Today's Outrage from the Daily M**l

Story here.

I don't suppose the more accurate headline 'VS apologises for..' would permit the same level of smug outrage at Branson / Branston / Bransom.

Funny how G4S seem to have escaped much censure in the article. Wonder why that is?

It has generated a series of outraged posters on the VS Facebook page too - I'll never fly with you again etc and demanding VS apologises (which it has - but they obviously didn't get down to that part of the article)

Yet the DM article that is about how G4S and VS disrespected the Petty Officer are quite happy to refer to her as 'a girl'...

However the Petty Officer's father apparently posted on FB on Tuesday and was very moderate in his posting. Just shows how the culture of "outraged on behalf of someone we don't know" has expanded in the UK !

It's all a bit much isn't it? Don't get me wrong I'm not saying it wasn't wrong, but the level of outrage is amazing. And I suspect that most of those threatening to never fly with VS again never have to begin with.

Absolute disgrace!
Virgin management need to sort out who was responsible for going against their, supposed, company policy and make sure it never happens again.
If I had been a witness to this I could not have stood by without also being asked to leave the aircraft.
I have admired the way that the American public support their service personnel, on many occasions I have seen them pay for coffee etc whilst in the line at Starbucks.

Take this story with a pinch of salt to be honest, it's just a shame so many believe what they read in that paper.

I'm not denying the situation happened, but I'm sure once you've taken away the DM's artistic flare what you're left with is decidedly less outrageous. (Just look at the Emirates story compared to what was reported by the aviation press).

[Pete]

As Nikolic says, I imagine the truth is a lot less fanciful than the Daily Mail spin (or the appalling bad Sun re-hash). Sure G4S are known for putting their foot squarely in their mouths, but let's face it this is just one jobsworth not fully understanding the rules, and the Virgin rep taking his word for it. Apparently certain countries don't allow military staff to be wearing uniform on arrival, so the Daily Mail aren't really telling the whole story.

One has to question the woman's motives for wearing the uniform on her return trip anyway. The 'tinternet's best theory is that she was trying to blag an upgrade, but her strategy backfired a bit.

I am serving member of the Armed Forces and I agree with Pete above - it is very unusual indeed to turn up to T3 LHR to board a civilian international flight in full uniform, to the point of non-existence. So, I agree with the above, what indeed was her motivation for being so attired?

[Darren Wheeler]

A quick run through the UK military forums (run by and for squaddies etc.) shows that her fellow personnel under arms are not impress one bit with her conduct. I won't post links as much of the language directed to her is somewhat 'salty'.

Apparently certain countries don't allow military staff to be wearing uniform on arrival, so the Daily Mail aren't really telling the whole story.

There are some Caribbean countries that VS flies to where it is illegal for civilians to wear camouflage clothing.

And these are not like some daft US State laws (women not allowed to use a parachute on a Sunday) but actively enforced laws.

As Darren says the comments on the military board are certainly not fit for family viewing and the Petty Officer appears to have upset a fair few of her colleagues with her own behaviour.

[Darren Wheeler]

For those not in the know, a Petty Office is the equivalent of a sergeant.

Ultimately this was a mistake made on one day, with one person, buy one VS employee. How many other service personnel travel with VS every day in and out of uniform without any issues?

I can see someone being recalled from an overseas posting to explain to their CO how this turned into a media circus.

Perhaps I can help a bit...

As my name suggests, I am very familiar with procedures at Heathrow. Armed forces are treated well and I believe that they also get extra luggage allowance. While I have seen a few uniformed forces in my time, reading the article makes it clear that security people were to blame, who in turn misinformed ground staff.

We at Heathrow get thousands of uniformed every year and don't have issues with what they wear. In fact, they can come in their full kit if they want and enjoy it even more when they go through security.

But it is yet another vague and sensational newspaper article. Don't they know that nobody cares? To be honest, Virgin have covered the papers in adverts anyway, so damaging the brand is not going to work.

There was another article recently saying that VS recruiters are racist, giving interviews to people with English names...well, why doesn't the writer come along to Heathrow and try to spot the English person...it'll take him a while!

Even if it wasn't about Virgin, I am fed up with all the articles...

X airline loses my granny
X airways strangles my cat
X airlines steals my diamonds
X air sold my children
X airways stuck their tongue out
X airlines gave me a slightly tepid towel

I suggest the newspapers go back to destabilising the government, they seem to be good at that!

I'm not sure I agree with a lot of what you wrote, I'm afraid, VSGS.

Whilst it is almost certainly the case that VS have suffered at the hands of someone who in all likelihood doesn't even work for them, perception in these things is everything, and I think that they have suffered very real brand damage over this. Unfairly? Yes. But they really haven't done much to deal with this storm.

I work in the same industry. I can tell you for a certain thing that we would have had our commercial and PR teams on red alert for this - VS would very likely have known this article was coming, and should have prepared. In fact, a relative of the soldier in question posted this on Facebook about a week ago, and had a typically offhand response! We would have done double backflips to make sure that we came out of this in a good(ish) light.

At the very least, I would have expected a full and gushing apology and message of support for the armed forces from SRB; a significant donation to someone like Help for Heroes; and a very nice gesture to the passenger concerned - perhaps a free trip somewhere, where SRB could meet her in uniform, perhaps even wearing one himself, let's face it, he does like dressing up - and having made a point of doing that sort of thing, the fact he is low key on this suggests that he doesn't really care. I would also suggest that VS express, very publicly, their thoughts to the contractor (G4S) about the behaviour of their employee.

Sadly, this is just another part of the jigsaw that so many of us are putting together - a real falling off in even caring what their passengers think, especially the more frequent customers. Interesting to read Simon Lloyd (VS' Marketing Director) three days back, where he admitted that the majority of VS effort was focused on 'The majority of people [who] will only fly with us once or twice a year"... that confirms what I thought from experience!

Just stop buying the DAILY M**L and don't give that news paper space on this Forum

Just stop buying the DAILY M**L and don't give that news paper space on this Forum

Ditto (and that's the only comment I'll make on this sorry story).

Have to agree with Sarastro. I generally find the G4S staff condescending, I am fed up with being looked up and asked for my ticket as if I am some sort of idiot who doesn't know what queue I should be in. As for the incident surely once you start forcing a passenger into a sleep suit especially someone who is proudly wearing her countries uniform this should have been escalated to senior ground staff management level and they should have known the policy.

As for the Daily Mail don't read it I don't, but you can't blame te Daily Mail for what was a terrible example of how not to treat a customer.

Just stop buying the DAILY M**L and don't give that news paper space on this Forum

:0 To suggest I purchased that tawdry rag is an outrageous libel and I shall be looking for appropriate apologies, redress and a number of media appearances to express my private disappointment that this once great forum has sunk so, so, low.

It was the woman in front of me at the checkout in Tesco who had the paper open at that page. And yes, it did make me feel grubby.

Well I just dipped into the VS FB page for my regular spot of fun and see it's been hijacked ... oh the wonders of outraged middle England, quite spoiled my fun with their repetitive boredom.

Well I just dipped into the VS FB page for my regular spot of fun and see it's been hijacked ... oh the wonders of outraged middle England, quite spoiled my fun with their repetitive boredom.

And it is clear may haven't read the full article - demanding public apologies from VS which if they had read the full piece they would see that VS have done exactly that.

Ans as hapless as Greg and Howard often are I do feel a little bit sorry for them for tomorrow morning but it also shows that VS needs to be looking at the FB page 24/7 and responding quickly and accurately when issues like this come up. All it would take is a standard response written by a senior manager that could be attached to each post clearly outlining that VS have apologised etc etc

[Darren Wheeler]

Sudden outbreak of sickness tomorrow at Crawley Towers...

Job of responding upwardly cascaded to Kyle.

To PJH sorry for the suggestion that you purchased tha so called news paper please don't take me to court

And yet I bet you all consume the bile and drivel on other newspapers like the Guardian and the non Independent.
There is no newspaper or news show on the tv today which is worth reading tbh, with less and less buying the papers, with more photos being taken by camera phones, press is no longer the job to be in, hence they spend most of their time with the rubbish of the industry taking their headlines from articles on Facebook and Twitter.
don't have a go at one paper without looking at the whole shoddy industry.

And yet I bet you all consume the bile and drivel on other newspapers like the Guardian and the non Independent.
There is no newspaper or news show on the tv today which is worth reading tbh,

With respect, I really don't think that is a sustainable argument. The Guardian has in recent years battled super-injunctions and phone-hacking; the Telegraph exposed the MP expenses scandal. Even the Times, which is a shadow of its former self, still has good commentary and leading articles. The Financial Times is consistently first-rate in its coverage -- its weekend edition is the most interesting paper you can buy on a Saturday, in my opinion.

On TV the Channel 4 News is good. Newsnight, despite its problems, is excellent for in-depth coverage, particularly of international stories. On radio 4 you have excellent political coverage on Today and PM.

All of the above is serious journalism of a high standard in media that are variously predicted to be dead or dying. It might require a bit more concentration than pictures of the Kardashians and diatribes against the BBC, but that's kind of the point.

I know I am off topic! I apologise!

What at240 said!

And yet I bet you all consume the bile and drivel on other newspapers like the Guardian and the non Independent.
There is no newspaper or news show on the tv today which is worth reading tbh, with less and less buying the papers, with more photos being taken by camera phones, press is no longer the job to be in, hence they spend most of their time with the rubbish of the industry taking their headlines from articles on Facebook and Twitter.
don't have a go at one paper without looking at the whole shoddy industry.

But where are the camera phone pics of this incident? You'd expect a couple at least.

Where are the statements of other pax who no doubt witnessed the events?

And I've seen several news bulletins over the weekend but neither BBC nor SKY have picked this story up which, to me, indicates that this is a non-story blown out of all proportion.

All of the above is serious journalism of a high standard in media that are variously predicted to be dead or dying. It might require a bit more concentration than pictures of the Kardashians and diatribes against the BBC, but that's kind of the point.

Ha ha ha ha, ok I said to myself I wouldn't comment on this thread knowing I would compare the DM to a brand of toilet paper that is surprisingly soft on the buttocks, but at240 you deserve props for that y) y)

On the issue, I am with the VS staff actually. Sounds like they reacted the best they could with information they had.... they did not kick her off the plane or reportedly harass or make fun of her, rather giving her something else to change into. Those sleep suits are about as comfortable as military fatigues so no real win there

VS corporate acknowledged the miscommunication and issued an apology. No one is perfect.. not even the Daily Mail 8D