Cowshed no longer taking bookings !!

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but couldn't find any information about it.

Just Emailed the Cowshed to book a head and shoulder massage and received this reply;

The Cowshed Spa /Salon will no longer be taking pre- booking's as of the1st December.We shall be offering a walk- in system .Please come and visit us at the spa reception on your arrival to theClubhouse. Kindest regards, The Spa & Salon team

So how early am I going to have to arrive in order to get a treatment[n]

-Steve

Not seen this and only made a few bookings myself earlier this week. (well tried to but they seemed to be 'fully booked' as ever for all but 1 !)

HG

Oh, wow! I didn't know this either!

Well, in my expereince (even though I've only ever been in the Clubhouse once) it was fairly quiet, and prior to my booking, there was no one booked in for an appointment that day it seemed. Although my booking was at 11am, so i can't really speak for afternoon slots...

Personallly, i don't think you'll be waiting too long, but im sure the experts here will give you some better advice!

quote:Originally posted by quietstorm87
Oh, wow! I didn't know this either!

Well, in my expereince (even though I've only ever been in the Clubhouse once) it was fairly quiet, and prior to my booking, there was no one booked in for an appointment that day it seemed. Although my booking was at 11am, so i can't really speak for afternoon slots...

Personallly, i don't think you'll be waiting too long, but im sure the experts here will give you some better advice!


If only that was the case when I want a treatment [:?] As per my post above, I tried to book for several over the next 8 weeks and only managed one and that was an hour earlier than I requested. In my experience it is always extremely busy so it will be a case of pot luck on the day (and I think they only allow so many treatments per flight anyway [:?])

HG

Well that wasn't the expected response when I recently asked if some bookings could be kept back to the week before each flight for those who book their flights at short notice. What a strange way to go from all booked to non-booked!

[Nottingham Nick]

The treatment booking page, is still there on the 'always up to date and ahead of the game' VS website. [n][:?]

Nick

I have a treatment booked for 18th December, confirmed a couple of weeks ago, hope thats still ok.

quote:Originally posted by Penny_L
I have a treatment booked for 18th December, confirmed a couple of weeks ago, hope thats still ok.


It is Penny - I have just rang my FC POC and it is fine. NB They are still taking bookings too for the top FC tiers.

HG

Hmmm. That takes a little away from the clubhouse experience. It's nice to know in advance that a treatment is definitely going to part of your holiday experience, especially if you are only likely to fly UC rarely (like me and the family).

quote:Originally posted by Slipperman
Hmmm. That takes a little away from the clubhouse experience. It's nice to know in advance that a treatment is definitely going to part of your holiday experience, especially if you are only likely to fly UC rarely (like me and the family).



or on regular business on a full fare UC ticket !

VA seems to be coming more like BA every day - they are at risk of loosing their USP in this competitive market.

[Scrooge]

I am trying to think of a word(s) that describes this move, stupid, moronic, short sighted, these are a few that jump to mind.

My question would be, why did they do this ?

I can't see any benefit to VS or the pax.

[Darren Wheeler]

With no appointment, they may as well shut Bumble and Bumble. Who is going to leave a hair cut to the off chance of a spare slot when you want one?

It feels like it is about time to cash in the miles in my account and get out before they get devalued. If VS carry on like this, I'll be looking at cost alone for future flights rather than the service that goes with it.

Hmm, No one seems to be sticking up for VS on this one. Most unusual. [:?]

[Neil]

It does seem to go against the way most companies/systems are moving to pre-booking everything, which seems to be what the customers are wanting nowadays. I can see it causing confusion/chaos with pax turning up wanting appointments, time slots not being filled and a just general shambolic feeling, which isn't something VS should be giving out on one of there premier facilities and selling points for their top customers.

I booked Dec 29th for my wife and I using the form this Monday, confirmation next day!

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
With no appointment, they may as well shut Bumble and Bumble. Who is going to leave a hair cut to the off chance of a spare slot when you want one?


Pure stupidity [V]. Who actually makes these decisions? Those who lurk please take note. DL the Elder and I have haircuts booked (with email confirmation at my request) for a few weeks time.
Would I risk just rocking up for a haircut/hairdo ? Absolutely not [:(!]. I know of no salons (hair or beauty) that function solely on walk in trade. Sure, if business is slack tout your wares, but I have rarely seen the Cowshed anything apart from busy and the same for B and B.
DL

This could be another reason to consider using T5. Mrs M looks forward to her hair being done before we fly out. Haven't tried to book anything yet for February, maybe we should try and see what happens.

Miopyk[8D]

quote:Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
The treatment booking page, is still there on the 'always up to date and ahead of the game' VS website. [n][:?]

Nick


Whats even more funny is this is the bottom half of the email they sent me;


*** This inbox is not being monitored, please DO NOT REPLY *** Kind regardsCowshed and Bumble & Bumble at the Clubhouse

To request a treatment for your next visit to the Heathrow Clubhouse pleaseclick onto http://www.virginatlantic.com/cowshed


[:?][:p]

-Steve

[Decker]

I'm sorry T5 don't allow pre-booking either. Not sticking up for the decision (which I'd hazard a guess is because people don't know you can pre-book and get snitty about not being able to get an anticipated treatment... talk about baby and bathwater) just comparing apples with apples.

quote:Originally posted by Decker
I'm sorry T5 don't allow pre-booking either.


True - except (yes there aer always exceptions to confuse matters - jyst like VA) one holds a Premier Card or Concorde room pass (ISTBC on the latter one).

I feel sorry fot the Cowshed receptionists/staff here. Like Darren said I guess the days for haircutting staff may be over (just see what is happening at LGW !) . . . . .

quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy
quote:Originally posted by Decker
I'm sorry T5 don't allow pre-booking either.


True - except (yes there aer always exceptions to confuse matters - jyst like VA) one holds a Premier Card or Concorde room pass (ISTBC on the latter one).

I feel sorry fot the Cowshed receptionists/staff here. Like Darren said I guess the days for haircutting staff may be over (just see what is happening at LGW !) . . . . .

Even with a black card you are not getting your hair cut at T5,it's the one thing Mrs JP really misses about VS.
I know 'You First' will book a cabana slot, don't know if they will book a spa treatment,but being as they are all crap after the move to T5 we never bother.

quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
[being as they are all crap after the move to T5 we never bother.


Not sure about that - there is ONE particular treatment (which I recommended to Decker) that I just lurve [:I]n and always book ahead of my visit to ensure I get it. And according to the text I got from Decker at the time - he enjoyed it as much as I do [:w]

HG

quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy

Not sure about that - there is ONE particular treatment (which I recommended to Decker) that I just lurve [:I]n and always book ahead of my visit to ensure I get it. And according to the text I got from Decker at the time - he enjoyed it as much as I do [:w]

HG

Each to his own, but T5 treatments aren't a patch on the old MB run spas at T1 and T4, ie real massages.

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy

Not sure about that - there is ONE particular treatment (which I recommended to Decker) that I just lurve [:I]n and always book ahead of my visit to ensure I get it. And according to the text I got from Decker at the time - he enjoyed it as much as I do [:w]

HG

Each to his own, but T5 treatments aren't a patch on the old MB run spas at T1 and T4, ie real massages.


Indeed, the famous 8 minute door-to-door massage in T5 Galleries. This is still one area where VS beats BA by a country mile.