UC - what do we want to see!!!??

Hi v-flyers - it's New Year's Eve and purely for a spot of festive cheer, we know that some improvements are coming to the UC service in the Spring - so just in case anyone at VS with a "little flex" reads our lovely site here, what would we like to see introduced when the refresh comes......

Jon

No downgrading.
Consistent high quality experience of te UC service. Properly cleaned cabin and suites.
Nothing special. I think that all that is required is to provide the current service properly and consistently.

Hi v-flyers - it's New Year's Eve and purely for a spot of festive cheer, we know that some improvements are coming to the UC service in the Spring - so just in case anyone at VS with a "little flex" reads our lovely site here, what would we like to see introduced when the refresh comes......

Jon

Is to have proper ongoing maintenance and regular deep cleaning of the suites, carpets, toiltts etc.

It is all very well spending millions on refurbished cabins mand IFE etc if you then don't maintain it.

Oh and consistent service too !

If you get the basics right you don't need expensive marketing gimmicks.

[mitchja]

Bring those red cushions back

A higher quality amenity kit, replacing some of the items that have been removed over the years. I appreciate that frequent flyers get a little blasé about this, because they get loads, but for first (or second) timers its great to have good quality goodies.

The current UC ear plugs and eye masks are cheap and nasty IMO, I take my own - provided originally by Air NZ!

The baskets with lip salve, polos, pens would be a welcome return.

Clean suites with fully working IFE, tables etc is a must.

Maybe change those black sleep suits from polyester to cotton?

On the subject of sleep suits, an XL size would be nice for those of us still working on our new year resolutions...

On the subject of sleep suits, an XL size would be nice for those of us still working on our new year resolutions...

So that's like 355 days ago .

Alas yes, even the benefit of a week's intense skiing appears to have been cancelled out by the festivities of the past few days...

As someone who flies 2 to 3 times a year with VS i.e. - it's still a treat - I think a better ameities kit would be a good thing. Last time I flew (to Miami/back from St Lucia) - frankly it was v disappointing - tokenism almsost.
?|

The current UC ear plugs and eye masks are cheap and nasty IMO, I take my own

never flown NZ but in my opinion the 3M earplugs you get on VS UC are awesome

Some news on just what it is they are planning for UC would be good.

Upgrading the amenity kit is essential - it's cheap in its current form. The Freedom menu also needs to be implemented properly. I've often asked for my meal much later that the 'usual' time of service and more often than not, it's 'almost a problem'... Freedom menu should mean what it says on the tin!

With regards to the new UC suite - I spent some time with a SCC in 2011 and despite the fact he refused to divulge exactly what the new UC suites would be - he did say - it'll have the same impact as the current units.. revolutionary... Can't wait.

[Darren Wheeler]

I might be in a minority, but the amenity kit doesn't bother me in the slightest. Most of the contents were and still are disposable, in fact the only bits I keep is the toothbrush and paste along with the shoe bag.

The lipbalm was that horrible, gloopy cowshed stuff and if a packet of polo's are that important, WHSmiths sell them.

I miss 2 things the most.

1. The metal pens with the red fin
2. T10 gin

I would like to see a dessert wine though.

I also only keep the toothbrush. The eye mask is a weird design that pulls your ears (the PE version is better), the ear plugs have been downgraded this year to cheap foam. It costs a few pence to supply decent ones. The socks are useful. The shoe bag pretty useless - I have never seen it used and never bother to take mine.

Simple eye mask, good quality ear plugs is all I need - plus an extra pillow would be good. All the rest is window dressing - looks pretty but not very useful.

I might be in a minority, but the amenity kit doesn't bother me in the slightest. Most of the contents were and still are disposable, in fact the only bits I keep is the toothbrush and paste along with the shoe bag.

I'm with you on this one. We find the shoe bags particularly useful.

Better food and wines -- because they are two of the things that you just cannot provide for yourself on a plane. You can buy (most) amenity items if you are that bothered about them.

I agree with what others have said about cleaning etc.

[buns]

I think the shoe bag has now seen its day.

VS seem to have come way from offering anything that can be remotely described as items to restore one's body / skin after the rigours of flight, like other carriers still continue to offer.

What I would like is something that can be useful after the flight - perhaps a container that you can put a phone, MP3 Player etc.

buns

forgot to add GARLIC BREAD. I don't need a selection of fancy (and pretentious)bread rolls.

I'm rather a long way away from being described as metrosexual, so they can keep all the creams and lotions if it means we could get a better standard of champagne, wine and (please please please) a pudding wine - I'm not talking Yquem or anything, a decent Aussie one would suffice...

a softer bed would also be good, I've all but given up on sleeping when overnighting back from JFK now...

I have lots of ideas about what VS should and shouldn't do when releasing the new UCS, but in terms of the soft product service, some thoughts:

- You can't really do much better than VS's cabin crew, so I'd like to see VS continue to train and reward the crews.
- I think VS is right to concentrate on food and wine, when flying in J on other airlines it's quite clear that VS wine in recent times is basically plonk, while others serve a much higher standard (NZ anyone?) - so less fussy descriptions and concoctions, and higher quality on the plate and in the glass please.
- I'm not one who cares about the amenity kit although a better quality eye shade would be appreciated, I do however think the bowl of items was the right strategy, it avoids waste, and for the times that I forget to take moisturiser on board it was most useful to have the option.
- IFE and two things, a) even on LHR flights the IFE is beginning to get wobbly given the number of times I've experienced problems recently, so put some effort into its efficiency please, and b) what's wrong with some classic films, lately it seems VS has been dipping into the Hollywood slush bucket for films (or, with a few exceptions, perhaps that's all Hollywood makes nowadays!) and the option of say five really good classics would be great.
- Servicing of faulty items, if a seat motor is not working, fix it, quickly, not two months after it was reported for example (personal experience).

Yes and bring back the red cushions y) .

Upgrading the amenity kit is essential - it's cheap in its current form. The Freedom menu also needs to be implemented properly. I've often asked for my meal much later that the 'usual' time of service and more often than not, it's 'almost a problem'... Freedom menu should mean what it says on the tin!

I think they want to quietly drop the freedom menu, they no longer mention it on the menu itself....

1. Consistencey from the crew- our crew yesterday were fabulous but it's aways a lottery .
2. A decent matress pad (I had 3 quilts and a protector to cushion me last night.. :0 )
3. Dessert wine.
4.Cotton sleepsuits (and the ditching of recycling them. Ugh :$ ).
5. DECENT moisturiser and lipbalm making a comeback .
6. A pen - it is so bloody irritating not having a pen to hand!!!
7. Flowers back on the bar .
DL

1. Consistencey from the crew- our crew yesterday were fabulous but it's aways a lottery .
2. A decent matress pad (I had 3 quilts and a protector to cushion me last night.. :0 )
3. Dessert wine.
4.Cotton sleepsuits (and the ditching of recycling them. Ugh :$ ).
5. DECENT moisturiser and lipbalm making a comeback .
6. A pen - it is so bloody irritating not having a pen to hand!!!
7. Flowers back on the bar .
DL

+1
Only one thing I would add:
More spacious changing facilities on-board.

Another vote for baskets of items available to be picked up rather than the incredibly wasteful amenity kits...

Put the effort into consistent service and better food/drink.

less hype and more back to basis issues

Cleaning & repairs
Food & Drink in line with the perceived UC image
A pen, decent PJ's & socks
A mattress that works

for a new product;
Actually provide substance in line with level of hype..
Changing area
non-sticky loo floors