VS032 UVF-LGW 21 Sep 07 (Upper)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Still, it could have been worse, we could have had Michael Winner onboard.

Christ, I think I'd rather fly Monarch...

Whatever you do, don't compare the Sandy Lane Set with the Sandals Set. Yes, they're all equally annoying but in the English Bragathon League you're comparing Premiership to League One. Sandy Lane Set would never be able to abide an 'All Inclusive' resort. How are you supposed to brag to everyone how much you spent on champagne if you go all inclusive?

Having quite a bit of experience flying UC Caribbean routes, a lot of this sounds depressingly familiar, especially on return legs. Don't get me wrong, we've had some spankingly good flights, but we've also had our fair share where a lot of the time the crew seemed more interested in comparing tans and risquŽ stories than looking after pax.

And to be just a teeny bit controversial, it's all well and good crew having to be doctors, firefighters, boxing referees, particle physicists etc., but would it kill some of them to get the basics right, offer decent customer service and, perhaps, look up 'sommelier' to add to their job descriptions?

Great TR, Richard, thanks.

Originally posted by mdvipond
you're comparing Premiership to League One.

Oh god, you're going to make Bazz tip his hand-painted Royal Doulton teacup into his lap if you mention football in a thread! [V]

As for your comment about staff (particle physicists [:o)][y]) being adept at the very basics of service, spot on. Only thing I can say is that cabin crew are far from the only service sector who have some members that lost a grip on this...it's endemic.

GJ

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by mediamonkey
oh how this one made me chuckle... another group of characters to eventually include in my airline passanger sitcom!

We need to discuss fees! [}:)] Though thinking of it, maybe we can publish a book of travellers tales as submitted by you lot, our good members of V-Flyer. We can have chapters such as:

- dumbest passenger/group you have ever encountered
- worst example of orangeness/slap-on
- worst airport

Best contact my pimp/agent, Pete?

Sad to report that my parents had a poor experience on the flight home in PE again with crew being somewhat condescending, and my father not getting meal choice in PE (Crew response, 'you need to sit further forward as we serve from the front'), again Y had been served in its entirety before PE. Will be interesting to see if it was any better in UC as I know DavidM was on the same flight.

Thanks for 2 very entertaining TR's. Return trips on the B&S routes do tend to be a bit under par service wise IMHO, but there is no excuse for bad mannered crews. Obvioulsy Gold counts for sod all as far as recognition goes on these routes ( or any) going by recent reports.

Good to hear you both had a good break in St Licia. Did you not fancy the helicopter transfer[;)]

Iain

[RichardMannion]

Hi Iain,

We did think about the helicopter transfer on the way back, but it's a bit of mix as you first have to transfer to the other airport or the heliport which is a taxi ride away (the helicopter won't land at the hotel itsled, unless you are at the Jalousie Plantation), we already had a private transfer in a car included and even with the exchange rate I'd still rather save $260, than trying to save the hour it would have given us back (and the lounge is crap anyway).

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by RichardMannion
Hi Iain,

We did think about the helicopter transfer on the way back, but it's a bit of mix as you first have to transfer to the other airport or the heliport which is a taxi ride away (the helicopter won't land at the hotel itsled, unless you are at the Jalousie Plantation), we already had a private transfer in a car included and even with the exchange rate I'd still rather save $260, than trying to save the hour it would have given us back (and the lounge is crap anyway).

Thanks,
Richard

The helicopter doesn't save much time, but may save your nerves from being shredded. Last year a family we met used the helicopter on the way back, but for a half an hour later departure from the hotel they were just in front of us in the check in queue. As luck would have it we'd had what amounted to an air conditioned CDC with a very careful driver...

Paul

We did think about the helicopter transfer on the way back, but it's a bit of mix as you first have to transfer to the other airport or the heliport which is a taxi ride away (the helicopter won't land at the hotel itsled, unless you are at the Jalousie Plantation)

One of the last bookings I made through VS holidays was to the Jalousie Hilton as it was then.On arrival the helicopter lady was holding a sign up with our names on.Fantastic heli transfer arrived at the resort in about 15 minutes beat the hell out of the 90 minutes of torture on the road.The nice people at the heli company confirmed our departure details and transfer which all went smoothly.This was all excellent as I hadn't actually paid for heli transfers[:D]

[HighFlyer]

This was all excellent as I hadn't actually paid for heli transfers

There wasn't another family staying at the Jalouise with the same surname as you perchance? [:D]

Thanks,
Sarah

When we went to the Jalousie years ago (Hilton) with Virgin Holidays, the helicopter transfer was part of the package. It was great, as we were there in about 10-15 mins, and I think that the car transfer was about an hour. On the way back there were four of us and we had to go to the airport in the north of the island first to drop the first couple off. It was a very stormy day and we were flying low, hugging the coastline on the way up. On the way to the international airport we flew over the rainforest, and I must say it put me on edge with the storms and not being a great fan of helicopters.

I was imagining myself as a statistic in airclaims blueprint! I took my mind off it by videoing it; it was either going to be a memory or found in the wreckage!! Very dramatic.

[Scrooge]

A little off topic..but if you ever get a chance to fly into/out off George F L Charles Airport airport do so..lot's of fun for a plane nerd...AA Eagle fly in there from various other islands.

Thanks for the TR Richard. Sorry that you and Sarah experienced poor service on this flight. I know exactly how you feel. Having shelled out for 4 UC flights this summer, I have been left feeling a little disullusioned with VS, specifically with in-flight service. Only on one of our flights did we receive good service, and this was due to one particular outstanding CC member.

All my up coming flights are with BA. Guess that tells you something. Despite this I really want to continue flying VS and I want them to produce a UC product that us customers can be proud of. I hope this happens sooner rather than later.