""Good Night Flight"?"

Snooze zone is staying.

Until you experience it wait until you comment.

It should not be compared to BA sleeperservice!

How can snooze zone stay on all flights with 'good night flight?'
Would be a bit pointless to say the least!

[fozzyo]

I've just had a look at the Sleeper Service on the BA site. Is this compulsory for the entire cabin - the website doesn't say.

This new Good Night service is certainly very similar to BA's service.

Snooze zone is staying.

Until you experience it wait until you comment.

The snooze zone is staying on all pre-9pm departure flights. I would like to see the Good Night service replace the Snooze Zone on post 9pm departure flights.

I understand what you mean declan, that I can't say I don't like it until i have experienced it, that is fair enough. But i know what level and type of service I want from a flight - particularly in Upper Class. For me this service will not meet my expectations nor provide me with, what is in my view, value for money. That is the key issue.

Foz xx

There is only one way to look at this - a blatant attempt to cut costs and maximise profit at the customers' expense. And a pretty arrogant way to go about it to boot. If I was planning a post 21.00 departure I would look to another airline. Shame on you, VS...

[Decker]

In the interests of fairness - there are multiple ways to look at this and to impute bad intent without actually waiting for the VS perspective seems harsh.

It may well be true that we should for wait for something official from VS before coming to any overly damning conclusions - however IF what we've seen here so far turns out to be what will be on offer to those sampling the delights of UCS from August, then it's pretty hard to put any kind of spin on it that makes it look even remotely beneficial to the customer.

In fact, it looks like they've put some basic info on the VS website now. A long way from 'eat what you want, when you want' isn't it?

[Decker]

Reactions seem a little hysterical. If this were purely a cost saving exercise it would be introduced with no regard to timing of flights. I'd go out on a limb and suggest that they actually introduced the service in response to perceived passenger requirements. It may well be that they've misjudged likely reaction but I think that the attribution of malevolent intent is down somewhat to people's negative cognitive filters.

Hmm,

don't like the sound of it one bit. If it's come from the top 50 flyers as mentioned earlier then it is totally understandable, these are going to be business prople flying very regulalry (weekly) and wanting to sleep as much as possible, that's why the suite offers competitive advantage.

But, a lot of less frequent travellers spend their own money to fly UC as the start and end of their holiday. The suite is great but we want service and choice. The last time I came back from BOS was with a friend on his first ever business class flight. The last thing we wanted to do was kip, we wanted to eat, drink, chat and really enjoy the experience.

However this works in practice it has removed some choice. The things that really stood out for me the first time I flew UC was the choice. What you want, when you want it, I found that amazing. I'm on an aeroplane and I have some control, wow!

Vslf

BTW, I can't remember if it's been posted, but here's the link to the initial blurb on the VS website:

Good Night, Sleep Tight
We all know that eating late and going to bed straight away can make it difficult to sleep, and that is why from the 4 August 2005 you will be able to take advantage of our new Good Night Flight service on Upper Class flights leaving after 9:00pm.

If you are travelling on one of these flights you will be able to enjoy your evening meal in the Clubhouse, choosing from a wide choice of freshly prepared food before your flight.

Once onboard the aircraft, youÕll be offered a Good Night snack and nightcap before one of our crew makes your bed ready for you to settle down into a blissful sleep.

DonÕt worry if you donÕt get a chance to eat in the Clubhouse, as we will have a choice of Hot or Express Cold Supper trays and yummy Ben and JerryÕs ice cream for dessert onboard.

The Good Night Flight service will be operated on all flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick leaving after 9:00pm, as well as the following flights into London:

VS602 from Johannesburg, VS201 from Hong Kong, VS624 from Port Harcourt, VS24 from Los Angeles, VS46 and VS10 from New York (JFK), VS2 from New York (Newark).

Even without trying it, I still think I'd like the choice of enjoying this or full service - which it doesn't seem like there is. Mind, there's still a choice of airlines for that post-2100hrs departure

Originally posted by vscss
Would love to have u on one of my flights u sound fun!![8D]

Hehehe, I like to think so :D

Cheers

Michael

They appear to be forcing you to have this service on the VS24 from LAX. Where there is no clubhouse! And also on the VS602 where I often connect in from CPT and don't have that much time in the lounge. Grrr...

BC

[quote]Originally posted by Decker
Reactions seem a little hysterical. If this were purely a cost saving exercise it would be introduced with no regard to timing of flights. I'd go out on a limb and suggest that they actually introduced the service in response to perceived passenger requirements.

Decker is correct.
If VS want to save money they would have intoduced this service on ALL flights.
Remember VS is an innovating airline, we have to keep up with what the majority of passengers want. You will still receive what you already get, the only difference is services will be combined to optomise sleeping time.
It will then be your choice to then sleep, watch a movie or go to the bar for a drink.

If VS were cost cutting do you really think they would spend
£5 million on each retro fit of each new UCS cabin?

Originally posted by BlackCat
They appear to be forcing you to have this service on the VS24 from LAX. Where there is no clubhouse!

And no Revivals either!
(edited to add: unless the trial extended opening hours starts up then.....)

Cheers

Michael

GOOD NIGHT SERVICE UPDATE!

It has now been confirmed on the VS website the following flights WILL be "Goodnight Service" from 4th Aug'05:

VS601 LHR-JNB
VS350 LHR-BOM
VS200 LHR-HKG/SYD
VS300 LHR-DEL
VS651 LHR-LOS
VS623 LGW-PHC
VS602 JNB-LHR
VS201 SYD/HKG-LHR
VS624 PHC-LHR (Even although there is no club house!)
VS024 LAX-LHR (Even although there is no club house!)
VS046 JFK-LHR
VS010 JFK-LHR
VS002 EWR-LHR

I don't want to be required to schedule feeder flights to give me time in the Clubhouse to get a proper meal.
I don't want to have to go to the bar to get a drink.
I don't want to be served without proper linen.
I don't want my main course congealing on my plate whilst I finish my starter.
I don't want a cold breakfast.

I do want a consistent level of on-board service commensurate with the fare I have paid. There is clearly no way VS could get away with this "enhancement" on daytime flights; the fact that they have come up with a "justification" (mind you, 50 users does not an adequate survey make) for nighttime flights just smacks of cost cutting. And yes, it is possible to cut costs in one area of the business whilst investing in UCS. I refer people to the diminution in the variety and quality of Upper Class food.

BC

Couldn't agree more BlackCat

Remember that having your dinner bought on one tray is the service you get in Economy class.

A concern here would be that as the UCS tray size is the same as economy - surely this will mean smaller UCS meals and poorer presentation.

How can they get all this on one tray?




complete with bread roll (so I guess we can no longer choose types of bread).

whilst eating your starter, your main course will of course also be getting cold - unless VS provide some restaurant style lids to keep the entree's warm (also a bit like economy dont you think)?

I understand you cant gripe too much until we've seen it - but on these points surely food service will suffer?

I can (just about) understand this new concept on short flights from BOS and JFK, but on a 12 hour flight to/from HKG or JNB it just does not make any sense.

and the breakfast thing is just plain silly on all the flights.


Rich (unhappy potential LHR-HKG-SYD flyer)

[fozzyo]

I'm going to reserve judgement on this until VS can confirm if it applies to the whole cabin, which at the moment they can't do.

I'm not convinced it is being done on a purely cost cutting exercise, it will undoubtedly have some savings on costs because of the reduction in stuff carried, linen bills etc. But I imagine this was designed and planned taking into account feedback from customers who regularly fly a lot. It would be interesting to know which routes they use, if this is the "top 50" would a majority of those use the shorter flights more frequently for example?

This was probably done with the best intentions, and if it is for the full cabin unfortunately they didn't make the right judgement on it and forgot one of the biggest selling points of Upper Class / Business Service. And that is the service quality, delivery and when you want.

If I was flying in a few weeks time, say to HKG, just after this launched and I wasn't aware of it I would be a very upset customer. And that is maybe where they are going to run into problems, they will have leisure / infrequent travellers on such routes really excited about the UC experience and then finding out they aren't being offered it.

Something to thing about, if you are going to HKG - neither way will you have a full service flight - both ways will be Good Night service. Is that worth the same price as a full service J flight as it is now?

Foz xxx

I certainly don't mind it as an option, but having it imposed is terrible. This definitely is not "freedom."
I'm sure VS are doing it for all the right reasons, but as we can see here, it is not going down as well as they would have hoped.
I especially don't like having it one the 024 and the idea of having to eat a cold breakfast does not appeal.

Cheers,
VS045

Champers on boarding, maybe a G&T soon after (and for those of us for whom flying UCS is usually a part of a jolly hol, another G&T soon after that), perusing the Freedom Menu, and enjoying a leisurely three course meal with a choice of wines. Then perhaps some fine cheeses and a glass or two of port, all served at your seat. Now, that's travelling in style and, for me, that's why I cough up the big bucks to enjoy the UCS experience twice a year. Anything less and, I'm sorry, I'd feel cheated and short-changed.

Originally posted by fozzyo
If I was flying in a few weeks time, say to HKG, just after this launched and I wasn't aware of it I would be a very upset customer.

So would I.

LHR-HKG takes twice as long as NYC-LHR so I don't see why this Good Night service is a good idea on the ex-LHR flight. If you were going to Sydney without stopping off in HKG then you'd have to wait more than 12 hours for a full Upper Class feast. On the return from Sydney I can understand it's not a bad idea as you'd already be well fed but pax starting their trip in HKG will be none too pleased, especially as its a 13 hour flight.

The Strawb

I rang up Flying Club this morning and the first thing they said when I mentioned the "Good Night Flight" was did I read about it on V-Flyer. Good to know we get out there.

They had no information to impart this morning, saying they hadn't recieved any proper bulletin yet. They clearly know that the overriding impression of cusatomers at this early stage is not good at all. I also like to think that V-Flyer represents a much broader range of opinions than the top 50 flyers.

Dean

Originally posted by Wolves27
I rang up Flying Club this morning and the first thing they said when I mentioned the "Good Night Flight" was did I read about it on V-Flyer. Good to know we get out there.

So they actually asked if you had read about it on V-Flyer, wow, that's interesting.

Originally posted by fozzyo
If I was flying in a few weeks time, say to HKG, just after this launched and I wasn't aware of it I would be a very upset customer.

So would I, it would also seem quite confusing, since I wouldn't have read all about it beforehand.

I wonder what "50" people VS talked to about this, because the way our conversation is, it seems wierd that the people they talked to liked their idea. But I have a feeling that those 50 people didn't want something as drastic as what's going to be done.

I have a feeling that those 50 people didn't want something as drastic as what's going to be done.

Maybe they thought it would have been a good idea to offer this as an enhanced snooze service but I'm sure they regret the all out change (and downgrade) in service on flights after 9pm.[:(!]

Cheers,
VS045

What a lively debate this has engendered! Seems the main points are on the negative
- if there's no choice it = poor service
- food options are going to be limited, cramped and delivered in an economy fashion
- enjoying a leisurely dinner with a movie no longer an option
- no drinks at seats
- no breakfast service just a buffet bar (guess those sat near the bar will love it)
- hours of boredom on longer flights like LAX and Hong Kong
- sounds like a cost cutter
- where there's no club house it's even worse
On the positive:
- when you want to board and zzzzz it's a good thing
- it's a good thing to find ways of reducing the time from take off to complete the meal service and b4 landing (but choice is still important).

I have mailed the UC customer team with comments and will post their reply. Having just confirmed that my LAX-LHR flight in October will now be UCS my joy has been dashed with this news. So if I can't change to the VS8 I'll have to leave Palm Springs early, drive to somewhere near LAX for a decent meal, then board and if I want a drink sit at the bar as long as I need to. As opposed to finishing a holiday with some more relaxation on board!