably the longest I've spent in a barber's chair for the past decade or so. Even then they are looking for things to do the fill the time.

I'll miss it.

Hope you drank at least £10 worth of the Whisky to cover the cost of a haircut back home!

I remember when a safety shave was free, they do seem to be reducing the number of complimentary treatments available to men quite a bit