BA versus Virgin
Oct 21, 2014, 12:26 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: City of Kingston Upon Hull
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 4,940
All those companies were the bad days of Britain providing awful service. BA as a newly privatised company was a leader in its field providing great new products and service..It made huge profits by doing that and should return to those days..understanding that the market has changed but I will now book Virgin rather than BA when I can..
BTW, BA seems to be making a considerably greater fist of making a profit than VS, and without being bailed out by one of the US majors, so the business model must be doing ok.
Oct 21, 2014, 12:32 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: not far from MUC
Posts: 6,620
Oct 21, 2014, 12:32 pm
#19
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,663
Oct 21, 2014, 1:21 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Brighton, England
Programs: BA Silver, VS, Costa Coffee, My Waitrose
Posts: 153
It's interesting reading this as a passenger who moved away from VS to BA, I always thought that VS were ahead in W against BA and other postings and reviews underlined that impression. However VS have considerably enhanced away their lead on BA. That glass of sparkling wine, used to be same fizz as J. Main meal size reduced, Liquor service no more, fresh fruit bowl in galley no more, Hagen Darz ice cream no more mid west bound flight, afternoon tea service decimated. East bound no seperate drinks and meal service. Oh and wine from the bottle, and then placed in galley to help yourself no it's Y miniatures now. The dedicated upper deck for W on LGW 747, no enhanced away. Dedicated crew for W, no enhanced away. Whereas BA, pre take off drink – added, hot bread service – added, Club World meal – added, new seat – added on new aircraft. Lastly let’s not forget the totally useless VS FQTV scheme, I have been silver ever since I stopped flying VS, Silver’s with lounge access beat’s a hot breakfast any day.
Oct 21, 2014, 1:32 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold for Life
Posts: 469
Only one problem with all this BA vs VS comparison......VS's incredibly shrinking route network. Before long you won't be able to fly on VS to anywhere bar the USA or wherever Delta demands that it's subsidiary (sorry partner) flies to.
Oct 21, 2014, 2:43 pm
#25
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Usually travelling
Programs: BA, SQ, VS, Lifetime Diamond Club Appreciator, Mucci
Posts: 488
Sadly all the signs currently point to VS becoming consumed entirely by Delta within a few years. I do like an underdog.
VS UC is absolutely brilliant, until you get to your seat. The hard product is just leagues behind the competition in 2014.
VS PE is better than BA WT+, but unfortunately the shrinking operation and lack of membership of a proper alliance mean that it's a write off for me, if I was choosing a PE flight.
VS UC is absolutely brilliant, until you get to your seat. The hard product is just leagues behind the competition in 2014.
VS PE is better than BA WT+, but unfortunately the shrinking operation and lack of membership of a proper alliance mean that it's a write off for me, if I was choosing a PE flight.
Oct 21, 2014, 4:06 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chester le Street
Programs: BA Executive, Virgin FC
Posts: 308
Also for me (infrequent flyer from the regions) the main advantage for me with BA is that I can connect in LHR (more problematic for LGW) without having to pick up luggage or changing terminals. I have flown UC on VS - the timing for the destination has always meant that an overnight stay in LHR, adding cost and time to the trip.
Oct 21, 2014, 4:31 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Clearly, you don't understand how the market has changed, because that is no longer the way in which a UK-based airline can make huge profits.
Oct 21, 2014, 11:51 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
Like the OP, if you travel WTP a lot, on different aircraft, you will notice the differences on board (with the new seat anyway) are pretty much non existent, certainly no real reason to choose one carrier over the other ignoring all other factors
Sometimes you have to wait a while for tray removal, sometimes you don't, dependent on crew and load mainly, this is a factor with any Avon on any airline
As I mentioned above the main beneficial VS differtiators, for me anyway, are the separate check in and priority boarding. The fact that BA often boards WTP last is infuriating
The main BA ones are the frequency, network and BAEC, on board its a wash, supposedly better, BA Business Class food or not
Oct 22, 2014, 1:55 am
#29
Join Date: May 2014
Location: London
Posts: 198
Another difference is when routes get 'enhanced away'. VS seem to honour redemption bookings (Redemption flights to Tokyo after January rebooked on other airlines without a quibble) , BA doing anything they can to get out of redemption bookings to routes that have been axed.
Oct 22, 2014, 1:59 am
#30
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA BLUE BADGE
Posts: 1,323
I think a lot of the angst in these arguments (and most others on the subject) is the result of confusion between what is best for the business versus what is best for the customer,
No-one would argue that the dumbing down and cost slashing of the BA product isn't great for the business balance sheet but results in a worse experience for the end user.
It's the business' job to get the balance right and whether it does or not is subjective for each customer.
Some go bonkers about what label is on their alcohol while others fume if a curtain isn't pulled whilst the real money is being grabbed by increased stealth charges and holding fares steady whilst denigrating the product.
it's just a question of where your personal line in the sand is.
Last edited by Lioneye; Oct 22, 2014 at 4:48 am Reason: Spelling