Upgrades?

[Boris+]

Hi Jackie,

There are different types of check flights - ones for flight deck and ones for cabin crew. Ours was a cabin crew check flight - and basically a Sgt Mjr type hostie boards the flight and interrupts the cabin service a bit and 'makes sure' that 'standards' are being maintained.

The checkin at LHR was wonderful - and from there on in we weren't so happy. You can't compare an Airbus A380 with any version of Boeing 747 because they are different animals - a bit like comparing Azura with Independence of the Seas - in more ways than one.

I think that JtD mentioned the priority checkin and baggage reclaim being important ...... well for us that didn't happen. At LHR the checkin was great but that was solely because there were no other passengers anywhere to be seen at checkin.

However, I do need to make an apology to everyone here, because I think that maybe this thread should be about onboard ship and not flying?

Em

[Romig1]

When flying cattle-class on a 747 we always try and prebook the seats near the rear where the plane narrows. At this point there are only 2 seats (as opposed to 3 elsewhere) next to the window, and so you get a little more space ( even more so if you pick the first row at which 3 becomes 2).

[Kendhni]

So, in future I shall try for an airline which operates mainly Boeings and certainly not with Virgin cabin crew onboard.

Em

We flew virgin for the first time last year ... I had very high expectations of them after hearing so many good reports but i have to say I was disappointed ... I honestly thought the Thomson and Thomas Cook charter flights used by P&O were better.

[wolfie]

"..................the cabin crew made up fictitious rules and regulations to suit themselves (and passengers were either not allowed to do something or forced to do something they didn't wish to do just because of this weird behaviour). "

Could you post some examples of the rules and what pax were made to do?


Nobody would force me to do anything I didn't want to do.

[Boris+]

This was an overnight flight - but some of the cabin crew wouldn't allow some of the passengers to use the 'blankets'. One passenger was not allowed to put the seat into a reclining position. Some of the passengers were allowed to keep their overhead lights on and some weren't. So, I wasn't allowed to keep my overhead light on so that I could read - so I would have liked to have dozed (the only real alternative), but I couldn't get to sleep because a nearby passenger was allowed to have his light on.

Em

[wolfie]

A wonder there wasn't a mutiny.

[Jackie]

Hi Em and all
Thanks for the explanation re check flights. I didn't realise this happened and some of the behavjour you encountered was appalling! I'd heard good reports about Virgin, now I'm feeling a tad worried and hope it's better than these reports!
As for A380 and 747, I know they are different beasts but having done the journey on the airbus to Singapore and the rest of the flight to Sydney on the 747 , I know which I preferred!
As for whether this should be about ship or plane, I think the post applies to both!
Hopefully I won't regret going with Virgin next week!
Jackie

[Boris+]

Hi Wolfie -

On the journey outbound I put up with it because I was so looking forward to one of my 'trips of a lifetime', and I was concentrating on making a list of things I wanted to achieve in the Hawaiian Islands.

On the homebound journey I was able to comfort myself with memories of a first class cruise holiday - Virgin Atlantic never bothered to respond to my complaint, and I have learned not to fly with them again.

Jackie - you are going to have a wonderful cruise, and you will probably enjoy your flight too. Just be sure (on your holiday) to grab all the opportunities you can and not leave anything 'undone'. Have a fantastic time.

Em

[Ginaberlosconi]

Goodness me Boris... you seem to have had a bad experience with Virgin.

I've travelled extensively with this company, and your comments don't really ring true to me. Virgin Atlantic have always been superb.

This is not the normal service experienced with this company - hope you complained.

[Manoverboard]

Having been upgraded from Cattle Class to First Class on a Virgin 747 flight from London to Los Angeles and received an anytime 10% dsiscount voucher as a consequence of a four hour delay elsewhere I would be very happy to use Virgin at a later date .... unlike BA we have never had a problem with these guys.

[Boris+]

Hi Gina,

Yes I complained - they never answered; which surprised me.

Em

[GillD46]

I think that if I had a choice between paying for a flight upgrade and an upgrade onboard I wouldn't bother with the flight upgrade - it's for such a short time.

Em

Ah, but that depends whether or not you are comfortable sitting for so long - not everyone CAN sit that long.

There's no need for anyone in any class of aircraft cabin to remain sitting for so long. Unless Ryanair have started charging to stand up, of course.

But that assumes after your little walk, you're able to sit down again. My husband simply can't, so for us, an upgraded scheduled flight is essential so that he can lie down.

[GillD46]

We have also travelled extensively with VA, in all classes, and while we are no longer able to travel in Economy, so can't comment on that nowadays, Upper Class ( Virgin don't have Firts Class)) has always been excellent. Indeed we flew back from Miami with them only a couple of weeks ago, and had superb service.