Virgin Atlantic
)if you sit in upper in middle row in Upper (G seats) then one can see quite well out of the windows opposite you
as it was a day flight most windows were not dimmed dark completely and cabin was large tall and spacious very airy -
787 all the way for me lol
came back from ATL in Prem had front middle row 20 DEG to ourselves which is best row in W on A330 unlimited leg room - unlike rows 18 or 19 pairs by the windows where you cannot stretch your legs out which is terrible for paying out for W
- I do not like the A330 at all - got off dried out tired and jet lagged despite 3 hours kip on a 7h 20 min quick flight
FOOD WAS DISGUSTING IN PREM Y FROM ATL - AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL
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G-VFAB went to Goodyear, Arizona, 21 years old B744 unliekly to find a new home I think.
Paxing All Over The World
Thanks for that. Let me start by saying that I have been a big fan of VS for 31 years and have gone on the record. I have, of course, had some problems along the way but, to get three unrelated issues on one sector - does cause one to be annoyed.
I have been travelling PE (Premium Economy) with them since 1997 and liked the original product and the update even more.
The first problem was the software system change over that the company made in November. In this thread we commented on the change for Flying Club pages but a far, far worse problem had arisen ...
In the change over, bookings that had specific seat requests - were lost. If the company knew about this, they made no contact with booked pax. If they didn't know, they did not check that all requests had moved forward to ensure that their customers paying a Premium price would not be inconvenienced. Thus a set of very specific seat bookings for a very special trip were lost and it was only discovered a few days before departure when finding the wrongs seats allocated. Further, the cabin was fully booked and no seat movement was possible. In our party of four, two people had 'moved' from the A+C seats to the D seats and in separate rows.
Our agent discovered the fault was due to the software changeover only by accident on the morning of departure via a casual question asked by a VS agent she was speaking to.
We arrived at T3 extra early but were told there was nothing could be done and to ask a favour in the cabin. By this time, I had learnt that our return sector was similarly affected and we were all in the D+E seats. I went to the ticket desk to be told, "That sector has the PE cabin fully booked, there is nothing we can do."
The space problem was compounded by the A346 being replaced by the smaller B789.
On board we managed to beg the favour to get the two of us into adjacent seats but still in the middle block, which I abhor and have avoided for decades.
The staff on board all knew about the seat allocation problem and said it has been a pain since the day of the change over.
If you made a booking before the changover - then I advise you to check it. Booking our seats on 30th September to take my partner's parents (aged 78 + 79) on the trip of a lifetime was fouled up and I shall be waiting to see if any kind of apology will be forthcoming.
I know that dung happens but the fact that no checks were made or, if made, were not followed up is lazy and VERY bad customer service. My partner's father said, "I've always heard bad things about Virgin Atlantic - so I'm not surprised." I politely contradicted him by saying this was the worst problem I had had in 31 years of flying with them.
Thus endeth the first problem.
I have been travelling PE (Premium Economy) with them since 1997 and liked the original product and the update even more.
The first problem was the software system change over that the company made in November. In this thread we commented on the change for Flying Club pages but a far, far worse problem had arisen ...
In the change over, bookings that had specific seat requests - were lost. If the company knew about this, they made no contact with booked pax. If they didn't know, they did not check that all requests had moved forward to ensure that their customers paying a Premium price would not be inconvenienced. Thus a set of very specific seat bookings for a very special trip were lost and it was only discovered a few days before departure when finding the wrongs seats allocated. Further, the cabin was fully booked and no seat movement was possible. In our party of four, two people had 'moved' from the A+C seats to the D seats and in separate rows.
Our agent discovered the fault was due to the software changeover only by accident on the morning of departure via a casual question asked by a VS agent she was speaking to.
We arrived at T3 extra early but were told there was nothing could be done and to ask a favour in the cabin. By this time, I had learnt that our return sector was similarly affected and we were all in the D+E seats. I went to the ticket desk to be told, "That sector has the PE cabin fully booked, there is nothing we can do."
The space problem was compounded by the A346 being replaced by the smaller B789.
On board we managed to beg the favour to get the two of us into adjacent seats but still in the middle block, which I abhor and have avoided for decades.
The staff on board all knew about the seat allocation problem and said it has been a pain since the day of the change over.
If you made a booking before the changover - then I advise you to check it. Booking our seats on 30th September to take my partner's parents (aged 78 + 79) on the trip of a lifetime was fouled up and I shall be waiting to see if any kind of apology will be forthcoming.
I know that dung happens but the fact that no checks were made or, if made, were not followed up is lazy and VERY bad customer service. My partner's father said, "I've always heard bad things about Virgin Atlantic - so I'm not surprised." I politely contradicted him by saying this was the worst problem I had had in 31 years of flying with them.
Thus endeth the first problem.
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Misleading of that website to say that G-VFAB was Virgin's first 747 as that honour went to -200 G-VIRG in 1984. VFAB, a -400, didn't join the fleet until 10 years later.
That concludes this afternoon's pedantry......
That concludes this afternoon's pedantry......
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The Telegraph reports that VS forecasts a loss this year after a profit of £23m for 2016.
Virgin Atlantic set to plunge into the red as weak pound curbs profits
One wonders what would have happened that DL not bought out SQ's stake in the airline.
Virgin Atlantic set to plunge into the red as weak pound curbs profits
One wonders what would have happened that DL not bought out SQ's stake in the airline.
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Turning into a strange beast, which ultimately doesn't really forfil much. Cynic in me would say its to prop KLM/AF up, with the investment in LHR slots... Not sure what KL/AF bring at LHR, and they are at different terminals - and why would you want to connect through MAN, if there is a direct service from either AMS or CDG?
KLM/AF obviously assume that Brexit won't affect ownership rules ... we will see.
I can't see many passengers wishing to transfer between VS & KL or AF at LHR as you can fly non-stop to CDG & AMS from just about any city with a route to LHR (although I haven't done a detailed check). It wouldn't really be worth any of the airlines changing terminals.
I said at the time that DL acquired 49% of VS that they really needed a 51% share - SQ was unable to influence things with their 49% share - but of course that it was not permissible and that AF/KLM should acquire a 2% share. Well they have gone further than that. However DL seems to be in control with a minority stake. VS is certainly in a better shape now than when DL acquired SQ's share, this year's loss nothwithstanding.
RB has often said that he gets bored with businesses and likes to move on. VS has been an exception, but maybe he no longer feels that it is his airline. Now that he lives on an ocean islands and seems more interested in spaceflight maybe that is what has happened. Either that or his empire is short of money.
I can't see many passengers wishing to transfer between VS & KL or AF at LHR as you can fly non-stop to CDG & AMS from just about any city with a route to LHR (although I haven't done a detailed check). It wouldn't really be worth any of the airlines changing terminals.
I said at the time that DL acquired 49% of VS that they really needed a 51% share - SQ was unable to influence things with their 49% share - but of course that it was not permissible and that AF/KLM should acquire a 2% share. Well they have gone further than that. However DL seems to be in control with a minority stake. VS is certainly in a better shape now than when DL acquired SQ's share, this year's loss nothwithstanding.
RB has often said that he gets bored with businesses and likes to move on. VS has been an exception, but maybe he no longer feels that it is his airline. Now that he lives on an ocean islands and seems more interested in spaceflight maybe that is what has happened. Either that or his empire is short of money.
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I thought that the rules regarding foreign ownership (under EU rules) was that "effective control" had to be held by EU ownership. i.e. Air france/KLM cannot buy a share and rubber stamp Delta decisions? On the face of it, of course, "effective control" is with Branson and AF/KLM but if the regulator were to see AF/KLM blindly agreeing with everything Delta wanted it would fall foul of the rules. Disabuse me!
Besides, with the uncertainty of Brexit, it appears to be somewhat of a leap in the dark. I've seen a number of decisions recently within aviation that seems to imply that airline bosses think Brexit will have minimal impact on British aviation. What do they know that we do not?
Besides, with the uncertainty of Brexit, it appears to be somewhat of a leap in the dark. I've seen a number of decisions recently within aviation that seems to imply that airline bosses think Brexit will have minimal impact on British aviation. What do they know that we do not?
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Woops
ABBA - The winner (does indeed) take it all!!
Good luck to the VS guys out there. Hope there is some direction as a DL/KL-AF little fish. At first glance seems no more than a slot Jewel. Proud staff non the less.
Good luck to the VS guys out there. Hope there is some direction as a DL/KL-AF little fish. At first glance seems no more than a slot Jewel. Proud staff non the less.
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SQ buying 49% share, I understand resulted in Branson putting (some of?) the proceeds into the business to buy the Airbus fleet, but how does DL buying SQ's share result in a "cash injection"? or KLM/AF buying part of Branson's share result in a cash injection?
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You must be extremely naive to think that part of the Delta deal wasn't to shore up Virgin via some funding. As for the AF/KL bit, what part of the £220m don't you understand?