Upper Class Bar Whilst Flying Econ

Hi all,
Simple question here. Flying out to Vegas on Sunday with friends.
To be civil and to "Get the party started" I am sitting in the back of the plane ! !
Luckily being Au I can avoid the masses at Gatwick by sneaking off to the CH. Once on the plane can I go to the UC bar or do I have to wait for the "invite" from crew???

I have had a look at what you get as an Au and it's not looking good for an Au flying back there!!
Thanks.

Being Gold gives no service privileges over anyone else in economy, unless you get a 'welcome back' from the crew. The UC bar is for UC ticketed passengers.

[mitchja]

The on-board bar is only for J pax.

Sorry, but there's basically no on-board privileges for AU's.

Thanks for the very prompt reply.
My worst fears!!! LOL

It does start the mind thinking all the flights / cost to get and keep Au really does slap you in face in terms of "Thanks" from VS sometimes.
Whilst I understand the Bar area is small and having all Au's there at once is not practical you would think they would at least offer priority seating or exits rows for Au customers fly in Econ. Anything would be nice.

I guess you at least are flying economy while Au, a number of Au don't fly Econ/PE so have the lounge already, so as a feature it only provides 100% miles...

There have been several debates around whether there should be some sort of on board service enhancement for AUs that are not sitting in J. This could range from a personal greeting, a glass of champagne, or even an invite to the bar, all of which we know have happened to individuals on occasion (and for that matter, not even just for AUs).

I'm in the camp that says I would like 'something', even if just a name check. But I can at least see the logistical challenges of the bar/champagne idea, not to mention the fact that once on board, it's a much more confined environment and therefore there are sensitivities around singling out Y pax for preferential treatment.

I guess you at least are flying economy while Au, a number of Au don't fly Econ/PE so have the lounge already, so as a feature it only provides 100% miles...

And an extra bag onto your luggage allowance so thats a £30-40 benefit too.

I know where you are coming from ratecatcher.
The last time I was given a name check in PE on a flight back from Boston there were looks and questions from other pax. I was very tempted to give them a James Bond type of story.
On VS's side it's free and kept my money with them again.

I would not want to rile other pax but Au surely are (may be wrong here) the main recycled profit lane for VS?
My issue with it all is that is all seems to be down the FSM. In the past in PE as Au I have been greeted, had my meal choice asked when I was seated so one could be "put to one side" etc. On others nothing. I might as well been the first few pounds I have spent with VS.

Perhaps a rule book on what you get would cure the wide range of service you get as an Au out of J???

As for the bag, yes again that does help. I was more thinking about being on a plane for 8,9,10 hours.

I doubt my view will be a popular one but I think that if you sit in economy then whoever you are you should get the same treatment as all the other passengers around you. As someone who normally flys economy and has only just started flying premium I would find it very annoying if this happened. I personally think if you want to be treated as an UC passenger and get extra perks then you should fly UC and not expect these when flying in a lower class and paying less.

You are 100% correct mrbluesky. Keep those comments to yourself

I would say as a retort when you have reached Au and you spend as much on flights with VS via business and then personal vacations you to may, I did only say may, think a little bit differently on this subject and the loyalty you get.

To back my own corner a little I did say I was only after preferred seating or a visit to the bar etc.
I did not want to be carried on a pedestal down to row 64 or have UC class food put in front of me as all around eat normal Econ. fare offered.

As normal we all have different opinions that makes this little planet spin.

I doubt my view will be a popular one but I think that if you sit in economy then whoever you are you should get the same treatment as all the other passengers around you. As someone who normally flys economy and has only just started flying premium I would find it very annoying if this happened. I personally think if you want to be treated as an UC passenger and get extra perks then you should fly UC and not expect these when flying in a lower class and paying less.

And that's why I said that there had been 'debate' B)

Yes, it's a bit of a contentious issue I admit, but I have a choice which airline I use, both business and pleasure, and I have often gone out of my way to choose VS - and that gets me to AU status.

As has been said ad nauseam on here, when you fly J, you don't get a lot of extra benefits out of being AU - no upgrade potential, no elite section of the CH to use (like you'd need one anyway...) - it's really just the extra miles and maybe the extra bag allowance (which I never use, being a light traveller). I believe there are a few extra baubles that come as a UNIQ, but I'll probably never get there until I can get TPs from flying to less exotic places like Belfast.

So to me, the value of being a 'loyal' VS customer comes when you're flying in the cheaper seats. CH access in that situation is good, but something on board would be nice as well. And I'll take a name check as 'something' because right now, I get b*gger all on a consistent basis !

I would just like more clubhouses around the world. Places like MIA in particular. That would make me strive for AU each time over AG.

You are 100% correct mrbluesky. Keep those comments to yourself

I would say as a retort when you have reached Au and you spend as much on flights with VS via business and then personal vacations you to may, I did only say may, think a little bit differently on this subject and the loyalty you get.

To back my own corner a little I did say I was only after preferred seating or a visit to the bar etc.
I did not want to be carried on a pedestal down to row 64 or have UC class food put in front of me as all around eat normal Econ. fare offered.

As normal we all have different opinions that makes this little planet spin.

In all honesty, I haven't flown in Econ much (2x) since getting Au, but both times I've been given preferred seating without asking.

I think preffered seating if available and recognition of your status is a good thing maybe a glass of champers too, but personally think a visit to the bar is a step too far, the UC bar should IMO just be for people flying upper class

The preferred seating while flying Y would be a nice touch. It would be an great benefit to be able to (even if it's just once in a year) be allowed to reserve exit row/extra leg room seats.

This is all wishful thinking anyway.

Lots of airlines offer preferred seating to their higher tier frequent fliers, I've commented on this before - for e.g. AA allows you to 'request' bulkhead and exit row seats on a first come first serve basis. This is something that sounds easy to do, and would offer something to Au's flying in Y that could be very desirable benefit. VS has chosen not to, but it only takes a little imagination for them to offer something like this.

Lots of airlines offer preferred seating to their higher tier frequent fliers, I've commented on this before - for e.g. AA allows you to 'request' bulkhead and exit row seats on a first come first serve basis. This is something that sounds easy to do, and would offer something to Au's flying in Y that could be very desirable benefit. VS has chosen not to, but it only takes a little imagination for them to offer something like this.

I understand the points raised in this thread but I also understand Virgins position. Bulkhead seats are given to family's with babies and customers requiring special assistance as a priority and rightly so. The extra leg room seats were created specifically to help generate much needed revenue and give customers a comfort upgrade opportunity without the hefty price tag that comes from a cabin class upgrade.

Virgin is a business that is trying to compete against some pretty large majors in a very tough economic climate, when it has an opportunity to generate extra revenue, it needs to be given the chance to seize it. Whilst I agree that it should be given to the companys most loyal customers, I believe this should be done so only after all chance of selling the seats have been exhausted.

Lots of airlines offer preferred seating to their higher tier frequent fliers, I've commented on this before - for e.g. AA allows you to 'request' bulkhead and exit row seats on a first come first serve basis. This is something that sounds easy to do, and would offer something to Au's flying in Y that could be very desirable benefit. VS has chosen not to, but it only takes a little imagination for them to offer something like this.

I understand the points raised in this thread but I also understand Virgins position. Bulkhead seats are given to family's with babies and customers requiring special assistance as a priority and rightly so. The extra leg room seats were created specifically to help generate much needed revenue and give customers a comfort upgrade opportunity without the hefty price tag that comes from a cabin class upgrade.

Virgin is a business that is trying to compete against some pretty large majors in a very tough economic climate, when it has an opportunity to generate extra revenue, it needs to be given the chance to seize it. Whilst I agree that it should be given to the companys most loyal customers, I believe this should be done so only after all chance of selling the seats have been exhausted.

I disagree - and if you extended this argument, it would also suggest that no reward seats would be made available in advance - if you wanted to use miles, you'd have to turn up at the airport on the day and hope they they had some seats left unsold. For that matter, perhaps VS should charge for food and drink to bring in more much needed revenue.

Yes, I accept that it's a competitive environment for airlines, but unless you're a low cost carrier, you have to strike a balance between charging for extras, and providing a differentiated level of service - part of which involves looking after your frequent flyers so that they keep coming back.

I understand the points raised in this thread but I also understand Virgins position. Bulkhead seats are given to family's with babies and customers requiring special assistance as a priority and rightly so. The extra leg room seats were created specifically to help generate much needed revenue and give customers a comfort upgrade opportunity without the hefty price tag that comes from a cabin class upgrade.

Virgin is a business that is trying to compete against some pretty large majors in a very tough economic climate, when it has an opportunity to generate extra revenue, it needs to be given the chance to seize it. Whilst I agree that it should be given to the companys most loyal customers, I believe this should be done so only after all chance of selling the seats have been exhausted.

I disagree too, you only have to look at bulkheads in PE on routes like LHR-JFK, there is no rhyme or reason to how they're allocated, almost always there's no baby, they're not charged for anyway, and a W PE fare can be damned expensive too.

Yes VS is a business in a competitive environment, that is exactly the argument for more imaginative thinking to encourage loyal customers to return - i.e. more revenue. As it is VS does a pretty good job of ignoring.

Presumably VS's thinking is if they give AU members too much incentive to fly economy, they're less likely to buy a PE or UC ticket (which, as frequent fliers, they're statistically more likely to be able to afford).

Commercially it makes sense to reward your best customers enough to keep them coming back (Clubhouse access and extra miles) but not so much that they spend less money than they might otherwise.

Plus, there's presumably the risk of unpleasant situations on board if the "normal" economy passengers perceive that some are getting better treatment than others. The person next to you will never know that you've been pampered in the Clubhouse but they will if you're offered champagne or a trip to the bar - which could put the crew in a nasty position having to explain why "sir is better than you".

If I were VS, my line with AU passengers would be "we're giving you some nice perks on the ground but in the air economy is economy and if you want more, you're probably in a better position than most to pay for it so pay!".

[mitchja]

Great post gumshoe. That's precisely my feelings on this.

There are also several 'unwritten rules' as well for AU's. I've had VS staff go above and beyond their call for me several times now (simply because I was AU and not flying in J either).

I'm not going into these in detail here but I actually prefer it this way as those little unexpected benefits often go much further to make me feel like a more valued flyer than just 'doing something by the book' every time.

In terms of bar access if this became the "AU benefit" on board it would be a logistical nightmare. For example on a LAS flight there are two seats at the bar and 14 UC passengers and on an A340-600 there are only 3 seats and 46 UC seats.....would the crew have to ask the UC to rotate to allow non-premium passengers up to the bar. Could you imagine that?? It is sometimes difficult enough when flying in UC to use the bar?

PS my experience of getting given champagne in premium as an AU member got this response from a friend "my money is as good as yours and I paid as much as you so why can't I get some champagne!". It's great when travelling on your own but in a group (like your LAS flight) it could be unwanted attention you don't want!!!

I say if you want to visit the Upperclass bar then book an Upperclass ticket. You have to ask yourself, if I was flying Upperclass and there were the maximum passengers at the UC bar that are allowed and you were told by the crew that you weren't allowed to sit there because an economy passenger is 'visiting' the bar you'd be pretty annoyed! Paying sometimes 20x what they pay. Virgin have to protect there product.

[preiffer]

^ this