Treatment in the Clubhouse

How do you book an appointment for a haircut or shave in The Clubhouse ?
I think I saw a form once on the website but can't seem to find it now. Sorry but this is my first time in UC.

[Nottingham Nick]

You can't - part of the brand improvement last year by VS was to stop pre-booking in the Clubhouses and p+ss off lots of high rev passengers in the process.

You have to book on arrival - subject to availability!!

Nick

[Darren Wheeler]

The ability to pre-book treatments was scrapped awhile ago now - some say for the better, others for worst.

If you want a treatment, you need to visit the Cowshed reception and see what timeslot is available, if any.

And go to the spa reception as soon as you get to the CH.

Don't look for a seat, sort your things out , order a drink and some food then think about wandering over to book.

Thanks for your replies. No doubt all will become clear on Friday as me and my son await vs11, hope to be in CH for 10.30 to 11 ish if the trains run ok.

And since the change, I haven't bothered once to seek a treatment, no bookings was a serious downgrade for me.

And since the change, I haven't bothered once to seek a treatment, no bookings was a serious downgrade for me.

Ditto. Very bad decision by VAA.

That's a shame.

In the 6 times I've been through the clubhouse this year I've been and had a treatment every time, and never had any trouble in getting an appointment.

The advice to go and book in as soon as you arrive is certainly sound.

I did ask why they changed and they told me that they had too many no shows, so it seems fair enough.

Still, if you're not going to book it leaves a better chance for the rest of us!

I have yet to get a treatment when flying VS200 even when I arrived 4 hours early last time. It does seem you can get treatments without a problem at certain times of the day and therefore specific flights work better than others. v(

Last time I was at Gatwick (3 weeks ago), they were passing out leaflets, touting for business, as nobody was having anything done!

[Nottingham Nick]

I have just had a haircut in the LHR Clubhouse - that makes me 7 for 7 for 2010, so I can't complain about the new system.

Each time I chat with anyone there, they spin the company line about the new policy being better for the passenger. Having said that, there always seems to be a lot of sitting around for the staff there.

I tried to explain that passengers who can not longer guarantee a hair treatment will have the work done before they fly, rather than risk being turned away. This was just greeted by a shrug.

Nick

I must admit that since the changeover and the introduction of paid treatments, there are no complimentary treatments that I would be interested in now. I used to enjoy the hand rejuvenating treatments and the foot massages but now at £30 less 30% for 15 mins, it does seem excessive.

Anna

The reality of this decision for me is that since 1990's if VA flew there I would use them. The whole experience but the CH in particular set them apart from the competition and meant I rarely even looked at another airline before booking. I have just realised that since first being turned away by the Cowshed only 2 out of 6 flights have been with Virgin. Perhaps it doesn't matter to the bean counters but it saddens me.

So with a bit of luck Friday late morning and early afternoon should be ok for a treatment or is it not that predictable?

[Neil]

So with a bit of luck Friday late morning and early afternoon should be ok for a treatment or is it not that predictable?

I would say it is unpredictable. It will just depend on your arrival time/flight time, how many other pax have already booked treatments, what treatments you want etc etc.

Just follow the tip above, and go straight to the cowshed reception as soon as you enter the CH to give you as much chance as poss.

I tried to explain that passengers who can not longer guarantee a hair treatment will have the work done before they fly, rather than risk being turned away. This was just greeted by a shrug.

Nick

hits the nail on the head.

lets not be completely down about this though, its still nice to have the option