""Good Night Flight"?"

what makes you think i don't have all of those already ? not too near the front, gets too close to the toilet and IFBT then !

anyhow, next HKG-LHR flight is just after this service is introduced, so will report back on it asap. in the meantime have a few sectors on MEA to look forward to tomorrow..fat chance of sleep then i should think.

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by GraemeK
what makes you think i don't have all of those already ? not too near the front, gets too close to the toilet and IFBT then !

anyhow, next HKG-LHR flight is just after this service is introduced, so will report back on it asap. in the meantime have a few sectors on MEA to look forward to tomorrow..fat chance of sleep then i should think.

that would be great,you know on this route it kind of makes sense,but you still have to give a choice,as has been made clear here people will jump to an airline that takes care of you...ANA...however after that length of flight I dont think a full cooked breakfast is out of line.

Just as a side note,my aunt who lives close to JNB is heading my way in OCT,she's a BA diehard,but after badgering her she's willing to give VS another try,well lets what happens when she reads that she won't be able to get a meal on her flights,like any normal biz class (btw she normally flys full J)so this was a step down for her anyhow's if you catch my drift.

After keeping up to date with this thread over the last couple of days, as far as I can see it comes down to one thing CHOICE. Take away the choice and your taking away the service.

The more I read about it, the harder it is to believe that VS will force this option on the whole cabin. I'm going to sit back and wait to see what happens. Someone suggested that they trial this as an 'option' to see how popular this service would really be....sounds sensible.

Milliemoo

the last full cooked breakfast i tried to eat ex HKG was rank.. sorry but the local catering hasn't mastered the english fry up yet !

[fozzyo]

but the last thing i want to sit next to on a night flight after a long day is someone chattering on and on and on and on..

That is why, once we have clarification of the service, we may be moving our seats further towards the bar. At the moment I think we are about rows 8 and 9.

But unfortunately either with the full cabin Good Night or Snooze Zone Good Night service this is going to be unavoidable. I actually think you would be better off with a snooze zone solution. While the curtain isn't really sound proof it will help group pax together. With the full cabin Good Night service you could be in 3K while in 4C and 4K there is a couple going on holiday for the first time in UC too excited to sleep and all chatty. Where as if it was a snooze zone at least they would be back in Zone B.

Foz xxx


Foz xx

i'd argue that a larger part of the cabin needs to be snooze zone !

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by GraemeK
i'd argue that a larger part of the cabin needs to be snooze zone !

I can understand why, but which would you say from experience is likely to cause more noise / disruption? The IFBT area or the Bar area? If it was the larger cabin would you not have a lot of through traffic to get to the bar, go for a walk, crew serving pax in Zone A.

Foz xx

Originally posted by GraemeK
i'd argue that a larger part of the cabin needs to be snooze zone !

As long as there is a choice I think we would all be happy

Rich.

[RichardMannion]

My goodness, where did this mother of all threads spawn from?

On the offset, looking at the proposed offering I think it makes a good proposition if the following are true:

A. Its an option, its not compulsory (I hate being told what to do, and especially if I have used a lot of miles or paid good money for the UC offering).

B. I have work the next day, and really need to get the sleep

A few things that I still can't quite work out:-

- Where do children fit into all of this? I'm not after the controversial kids in UC debate again.

- What if I don't have work the next day? What if CH didn't have any food that I liked? or if I got stuck in NYC/IAD traffic and didn't have enough time in the CH?

When I fly for leisure, I don't want to sleep for 8hrs+ as I don't get that much sleep normally anyway (one of the benefits of still being young), when I flew back from JNB in December I spent 6 hours asleep, the rest was at the bar.

If this offering is not optional, then I seriously think an oversight has been made as its just plain wrong to pigeonhole everyone based on the feedback of the top 50's. UCS has always been explained to me as an outstanding End2End experience including the service, from the moment you are picked up to the drop off at the destination. Its no good having a fab product if you don't have the service to support it; I love Audi cars but probably won't buy another one given my current mood as the customer support when it goes wrong is shocking.

When UCS was launched, the Breakfast cards were introduced and you could leave them out like hotel room service so the staff didn't have to wake you as such to get your order; this was a great idea and you could choose whether to make use of it (for me, it wasnt that often as I always try and visit the girls in Revivals).

Snooze zone is a great concept, the simple solution would have been to introduce that service to a wider range of flights, and offer this new 'night' service in conjunction with that zone - not dictate it to the entire cabin.

I'll give it a go next time I fly UCS as Declan says, but I hope we've all got the wrong end of the stick otherwise my leisure flights home after 9pm will be with another carrier.

Given the number of views on this topic, I know its been monitored by VS HQ so I will call myself tomorrow to find out what the deal is. Simple question to start off with is, 'So basically the Freedom meal service that has heavily been marketed as akey point in the past no longer exists on flights gone 9pm (as the assumption is that people will only need one meal or should have eaten in the CH) but then that breaks the E2E service, as technically you only have to check in an hour before and thats maybe because you were working late and haven't had chance to eat yet.

Jury is still out....

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by vscss
GOOD NIGHT SERVICE UPDATE!

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

VS024 LAX-LHR (Even although there is no club house!)

VS024 departs at 20.50 up until and including the 29th October...then it changes to 21.05. It then reverts back to its 20.50 departure time for the Summer 2006 period. Thing is, will it though?;)

The Strawb

Originally posted by vscss
1.Turndown - For customers who wish to sleep straight away, a sleep including drink and snack.
2.Express Cold Supper Tray - For customers who wish to eat fast, then sleep, a tray of cold dishes delivered all at once before having bed turned down.
3.Hot Supper Tray - For customers who will still want a full hot meal and then sleep, a tray of hot dishes inc starter delivered all at once before having bed turned down.

-Customers will still recieve a welcome onboard drink during boarding, however after take off the drink service will be combined and served with whatever option the customer chooses.
-ALL 3 services MUST be completed in 1 hour after take off (with the exception of abnormal conditions/turbulence)
-The J CSS should aim to turn off all cabin lights at this time.
-Customers will be served in order e.g. all Turndown 1st, then Express Cold Supper Tray, then Hot Supper Tray to ensure they get to sleep asap!
-Table linen will NOT be used, as the tray is already covered with linen sleeve. Napkin should still be given to customer.
-Bread will not be offered as it will already be on the tray.
-Wine or other beverage should be served at the same time as you take the tray to the customer, a seperate wine service will NOT be offered.
-J CSS to go round and still offer a water service and second bread on request only.
-Dessert/cheese will be offered to Express and Hot trays only.
-Breakfast cards will still be used, however we want to encourage the customer to sleep for as long as possible and have breakfast at the bar.
-Breakfast will still be available in bed , however the hot entree choice has been stopped, unless the customer has ordered a special meal.(Bacon rolls are still available)
-Encourage customers to choose breakfast at the bar, they can then take it back to their seat.
-Wake a few customers at a time to stop a rush to the washrooms and bar!
.

I think alot of people are in a panic, but please read the above carefully!!

You will still have the option of a full hot meal which will still be 3 choices.
Breakfast will be served at the seat if YOU CHOOSE this option.
You will still get a drink it will be served with your meal.

Basically you get what you get now just combined to make the service flow better and faster. Give it a chance before washing your hands with Virgin![:(!]

Originally posted by RichardMannion
My goodness, where did this mother of all threads spawn from?

Believe it or not, it actually spawned from me asking what the devil the Good Night Flight is, since I saw it on VS's News section.

--

Virgin's doing a pretty terrible job at describing this new service, so I don't think anyone can really judge what it will be like until one of us does a TR.

testing, testing, one...two...three...

Originally posted by vscss

I think alot of people are in a panic, but please read the above carefully!!

I have. What it tells me is:

On GNS flights:

- I will have my starter delivered at the same time as the main course
- I will not have a choice of breads
- I will not have table linen
- I will not have a separate drinks service
- I will not have a hot entree for breakfast

I can also draw from the service flow and the physical reality that the food will be presented differently (or potentially in smaller portions) in order to get it onto the tray, I will have to ask for basic things like a refill of wine, and I will be discouraged from breakfast at my seat.

If I had done my usual dash into JNB from CPT with a 1hr15 connection I am not going to have time to eat in the Clubhouse. I want a decent service on board. And on 12 hour flights I will probably sleep for around 4-5 hours (my usual amount): I don't want the damn lights out at 9:15 local time!

BC

The focus on Top 50's asking for this is a little strange as I am one, know 5 others, and none of us asked for it or were asked for our thoughts. There are around another 100 Top 50's though so who knows who they asked.

My view is simple, the passenger should be given a choice as to what they want - full service, cut down one or sleep only. If I want to sleep I do, if not, I have full service or a few snacks. That is my choice and my choice should not mean other passengers get a cut down service. In summary I think this is degrading the UCS product and does make me think about flying with other airlines - something I am already doing (thinking about what carrier for each flight I do and already using other carriers) due to very poor food on VS over past 12 months, general degrading of the UC product and fact that I can fly First on other Airlines like Singapore Airlines on a 'slightly' restricted ticket for less than a J ticket.

As for no hot breakfast and a buffet breakfast on the bar where passengers are standing waiting to go to the toilet and then picking at once been (who knows if they washed their hands!) - this is not good.

Lloyd

[Pete]

There's a distinct smell of "New Coke" here.

[fozzyo]

I fully appreciate that VCSS, and I cannot draw a full conclusion on whether or not I like or prefer this service until I have experienced it. And that is a fair comment. However.

I expect that in the next three years, probably longer, I am going to do one return flight to Sydney. I am spending a hell of a lot of cash to pay for that flight and I don't want to be dissapointed or feel I haven't got value for money. These flights should be part of the highlights of my holiday and at the moment I fear that they won't and I don't want to start of my trip to be marred by a disappointing flight.

From the information Virgin are providing me with, through their website and calls to Premier Team, as BlackCat has, I can list what I will be missing from my flight and how that will effect my experience / enjoyment. I don't need to actually pay to experience it to know I would prefer a full-service flight.

Foz xxx

I think the VS024 is the worst decision personally.
There's no CH so your choice of places to eat are either Burger King or Starbucks and then you have to wake up to nothing but a selection of muffins and cereals that you have to actually get up to help yourself to.[:(!]

By the time you get out of LHR it's about 15.00pm so the first time you have a proper meal will be dinner that day, probably about 30-32 hours after lunch the previous day.[xx(]

Cheers,
VS045

PS Jaguar, when you say 'matched' what do you mean?

*A and bmi have matched your level in other FF programmes in the past,no offers on at the moment that I know of.
http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5475


Agree with BC 100%[y].
I wonder if there will be less crew serving UC on the "Grotty night frights", could be a way to spread the senior crew around the new services.

[fozzyo]

Has there been any discussion of this on FlyerTalk?

I'm rather interested to see how LRoM gets on today if he has chance to call VS about it. To see if he gets a more categoric official response then we have thus far.

I think Pix's comment about New Coke has summed up the whole situation the best for me so far. Its not popular, most don't want it and its turning into a PR disaster - at least for those who use this forum.

Foz xxx

"Grotty night frights"

:D:D

Milliemoo

I could be completley wrong, but the impression i have had the past couple of times I've called about it yesterday is they're covering it up.
Surely they would be able to give a definite answer whether it will rolled out to the whole cabin if they have all this information about it on the website and have presumably recieved the bulletin. I'm guessing they are giving the "no information" answer whilst management look at the bad feeling on the proposal ands work out if they can change it.

Lets hope so.

Theres been a bit of talk on FT about it, not as vocal as on here though

Dean

Originally posted by fozzyo
Has there been any discussion of this on FlyerTalk?

Umm, this is about it:
BA forum thread
VS forum thread

Cheers

Michael

[fozzyo]

From Jimmie76's comment on FlyerTalk am I right to assume that when BA launched their Sleeper Service it wasn't / isn't very popular on BA.

If that is the case, seems odd that VS would follow their lead.

Foz xxx

Note that BA's Sleeper Service is only on selected flights from the East Coast US, Toronto and Middle East with an average flight time of 7 hours, certainly not long-haul like LAX or HKG.

BA Sleeper Service"

The Strawb