Product removal/Cut backs

[Neil]

Just been given the following information regarding changes/removal/cut backs taking effect from 1st November:

Economy:
1. Amenity kits from all day flights. A number of loose amenity kit items will be loaded in case of a customer request.
2. Blankets from day flights. We will load a small number of these in case of urgent customer requests.

Premium Economy:
1. Amenity kits from all day flights. We will load a number of loose amenity kit items in case of a customer request.
2. The Premium Economy ice cream tub. It will be replaced with Skinny Cow ice cream as in economy.

Upper Class:
1. The Sleeper suit bag. The Sleeper Suit will be wrapped in a plastic bag
2. The Amuse Bouche

This information has come from within VS and previous information from this source has always been correct so have no reason to doubt this.

Neil

[Nottingham Nick]

Not good news, but not entirely unexpected. We have got used to much higher fares, and far fewer perks in the last few years.

I have no magic source for this information, but from everything I read, see and hear I think the airline is still struggling to survive. B)

They have cut back and cut back, they have made some bloody awful decisions on so many levels, all of which are chipping away at their two biggest assets i.e. -1. the staff members that are prepared to go the extra mile to show VS as an airline that cares about its customers and 2. The loyal repeat customers who preach the VS mantra; and come back to the airline again and again.

They have made it clear with their watering down of the Flying Club benefits and ridiculous fuel 'surcharges' that are not trying to encourage loyalty and repeat custom, so unfortunately - they will reap what they sow IMHO.

Nick

I have heard that the £80m loss last year was leading to these sort of constraints - none of which will really affect me however, for example I don't see that a plastic bag wrapped sleep suit matters all that much (EK does it in First IIRC).

Nor do I think it that apocalyptical - after all a lot has been added this year and we should consider things overall than small daily news items.

I wonder how they will decide how many blankets/amenity kits to load and will there be a specific amount for the return leg or just what's left? Although thinking about it most day flights outbound are night flights back ?| Or are they "kept" at all locations?

Be interetsing to see what happens when everyone on the flight asks for one and they can't supply them. I'll certainly be asking for my amenity kit on my next flight in a few weeks

I wonder how they will decide how many blankets/amenity kits to load and will there be a specific amount for the return leg or just what's left? Although thinking about it most day flights outbound are night flights back ?| Or are they "kept" at all locations?

They are loaded in the UK for out and back, but the return kits are in the hold on the outbound so they are separated. Reading the above, kits / blankets will be provided to all on returns / overnights.

They are loaded in the UK for out and back, but the return kits are in the hold on the outbound so they are separated. Reading the above, kits / blankets will be provided to all on returns / overnights.

I guessed they would have to be loaded for the return, still be interesting to see what happens when people ask on the day flight and they have ran out.

They'll have to change the web site to reflect you dont get amenity kits as part of the service as it currently states you do, although i would guess that will take months for the IT dept to sort out as currently they still refer to the old purple PE ones

..... i would guess that will take months for the IT dept to sort out as currently they still refer to the old purple PE ones

Just a quick OT word for the IT dept. It wouldn't be down to them, web content would be business user driven.

[buns]

Neil

Thanks for the info y) y) As least V Flyers will know what to expect in future and be prepared

I suspect the change in drinks service you experienced on your recent flights is not entirely unconnected
Nick

I agree with your sentiments entirely - it is not a surprise that VS are finding it tough in these harsh economic times - like you I feel for the Cabin Crew who are likely to bear the brunt of on-board customer feedback

buns

They have made it clear with their watering down of the Flying Club benefits and ridiculous fuel 'surcharges' that are not trying to encourage loyalty and repeat custom, so unfortunately - they will reap what they sow IMHO.

Nick

Nick - what do you mean? In the last year we've had reduced miles for upgrades changes (very useful) and also improved (albeit small improvements) rewards for Au's above 40 TPs as examples of FC changes. Do you mean availability for example?

I'm surprised they haven't introduced cuts to the clubhouse/ revivals offer but I suppose these only represent a small overall percentage of customers using them so the saving per head isn't as effective as cutting in-flight options.

God forbid it ever gets to the American Airlines experience where even as a business class lounge user you only get one free drink!

Can't say i'll miss the green mush amuse-bouche

Thanks for the info Neil.

All I can say is that I hope the Marketing team factor this in - if they are making these cutbacks, they need to manage customer expectations.

Death by a thousand cuts.

All fairly hilarious given the massive announcement of their "designer" new amenity kits only a matter of weeks back....
Hype up various new bits, especially these eyeshades etc oh and not forgetting the designer toothbrushes.....
Is it any wonder CC are likely getting p155ed off, can imagine the constant questioning that will be coming their way..
Can understand the want for cut backs, the handling of it however is embarrassing.

They have made it clear with their watering down of the Flying Club benefits and ridiculous fuel 'surcharges' that are not trying to encourage loyalty and repeat custom, so unfortunately - they will reap what they sow IMHO.

Nick

Nick - what do you mean? In the last year we've had reduced miles for upgrades changes (very useful) and also improved (albeit small improvements) rewards for Au's above 40 TPs as examples of FC changes. Do you mean availability for example?

I think that the amenity kits are useless anyway, and I generally avoid the blankets so it's no skin off my nose,but as other posters have said, there is going to be an issue with the blankets. Perhaps they could try increasing cabin baggage allowances for Y and PE to make room for pax to bring their own blankies.

Looks like I will be going back to Thomsons premium for my next trip to Mexico , especially since they will have the Dreamliner by then ,
No shortage of drinks , blankets or amenity kits with Thomsons plus a customer service team that actually offer customer service( don't get me started on the saga with virgin holidays so called ' customer support' this week)

Looks like I will be going back to Thomsons premium for my next trip to Mexico , especially since they will have the Dreamliner by then ,
No shortage of drinks , blankets or amenity kits with Thomsons plus a customer service team that actually offer customer service( don't get me started on the saga with virgin holidays so called ' customer support' this week)

But don't you pay for those drinks?
Must say VS do run the risk of losing yet more B&S pax by over promising and not delivering... Hate to think how much the likes if Thompsons have benefited from the shoddy planes and delays in refits... These bits although minor do hint at the way forward especially the sleath " drinks policy"..

Emirates also don't have blankets in economy on day flights. There will be about 50 blankets loaded for people who request them. On night flights blankets will still be provided on every seat.

Thomsons Premium includes free drinks, apart from champagne

I find all this really depressing. Been a VS customer since 1990 and everything that made Virgin different seems to be going. Tinkering around at the edges with the amenity packs and reducing drinks on board is not going to make the business model work any better. What made VS special to us was always the CC and the whole atmosphere on board was different from other airlines, notably BA. If they are really struggling they must go back to basics and do more of what works and less of what winds people up! They are not a budget airline, their prices are high just like the other main players. If i continue to choose VS and pay premium prices I expect a good service. What do BA do that's as good as or better than VS. VS must either match or exceed what is being offered by the competition. Letting the bean counters take over just drags VS down to the same level as the others. Sorry rant over.

Lets face it the day flight kit has been cut back over the years to the point where it is almost useless now. The only part of the night kit I use is the eye shades. Even the ear plugs disappeared some time ago. Virgin must really be feeling the pinch now.
Wonder how this will impact the change for children envelopes?

Very disappointing. The amenity kit and blanket was one of the things that made PE that bit more 'Premium'.

Out of interest, does BA offer a kit in WT+?

Looks like I will be going back to Thomsons premium for my next trip to Mexico , especially since they will have the Dreamliner by then ,
No shortage of drinks , blankets or amenity kits with Thomsons plus a customer service team that actually offer customer service( don't get me started on the saga with virgin holidays so called ' customer support' this week)

Blankets are not being removed from Premium.

[Neil]

Lets face it the day flight kit has been cut back over the years to the point where it is almost useless now. The only part of the night kit I use is the eye shades. Even the ear plugs disappeared some time ago. Virgin must really be feeling the pinch now.
Wonder how this will impact the change for children envelopes?

There are ear plugs in the current kits.

I have to say I find the kits a waste of time on day flights, with only the pen being any use. We never open or take them and I imagine we aren't the only ones.

being practical, I never use the amenity kits,they are next to useless. i always carry a couple of the UC black bags for my shoes ,a spare pair of socks and my own headphones. Never use a blanket on any flight let alone a day one so can see sense in that also.
the ice cream -again minor, but with the silly bits and pices ,like taking away the cheese and crackers and more importantly the PE/Ec share in the bubble, PE is becoming diminished by the trip

if it wasnt for the amex/rewards/miles which is still a pretty good scheme I might well be looking elsewhere. both my kids used US Air to visit recently and raved about them .They also both got pretty good upgrade offers at check in, which if you could guarantee getting every time would definitely make them worth a look.