Onboard Crew Bar

Took the new LHR-ATL flight recently in Upper Class and had a reasonably enjoyable flight. My one big gripe had to do with the crew, they weren't unfriendly by any means just more into chatting with each other than interacting with the passengers.

I was looking forward to using the bar on this daytime flight, but alas it seemed to be taken over by crew! The flight attendant serving my aisle spent about a good hour sitting on the barstool eating crisps and gossiping with other cabin crew. When I pressed the call button, he didn't even notice. Most passengers seemed to avoid the bar altogether, and the atmosphere wasn't very welcoming.

Since this is one of the highlights of Virgin's product that differentiates it from most other carriers it was a bit disappointment.

Had anyone else had this experience? It does seem like quite the #FirstWorldProblem ... Maybe I have just been spoiled by the Asian carriers over the past couple of years.

That shouldn't happen but alas there are some FSMs that let it. As with any airline sadly you do get some CC who can't be bothered but a good FSM should keep them in check. CC do, of course, get a break mid-flight but they shouldn't be taking it at the bar!

Did you have a word with the FSM? Or just go to the bar and ask for a drink? The CC probably would have retreated if you had. Use of the bar by passengers is very hit and miss - you can have some very sociable day flights where it's in more or less constant use and others where no-one uses it at all.

As gumshoe says don't be afraid to plonk yourself down at the bar as the cc will serve you and it's the prompt they need to make way sometimes.
It also needs that first person to set the ball rolling with other passengers ,a bit of a dance floor syndrome I guess

Whilst this doesn't excuse sitting at the bar eating crisps (definite no-no), the A330's were delivered without any dedicated Crewe rest area or bunks as on the A340/Boeing aircraft.

I guess this means crew have to be a bit creative over where they take a break.

I would definitely complain to VS about it though, and next time just Rock up to the bar and ask for a drink.

... next time just Rock up to the bar and ask for a drink.

I have often done just this with a: "Don't mind if I join you" which is invariably greeted with a smile and a warm welcome .... and the offer of a drink.

I agree with others that it needs someone to get the ball rolling, but once that is done, it seems to revert to its designated purpose for the benefit of customers.

Had a recent bad experience flying back from Cape Town. As soon as we boarded it was clear about 6 in UC were cabin crew who had been on some promotional business in CPT. Some were still crew and some ex and all guys.

Within seconds of seatbelt signs going off all 6 were there at bar and it was a little noisey. Fsm calmed them down a few times and when I wanted a drink I had to stretch through them to pick it up. Crew said I could go back to my seat and they could bring my drink over.

I think I fell asleep about 4 hours in and they were still all there sharing stories with crew onboard. At end of the day it was an inconvenience and a disappointment but nothing the crew or fsm could have done about it. Someone, somewhere was paying their fare and so they had just as much right as me to be there but it did sour it a little for me. Have seen the same before with a big group of businessmen hogging the bar to HKG for hours on end but knowing these were crew and ex crew made it a little more annoying.

Once again though at the end of the day they had paid their fare and so there by rights.

Had a recent bad experience flying back from Cape Town. As soon as we boarded it was clear about 6 in UC were cabin crew who had been on some promotional business in CPT. Some were still crew and some ex and all guys.

Within seconds of seatbelt signs going off all 6 were there at bar and it was a little noisey. Fsm calmed them down a few times and when I wanted a drink I had to stretch through them to pick it up. Crew said I could go back to my seat and they could bring my drink over.

I think I fell asleep about 4 hours in and they were still all there sharing stories with crew onboard. At end of the day it was an inconvenience and a disappointment but nothing the crew or fsm could have done about it. Someone, somewhere was paying their fare and so they had just as much right as me to be there but it did sour it a little for me. Have seen the same before with a big group of businessmen hogging the bar to HKG for hours on end but knowing these were crew and ex crew made it a little more annoying.

Once again though at the end of the day they had paid their fare and so there by rights.

As you say they are there by rights but anyone with any degree of common sense and manners should realise that other people may want to use the bar and leave the area after a while ,they can't come out with the excuse no one else was there so we stayed because really there isn't room just to hang about waiting for a stool to come free ,if no one else goes to the bar then they should feel free to go back but at least give others a chance

As you say they are there by rights but anyone with any degree of common sense and manners should realise that other people may want to use the bar and leave the area after a while ,they can't come out with the excuse no one else was there so we stayed because really there isn't room just to hang about waiting for a stool to come free ,if no one else goes to the bar then they should feel free to go back but at least give others a chance

Without trying to offend anyone, not sure I can achieve that on this post, I think we have all seen pax in UC that seem to lose manners and common sense. Its seems to me if someone else is paying the bill or not, some people do suffer with "DYKWIM" (no one on this forum of course ) and their mindset is that they have paid x and they will do what they damn well like.
I think the difference in this circumstance will be how the FSM deals with the situation. I have personally seen a party of three, move as soon as the seat belt light went on, drink, order and eat a meal there with no sign of moving. It was only the FSM, after another pax got her attention, asking the party of three when did they think they would be returning to their seat for "desert or for a movie" as their were other pax wants to use the bar. That got them to move.

Just my 2p...

Whenever I fly I always get mistaken for crew, always!
I'm quite personable and will chat drink and have a laugh with anyone but the vs crew always seen receptable to this and get really stuck in both at the bar and at my suite. It's as if we are all good friends!
My last flight I was greeted by "oh hello boys" upon boarding, as the crew member remembered us from a previous flight. On another flight they called my BF princess for the entire flight!! (They asked how to address us so I said I'm Darren this is princess, it stuck)
If I overheard this or the way I talk with the crew I wouldn't blame other pax for mistaking me from crew!


Obviously if the ppl at the bar are dressed in the Virgin Vivienne Westwood uniform they shouldn't be using the bar at the expense of paying pax
But if they are in normal clothes and having a laugh they might not be crew on a holiday, having a catch up with fellow employees.
Darren

I have been told previously that the VS rule / guidance is that if you are on any sort of staff travel deal or work related travel is that you should keep quiet and behave.

You would be expected to get what ever is left meal wise, to move seats if a normal passenger's is broken or IFE not working and to leave the bar if it is clear others want to use it.


Equally they are not supposed to use it as an extension of the galley and use it as an almost permanent staging area for cutlery, napkins etc

[mitchja]

You would be expected to get what ever is left meal wise, to move seats if a normal passenger's is broken or IFE not working and to leave the bar if it is clear others want to use it

That's certinly what happened to me a few years ago flying to JFK. My IFE screen was broken in J so Steve Ridgeway kindly swapped seats with me

Just my 2p...

Whenever I fly I always get mistaken for crew, always!
I'm quite personable and will chat drink and have a laugh with anyone but the vs crew always seen receptable to this and get really stuck in both at the bar and at my suite. It's as if we are all good friends!
My last flight I was greeted by "oh hello boys" upon boarding, as the crew member remembered us from a previous flight. On another flight they called my BF princess for the entire flight!! (They asked how to address us so I said I'm Darren this is princess, it stuck)
If I overheard this or the way I talk with the crew I wouldn't blame other pax for mistaking me from crew!


Obviously if the ppl at the bar are dressed in the Virgin Vivienne Westwood uniform they shouldn't be using the bar at the expense of paying pax
But if they are in normal clothes and having a laugh they might not be crew on a holiday, having a catch up with fellow employees.
Darren

As I said Darren, they had a right to be there. No Virgin clothing but by conversations it was clear they were a mix of current an ex crew. The point was it just irked a little more ! I believe an Ad Agency or likewise was footing the bill. As others have said though, nobody should hog bar... Even a God like Gold card holder !

I agree, no one should hog the bar!

[honey lamb]

I have been told previously that the VS rule / guidance is that if you are on any sort of staff travel deal or work related travel is that you should keep quiet and behave.

You would be expected to get what ever is left meal wise, to move seats if a normal passenger's is broken or IFE not working and to leave the bar if it is clear others want to use it.

It's the guidance, not only for crew and staff but also for anyone travelling as family or friends with most airlines. I have those instructions courtesy of Aer John's employment with EI.

My experience has been that any time I have flown with crew on board in UC, I have only been aware of their presence because they themselves have introduced themselves to me on learning I was Au or because I was told at check-in when querying about loads.

The converse side is that on occasion I have flown with cabin crew on more than one flight and they have recognised me and spent a few extra moments with me. One example comes to mind was when I flew on successive flights to BOS, NRT and JNB (albeit with a few months' gap between flights) and the same cabin crew was on board. On the JNB flight she was in PE but had seen my name on the manifest and had come by to say Hello. Other passengers would have forgiven for thinking I was staff on that occasion - and if anyone thinks it was someone many of us know, I haven't seen that particular cabin crew since then!

I sympathise with the OP. This seems to be one of the things that is very very variable depending on crew. Which is really another way of saying that VS hasn't got it quite right.

The bar is supposed to be a selling point of UC, but I would say that more often than not on my flights I haven't used it because either a) it's being used by the crew to arrange things b) it's completely deserted with no one to serve you or c) it's full of people who just park themselves there. All of those scenarios can be eliminated by a good FSM.

It's a shame, because it can be a really good experience and add a lot to a long flight, and you can have great conversations with the crew.

@at240

a) I completely agree.
b) I don't think it's reasonable to expect a CC member to staff the bar permanently. They're down to half strength once they start going on breaks, and those remaining do have other duties so having someone just standing there doing nothing in case someone turns up is a waste of resources. From my experience a CC will usually show up if you plonk yourself down on a stool, and if not I just ask in the galley.
c) Hmmm, contentious issue: I see your point that it can be frustrating if a group hogs the bar, but on the other hand it's there to be used and like any bar if it's full it's full. Good CC should move people on if they're annoying others but if a couple just want to sit there quietly enjoying a drink and a chat I don't see a problem with that. They've just as much right to be there as anyone.

Gumshoe

Hmm, on b) I disagree, really. The bar should be proactively monitored - surely it isn't good enough that someone will 'usually' show up. I've been on flights where they've just turned the lights off at the bar and disappeared! And if you get one of those crews which vanish mid-flight, you're just out of luck.

On c) I just really meant that a good crew will gently ensure that unreasonable hogging (I.e. 8 hours!) is prevented, as described upthread.

In my experience a) is the most frequent, exacerbated by the cramped A333 which leaves the crew with so little working space.

i can only remember seeing serious bar hogging once, it was the first time OH had been in UC and i was keeping an eye open, but the hours passed and a group who seemed to be travelling together were stuck to it like limpets

when they finally staggered to their seats we made our move only for turbulence to be announced and had to return to our seats before we'd had our first drink!

have to admire their timing i suppose

Once (JNB-LHR, a year or ago; must have been an A340, I think) I was told to return to my seat because "the bar wasn't ready." Except that it was; it was just occupied by the crew.

I duly returned to my seat, and went back to the bar a bit later (by that time the bar was completely empty), and was made to feel very unwelcome by a crew member who eventually turned up to serve me, "we can serve you at your seat, you know."

To be fair, that one time was the only time I've experienced that.

Last time at UC bar was disappointed with the other pax in UC, on a day flight to Las Vegas everybody wanted to sleep. Crew were happy to let friends in PE to join us for a few hours at the bar and joined in with the banter. They did say they would have to move the interlopers back upstairs if anyone woke up and wanted to drink at the bar, but nobody did! Would be happy if non working Crew were at the bar, sure it would be a good laugh!

Would be happy if non working Crew were at the bar, sure it would be a good laugh!

Agreed. Absolutely no objection to the crew sitting there, but my one experience where I have seen the crew at the bar was that they also didn't want any pax there.

In the bar have you ever poured your own drink if no cc is there? I haven't but not sure of the rule.

In the bar have you ever poured your own drink if no cc is there? I haven't but not sure of the rule.

I haven't, no. I'm fairly sure that is a firm no-no in the rule book. That aside, I guess I wouldn't help myself to a drink in a pub, should I turn up and there be nobody immediately available to serve me.

I suppose if nobody turned up for a long time, I'd just go to a different pub, which I appreciate one can't do on the flight, as there's only one UC bar!

I have watched a few people help themselves to drinks at the bar before and get 'caught' doing so. In those instances, the response from the cc has been variable: sometimes they don't care, sometimes they've read the pax the riot act!

Yeah, I figured so, too. Was reading about it on another forum. interesting .