Virgin Atlantic: first loss in 4 years
Mar 18, 2018, 1:53 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: BA, Virgin, Lufthansa
Posts: 183
I loved flying Virgin from the West Coast but they were ALWAYS at least 25% more expensive than other airlines. To a point where prices were not even competitive anymore. Interestingly this isn't so much the case if you were booking a return from London, rather than California. They should look into their pricing strategy for U.S based travellers and price up more competitively.
Mar 18, 2018, 7:43 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,130
The Virgin website is a freaking mess. I despair of it sometimes. I was trying to get to a screen so that I could screenshot it for a query, and it wouldn't recognise LHR, or auto-complete when I typed London.
You can no longer pick and upgradeable fare in PE. (Economy not such as issue now as only Economy Light can't be upgraded).
The website is painful to use.
To use Multi City you have to select the state then the airport, as when you type, say LHR - BOS for your first flight, then want to add BOS - LAX, the destination from BOSTON is only UK choices. This is BASIC.
You can no longer pick and upgradeable fare in PE. (Economy not such as issue now as only Economy Light can't be upgraded).
The website is painful to use.
To use Multi City you have to select the state then the airport, as when you type, say LHR - BOS for your first flight, then want to add BOS - LAX, the destination from BOSTON is only UK choices. This is BASIC.
Last edited by Sealink; Mar 18, 2018 at 7:51 pm
Mar 28, 2018, 12:03 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
VS isn't helping itself by having a terrible Upper Class hard product. Also, they keep taking away amenities from Premium... no more amenity kits on day flights and the new seats only have footrests, not leg rests like the former ones.
Mar 28, 2018, 7:03 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,108
But yeah, J lags. I'd seriously consider DL J over VS J on the JV routes, especially with the DL A330 replacing the 76s.
Mar 29, 2018, 2:57 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,344
It has been steadily on a downward spiral since Delta got their sticky fingers in the till as far as I am concerned. I don't see it improving, the originality and vibrant culture, where it was less of a flight, more of an experience (and a very good one at that) has long left the building. Even the veeps and c-suite just talk in platitudes now in order to toe the company line.
Mar 30, 2018, 2:41 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: BA, Virgin, Lufthansa
Posts: 183
The bins in PE had plenty of spare space in them too even with a full cabin, so perhaps it stops just enought people doing it
Last edited by dajdavies; Mar 30, 2018 at 2:42 pm Reason: typo
Mar 30, 2018, 5:35 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: near to SFO and LHR
Programs: BA Gold, B6 Mosiac, VS, AA, DL (and a legacy UA 2MM)
Posts: 2,274
It has been steadily on a downward spiral since Delta got their sticky fingers in the till as far as I am concerned. I don't see it improving, the originality and vibrant culture, where it was less of a flight, more of an experience (and a very good one at that) has long left the building. Even the veeps and c-suite just talk in platitudes now in order to toe the company line.
I also agree with another poster that the Upper Class product has lost its charm for me, and I fly mostly BA now, either C or F.
Apr 6, 2018, 5:21 am
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,130
That hasn't been my experience of the Clubhouse in the last year.
I find Upper Class to be perfectly fine.
It's Virgin's systems that have me crawling the walls!
I find Upper Class to be perfectly fine.
It's Virgin's systems that have me crawling the walls!
Apr 7, 2018, 5:41 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Gotta disagree with you on the Premium Econ comments. Even VS' mediocre partner in crime Delta has a much better Premium Select product now with full leg rests, enhanced amenity kits and blankets, meals of significantly better quality, a vastly nicer IFE than Vera, and a true dedicated crew. On my VS 787 flight, VS only assigned 10 cabin crews and though the ones on my aisle were incredibly lovely and hard working, it was clear the PE crew was the same as the regular Economy crew... seemed that 4 were permanently stationed in Upper Class and the other 6 served both PE and regular E.
They haven't had amenity kits on any of the day flights I've taken (ie: all my VS flights) since at least 2014. I'll happily trade a proper power port and wifi for both a cheap bag with a disposable toothbrush and the leg rests. Overall, I'd still say PE is above average vs other products out there.
But yeah, J lags. I'd seriously consider DL J over VS J on the JV routes, especially with the DL A330 replacing the 76s.
They haven't had amenity kits on any of the day flights I've taken (ie: all my VS flights) since at least 2014. I'll happily trade a proper power port and wifi for both a cheap bag with a disposable toothbrush and the leg rests. Overall, I'd still say PE is above average vs other products out there.
But yeah, J lags. I'd seriously consider DL J over VS J on the JV routes, especially with the DL A330 replacing the 76s.