Alcohol ban VS43

The Party Bubble... might be worth downgrading

is it the fact that groups of lads/girls are standing around the galley waiting for /drinking booze the problem?
this must make it pretty miserable for the pax in these areas

I can see those that want to drink taking their own on board and risking the crew not finding out.
That would be even worse for the crew and other pax as it would not be monitored.

While I agree with most here (if this needs to be done) I still can't really get the Y, PE/UC split.
I normally have my fill in the CH before the flight and then just with my meal. Monitoring that that has nothing to do with the number of pax in each class as I can be in the CH and still travel Y.

The point above made by baza is a very serious one. It entered my head when I first started to read the thread. The overdone Duty-Free shop in all out airports makes it so each to "Bring a bottle" and very hard to monitor
My concern is that after a few episodes this will start to echo with soft-drinks and yet another magical "tax" will appear whilst on board.

whats to stop a group of people buying alcohol in duty free before boarding and decanting into cola/soft drink bottles, the crew wouldnt be any the wiser

Penny_L... I'm taking notes

I'm just kidding...

I've always found that part of that sort of thing was the tribalness which comes with a stag do/hen do, I've seen it on much smaller planes in shorter times, but certain stag do's are uncontrollable.... Dublin had to ban them from areas, I'm sure there's a whole bunch of europe which don't welcome them coming nowadays...

Making them sit most of the time seems to be a partial solution.

I've not flown Y since Vegas one five years ago, and it was a fine overnight flight with plenty of booze (I'll take a shot as it being more of a problem on the way over). But I'd not fly Y now on VS, not with that policy. Of course, I'm flying UC tuesday so it doesn't really affect me, but to me a bit of booze is part of the deal and is fine as long as I do, as most people do, have some, have a sit and quietly enjoy the IFE and have a snooze...

It comes back to the announcement at the start of the flight "you share the responsibility for your safety with the crew".

Why should the crew have to act as "security" to manage those who cannot control themselves (regardless of class).

It's a good move by VS to do this.

a bit of booze is part of the deal and is fine as long as I do, as most people do, have some, have a sit and quietly enjoy the IFE and have a snooze...

Agreed. I just also understand that the "one rule applies to all, in Y" is unfair for so many passengers who are doing just that.

When it happened on the flight I was on, even though we could drink in UC, it was pretty harsh on anyone who actually saw that was the case - particularly the PE using the front toilets.

I think they need to just be stricter on a per-person basis; to threaten arrest and after a few times or saying NO, the media will ensure that no one takes it lightly.

However, a half-cut passenger, who had his fill in the airport (not the plane), could be an awful in-air challenge for the CC. Not a nice thing to face while doing your job in the sky, I am sure. And for this reason, I suppose it's easier to just not serve everyone...

It's not an easy situation. But try and take my booze in UC or PE for that matter, and I'll be pissed right off! haha...

Even more difficult as the VS marketing material pushes how drinks are free, wine choices etc. etc. so I would have to complain...

There's no easy answer.

But I will say that in 2007 we flew to the Dominican Republic with Thomson, when the only option was economy (they since launched their own version of PE which is better than their economy, but not VS PE). Thomson was our only real option at the time.

I have some pictures of the aftermath of this event, which I will have to get off my wife, but what happened was that a couple made it on to the flight after having a MAJOR drinking session at the airport. The alcohol must have kicked in on the flight, because we have just flew over Portugal and probably 45 min over the Atlantic, when he gets up (a pretty big guy) and punched his wife on the side of the head.

The plane went absolutely insane, and the CC were totally stuck. The only people there were about half the size of this guy, and he was drinking champagne out of the bottle (classy, hey?)

Luckily a few big guys (pax) from the front of the plane restrained him, and we had to divert to the Azores, and land on a TINY runway on an American Air Force Base, where they literally ripped him off the plane and into an ambulance. Our 9 hour flight ended up 16 hours, because we sat there for (what seemed like) ever.

So that shows that it can really get bad. They were arrested by the police on the base, Americans, who came on the plane for statements off the crew etc. but I have no idea what happened.

[honey lamb]

OK, I'm not posting about LAS flights but the effects of alcohol and flying at altitude. VS warn passengers about that in their initial briefing. Even a skinful pre-boarding can take effect even if that person doesn't touch a drop post-take-off. At least once a week there is a report of a passenger from the US (and occasionally the UK or Europe) being off-loaded in Shannon because of alcohol related incidents which have threatened staff and passengers alike and more importantly, the safety of the aircraft. The knock-on effect for the rest of the flight because of delays, missed connections, missed appointments, long train/car journeys home or just general weariness is never really quantified

OK, I'm not posting about LAS flights but the effects of alcohol and flying at altitude. VS warn passengers about that in their initial briefing. Even a skinful pre-boarding can take effect even if that person doesn't touch a drop post-take-off. At least once a week there is a report of a passenger from the US (and occasionally the UK or Europe) being off-loaded in Shannon because of alcohol related incidents which have threatened staff and passengers alike and more importantly, the safety of the aircraft. The knock-on effect for the rest of the flight because of delays, missed connections, missed appointments, long train/car journeys home or just general weariness is never really quantified

So why do Virgin advertise that UC and PE get a "drink" pre takeoff? Is that not encouraging people to drink? the fact they have a bar in UC. Pot Kettle......

If this video hasn't been seen before:

First hand view of the 'potential issue' on a VS flight to BGI.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjWtvoLa ... EkxSFP6rqw

Worth a watch! If the link doesn't work YouTube: Fight on Virgin Flight to Barbados

notice how everone involved look 40+ hardly a stag or hen doo

If this video hasn't been seen before:

First hand view of the 'potential issue' on a VS flight to BGI.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjWtvoLa ... EkxSFP6rqw

Worth a watch! If the link doesn't work YouTube: Fight on Virgin Flight to Barbados

Perhaps Virgin should BAN alcohol in all cabins. just to be safe. Imagine some alcohol fuelled UC pax running down the economy section with their metal cutlery...... god forbid

LOOL your so wrong!!!

It's unfortunate that those who know how to control their drink have to suffer but if needs must. I guess what this video does show is it can happen on any flight but I guess the point is it is more apparent on the Vegas flights.

Be interesting to know how this kind of event balances on flights ex LGW, MAN and GLA against those that leave from LHR though.

how does a video make it more apparent on a Vegas flight?
Do you think it would be fairer to stop ALL classes having more than 4 drinks?

I am not saying the video makes it more apparent on a Vegas flight - that wouldn't make sense when it is going to BGI. I am saying the the point of the post and others experiences is that it is more of an issue on the Vegas flights.

Well as someone has said they are 'trialing' different ways to deal with the situation and as such are currently treating each flight indiviudally which I think is fair as not all flights are going to be the same and at the end of the day this is down to the crew to control.

I can't really respond to whether it would be fairer to stop all classes at 4 drinks just because I don't feel this would relistically happen. I do get the vibe your trying to imply that Economy passengers are being discriminated in some way against the Premiums/Uppers but looking at the bigger picture there are at most 380 people in Economy which is a lot harder to be monitoring compared with the numbers of W and J passengers.

I am certain if an 'individual' in any cabin appeared a tad merry the crew would maybe have a polite word or refuse alcohol to the individual but at the same time if it was a few in the same cabin then just stop it all together be it Economy, Premium or Upper. It looks to me as though this is the last resort when it is several people involved instead on one or two individuals. I don't know many people who have a stag or hen do consisting of 2 people. I think it is also important to note that the crew will more thank likely be closing the bar early so that we are not getting to the stage as displayed in the video ie. when it's too late and then real messy.

Obviously only my opinion. Though me being you avoid focusing on how one cabin is getting served over another in this scenario as it is purely more containable in the smaller cabins. Apologies if you feel i'm not on the right track but you did have some emphasis on the 'ALL classes'.

I was neither here nor there with this post but I think i'm more on the agree side. There is no reason why people cannot have 2 (alcoholic) drinks at most with their meals (including the pre-meal drink), land, drop the stuff off at the hotel and get hammered down on the strip. No real need to be doing it at 40,000 feet.

Maybe we should take this debate to LBC

Baza, I don't think the issue is about 4 drink limits or dividing the classes, the issue is purely one of finding the best way to monitor, manage and control drinking inboard. As has been said before, Upper Class and Premium Economy are much easier to monitor when it comes to an individuals alcohol consumption, however Economy is a different story. Up to 380 economy customers, 3 economy galleys on some aircraft and 15 different crew that any individual can go through before being served by the same crew member twice. Inflight it is near impossible to remember who has and who hasn't had a drink or two or three... The crew have for too long been at the mercy of the queues that form outside the galleys and door areas for most of the flight. The BGI video on YouTube is unique only in that it was filmed by a passenger. Many of the incidents of rowdiness, arguments, fighting, restraints, arrests and prosecution go unreported and nearly always have one common link, excessive alcohol consumption.

It's very easy for uninformed members of the public to scrutinise the onboard management's attempts at reducing these incidents, but how do they know that Virgin hasn't received warnings from the American authorities regarding the frequent requests for police to meet the aircraft on one particular route? Not that they have necessarily but who knows? For people in the know, there is obviously an increased issue with Las Vegas flights otherwise we wouldn't see this new harder line being taken.

The crew are in charge of the cabin, and for the safety, security and well being of everyone onboard, they must remain in control at all times. I for one welcome any attempts to maintain a calm, controlled and safe flight.

[buns]

Well said Starguy y) y)

I think that the debate about classes is missing the point that the Las Vegas route increasinly attracts the stag / hen contingent and just as some European destinations have found, that potential undercurrent often calls into question the financial advantages of being a host destination

buns

I was on a flight to MCO last year when the Captain announced,just after take off in his welcome aboard speech, that "Alcohol may be refused on grounds of consumption rather than behaviour !" :0

I was on a flight to MCO last year when the Captain announced,just after take off in his welcome aboard speech, that "Alcohol may be refused on grounds of consumption rather than behaviour !" :0

Are you sure it was the Captain? Part of the FSM's after take off PA includes "Alcohol may be refused on grounds of consumption rather than behaviour"

Generally our flight crew make an announcement just before push back (sometimes on taxi) and then again just before Top of decent. Any other PA is 'normally' made by the Cabin Crew.

Will VS change there advertising now and web site to reflect this change ?? and inform people before booking. 8D

It might not be how much is consumed on board that is the problem. Some seem to have had one or two too many even before getting aboard.

Personally, the thought of downing three or four pints for breakfast doesn't appeal. However for some, it seems perfectly normal once they get into holiday mode.

Difficult to police I know but whats next, breathalyser test at the gate? :0

Not wanting to appear stereotypical ( me lol ) but in all my VS flights the 5 to LAS were the only ones where I saw groups of
Hen parties out if their tree with booze and rugger topped huraay henries the same. And the grubbiest most damaged cabins I have had to MCO usually were from planes just returning or recently from LAS. I should add though the most annoying group of loud obnoxious ****heads where at the UC bar.

Couldn't have put it better myself egg

It might not be how much is consumed on board that is the problem. Some seem to have had one or two too many even before getting aboard.

This was from a TR I wrote in 2010, the VS052 from Grenada and Tobago.

At Tobago we refuelled (84 tons apparently) and also got extra passengers. The stop should be just under an hour, as I have said this dragged on to nearly two hours. According to the Captain, refuelling was slow and then a passenger had decided that "he didn’t want to fly with us”.

We didn’t witness this change of mind by the passenger but some of our holiday chums did. Apparently a holidaymaker and his wife got on at Tobago and they had clearly been enjoying rather too many drinks, him particularly. Some debate was had, featuring the Captain and FSM, as to whether this individual would be allowed to travel. It was decided that he could but he would not be served any alcohol. On hearing this, the passenger got very abusive, more F words than on a typical hen night...yes, THAT bad!! Plus an assortment of other Anglo Saxon gems. The decision was immediately made by the Captain that Mr and Mrs Drunk as a Skunk were getting off. They were informed that VS would not be taking them home, that they would have to make their own arrangements to get back to the UK and that VS would pursue them for compensation for the resultant delays. The extra time spent at Tobago was due to the need to track and remove their luggage.

Hey ho, some people really are simply too stupid for their own good.

And no rugby shirts spotted and the drunks were certainly not Hoorays, they were a couple of idiots in their 40s/50s.

y)

You're airline has either got it or it hasn't and in this case VS hasn't