I lost my VIRGINity today.

I've always be a bit hesitant posting to forums as stuff can be misunderstood (or badly put in my case) but our experience seemed relevant to the topic.

Your views are welcome, I was posing a question not trying to put you off, sorry.

May I ask why people are willing to put their trips off by several days rather than accept a downgrade to PE (with partial refund/miles/flight voucher). Statements like "PE is not a option" perplex me.

Things happen, it's only a few hours in a metal tube. The folk who turn right don't bite.

For me it's a question of comfort. I am 6ft 6" and have bad knees. I can't sit that long in restricted leg room. Plus I have worked bloody hard all my life so I don't want to be sat cramped up in PE or Economy not because I'm a snob but because I make other sacrifices so I can travel in business class. I was considering booking Grenada but as this is showing an A330 I will book BA and not risk his happening to me. It is not snobbery to be bitterly disappointed when you have be let down in such an appalling manner which ever airline it is.

Marshy, I feel so sorry for you and completely empathise. Like you, my family look forward to our annual trip to the sun with huge anticipation and always book (months and months in advance) UC or BA CW to get there and back. I would be incandescent if I had been treated like this by VA. Just as an aside - BA do operate a Twilight checkin at LGW, but in answer to the other post suggesting a possible Op upgrade to First - for the info of anyone thinking of using BA - apart from BGI, their services to the Caribbean don't have a F cabin. Lastly - don't get too excited by the prospect of BA CW. I have flown with them a number of times on holiday flights and I'm afraid I feel they tend to treat it a bit like an upmarket charter. Food and drinks get dished out promptly, then they turn all the lights out, pull down the blinds, put the cabin temp up and hope everyone goes to sleep, while the crew disappear - prob to help in the Y cabin. It makes you feel a bit like a budgie being put to bed at night - not really what you want on a day flight on your holiday!

If you think your flying to Barbados today in upper class, your not only 2 class A330 again, looks like BA club world is going to be full.

If you think your flying to Barbados today in upper class, your not only 2 class A330 again, looks like BA club world is going to be full.

How do you know that Ken? Is there somewhere where you can find this info out?

In the TOOLBOX on the top of the page under STATUS UPDATES

If you think your flying to Barbados today in upper class, your not only 2 class A330 again, looks like BA club world is going to be full.

How do you know that Ken? Is there somewhere where you can find this info out?

Today's flight operating as two class was already a known issue as jlucoili mentioned earlier in this same thread. He was booked on today's flight and opted to switch to Friday owing to the issue.

Well we arrived and have had a full nights sleep.

The flight with BA was exceptional if full including First Class so no op up but we didn't notice a lack of anything. Food, drinks, comfort and staff were superb.

There was a sun tours lady waiting as we emerged from BGI holding our name on a board so credit where it's due, And the waiting air conditioned cab took us to our hotel.

Surprisingly(?) the hotel were NOT expecting us!

However, can I say that I felt well taken care of and in the capable and professional hands of the staff.

No panic, no stress believe it or not because they sorted it quickly. Not sure what the mess up was down to but hotel say Virgin had us here on different dates!

The poorly plane is still sat at BGI and there is no UC on outward or return flights today (as we knew).

BA are full until Friday from LGW but I don't know the situation re the return leg.

I just hope that VS have got their act together and told the affected passengers ahead of time, but more importantly that they give a clear explanation, options and support.

Will post a TR on both in due course.

To whomever said - its just a metal tube - it is down to choice. I made mine and I made it for various reasons, as I am sure you made yours. But my holiday is about enjoyment from the moment I lock my front door.

Fingers crossed the tarmac here at BGI is cleared of VS debris.

Today's flight operating as two class was already a known issue as jlucoili mentioned earlier in this same thread. He was booked on today's flight and opted to switch to Friday owing to the issue.

I know - It just sounded as though Ken was getting up to date todays information from somewhere so I wanted to check where that info was coming from so that I could "self serve" rather than keep asking people whether they know the latest.

To whomever said - its just a metal tube - it is down to choice. I made mine and I made it for various reasons, as I am sure you made yours. But my holiday is about enjoyment from the moment I lock my front door.

me too! Hope you have a great holiday and that everything gets resolved soon.
Look forward to your TR for your return journey.

Marshy, I'm with you all the way. I can and do stay in Travellodges and Premier Inns and fly Easyjet occasionally, but would not do so on our annual summer break. We always push the boat out - it's purely a matter of choice and I happen to think it is worth paying the extra. Enjoy BGI! We're off to MBJ at the end of the month! yo!,

It might be a metal tube but it also what's inside the tube !

I will only fly upper class, nothing to do with who I sit with its just a product I like and an experience that pleases me as an individual. Hope the OPs experience proves to be a good one.

What happened to the plane at BGI anyway.

Well it's let me complete online check in for tomorrow's flight in UC so I'm taking that as a good sign.

Got seq 3 & 4 too which was nice coupled with my seq 1 & 2 for today's little red flight.

Have a good one 405 : )

I feel the same if you booked steak you dont want a slice of ham. ): So i would be stamping mad, if i had booked my holiday with all the trimmings, and it was only 25% complete. :0 Fight on for your compo. It was not your fault.

Well it's let me complete online check in for tomorrow's flight in UC so I'm taking that as a good sign.

Got seq 3 & 4 too which was nice coupled with my seq 1 & 2 for today's little red flight.

I'm pleased to hear this! We're unable to do OLCI because of our connecting flight from Cork so we can't see whether the UC cabin is there or not. We'll have to check in at LGW tonight or in the morning.

Just arrived at heathrow so will be getting the national express over to gatwick and then doing twiglight check in. Will make sure everything is back on track when at check in desk and then let you know.

Everything back on track. Checked in and 3 class aircraft is functional.

Everything back on track. Checked in and 3 class aircraft is functional.

Thanks for reporting back
Hope you have a good flight

Well jlucioli i saw the flight arrive over Barbados today as I took my mid afternoon dip, so hope you had a pleasant, if a little delayed, flight. y)

Well jlucioli i saw the flight arrive over Barbados today as I took my mid afternoon dip, so hope you had a pleasant, if a little delayed, flight. y)

Thanks marshy11, it was a very pleasant flight after all. We're by the pool ourselves now! I spoke to the crew about the delay - apparently a problem with the landing gear so they had to fly it to Miami to get it fixed.

How did they land at MIA?

Interestingly on another forum someone started a thread asking I'd vs or BA were better. Last time I checked, every single poster voted for BA.
Interesting again that the vs service seems to be rapidly declining.

[Darren Wheeler]

Interestingly on another forum someone started a thread asking I'd vs or BA were better. Last time I checked, every single poster voted for BA.
Interesting again that the vs service seems to be rapidly declining.

The stats from trip reports don't seem to support that.

the-toolbox/flyer-ratings

Interestingly on another forum someone started a thread asking I'd vs or BA were better. Last time I checked, every single poster voted for BA.
Interesting again that the vs service seems to be rapidly declining.

I don't think VS service is declining, well little bits now and then, but is remaining steady. Where as BA are vastly improving on customer service, something that has apparently been lacking in the past few years.

Now, has BA overtaken VS, or will it? (If I am unfair and compare BA F with VS J, BA is vastly better! But I haven't flown CW so cant compare there.)

Massive problem is personal preference, the service style of each airline is vastly different!