Virgin Atlantic Cutbacks....

[gilld]

It still amazes me that we're able to fly a 9,000 mile round trip for as little as we do. The increase in prices is almost entirely due to taxes of one kind or another and the fares themselves have reduced over time. I don't envy the airlines. I'm sure they'd prefer to maintain or improve services, but they know the market wouldn't stand the inevitable price increases.

I agree. In real terms the prices have fallen in the 20 years we have been flying to MCO with VA.

 

[wideeyes]

BA don't offer the service from Manchester to MCO that I want and I am happy with what I paid with VA,. I think the prezels are a waste of money anyway and most people wouldn't miss them and just eat them for something to do. They should do away with those kids packs to save money too, don't see the point of them as kids always take their own things on board. I take snacks on board for DD, crisps and sandwhiches etc.

 

[penlanspice]

We flew into Washington last week and we noticed the cut backs, there was also no sandwich for the second meal, that has gone too.. you had a choice of a biscuit or a brownie... wow we were so full on that! LOL

It's true there are no longer pretzels, the water bottle has gone too.

 

[anthony2k7]

Having just come back from Las vegas last week via Virgin, I must confirm most of the above to be true.

Few things i would like to add, virgin now charge £75 for exit row seats,

On our out bound flight i was sitting next to a crew member who was flying out to Vegas for the weekend, and the stories that person came out with, has made me think not to fly Virgin out of gatwick again.
Most of the cabin crew who work out of gatwick hate working the routes due to the planes being in such a poor state.
Quote Virgin Mangers" riff raff planes for riff raff customers"

all in all virgin use to be the best, now after flying with them over 14 yrs Id say they r very poor. which is a great shame.

wow, after the facebook mess last year you'd think the virgin crew would have learnt not to bad mouth the company/planes/customers..... apparently not though! Time for them to have a clearout of a few more crew maybe?

 

[oceanscape]

We flew into Washington last week and we noticed the cut backs, there was also no sandwich for the second meal, that has gone too.. you had a choice of a biscuit or a brownie... wow we were so full on that! LOL

LOL!!!

I've just been looking at First Choice -- they have really nice new planes with really good in-flight entertainment, and the food actually looks good too! Really nice cabin with mood-lighting as well. Looks a millions times nicer than Virgin, and good prices too

 

[penlanspice]

I've just been looking at First Choice -- they have really nice new planes with really good in-flight entertainment, and the food actually looks good too! Really nice cabin with mood-lighting as well. Looks a millions times nicer than Virgin, and good prices too

In all honesty if their prices were a little less we would rather fly with first choice, we've flown with them a few times and loved their planes.
We usually manage to get a good deal with virgin and their prices are usually a few hundred pounds cheaper than first choice for the dates we usually want.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Lets get some perspective here shall we?
1) BA is much, much bigger than Virgin and have made cutbacks on destinations, Virgin have not the range of destinations to do this to any great extent. Don't ever forget the size of BA compared to Virgin (Plus all the money we as taxpayers put into BA to put them on a winning formula!)

2) Virgin planes are very well maintained where it really matters, i.e. the flying bit. Sure, the cabins may be looking a little worn, but what I have seen passengers doing on these flights its hardly surprising that damage and wear and tear caused. Hey people, its not a play pen nor a kiddies gym yo8u know!
How many BA aircraft had crashes or incedenst in the past couple of years? how many Virgin aircraft? And BA have a fantastic maintenance record as well!

3) BA have slowed the refurb of their cabins down and are bringing in staff changes through a Project Columbus initiative.

4) Operating flights has actually gone up in price, yet you can fly from the UK to the uSA with virgin for just the same pric as from the UK to Spain with a Low cost airline!

5) if you want bright "new" shiny interiors and three course meals, the cost of the actual seat will have to rise and people would complain bitterly about this.

6) remeber charters have had to combine to keep their prices low and they don't fly all year round and only lease their shiny new interior planes, but your choices of flights, destinations and departures are all limited.

7) other scheduled airlines such as the American ones have reduced their kleg room, reduced their luggage allowance and charged for drinks, fly planes with no seat back TV's, and again don't fly all year round.

Virgin have done very well to compete as the only other direct all year round scheduled flight to orlando with the Big BA. If it means chnages to the cabin service, so be it. This has happened in all cabins on all routes.

better this than no Virgin to chosse when booking your flight to Orlando

 

[Lizzybear]

4) Operating flights has actually gone up in price, yet you can fly from the UK to the uSA with virgin for just the same pric as from the UK to Spain with a Low cost airline!

Whenever i've checked Easyjet prices to Spain (thrown around the idea of a weekend away quite a few times over the past few years but always gone elsewhere or not bothered) they've never even been close to the cost of a Virgin flight to Orlando, even when comparing high Easyjet prices with low Virgin ones.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Whenever i've checked Easyjet prices to Spain (thrown around the idea of a weekend away quite a few times over the past few years but always gone elsewhere or not bothered) they've never even been close to the cost of a Virgin flight to Orlando, even when comparing high Easyjet prices with low Virgin ones.

well, June Easyjet EMA to Malaga £189 with no seat assignment, no food no IFE.
Equates to £0.08p per mile (2188 miles round trip)

Virgin LGW-MCO £382.40 with seat preference, larger luggage allowance, meals and IFE
Equates to £0.04p per mile (8,672 miles round trip)

 

[wideeyes]

Virgin have done very well to compete as the only other direct all year round scheduled flight to orlando with the Big BA. If it means chnages to the cabin service, so be it. This has happened in all cabins on all routes.

better this than no Virgin to chosse when booking your flight to Orlando

I agree with you on this one, I even VA offer good value for money most of the time and have done well keeping their prices low, I would hate to see VA out of the MAN-MCO route. With regards to BA maintaining service I think BA sold of many of their european routes so sounds like they have been making cutbacks in order to keep their long haul routes. I think with VA they are better to make their cutbacks on the service rather than losing routes.

 

[fairytale]

Good Point about the Kids back packs

Our 4 children have more of those Back Packs then Virgin Probably, even when we try to tell them we dont want them they end up with us somehow

Definately a cut back that I could live without, our children carry their own bits and bobs in their bags that they enjoy packing at home. Always thought they were a bit of a waste of money even before the "recession", (god I hate that word).

 

[Red-Snapper]

Lets get some perspective here shall we?
1) BA is much, much bigger than Virgin and have made cutbacks on destinations, Virgin have not the range of destinations to do this to any great extent. Don't ever forget the size of BA compared to Virgin (Plus all the money we as taxpayers put into BA to put them on a winning formula!)

2) Virgin planes are very well maintained where it really matters, i.e. the flying bit. Sure, the cabins may be looking a little worn, but what I have seen passengers doing on these flights its hardly surprising that damage and wear and tear caused. Hey people, its not a play pen nor a kiddies gym yo8u know!
How many BA aircraft had crashes or incedenst in the past couple of years? how many Virgin aircraft? And BA have a fantastic maintenance record as well!

3) BA have slowed the refurb of their cabins down and are bringing in staff changes through a Project Columbus initiative.

4) Operating flights has actually gone up in price, yet you can fly from the UK to the uSA with virgin for just the same pric as from the UK to Spain with a Low cost airline!

5) if you want bright "new" shiny interiors and three course meals, the cost of the actual seat will have to rise and people would complain bitterly about this.

6) remeber charters have had to combine to keep their prices low and they don't fly all year round and only lease their shiny new interior planes, but your choices of flights, destinations and departures are all limited.

7) other scheduled airlines such as the American ones have reduced their kleg room, reduced their luggage allowance and charged for drinks, fly planes with no seat back TV's, and again don't fly all year round.

Virgin have done very well to compete as the only other direct all year round scheduled flight to orlando with the Big BA. If it means chnages to the cabin service, so be it. This has happened in all cabins on all routes.

better this than no Virgin to chosse when booking your flight to Orlando

I agree with all of this BUT. .....

Virgin made its brand on being the most innovative airline with the best service & all the little things i.e first for seat back TV's, ice cream after the film etc etc

They have now dropped most of this to the point that they are living on their past reputation. In days gone by people would never have been comparing them unfavourably to First Choice etc.

BA have now overtaken them imho - they offer IVOD on most routes now, their staff are professional where these days Virgin staff often seem just not to care.

I still fly VA to Oralndo because their PE product is still better than BA's but I wonder for how long.

The penny pinchers there need to realise that you have to get a proper balance between cost cutting and product. If Virgin want to offer a budget product - which they seem hell bent on sinking to year on year ,they cant act (and charge) as if they are still a normal long haul carrier.


The rumour of them looking into Sandford a few months back - whilst unfounded - was not treated with the same level of disbelief it would of been only a few years ago.

 

[DCLMan]

One Cabin crew member has been cut off each aircraft.

On flights after 1900 local a drinks service is not offered in premium or economy, just straight out with meals.

Cheese and biscuits in the Economy meal are going to be removed from the beginning of May.

Pretzels snacks and Virgin Vie towel will be removed from the first drinks service in premium and economy.

The small water bottle will be changing back to a cuplet on the meal tray in economy.

Across all classes we will be simplifying the choice of newspapers and magazines.

I can do without all these items as long as Virgin keep going. I lost my last holiday to Orlando as I booked with TCD. If Virgin need to make these cutbacks to keep going in this recession then I will live with it.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

The problem is that comparing them to first choice is not relavent across the transatlantic routes apart from Orlando.

FCA do not fly the other routes.
FCA are basic economy, Virgin make their profits on Upper Class and PE.
FCA have a Economy plus, but again not competing on the buisness transatlantic routes which pay the most.
You have to compare Virgin against the other full time transatlantic carriers flying into New york, Boston, San fran, etc etc as well as Orlando.

You would not compare First choice against Virgin on European routes for the same reason.

Oh and the big, big difference.
How do i fly from gatwick to orlando on, say, a Monday and return 17 or 18 days later with first choice?

 

[jackieleanne]

To me I think Virgin offer a great value for money on most of their flights the standard of the actual flying was the best I had ever experienced. Plus BA do not offer a MAN to Orlando route like VA do and for us and lots of offers for a flagship carrier such as BA i find disappointing. Like others had said I'd rather cope with these minor cutbacks than have to pay more for my flights I hate plane food anyway so always buy my own snacks to take on board and eat a meal before we fly.

I presume that First Choice fly to Sanford not MCO? for those wishing to use Magical Express this would not be good either.

 

[Lizzybear]

I too am surprised Virgin aren't cutting the kids packs, I thought that would be one of the first things they would consider! I don't have kids but if I did I would do what other posters mention and bring stuff from home, places like Home Bargains always has tons of stuff like that The other stuff doesn't bother me but I can't help but wonder what will go next. Delta already charge international passengers for a second piece of checked luggage, will Virgin be next..?!

well, June Easyjet EMA to Malaga £189 with no seat assignment, no food no IFE.
Equates to £0.08p per mile (2188 miles round trip)

Virgin LGW-MCO £382.40 with seat preference, larger luggage allowance, meals and IFE
Equates to £0.04p per mile (8,672 miles round trip)

Per mile yes I agree it works out cheaper but that's not the same as saying it costs the same to Spain with a lowcost airline than to Orlando with VA. £189 (which seems steep to me, you can usually get it for less than that) is still less than £382. I hear people say a lot that they can go to Orlando for the same cost as Spain and i've never found this to be the case myself. IMO the US is better value for money than Europe (linking in with the cost per mile, things like Disney tickets work out very reasonable per day) but not necessarily cheaper.

 

[wideeyes]

yes, Kid packs are a waste, my DD 7 with her DS, sticker books, colouring books and VS IF entertainment didn't even peep in the kids pack given to her, kids packs would be my choice of first thing to go on cut backs.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Per mile yes I agree it works out cheaper but that's not the same as saying it costs the same to Spain with a lowcost airline than to Orlando with VA. £189 (which seems steep to me, you can usually get it for less than that) is still less than £382. I hear people say a lot that they can go to Orlando for the same cost as Spain and i've never found this to be the case myself. IMO the US is better value for money than Europe (linking in with the cost per mile, things like Disney tickets work out very reasonable per day) but not necessarily cheaper.

No, in fact it costs more per mile to fly to Spain than to fly to the USA.
Sure, put the two figures raw against each other then it looks like its cheaper to go to Spain but in reality its not.

I would agree that the USA is better value for money, though I am not sure that Disney park tickets are value for money charged.

As for the KiD packs, whilst if you are veteran flyers it could be seen as a waste, for those children every year going on their first Virgin flight its a great piece of advertising.
Great for the holiday and great to show off at school with

 

[Frances999]

I agree with all of this BUT. .....

Virgin made its brand on being the most innovative airline with the best service & all the little things i.e first for seat back TV's, ice cream after the film etc etc

They have now dropped most of this to the point that they are living on their past reputation. In days gone by people would never have been comparing them unfavourably to First Choice etc.

BA have now overtaken them imho - they offer IVOD on most routes now, their staff are professional where these days Virgin staff often seem just not to care.

I still fly VA to Oralndo because their PE product is still better than BA's but I wonder for how long.

The penny pinchers there need to realise that you have to get a proper balance between cost cutting and product. If Virgin want to offer a budget product - which they seem hell bent on sinking to year on year ,they cant act (and charge) as if they are still a normal long haul carrier.


The rumour of them looking into Sandford a few months back - whilst unfounded - was not treated with the same level of disbelief it would of been only a few years ago.

I completely agree with all of this - couldn't have said it better. Even in UC I have noticed the level of service decline. For an airline which prides itself on innovation and being different from the rest, it's not impressing. When you get airlines like First Choice (!) offering a better product, it's time to figure things out. Like you said, years ago nobody would think twice about comparing an airline like First Choice with VA.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I completely agree with all of this - couldn't have said it better. Even in UC I have noticed the level of service decline. For an airline which prides itself on innovation and being different from the rest, it's not impressing. When you get airlines like First Choice (!) offering a better product, it's time to figure things out. Like you said, years ago nobody would think twice about comparing an airline like First Choice with VA.

I would maintain that you cannot compare Virgin with First choice.
They do not provide the same services. Where is FCA's Upper Class for example?
Where is their daily service to Orlando?

Sure compare Virgin with BA, American, Continental, etc but still FCA Charter is still only an economy service only.