I worked 8 years for BMHS, and just when I thought things couldn't get worse, along came Aviance.
VS's perception is clouded by the fact that their ground handling at LHR was pretty good in the early days, especially check-in and ops. Sir Dick regretted going self-handling at check-in/ops, but he is mistaken if he thinks that G*, Aviance or any other could ever improve on eachother. Cutting costs in the short term will have long term and probably irreversable consequences. But that is the effect of competitive pressure from the LCAs.