VS372 LHR-MRU 15 Nov 09 (Econ)

This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin

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We arrived at T3 about 3.5 hours before the flight, and headed to the PE check in desks. The guy behind the desk told us that as we hadn't done OLCI we needed to check in using the self service kiosks before we could drop our bags with him, despite me being FC silver.

Went over to the kiosk - the first one appeared to crash upon reading the first passport, although it was actually just thinking about what to do - it woke up a couple of minutes later as we tried our luck with a second machine. The VS staff member who came to assist us told us that they sometimes slowed down when it was busy (it definitely was not busy). I also asked her for confirmation that as FC silver I was required to use the kiosks, which she confirmed. The non VS helper (at least he wasn't in VS uniform) who came to help us was somewhat more disparaging towards the kiosks, suggesting that they always play up.

We headed back to PE bag drop (with only one e-ticket - the other had failed to print) and asked about exit rows - sadly only one available, although it was offered for free (the flight was full), but we decided to stay together and so declined (a tough decision as I'm 6'4'!)

We had clubhouse invitations owing to a previous customer relations incident, although we were a bit worried that we wouldn't be able to make full use of them as we were turned away from security for being too early (about 3 hours to go by this point). I'm not sure what Virgin could do about this, although it's not inconceivable that non-gold, non frequent UC flyers like us would turn up very early if given clubhouse access - I'd have thought somebody might have foreseen this problem. Anyway, security decided it was quiet enough to let everybody through just moments after we were turned away, so it was alright in the end.

Service and food in the clubhouse was quite good, and I think my girlfriend was suitably impressed with her first visit. She was a bit put out that her name was never called for her Cowshed treatment before boarding - she wasn't told that they might not get round to her in time.

Boarding was painless as usual when coming from the lounge and we departed more or less on time.

Odyssey IFE - very disappointing. Quite good film selection, but a bit annoyed that this plane's IFE doesn't really feel like it's progressed since 1997 and the first time my parents took me to DisneyWorld!

We were about the last to get served at meal time. Flight attendants got to us with a 'Would you like to know what we've got left?' - terrible way to offer the meal in my opinion. They'd had to get meals from PE, and were offering people around me special meals that people had requested but not eaten - we really were down to the dregs. The flight attendant kept saying 'this always happens' (i.e. running out of meat, so only veggie meals leftover). So totally foreseeable then? Great. We had long since finished our meals before we were offered 'tea or coffee to go with your meals'.

I think the rest of the flight was fine except for a totally unannounced/unmentioned IFE reboot.

I think my girlfriend summed it up quite well towards the end of the flight. She's travelled quite a bit, only ever in Y on whichever airline is selling the cheapest ticket, but of VS economy, which she is travelling because of me, she thinks 'it's just not good enough'.

My brand loyalty is quite strong, and it's cost me a few quid and flights separately to my friends over the years, but I had to agree with her.

Thanks,

Ben

Thank you for the TR - such a pity your experience was disappointing to say the least. I don't understand why you were denied access to the CH as 3 hours before the flight seems more than reasonable to me. Is this another rule being slipped in under the radar?

Sorry, I think I was unclear, it was the metal detector/frisking/shoe carnival type security that initially turned us away for being early!

[honey lamb]

quote:Originally posted by Jacki
Thank you for the TR - such a pity your experience was disappointing to say the least. I don't understand why you were denied access to the CH as 3 hours before the flight seems more than reasonable to me. Is this another rule being slipped in under the radar?

Jacki, I read it that it was security that didn't let them through rather then the clubhouse, but in any case didn't I read somewhere that paid clubhouse entry was time-limited. Perhaps the invitations had the same time limit

quote: She was a bit put out that her name was never called for her Cowshed treatment before boarding - she wasn't told that they might not get round to her in time.
benamure, did she have an appointment slot or was she on a wait list? If she had an appointment slot she should have presented herself at the Cowshed. If someone does not show up within 5 minutes then the appointment is given to someone else.

honey lamb, I guess she must have been on a wait list. She went to the Cowshed to request the treatment when we entered the lounge, and came back to me saying they would call her name when they were ready for her. I did hear them calling people to the Cowshed over the tannoy while we were in there, but they didn't get round to her. I think she was just a bit peeved because she was under the impression that it was case of 'when' and not 'if' they got round to seeing her.

You're right, it was security that was going to hold us up rather than the clubhouse.

[HighFlyer]

Not a great experience by the sounds of it. BA have the 3 hour rule too for anyone not in Club/First/BAEC but it sounds like the rule wasnt as defined here.

I really think you ought to write in to CS as the flight really didnt seem to deliver that Virgin experience. I hope your time in MRU made up somewhat?

Thanks,
Sarah

Thanks HL I see it clearly now!

The MRU headline got my interest as we are off there in March but sadly not with VS this time as they were just so much expensive than BA. We are huge VS fans so it was disapointing to read of your experiences, although it sounds like BAA to blame rather than VS. Any tips on MRU you can share[:D]

Iain

Thank you for the TR, sorry to hear that you had a poor experience.

Too bad you had a duff flight, I have said it before i will use another carrier so as to avoid the 340-300 it feels like such an old plane with poor ife and creaks all over the place. I really want to do this route in the future but would use emirates indirect. Hope you had a great time out there.

cheers

alex

The food choice issue does appear to happen quite often, particulalry if you sit in the middle of the Y section, as you tend to be last to be served, which gives a limited choice. I've experienced it with some work colleagues, and it is a pain if your first choice is not available.

The IFE does appear to be showing it's age, with most modern re-fits giving wider, better resolution screens, with some degree of power output for either iPods or laptops.

Thanks for taking the time to do a TR. I'm always interested to read about flights to and from destinations I've not been to.

Mark

Thanks for the TR. Pity about the food, hopefully your holiday in Mauritius is providing more than adequate compensation.