Mass brawl at 30,000 feet

They are from a small town in Lincolnshire so as well as a fine, the VS ban, there's the embarrassment factor (if incident was fuelled by booze then they probably wont live it down).

In certain quarters of the population they will be seen as heroes in the same way that ASBOs are seen as a badge of honour. xx(

Woodhall Spa: its the posh bit of Lincs. (It says here). But yes: hopefully not a badge of honour.

They are from a small town in Lincolnshire so as well as a fine, the VS ban, there's the embarrassment factor (if incident was fuelled by booze then they probably wont live it down).

In certain quarters of the population they will be seen as heroes in the same way that ASBOs are seen as a badge of honour. xx(

Woodhall Spa: its the posh bit of Lincs. (It says here). But yes: hopefully not a badge of honour.

Woodhall Spa is not "The" posh part of Lincolnshhire but one of the many pleasant places to live in that County but like every Village, Town and City in UK some areas are more gentele than others and even in Woodhall Spa there are areas that, as Honey Lamb says, there will be delight in being awarded an ASBO (all very sad. I am just happy not to have been on that flight with my family)

Bad behaviour is bad whatever the route or hub. Noticed a number of other posts regarding the LGW-MCO route as being the prime culprit for such incidents. Can somebody explain why such anti Gatwick sentiments are so common? Needless to say I have flown this route for nearly 20 years had have never seen such an incident as described in today's Daily Mail (no cracks about DM readers please ) I await enlightenment

I suppose LGW is more focused on the leisure routes and LHR is more business people focused (who naturally wouldn't get drunk in UC and start fights mid-air!).

Not saying its correct at all. My reasons for disliking LGW are entirely different!

I think LGW routes are mentioned more, because there's more to say, it's not necessarily anti-LGW.

That said, the flip side counts irate celebs on LHR routes ...

Apparently they were fined$7,500 each and paid up! So that, and now needing a one way flight home, means their holiday is going to cost a bucket!

[Scrooge]

Isn't it really amazing how some people just can't control themselves even for a few hours.

I am also amazed that they managed to have the actual fight, firstly the seat pitch really doesn't lend itself to a good fight. Second i'm amazed passengers didn't jump in.

The only times I have seen an issue on flights have been out of LHR, once in upper and once in Y on BA, out of the two the one in Upper was funny, the one in Y was not, police greeted the plane in LA and were happy to take off a nasty German guy.

Thanks for the comments. IMO I believe that VS has not been very even handed when it comes to the aircraft used for the holiday routes, especially MCO. In general the planes out of LGW are pretty tatty and have been for some time. The destination must be profitable with 2 out of LGW plus Manchester and Glasgow as well. Is it fair to say that these routes are the last to receive the upgrades/new aircraft? Also passenger mix has a high number of young travellers going to see the mouse and they tend to be more noisy and certainly more mobile during the flights. This is why we migrated from Y to PE being old and grumpy and needing some peace ii) Also usually nearly full and if you cram 300+ people into Y with lots of kids and babies it all gets a bit stressful. Different problem but same result, friction between PAX and add some alcohol and you know what happens. I am not in anyway defending what happens, lifetime bans if it was my decision, but it only takes a few troublemakers to ruin it for the majority. So next time I want to go to Florida, via BOS with a three day stay then internal flight down to MCO. Or possibly a connection flight. Is LHR any more customer friendly that LGW? Flown out of there a couple of times (we live on the south coast so it's a much longer journey than Gatwick) and seemed just as tired and shabby as LGW.

[honey lamb]

Is it fair to say that these routes are the last to receive the upgrades/new aircraft?

Erm, the LGW/MAN routes got the new A330s

It about time that the courts stepped in an removed the passport for these people for good. A passport is a privilege and not a right

IMO I believe that VS has not been very even handed when it comes to the aircraft used for the holiday routes, especially MCO. In general the planes out of LGW are pretty tatty and have been for some time. The destination must be profitable with 2 out of LGW plus Manchester and Glasgow as well. Is it fair to say that these routes are the last to receive the upgrades/new aircraft?

I don't necessarily agree - it is true however that the LGW 747 fleet is tatty, but I see that as cyclical. Actually the 747s are newer than the LHR ones in part, and they're getting refurbished in 2012 and will then have newer IFE etc. than most of the LHR fleet, which will then be in a cycle where they become the old standard. Also, if you ever sit in a UCS on a LHR A343, you'd probably think you were on a LGW plane!

It about time that the courts stepped in an removed the passport for these people for good. A passport is a privilege and not a right

I don't think that is possible except in football hooligan cases plus the court case would need to be initiated in the UK. Even then removal of a passport for good would be a human rights infringement. In football hooligan cases the passport is temporarily removed e.g. whlilst certain overseas matches are taking place and is not a total removal.

What is effective though is for an airline to ban a person from ever travelling on their planes again.

Also I belive a passport is a right I have to have one and not a priviledge to be earned.

Is it fair to say that these routes are the last to receive the upgrades/new aircraft?

Erm, the LGW/MAN routes got the new A330s

Yes quite right, sorry about that ii) I flew one on our return leg from MCO last month. During that flight we were aware that the amount of PAX traffic was reduced even for an overnight flight. The new IFE was so much better it seemed to keep more people occupied and in their seats. Bit off topic but is the 2 cabin configuration on the Airbus a temporary one with UC added later? I did not find the PE cabin as quiet or comfortable as the bubble. Thanks

[Bazz]

I believe that all family members involved in this incident have been added to a very exclusive list... ...The list of people who have a lifetime ban from flying on VS flights.

My personal view is that people who behave in this manner and consequently put the safety of the aircraft at risk, should be banned from flying on any commercial airline, not just VS.

Undoubtedly frightening for the other passengers, and not to be tolerated when 30000 ft up, but does it merit the adjective mass ("a large number")? 10 people hauled off the flight by police. This includes cabin crew (presumably those involved in breaking the thing up) so perhaps 7 people involved in total. When I read the headline I'd been expecting dozens of people to be involved.

I suppose "Three people banned from Virgin flights" isn't as eye catching a headline.

Sounds nasty: one report says they were throwing hot coffee at others.

Hot coffee? On an aircraft? ?| Again, "throwing a cup of lukewarm brown liquid" at others doesn't sound the same.

pjh

the report has obviously been updated since the original post that most people saw and commented upon. At one point it had been reported as being three men involved and they were part of a large group (hence my comment above about a man called 'zoe').

I love some of the comments on the DM site though -

'dregs of society'
'open up the world to the masses and chavs ...'
'you get a better class of pax on BAVirgin is best left to the chavs.

And this one remenind me of the Harry enfield 'women know your place' sketch

'What sort of decent woman aged 46 would dream of going on a bender on an aeroplane!'


and there are complaints that v-flyer is elitist !

the report has obviously been updated since the original post that most people saw and commented upon. At one point it had been reported as being three men involved and they were part of a large group (hence my comment above about a man called 'zoe').

Ah. I wasn't aware of that.

Whatever happened to news organisations that believed in hanging on a minute and working out what is actually going on with a story before rushing to print / broadcast / tweet or whatever they do these days?

[Scrooge]

'What sort of decent woman aged 46 would dream of going on a bender on an aeroplane!'

THIS ONE

'What sort of decent woman aged 46 would dream of going on a bender on an aeroplane!'

THIS ONE

oo) oo) oo) oo) oo) oo)

[honey lamb]

'What sort of decent woman aged 46 would dream of going on a bender on an aeroplane!'

THIS ONE

)

D*mn!! He beat me to it! You would need to reverse the age though! :w

Can always rely on the DM to put things in perspective. Of course v-flyer is elitist if you are not Au or turning left with your purple boarding cards or taking a pop at the riff raff in the back then know you place! All good fun though and maybe I can aspire to join one day ) PE seat FC red and proud of it Tallyho 8D

'What sort of decent woman aged 46 would dream of going on a bender on an aeroplane!'

THIS ONE

)

D*mn!! He beat me to it! You would need to reverse the age though! :w

oh much lollage

However the DM quote mentioned 'decent' ): ): ):