Am a bit hacked off re virgin flight

[kazd]

We booked our flydrive through Florida Direct, I had always wanted to fly Virgin and they said how great it was and how the kids had their own screens with nintendo games etc. I now find that the Gatwick Orlando flights don't have this facility, having already told my kids that it did.

Kazd

 

[Red-Snapper]

Virgin flights do have their own seatback screens.

You might get lucky and get the games as well but usually not on that route.

 

[allie5]

Dont believe the Virgin hype. For my 2 cents worth, they are over priced and over rated. We had Nintendo on ONE LGW-MCO flight years ago, but never in recent years. It annoys me they hype this up in the brochures and the kids get excited, only to find its not on 90% of the Gatwick flights. They reckon it will be on every flight "soon", but Ive been hearing that one since about 1999.

Although we are using them this year (only as they were the ONLY direct option) I dont think they deserve their supposed reputation as "the best". Staff are luke warm at best and are often surly and rude. "Free drinks" are harder to obtain than the preverbial blood from a stone, and until recently the aircraft they used were so darned old, Charlton Heston was probably at the controls.

 

[Kina]

Charlton Heston was probably at the controls

 

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hi,

While the current IFE on the LGW flights ( the Nova system) is the poor relation in the VS fleet, the Gatwick fleet will be being reequiped with the Upper class suites and vport ( AVOD) in all seats.

vport is excellent ( 50 movies, 50 CD juke box + around 15-20 games) .

Currently the LHR fleet is being equpped and then the LGW fleet will take its turn to be " made over".

I have heard that maybe 2 of the fleet will be done by the ned of the year with the others during the early part of 2005.

I have flown with Nova a couple of times and it is a little dissapointing compared to Odessy ,Arcadia and vport on the LHR based fleet.

Regards

TBS

 

[GO2209]

Virgin standards have fallen... The MAN-MCO route (admittedly a 'wet lease' aircraft) has awful in flight entertainmet (breaks up if not down completely etc). The standard of service is poor with cabin crew inattentive to the customers.

However, they are still my first choice! The advantages of direct flights and the the brilliant downtown disney checkin are too good! As pathetic as it is - I am prepared to accept second class service, uncomfortable seats, useless IFE AND be charged a premium to fly direct from Manchester!!!!!

I am waiting (with crossed fingers) for flyblu to start operating out of Birmingham. http://www.flyblu.co.uk - although I wouldn't hold your breath!

 

[jockey]

I have flown with many airlines to Orlando and I still find virgin the best. The standards have dropped slightly but with the twilight check in and the check in at dd they are hard to beat!

 

[Leech esq]

Sorry to be so negative,but,we waited years for a Virgin flight with Nintendos on.Last christmas we got one ,from Manchester,at christmas.It was the worst Virgin plane I've been on,many of the controls wouldn't work properly,some wouldn't work at all.It was an old Atlanta plane, I'm led to believe,but the hype about the Nintendos far outwayed the pleasure.You could say the plane was a bit tired. Personally,I would say keep their hopes up, you may get one,but don't be too sorry if you don't actually get one.

 

[Bexx]

I am waiting (with crossed fingers) for flyblu to start operating out of Birmingham. http://www.flyblu.co.uk - although I wouldn't hold your breath!

If they don't "take off", it certainly won't be through lack of trying. If they can deliver what they promise, it should hopefully make Virgin pull up their boot straps, particularly the Manchester route, if it's that poor.

We flew from Manchester the first year they started. They didn't have any planes with the seat back TVs for that route, so they offered us the compensation of 20% off duty frees!?!

 

[onlyholly]

from Manchester now as we've had too many dreadful flights with Virgin.

Holly

 

[keswick1uk]

I really like Virgin but they do deserve to be slated for their holiday brochure advertising on the IFE.

In the Florida/ Caribbean brochure they know the majority of readers will not get games or top class IFE yet they advertise it implying you will, unless you are unlucky...rather than the more truthful you won't unless you are lucky

I really think Virgin let themselves down on this one as they are, compared to most brochures, pretty upfront in my experience

 

[MickeyMcMouse]

Originally posted by keswick1uk


In the Florida/ Caribbean brochure they know the majority of readers will not get games or top class IFE yet they advertise it implying you will, unless you are unlucky...rather than the more truthful you won't unless you are lucky

I think this has now been removed

David

 

[aden]

deleted at Aden's request - posted on wrong thread

 

[Netty]

Hi
Thomas cook and Brittannia both have some flights going out of Manchester DIRECT to Sanford.
My sis has been on both airlines this year and gone direct!!
Jeanette

 

[GO2209]

I am a bit phobic of charters into Sanford. I flew Airtours once - I was in agony by the time we landed in Sanford. My legs had forgotten how to walk. However, the huge queue at immigration gave them time to recover! The lines were so long that they made us wait in holding rooms.

Flyblu is tempting by its simplicity. I want realistic service at a realistic price. Charters annoy me by all the extras. Paying to 'pre-book' your seats, food, drinks, pathetic baggage allowance.

However, at least you know you will have to pay for everything. Virgin 'include' everything, but so often it is unavailable or breaks. Am I the only one that thinks that if they advertise a product/service as a feature it should be a condition of sale? Ie, if they advertise IFE as a reason to fly with them then I should be compenstated if it is not available?

I hope a few more flight options appear soon... Good luck FlyBlu.

 

[angel659]

When we booked our holiday through Virgin, I read all the T&C about the entertainment. Problem is they have covered themself by saying only on certain planes and planes can change at any time and its out of there control.

I would unfortunately see what you get. Apparently it's not on the Orlando flight, from what I have heard. You may get a replacement plane that has it. Sounds Pot Luck to me.

I have chosen to fly with BA, I have booked the accomodation seperately. The prices for the time we are leaving are cheaper than Virgin. They also have seat back TV. To get the games unfortunately you have to upgrade.

Have a nice time, once your there, you'll love it!!!

 

[JohnnySharp]

The irony is that the older 747-200 jumbo's used on the Manchester route have the nintendo games whereas the more modern 747-400s do not.

Agree with all the previous comments, we have flown Virgin 10 times and the standards have dropped.
Still our number 1 choice as they fly direct to Orlando International, if BA did from m'chester would probably give them a try.

It seems like we all have gripes with Virgin these days, the flights from m'chester have been a sore point for a few years now as the aircraft used are so old, it's alright Virgin going on about how they operate a modern fleet and have all these newish jumbo's and Airbuses but we never see any of them up north!

Whilst I am sure that the exterior is as smart as any the same cannot be said of the interior ,the older planes are shabby to say the least and the Entertainment systems unreliable.

Think they need to get their act together or people will look elsewhere, problem is the alternatives are limited - we have an Autistic son and would never consider any company that did not go direct.