A tale of two flights...

) and my favourite "why not get married in Lagos, we have loads of miles seats on that route". Hmmmm.

serioulsy ?? :0 you should have said 'oh ok why dont you come as best man/maid of honour'................that has to be stupidest suggestion of the year

) and my favourite "why not get married in Lagos, we have loads of miles seats on that route". Hmmmm.

serioulsy ?? :0 you should have said 'oh ok why dont you come as best man/maid of honour'................that has to be stupidest suggestion of the year

I have to admit that I wasn't listening in at the time, but perhaps it was said in a light hearted, somewhat jocular, manner?

You would think so, really, pjh. I actually laughed, and the agent told me that I had to be flexible with award seats.... Agreed. But THAT flexible? What's next, out to LA and back from Tokyo?

Sarastro --- congratulations on your forthcoming marriage in April, VS however have missed a trick, with the internal flights commencing in MARCH from Manchester and Aberdeen, I'm sure they could have suggested you look at Gretna Green!!!!

You would think so, really, pjh. I actually laughed, and the agent told me that I had to be flexible with award seats.... Agreed. But THAT flexible? What's next, out to LA and back from Tokyo?

C'mon, live a little

LOL, thanks IH!

You assume they'll have any mileage seats on them?

It really does horrify me the way this company has gone, and continues to go. I really hope it turns around soon; as a minimum, I'd like to see consistent service standards (and whilst there will always be variations depending on who you speak to, or who serves you etc, surely it is not beyond the wit of man to develop proper procedures? I have been told so many different reasons why the seats I need aren't available, and so many different dates when I should re-try, and so many different other things - just have a straight answer, guys, and stick to it!

I'd like to see more status recognition. Right now, if you're flying UC (and I would imagine that's how most Golds get Gold!), what does Gold actually do for you, apart from priority on the wait list, and more FC miles? I can't remember the last time I was even greeted by name on board. A small and petty thing perhaps, but it suggests something has changed.

I'd like to see a more honest FFP. Again, if you fly UC, what real use is a companion ticket, given that there are so many capacity restraints? We don't even get advance warning of seats being released.

I apologise - I suspect I'm preaching to the converted....

After reading this thread and other recent comments on the newUCDS which is now on the DXB route I have decided to book myself and my daughter with BA CW I don't know if it is half term but VS wanted £3.1K per person compared to £1670 for my daughter and as I am starting in ALC and meeting my daughter at LHR I am CE/CW for £1300 so that's the pair of us for less than one VS ticket

After reading this thread and other recent comments on the newUCDS which is now on the DXB route I have decided to book myself and my daughter with BA CW I don't know if it is half term but VS wanted £3.1K per person compared to £1670 for my daughter and as I am starting in ALC and meeting my daughter at LHR I am CE/CW for £1300 so that's the pair of us for less than one VS ticket

Sounds like a no brainier..good to be able to take advantage of BA's overcapacity.

Dubai is one of the few routes where good bargains are quite easy to come by.

Not necessarily with VS as they only fly there once a day but BA have 3 daily flights and Emirates have multiple flights from all over the UK.

Far too much capacity equals cheap(ish) deals.

I think it's a great shame that you won't be passing on your comments - VS can and does take note. Equally, we should pass on comment where things are good.

I agree with Slinky that it is a shame that you feel no point in reporting it to VS, it would be interesting to here the response. (hopefully better than the response I got about a crew member swearing - "I can't see what your problem is" was said during the phone call from the head of CS)

I'd like to see a more honest FFP. Again, if you fly UC, what real use is a companion ticket, given that there are so many capacity restraints? We don't even get advance warning of seats being released.

While there's much I can agree with you about I do believe FC is pretty damn good. Yes there are comparisons with other airlines where it can be considered worse but other areas where it's better - and I don't find it too difficult to redeem miles. As to what honest means, I don't know ... the rules are put out there for all to see, there's no mystery.

Much of my experiences are similar to those identified. My business is shifting towards BA (something I never thought i'd say) and most probably, no-one even noticed I'd gone from Gold to Silver and soon to be red. If I was running a business,I'd be asking questions as to why! It sounds like there will be a fair few in a similar situation.

Much of my experiences are similar to those identified. My business is shifting towards BA (something I never thought i'd say) and most probably, no-one even noticed I'd gone from Gold to Silver and soon to be red. If I was running a business,I'd be asking questions as to why! It sounds like there will be a fair few in a similar situation.

Jamie I am in exactly the same position. This will be my first BA flight since 1991. Even last night booking to DXB my first visit is to the VS site and then try and fix connection around VS which usually involves other UK airports car hire etc just to fly VS. But the more I look at alternative airlines especially one word alliance flights as I nearly always start in Spain I realise how VS lack of European connections really hurts them. Also the product and service levels would appear to have levelled off added to which they offer the family executive club card it looks like Cancun in March may be my last VS flight for some time.

Hi Slinky - perhaps 'dishonest' was a little emotive. What I really meant was, I wish they would stop trumpeting the benefits of the Flying Club when so many of them are pretty pointless. Case in point is the companion ticket - in all honesty, for someone who flies Upper, are they any use? My boss can afford to buy me J class tickets, I live in Z - and when I am travelling for my boss, the future Mrs S is unlikely to want to come - what would she do, wait for me whilst I work?

It may be more value to folks who don't fly Upper, but for Upper passengers?

Also the upgrades - why can only the most expensive tickets be upgraded? I'm Emirates Gold Card as well, and I can upgrade pretty much any ticket - they just charge me more miles for the cheaper tickets.

I know all this was in the rules - but then the rules also call the scheme a 'seriously rewarding loyalty programme', which I have real issues with

[preiffer]

But they *do* now give 100TP+ people a free return one-cabin upgrade for two, to be used against any flight you book

So there are at least a few more tangible "perks" creeping in these days...

Judging by the last few days, flying VS means you're far less likely to be forced to spend the night on the airport floor.

BA service might be consistent when things are running normally, but it seems when things go wrong their notion of customer service suddenly disappears.

Judging by the last few days, flying VS means you're far less likely to be forced to spend the night on the airport floor.

BA service might be consistent when things are running normally, but it seems when things go wrong their notion of customer service suddenly disappears.

Maybe, maybe not - don't we have to examine the numbers involved?

Relative number of flights, associated aircraft positioning issues, (economic) staff to passenger ratios?

As with all aspects, a smaller company generally means more personal service and better staff/client ratio...

Well, I got a response. I finally complained.

Guess what?

"We are sorry that your experience was not up to our usual standards, but we look forward to welcoming you onboard soon".

This company really does not give a damn any more.

"We are sorry that your experience was not up to our usual standards, but we look forward to welcoming you onboard soon".

Is that it?? No feedback as to an investigation/enquiry, no offer of some miles to help your decision to travel with them again???

How bizarre.... if you are feeling puckish send a follow up saying something along the lines of their response is inadequate to satisfy your complaint and see what happens ):

Tut tut tut VS v(

To be honest, I have now had enough, Joeyc. I'm just trying to burn off my remaining 250k miles, and all my future travel is booked on BA and EK. I'm in Joburg now, and didn't get here on Virgin...

Ah well. Virgin was fun while it lasted. I'll go back to lurking on this page, and hope that Virgin gets its thang back

Good luck all!

Customer service used to be one of the things that set VS apart, where you felt valued as an individual, however fleetingly.

I often used to hear the phrase (customer service is something Branson understands"....not any more, or he is now so distant from the day to day that it no longer filters through.

"...it was fun while it lasted..." is kind of how I feel too - shame indeed.