virgin clubhouse now open to all not just u/c?

quote:Originally posted by DragonLady
does the fact that I'm not a business traveller make me any less worthy???


Gravitating South, one point of interest, do individuals traveling on Expense accounts/ Corporately paid travel fall into the category of :
quote:I still think - you should get what you pay for, and if something is portrayed as something elite, then it should stay in that bracket, to encourage people to aspire to something better, something special. When things are too esily accessible they loose their value, they tend to fall into the 'easy come, easy go' catagory. So I will repeat my feelings on this : I have no issue with anyone experiencing anything, providing the people experiencing it are paying the same amount as everyone else who IS paying the full price

[:?]

[buns]

My first ever experience of a Clubhouse was through paid access what now seems a considerable number of years ago[:I]

Maybe it was my upbringing, but I respected my newly discovered surroundings and my fellow travellers and even if I was determined to 'get my monies worth' hopefully my discretion did not come to annoy[ii]

The upshot being that i was so taken by the whole ambiance that I started down the slippery slope of doing everything possible to gain a permanent entrance to that exclusive place - a very clever marketing ploy by VS if you ask me.

Personally, I think that VS get more problems from those Zelebs who bring in entourages and just monopolise the place and I am of the firm opinion that the vast majority of those who are able to gain the limited paid access cause little or no problem at all.

buns

quote:Originally posted by gravitating south
At least BA do not budge on their policy :

Not so. I am aware of a large multi-national IT co-orporation that have just been offered Concorde Room access from BA to all their UK based executives.

Final point gravitating south, what on earth are you doing with a 2010 VH brochure ? Holiday makers (holidaymakers) and all that???
Harriet

the whole point I was trying to get across was : it doesnt matter how you bought, how much you paid, whether on business or on holiday , whether you have used freq fly miles - its the fact you are holding an upper class ticket.

re holidays brochures : I look to see what new hotels are on offer all over usa, and I also (through business etc) contribute/pay to help the less fortunate go to florida. I do my bit as in 'charity begins at home' (where I live) - all I ask for in return is : upper class should be 'what's on the tin' so when I buy the ticket I am not subjected to stag/hen economy passengers being allowed into the clubhouse for a pittance. I see so many hard doneby families and give/donate to them a holiday of a lifetime, I/my company work hard to be able to do this. When I need to travel business/or holiday, when I buy my U/C I expect (wrongly so it seems) that everyone in C/H is of the same.

I have been a passenger on both ba & concorde, and only changed to V when I had kids as we thought the v rucksack etc was great, and enjoyed the flights we had in economy ( car seats - no flying on laps etc) until kids were of senior school age to justify prem economy (behaviour wise/no fear of them upsetting other passengers flying in that class) and stayed with V out of loyalty after them making my kids holidays. Since aged 40 been U/C and thought every time we bought U/C that C/H was for passengers holding an u/c ticket.

It was only from reading the new 2010 usa holiday brochure that the other half spotted the bit about the new LGW ClubHouse and the costs anyone can pay to gain access. Had we not been looking for ideas for our 2010 charity holiday plans we would not have become aware of it. So yes the real world isnt very nice, but I have not set out to offend anyone, if I have I apologise here and now. But yes, from a personal view I shall be thinking of who I fly with from here on.

I still think V has given my family, the people we have sent on holiday great flights, but when you become a certain age you do eventually expect certain things. And that simply is access by appropriate ticket eg U/C. I work my butt off to go the extra mile to give to those in need, and when certain types slop beer all over pool tables and laugh like its their local, I get angry because they are lucky to be there, some people I deal with are lucky to be able to get to a hairdresser or even outdoors.

No, I am not going to mention my company business, I dont need to, my local paper does enough re putting me in touch with those whos lives we can change. So anonymous I prefer to remain.

Just maybe now someone can see where I am coming from, dealing with tragedy, sometimes not being able to get these people out to florida before their time is up hurts like you have no idea, so when I fly, its when I need to get away to wipe the tears away, pick myself up , recoup to be able to do it all again. My reward was U/C my way of chilling and wanting my own dignity, so yes I get peed when I see louts in C/H for 60 when the guy next to me is trying to have a business call.

But it is clear my opinions are of no worth, so I shall go on my way doing what I do to be able to help someone's last year and their family etc. That comes pretty high on my list of 'must do' the rest is really not that important.

To all who have flown and intend to fly V, enjoy, I did.

I do not understand the correlation between paying 60 for CH access via Virgin Holidays, and being badly behaved or indeed, being 'lucky to be there'. Perhaps given your philanthropic activities you might perhaps consider being more charitable to Virgin Holidays customers rather than writing them off as louts.

Elitism and exclusivity don't sit well with charity in my book.

quote:Originally posted by gravitating south
My reward was U/C my way of chilling and wanting my own dignity, so yes I get peed when I see louts in C/H for 60 when the guy next to me is trying to have a business call.


Yes and I get peed off when some loud mouthed business man/woman thinks that everyone else needs to know how (self) important they are by having loud mobile phone conversations in the CH.


quote:Originally posted by gravitating south
... and when certain types slop beer all over pool tables and laugh like its their local ...

How do you know that these 'types' wern't full UC fare paying pax rather than on a 60 admission? Paying full fare is no guarentee of a persons good behaviour.

It is hardly charitable to make assumptions about people you don't know is it?

Ladies and Gents

assume Liverpool accent 'calm down'[;)]

The OP has stated an opinion, quite vehemently, which we all seem to disagree with, also vehemently. But is does appear like a lynch mob has been set up and are gathering the pitch forks and lighting their torches...

I have some sympathy with the OP in that I too agree that paid access does denigrate the product. Eg I am a paid member of the Qantas Club (having lost my status) so I have access to lounges both here in Oz and overseas. This means, in reality, the quality of the product on offer is diminished ie the lounges are not as good as those where access is by ticket class or status only. I am summising that is the thrust of the OPs post.

Kids with feet on seats - I have seen plenty of so called adults do the same.
'Louts' in lounges - these could very well be those on 'business'.

First/Upper/Club/Business/PE etc are all exclusive that is their 'raison d'etre'. And scrolling to the left of my screen is an ad for the PCP marketing itself on exclusivity of the carriage[}:)].

All is in the eye of the beholder - we are all different - we all have different views/opinions and assumptions are dangerous. The written word alone can be misinterpreted - both from the writer and readers point of view.

But lets not hang the OP on the nearest oak tree - yet[:o)]. Lets all play nicely.

quote:Originally posted by gravitating south
and when certain types slop beer all over pool tables and laugh like its their local, I get angry because they are lucky to be there


so yes I get peed when I see louts in C/H for 60 when the guy next to me is trying to have a business call.


By your own admission (and after years of travelling VS ) you've only just become aware of paid access to the CH and continue to assume that all those purchasing access are 'louts' [V].As I've previously said the worst behaviour I've seen in the CH has been by boorish individuals holding purple boarding cards and zelebs (with assorted flunkies in tow).
I really have no intrest in your philanthropic activities (and the need to raise them here?)- I too see real misery and tragedy in my professional working life on a daily basis, and would hope that my attitute towards all my fellow mankind is slighty more objective.

[Scrooge]

You really need to get on a 'party bus' flight then.

Listen, the sad reality is, no matter how much money, what level of education, what social status, whether traveling for business or pleasure there are parts of the human race that love to make idiots out of themselves.

Now the people at VS have decided to allow all members of said race into their lounges, either by status, ticket or paid, end of story, if you don't want to run the risk of running into one of these people you are left with a couple of choices, don't go into the lounge and wait in the terminal which is an oh so much better place to be or don't fly VS.

I do hope, gs, that you do not believe your opinions of of no worth, they are, but in this instance are not of the majority.

I hope, also, that some of the replies have informed you better - paid access to premium lounges, or free access granted for various reasons, is a common feature of all airlines' services.

These subjects tend to be heated - e.g. children in UC, DYKWIA types, VS staff hogging bars, neah shell suits on occasion in the annals of V-Flyer! Thankfully we do not have sex, religion and politics forums!

Variety, as they say, is the spice of life.

[fozzyo]

Many other airline lounges allow free / paid for access through the Priority Pass scheme.

Interesting thread and I really hope GS doesn't feel upset by the response - as Slinky09 so rightly says variety is the spice of life. It is widely accepted in business that 'tasters' if used effectively entice new custom, and offering controlled CH access to a pre-selected group is a cost effective way of promoting the UC product to a selection of travellers who are already Virgin friendly, are prepared to pay towards an enhanced experience and hopefully will be in a pre-holiday good mood! This is a marvellous advertising opportunity and provided my personal enjoyment is not reduced (only problems I have ever had was the DYKWIA punters)I am happy for VS to take advantage of this.

[Scrooge]

It should also be pointed out that VS staff can gain access for 30 pounds.

OK I'm know I am dumb but what does DYKWIA stand for? [:I]

quote:Originally posted by RobL
OK I'm know I am dumb but what does DYKWIA stand for? [:I]




Do You Know Who I Am?

[:X]

Well do you?[:D]

Thanks Tink - I knew it would be obvious I just couldn't think.

tontybear = surely if they are not seated in u/c thats how.

oakie - if it were access by class of ticket alone then they wouldnt be there, and i have respect for all, i do not see u/c as decider of class i see it as a service, and i have many virgin holiday friends,infact the majority of a travellers i have met behave aok

fozzyo - i also have priority pass, have to say when I was in tenerife south,they actually thew out some people for unacceptable behaviour by their kids

dragon lady -i hear your comment,in my defense, i did not mean to imply,all are louts, merely, the louts observed did not become seated in u/c.i agree, everyone should be judged on their own conduct - though i use the word conduct for the purpose of discussion. yesterday I was invited to hold the hand of 2 dying children because the parents didnt use seat belts, because the kids were terminal so didnt want to make them uncomfortable - i cant measure the tragedy of this other than I am not a relative, but my heart hurts, so though you may not agree with my views, which is all about democracy, please dont header me as : philanthropic, i did take that as a specific offensive personal comment.

slinky09 - thanks, have to say i have felt hung drawn quartered on here, which has made me think should i lower my bar and forget giving consideration to others as in how is my behavious perceived by others, will i be upsetting someone etc. and no i wont be changing , i will always act in a manner that offends no-one, be silent and somewhere in the background.

robl - correct, you have also noticed the diff between ticket class access only and paid access.

to all, i wish i had never asked the question to start with, i feel my general opinion/questions etc have kinda become hostile towards me. so my final word is this : i have had great times with va, my eyes have been opened over last 24hrs, thankfully some still agree with my views, those who don't - well next time you think you have a valid reason to moan about something you feel strongly about consider you might be the one who is unpopular.

i wish you all well, we are all different,where ever you fly and with whom ever you choose, enjoy.

[Decker]

Well to be pedantic 'Don't you know...' as this implies ignorance on behalf of the addressee rather that 'Do you...' which implies some mild form of dementia on the part of the addressor.

quote:Originally posted by RobL
Well do you?[:D]

Thanks Tink - I knew it would be obvious I just couldn't think.


LOL, OT I know with forgiveness, but my #1 likes to repeat the story of the man who gets to a gate for a BA flight just after it has closed, after being refused boarding he says 'do you know who I am', in response to which the gate agent reaches for the tannoy to annouce, 'there's a man here who does not know who he is, can anybody help?'.

Old one, but still funny ...

quote:Originally posted by Decker
Well to be pedantic

Decker = a pedant ? NEVER [:w][:p]

Sorry just a cheap shot at trying to lighten the moment - you know I love you Decker [:X]

[Scrooge]

Ok, only because we are trying to lighten the thread, it should be pointed out that VS is now allowing people from Hull into the LHR CH as well [:0][B)][:p]

quote:Originally posted by Decker
Well to be pedantic 'Don't you know...' as this implies ignorance on behalf of the addressee rather that 'Do you...' which implies some mild form of dementia on the part of the addressor.


Groan - but you're right.

quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
Ok, only because we are trying to lighten the thread, it should be pointed out that VS is now allowing people from Hull into the LHR CH as well [:0][B)][:p]


Yes I have been into the LHR CH many many times [:w]

[HighFlyer]

There's also the cutting classic of when asked 'Don't you know who I am' by some wannabee celeb, uttering the reply of 'No, but I know who you were'. I'm saving that up for the next zeleb I encounter.

As for the OP I do see both sides of it. Many a time I have complained when I have seen individuals in the lounge that give the impression that this is their first experience of such, usually because they are being very loud, drinking the place dry and have a lack of respect for those around them. But then when I reflect on the behaviour exhibited on rare occasions by very excited V-Flyers on a social I know that its always 'different' when its you enjoying yourself. I see the problem being down to a general lack of respect and spacial awareness, something that is common in most walks of life now.

Thanks,
Sarah