Strange goings-on at Heathrow.

Have some friends flying from Heathrow today in UC.

The day didn't start well because the taxi couldn't get into the Upper Class wing because the bollards at the entrance weren't working and Virgin couldn't fix them.

After a long wait, they eventually walked to the terminal and checked in.

Now in the Clubhouse and there's no hot food apparently.

I'm presuming Virgin will do something if they complain. Thoughts?

Unfortunately things go wrong and these may be nothing to do with VS at all - I do think the comment about Virgin doing something if they complain is a bit strong though without knowing what happened to the bollards and hot food. Maybe just accept that sometimes not everything goes to plan and look forward to enjoying the flight and whatever is planned at their destination?

[buns]

The DTCI Entrance is prone to use by inexperienced drivers who are unfamiliar with the "air lock" system of bollards and once such a driver has compromised the mechanics, then they are out of action until fixed.

Hardly the fault of VS

buns

Could be worse, apparently the road into heathrow was blocked by protestors today too.

Last time my husband went through DTCI it was blocked as the bollard had activated as a taxi was driving through and hit the underside of the engine

Personaly I wouldn't complain but yes I would be slightly annoyed,

What would they expect in terms if Virgin did 'do something'?

Thet might get some miles but that's it.

Sometimes stuff happens. It's not like there is no food at all.

If no hot food, were they not offered vouchers to eat in the terminal? I know BA did this recently at T3 when they couldn't get any hot breakfast out.

To be honest, it's their first time in UC and they have been looking forward to it since booking it last year.

I'm sure the flight will be fine. It's just they were disappointed this morning as it was a bit stressful and wasn't what they were hoping for.

I just wondered whether they would get some miles if they e-mailed.

No idea about whether they were offered any vouchers. They may have been. They are on their way now.

Hardly the fault of VS
Who's fault is it then?

I would complain, but very politely expressing my disappointment at not being able to use the DTCI and get the full Upper experience, compounded by the lack of hot food.

I would expect a decent reward in miles, when something as minor as not getting my chosen starter on board got me 4000 miles

Dick D

With two important parts of the experience missing I'd be quite disappointed too. It's not so much about it being someone's "fault" (I'd not be rounding up a posse of villagers with pitch forks), just a shame for the people travelling to not have the full enjoyment from the day.

I'm sure a company that's as customer focused as Virgin would give some miles out on the back of this.

I would complain, but very politely expressing my disappointment at not being able to use the DTCI and get the full Upper experience, compounded by the lack of hot food.

I would expect a decent reward in miles, when something as minor as not getting my chosen starter on board got me 4000 miles

Dick D

Agreed, I was given 6000 miles in UC a few flights ago when my first choice of main course was not available. I didn't even have to mention it, the steward did it automatically for me.

Im going through CH on Friday & interestingly just got a text message from Virgin saying there is not a full meal service in the CH - meaning they would have gone at least 5 days now without a full service to which I am surprised.

However the message did say they are offering a refreshment voucher for the terminal, now lets see what it is for...

I am wondering if the food issue is related to my experience with United on Saturday 6th. Turning up to checkin there was a sheet of paper saying that there was a reduced service in the clubhouse. No problem, things happen. Got to the clubhouse and noticed that the serving/cooking staff all looked like United employees I had seen over the years and I thought it was my imagination. I went to the bar to order my normal pre flight stiffener of espresso martini and Heineken and said to the bartender "what is going on?". He said he normally worked the ramp and his cohort worked the desks. Apparently all the security privileges for the Sodexo staff got revoked and none of them could get in, and that they all had to go through the security vetting process again, so United was drafting people in to help from all points of the compass in their organization to help. So, my point is that I wonder if something happened to the security privileges for other staff working there too.

Interesting. Don't Sodexo cater the VS Clubhouse as well? Although I think the waiting staff may be employed direct by VS.

Apparently all the security privileges for the Sodexo staff got revoked and none of them could get in, and that they all had to go through the security vetting process again, so United was drafting people in to help from all points of the compass in their organization to help. So, my point is that I wonder if something happened to the security privileges for other staff working there too.

Yes -- I think there was a news story about this earlier this week, unless I'm imagining it.

Apparently all the security privileges for the Sodexo staff got revoked and none of them could get in, and that they all had to go through the security vetting process again, so United was drafting people in to help from all points of the compass in their organization to help. So, my point is that I wonder if something happened to the security privileges for other staff working there too.

Yes -- I think there was a news story about this earlier this week, unless I'm imagining it.

You're not, there was a security issue with airside passes being called into question. From the BBC site, they suspended a lot of staff passes pending rechecks.