2 IFBTs!

[preiffer]

I remember one of the IFBT's from a while back, telling me that they were thinking of trying new tricks to resolve the "sorry, it's a full flight and I didn't get round to you" problem in J - and I think I witnessed the result today.

VS19 - We had 2 IFBT's working. I didn't see any priority cards handed out at the end (although that doesn't necessarily mean they weren't) and for a pretty full flight, everyone around me seemed to get their treatment.

A sign of things to come? A trial? Positioning flight for a "spare" IFBT?


Either way, for today... [y]



(By the way - confirmation of announcement on electronics - "ALL mobile phones, INCLUDING those with a flight safe mode must remain switched off until the aircraft doors reopen at San Francisco". They also made a specific (additional?) announcement about wireless devices and laptops...)

I'm not quite sure what you are saying, there were two inflight beauty stations on board your plane?

[ChuckC]

That's cool, Paul. By the time I get on VS4 in a few weeks I'm going to need at least one and perhaps 2 neck rubs! And then there's the return flight ...

Hope you have a productive trip.

Chuck-

[preiffer]

Originally posted by VS-EWR
I'm not quite sure what you are saying, there were two inflight beauty stations on board your plane?

Yes Nick, that's what I said.

Originally posted by preiffer
Yes Nick, that's what I said.

Where was the 2nd station then?
I interpreted it as 2 IFBTs working together - e.g. 1 takes a break while the other treats the next customer...??

Cheers

Michael

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by mcuth

Originally posted by preiffer
Yes Nick, that's what I said.

Where was the 2nd station then?
I interpreted it as 2 IFBTs working together - e.g. 1 takes a break while the other treats the next customer...??

Cheers

Michael

I think there is a french word that sums up what two IFBTs and a client could do! (Bad Boy mcmbenjamin)

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
I think there is a french word that sums up what two IFBTs and a client could do! (Bad Boy mcmbenjamin)

3 words, but you're too young to know them :D:D

Cheers

Michael

[preiffer]

Umm... I didn't ask for any of that.

In terms of how they were working, there seemed to be some of the "break cover" thing going on, but it seemed to allow one to do at-seat treatments (hands etc) while the other did the massage at the station.

There were 2 IFBT's on the last two UCS flights I have been on. But on both occasions, on chatting to the crew however, it turned out to be a check flight with the senior IFBT checking out the junior.

Certainly would be good for the customer if they had two on board.

Graham

This was certainly the case on my last flight -- one senior plus one new recruit with an element of training.

BC

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by BlackCat
This was certainly the case on my last flight -- one senior plus one new recruit with an element of training.

ISTR there was a big push on recruiting new IFBT a few months back, so woul that fit in with the recruitment and training schedule to start work around now. Which may explain this sudden surge, particularly if they are are senior with newbie.

(By the way - confirmation of announcement on electronics - "ALL mobile phones, INCLUDING those with a flight safe mode must remain switched off until the aircraft doors reopen at San Francisco". They also made a specific (additional?) announcement about wireless devices and laptops...)

I still don't understand on our recent internal United / Ted flights iPods, music players etc all had to be switched off for take-off / landing and taxi until doors opened. But while taxing mobile phones were fine and dandy.

Mat xxx

[Decker]

I am no expert on this but a recently suggested model makes perfect sense.

All cabin announcements will have to be approved by the regulatory bodies.
All changes to these announcements will also need to be approved.Approval costs money.Change will be driven by demand.

So on US internals where there are large quantities of business people travelling who absolutely need to make that call 15 minutes earlier or later [:w] there will have been pressure for the airlines to change their announcements. On transatlantic flights with VS the Cost Benefit Analysis has not yet proven it worthwhile to pay the extra. In the meantime rules are rules and must be applied otherwise an airline would risk losing their license. There is no real latitude here.

This seems like a straightforward model.

I am wary about posting this next message as I do not wish to open a can of worms, and please this is not a critism just an observations. On the flights I have taken that have an IFBT onboard I have noticed that they do not do a high number of 'jobs'. They seem to break frequently. Is this because of the type of work they are doing and previous law suits against VS? Is there a recommended number of 'jobs' they should do in a flight.

It seem too obvious to me, but if 1 IFBT did twice the 'jobs' which seems to be possible on timings alone then they wouldn't need to pay for a second IFBT.

Please again, this is not a criticism about 'lack of work' by VS IFBTs.

Paul

[Decker]

There are Health and Safety constraints on how many treatments can be given to protect the IFBT from RSI and related problems. In an ideal world everybody would ask for "hot hands" but the IFBT would then probably get bored!

[ChuckC]

Originally posted by p17blo
... On the flights I have taken that have an IFBT onboard I have noticed that they do not do a high number of 'jobs'. They seem to break frequently. Is this because of the type of work they are doing and previous law suits against VS? Is there a recommended number of 'jobs' they should do in a flight ...

Paul

Paul,
Given the well-publicized action by a IFBT who allegedly suffered work-related damage to her hands and arms I would not be surprised to learn that VS has told its IFBT staff to take more frequent breaks if needed. Am just remembering this as I write, but on my last flight the IFBT apologized for not getting around to me and IIRC added that performing too many treatments caused her hands to hurt.

Chuck-

I wonder if VS ever followed up on Fozzyo's "handless" treatment suggestion? To me it sounded like a good way to avoid RSI, and I can vouch for it being a very effective way to be massaged.

Originally posted by sailor99
I wonder if VS ever followed up on Fozzyo's "handless" treatment suggestion? To me it sounded like a good way to avoid RSI, and I can vouch for it being a very effective way to be massaged.

I am extremely intrigued, but don't spoil my thoughts by posting a link to a previous message.......[:I]

Paul

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by sailor99
I wonder if VS ever followed up on Fozzyo's "handless" treatment suggestion? To me it sounded like a good way to avoid RSI, and I can vouch for it being a very effective way to be massaged.

I would love the opportunity to follow it up with them. Will happily demo the treatment on any willing recipients if they would allow it when i'm next in the CH.

In fact there are several members of this very board who have experienced my "No Hands" approach to massage when they had treatments at last years Post Christmas Party. They were very well received, several were amazed at the power and depth of the treatment ... without without pain too.

Something else that VS can look it to help reduce RSI / injury to the IFBT and to help them avoid boredom is extend the range of treatments they offer. Obviously this has a cost implication, training, on-board weight with additional tools and products. But it would help mean happier customers as more could be treated, and frequent UC pax could have more choice in treatments. Maybe have a few more at seat while you watch v:port treatments.

Mat xxx

fozzyo - I think I'm right in saying you contacted VS about this method/technique- did you get a response?

There were probley 2 IFBTS on that flight due to one of them being assesed by her manager. There are no plans to start putting 2 IFBTS on any flights apart form the A380.

hi there,

Regarding your two IFBT
Was on VSO12 back from Boston on the 22nd of Dec and whad 2 IFTB's
One was doing the rounds at individuals Suites and the other was at her station.

Seemed a little pointless to me on this flight however as there were only 8 of us down stairs in UCS....

I am getting ready to write up my TR don't worry I haven't forgotten....Just getting over the Bubbles incident!!!


SUE

AKA

Bubbles
x[:X]

Virgin H&S have come up with a novel way of reducing the risk of RSI on MAN flights. It`s called "lets not have IFBTs on MAN flights ".[n]

Originally posted by Paul H
Virgin H&S have come up with a novel way of reducing the risk of RSI on MAN flights. It`s called "lets not have IFBTs on MAN flights ".[n]

Which is based on the H&S policy on LGW flights.