V-Flyer

As pretty frequent flyers with VS and having had generally good experiences in the past, it's disappointing to have to post reports with a fair amount of negativity in them. The common feature seems to be the standard of the cabin crew which as so many V-flyers observe, can truly make or break a flight.

Check in was completed online and was problem free. We knew that the flight was sparsely populated and that this would be the last VS85 Thursday service until the Spring. (Our return flight was cancelled and we were moved onto the combined VS944 - see trip report for details). There were 130 passengers, mostly housed in the rear cabin. Before take-off, the cabin crew 'roped off' the spare rows of seats in the front cabin using blankets. An announcement was made that we could not move to any of these spare seats but if we wanted one of the champagne coloured extra leg room seats, to tell the crew and we could have one for the appropriate fee. Hmmm. Ok, but why we couldn't move to the regular spare seats, I'm not sure.

Anyway, our allocated seats were fine so not too concerned about that, but what happened next is more puzzling. The drink trolley appeared, closely followed by the lunch trolley. Drinks and lunch were served at the same time and this was for a 9.45am flight. The whole meal service was completed within 45 mins of take-off and by 10.45am, all window blinds were ordered to be closed, cabin lights were dimmed and that was the last we saw of any crew until around 1pm when an ice cream was handed out. Now that doesn't seem to me to be the correct routine for a day flight at all. Mrs QH was most miffed and spoke with the cabin supervisor who seemed to be rather defensive and said that the lights had been dimmed at the request of another passenger who wanted to sleep. I have to say, I suspect the crew just wanted an easy flight.

The general friendliness of the crew was pretty poor too. There was little or no eye contact, no smiles, no warmth, just a ruthless efficiency in getting people served.
Flying in the face of ordinary this was not. The return flight was no better either.
Come on VS....what has happened recently? This is not the VS we have come to admire. The service standard was woeful (and we are not demanding) and there was nothing about this experience that would make either think that VS is anything but ordinary.

Cheers for posting this TR and sorry to read that it was not an ideal flight... now of course could follow a fun game.... what would the crew need the extra rows for and with no lights on to show what they were doing.... Hmmm Air Olympics?? (as opposed to office olympics for any office fans)

They closed the blinds because "a" passenger wanted to sleep? I think a bit of (metaphorical) barricade storming was in order to remind them of the nature of democracy.

It does sound like they were attempting to shut down any signs of enjoyment. You didn't notice any strange vapours coming through the air con?

Very bizarre don't know what they thought they were doing?? Why not let people move to the spare rows it wouldn't have affected anything. And as for the window blinds they know they aren't supposed to make pax close blinds on day flights. Really saddens me to hear about colleagues behaving in this way there's no excuse for it!

Thanks for posting Did the CC really think they could pull the wool over your eyes with that explanation for the window blinds It stinks of 'can't be bothered' to me

A real shame! As for the ruthless efficiency, eye contact and friendliness I experienced some of this on my last trip in Y, so I know what you are talking about

Would love to have VirginBoy747 on my flight cos I think he would rock the service

A totally bizarre situation with a crew who sound like no fun at all. Do provide feedback for sure as your experience is just not on.

Jon

I hope someone at VS reads these reports and follows them up with the FSM/CSSs responsible. They are just too frequent to be chance occurences.

at240 wrote:I hope someone at VS reads these reports and follows them up with the FSM/CSSs responsible. They are just too frequent to be chance occurences.

So, don't be passive and hope. Write an old fashioned letter.

pjh wrote:So, don't be passive and hope. Write an old fashioned letter.

Me?

at240 wrote:

pjh wrote:So, don't be passive and hope. Write an old fashioned letter.

Me?

My point was generic for us all rather than specific to yourself.

I wonder if these occur more on certain aircraft types??