RIP VX
Apr 4, 2016, 11:11 pm
#76
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 460
Forgive me for posting on this emotional subject. I flew Virgin America yesterday for the first time. My experience with them instilled much anger into me, although the flight attendants were gracious.
I paid for a First Class flight but received notification that I would be moved down to Main Cabin Select for reasons they said they were not allowed to state but with a refund of the fare difference (which in reality was $0 - in other words, it was bait and switch), although they placed money in my newly established "bank". After an exchange of emails asking for specific explanation for why my First Class booking was not being honored, and to which they refused to explain, I cancelled the booking I originally had (I refuse to pay for First Class and only receive Main Cabin Select) and used the "bank" money to rebook in Main Cabin Select. As it turned out, yesterday on my flight 3 people were upgraded (at a cost of $99 according to the flight attendant) into First Class, including the gentleman sitting in my row who was upgraded immediately before the door was closed. All I can say is I'm glad this company is being bought out. I'm very angry regarding how they treated me (I showed the flight attendants all the e-mails between me and the company and they were at a loss for why my First Class booking was downgraded to Main Cabin Select).
I understand my situation is (hopefully) unique but any company that treats a new first-class paying customer in this way deserves to disappear. Alaska has never treated me so poorly as Virgin America. (Not even United has treated me this way).
I paid for a First Class flight but received notification that I would be moved down to Main Cabin Select for reasons they said they were not allowed to state but with a refund of the fare difference (which in reality was $0 - in other words, it was bait and switch), although they placed money in my newly established "bank". After an exchange of emails asking for specific explanation for why my First Class booking was not being honored, and to which they refused to explain, I cancelled the booking I originally had (I refuse to pay for First Class and only receive Main Cabin Select) and used the "bank" money to rebook in Main Cabin Select. As it turned out, yesterday on my flight 3 people were upgraded (at a cost of $99 according to the flight attendant) into First Class, including the gentleman sitting in my row who was upgraded immediately before the door was closed. All I can say is I'm glad this company is being bought out. I'm very angry regarding how they treated me (I showed the flight attendants all the e-mails between me and the company and they were at a loss for why my First Class booking was downgraded to Main Cabin Select).
I understand my situation is (hopefully) unique but any company that treats a new first-class paying customer in this way deserves to disappear. Alaska has never treated me so poorly as Virgin America. (Not even United has treated me this way).
Apr 5, 2016, 1:57 am
#78
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
How are you able to fly on AA, DL, UA, AF, SQ, or any other airline that has had fatal crashes? 
(or drive down the interstate)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._50_fatalities
or walk to anybody's front door?(Flordida only)
http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2016/04/...?spt=sec&or=on
(or drive down the interstate)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._50_fatalities
or walk to anybody's front door?(Flordida only)
http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2016/04/...?spt=sec&or=on
With regards to VX, so sad. I'm based out of ORD so didn't get to fly them much, but I never even considered other airlines when traveling to LAX/SFO. Gonna have to spend my bank of 50k miles.
Last edited by TMM1982; Apr 5, 2016 at 2:06 am
Apr 5, 2016, 7:26 am
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
SQ6 in TPE. 747 attempted departure from the wrong runway and crashed into construction equipment at high speed. Of course, this is nothing like the AS261 crash (I have trouble even calling that an accident because the airline knew exactly what they were doing).
At any rate, the industry-leading VX domestic F product is likely dead. Thank goodness we can have more homogenized crap F products in the US now.
Only hope is that regulatory agencies actually do their job for the first time and block this.
At any rate, the industry-leading VX domestic F product is likely dead. Thank goodness we can have more homogenized crap F products in the US now.
Only hope is that regulatory agencies actually do their job for the first time and block this.
Apr 5, 2016, 8:44 am
#81
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
Yeah, if memory serves, they were trying to take off before a typhoon reached it's peak. Because of slower taxiing and low visibility, the SQ 747 turned into the wrong runway (5R) and accelerated into construction equipment.
5L, the correct runway, was the adjacent one about 20 yards away.
PS - Regarding the AS accident, a stiffer penalty should have been handed out. Willful neglect, falsifying records, and knowingly send up unsafe equipment leading to loss of lives. Unbelievable.
5L, the correct runway, was the adjacent one about 20 yards away.
PS - Regarding the AS accident, a stiffer penalty should have been handed out. Willful neglect, falsifying records, and knowingly send up unsafe equipment leading to loss of lives. Unbelievable.
Apr 5, 2016, 8:46 am
#82
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
SQ6 in TPE. 747 attempted departure from the wrong runway and crashed into construction equipment at high speed. Of course, this is nothing like the AS261 crash (I have trouble even calling that an accident because the airline knew exactly what they were doing).
At any rate, the industry-leading VX domestic F product is likely dead. Thank goodness we can have more homogenized crap F products in the US now.
Only hope is that regulatory agencies actually do their job for the first time and block this.
At any rate, the industry-leading VX domestic F product is likely dead. Thank goodness we can have more homogenized crap F products in the US now.
Only hope is that regulatory agencies actually do their job for the first time and block this.
After VX F, I don't think I can ever go back to paying for any F class where 90% of capacity is given away for free.
Apr 5, 2016, 9:04 am
#84
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,654
90% of AS capacity is not given away for free. Some short haul routes, probably 75%, but go get an upgrade on a SEA transcon or HI route. Good luck.
Apr 5, 2016, 9:10 am
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
While I'm sure that's true, it doesn't make up for it being some crappy standard "F" seat with no leg rest, terrible recline, and 36" of pitch. MCS is a better product in reality.
Apr 5, 2016, 11:43 am
#86
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: IHG Plat, AA GLD, DL FO, Natl Elite
Posts: 259
I sure feel like a schmuck! I recently got an AmEx PRG with the idea that I'd primarily fly VX as well as WN since I'm sick of AA treating people like gAArbage.
I'll probably just keep flying VX and burn points as they come, then switch over to WN for domestic flights. The only reason AA gets any of my business is their Lat Am network, and even then LAN have pretty decent options.
I really enjoyed my first flight with VX and hope to enjoy the rest of them as well. Shame what's gonna happen but that's flying in America in 2016 for you: mediocrity for all, because even high-rollin' F pax still have to put up with the same airports, airframes, and delightful staff that we Y pax get.
I'll probably just keep flying VX and burn points as they come, then switch over to WN for domestic flights. The only reason AA gets any of my business is their Lat Am network, and even then LAN have pretty decent options.
I really enjoyed my first flight with VX and hope to enjoy the rest of them as well. Shame what's gonna happen but that's flying in America in 2016 for you: mediocrity for all, because even high-rollin' F pax still have to put up with the same airports, airframes, and delightful staff that we Y pax get.
Apr 5, 2016, 12:00 pm
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,654
Those seats are going away within a year or so. F is going from 16 to 12 seats (on most aircraft) with expanded recline and pitch. They're also putting in an expanded "premium" sort of Y seating, and I wouldn't be surprised if it turns into some sort of VX-style MCS - one can hope.
Apr 5, 2016, 12:10 pm
#88
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
You shouldn't, since MR points aren't captive and may be used with other Carriers. There won't be any substantial changes in VX for at least 8 - 12 months. So, you have plenty of time to use them, I'd imagine,
Apr 5, 2016, 12:47 pm
#89
Join Date: May 2000
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posts: 1,960
Back in the old days, Alaska did a bunch of advertising in the LA and SF markets differentiating themselves from the other airlines. For example, their catering was superior to regular coach tray meals. "At Alaska, you just get more...." was the tagline.
One particularly memorable commercial showed two guys in airline business attire reading a handwritten letter under a sign that said "Airline Consumer Complaints" or some such. One says to the other "I had better food in..... In..... What's this word?" and the other guys looks hard at the letter and says "Prison!" "Yes," says the first guy, "Prison!"
Then some announcer pointed out the virtue of Alaska's better meals for the same fare.
So Alaska USED to be a better class of airline, in my ancient memory. Maybe they can catch some of VX's innovation? They're stuck with the seatback TV, satellite service, purple lighting and so forth on 60 airplanes, maybe this will cause them to step up their game.
The last few years it seemed to me that Alaska sort of abandoned the Bay Area, except for their expanded services from all three airports to Hawaii, which has been a godsend given the withdrawal of AA (and DL's attempts to fly people on red-eyes back to SJC).
I'm sure the VX evaporation will raise Hawaii fares for us, but then again maybe not: WN may someday give the islands a shot, and Hawaiian has certainly upped their game with widebodies to all three bay area airports.
I'll just miss the quirkiness of the Branson influenced program: it certainly didn't hurt to hire all new staff and let them build something, too. Of course, as a shareholder in VX, I enjoyed the buyout premium, too. Maybe enough there to get a cheap ticket to HNL, no?
One particularly memorable commercial showed two guys in airline business attire reading a handwritten letter under a sign that said "Airline Consumer Complaints" or some such. One says to the other "I had better food in..... In..... What's this word?" and the other guys looks hard at the letter and says "Prison!" "Yes," says the first guy, "Prison!"
Then some announcer pointed out the virtue of Alaska's better meals for the same fare.
So Alaska USED to be a better class of airline, in my ancient memory. Maybe they can catch some of VX's innovation? They're stuck with the seatback TV, satellite service, purple lighting and so forth on 60 airplanes, maybe this will cause them to step up their game.
The last few years it seemed to me that Alaska sort of abandoned the Bay Area, except for their expanded services from all three airports to Hawaii, which has been a godsend given the withdrawal of AA (and DL's attempts to fly people on red-eyes back to SJC).
I'm sure the VX evaporation will raise Hawaii fares for us, but then again maybe not: WN may someday give the islands a shot, and Hawaiian has certainly upped their game with widebodies to all three bay area airports.
I'll just miss the quirkiness of the Branson influenced program: it certainly didn't hurt to hire all new staff and let them build something, too. Of course, as a shareholder in VX, I enjoyed the buyout premium, too. Maybe enough there to get a cheap ticket to HNL, no?