VS078 BGI-MAN 27 May 07 (Upper)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

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I promise this will be the last time that I'll drag this old kipper up, but I feel the need for some well deserved spleen venting and, if ever there were a place for aerating a major internal organ, I believe this venerable site is it.

I've finally received a reply to my second letter to VS Customer Relations (it actually took a third letter to them to illicit a response) thanking me for my e-mail. Yes, I know, it's confusing isn't it?

Basically, they'd like me know that they couldn't give two hoots, that the lounge in Barbados is run by a third party and isn't a Clubhouse, so it's not really their problem. And no increase in the offer of 10K miles which they deem to be 'fair and proportionate' compensation. Well, we got 10K for a broken table, and 25K for a missing baby seat in a limo, so go and figure that one out if you will.

Sorry to go on, but just feel a little let down. Bad service on the day of the flight is upsetting enough, but ineffectual, couldn't-care-less customer service after the fact is possibly even worse. Especially when you love the company in question so darn much, you want them to meet your expectations. Ah well, looking at the prices VS are touting to BGI next spring this might all be pretty academic Ð BA are way cheaper and I'm not feeling particularly 'brand loyal' right now.

Here endeth the vent.

Originally posted by mdvipond
Bad service on the day of the flight is upsetting enough, but ineffectual, couldn't-care-less customer service after the fact is possibly even worse.



Here endeth the vent.

I question that 10k miles is 'fair and proportionate' recompense for being treated like an inconvenience one might scrape from the sole of one's shoe?

It does identify one issue - VS have outsourced and contracted for so much business critical stuff that they have lost control over it, and don't seem to have adequate routes of redress in place. At least if they were your own staff, you could discipline or fire them for shonky behaviour (and equally, reward them for excellent customer service).

Anyone among the daytime tv viewers here ever seen 'Don't Get Done, Get Dom'?

One wonders if he should be unleashed on VS Customer Services?

Mike

Originally posted by mike-smashing

Originally posted by mdvipond
Bad service on the day of the flight is upsetting enough, but ineffectual, couldn't-care-less customer service after the fact is possibly even worse.



Here endeth the vent.

Anyone among the daytime tv viewers here ever seen 'Don't Get Done, Get Dom'?

One wonders if he should be unleashed on VS Customer Services?

Mike

I do catch the diminutive Dom from time to time. Like a little pit bull terrier, isn't he? Maybe I should get in touch.

First time I've felt genuinely disappointed by VS. Hope this isn't the shape of things to come...

[buns]

Bad news[n][n]

i hope they do not exacerbate the problem by sending you a 'customer survey' asking about your experience with the contact centre as I have just received.

If you do, you will be pleased to learn there are some 'free text' responses available to you
[}:)][}:)]

If you do get drawn to BA (and I would not blame you), please, please, please, post your TRs here

buns

Originally posted by buns4vs
Bad news[n][n]

i hope they do not exacerbate the problem by sending you a 'customer survey' asking about your experience with the contact centre as I have just received.

If you do, you will be pleased to learn there are some 'free text' responses available to you
[}:)][}:)]

If you do get drawn to BA (and I would not blame you), please, please, please, post your TRs here

buns

'Free text' you say? Hmm, reckon I could have some fun with that... Not that it would make the slightest bit of difference back at VS Customer (poor) Relations.

We've still got our VS flights coming up in December (which should provide good TR 'fodder'), and I'm hoping - if rather folornly - that these might re-introduce the 'wow-factor' to our flying experience. As for the BGI route, it's pretty well serviced by BA. To be fair, they only fly out of LGW, but VS are offering nothing but Ds out of MAN at the moment, and about 3 Zs from LGW for the whole of April. BA, on the other hand, will get us there and back in Club for well under 2K each, any day in April or May. And as I mentioned earlier, I don't really feel in the mood for going out of my way to fly VS right now - though I probably would if they could cough some decent Zs up.

Never done a BA TR before. If it comes to it I will, of course, give it a go...

[Scrooge]

Pretty please do.

This whole pricing thing is becoming a little bit of a theme on here right now, along with crap food and iffy service.

Are VS loads that high that they can afford to on release a few Z's or are they just selling the J's then releasing the Z's closer to the flight date?

Originally posted by Scrooge
Are VS loads that high that they can afford to on release a few Z's or are they just selling the J's then releasing the Z's closer to the flight date?

hi there, & hey all,

well, on my upcoming flight this sunday (VS020) - and i've been checking VAs seat maps for my flight in a manner one might call obsessive [:w] - 3 Z seats just opened up on the upper deck... (i'm not switching from my current one, my mission is to be first off this time [:D] )

having said that, expert flyer is showing seats as occupied that are available on my seat map. [:?]

i'm traveling via milesplusmoney fare Z, so i'm assuming my seat maps having been reflecting that fact, eg. only showing seats i could actually choose, given my restrictive fare code...

cheers, C