virgin tv problems

[Goofyish]

It seems strange to me that on routes that probably contain a higher proportion of families with children than the other VA long haul routes that the planes used are not the ones with a decent entertainments system with games etc..

 

[PoppyAnna]

On our flights april/may we were in the small economy cabin at the front and the headsets were fine in general although DH's connector was intermitent and crackly.

We were in the same cabin (dif seats) for our flight out of LGW on 3rd october and DH and eldest DD again had intermitent problems with sound.
Coming home on the 17th we were near the rear of the plane and the problem was a lot worse, the flight was no where near full and people were moving all over the place as the whole system had froze in many seats. We weren't able to move around as we have two small children and it's a lot of hassle - I selotaped my headphone connector in place and it was okay
What was annoying was the cabin staff making announcements/apologies like it was a complete surprise, a "one-off", if you like. Obviously having flown the same route a few months before I knew this wasn't the case, and as Obi states - it's a known problem. It has been mentioned on here many times, too.
Some people may pay a little extra from their budget to fly Virgin over a company, like TCD for instance as they know VA have seat back entertainment and it helps keeping children amused on what is a long boring flight. If it's not consistently working VA should "fess-up"!!!!

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Some people may pay a little extra from their budget to fly Virgin over a company, like TCD for instance as they know VA have seat back entertainment and it helps keeping children amused on what is a long boring flight. If it's not consistently working VA should "fess-up"!!!!

Fair comment in my opinion and something which should be addressed. Obviously something can go "tech" randomly, maybe it's because there is a lot of virgin flyers on the forums but it is something which doesn't get a good press overall and it should be a major plus for the airline.

 

[Nii Lamptey]

This is starting to concern me even more after reading other sites.IFE was something I was banking on to get a 3 year old in some semblance of order. His sister at 11 would no doubt moan if there was no service but quite quickly would bury her head in a book.

Can I use a portable dvd player on board and if so is there access to a power source

We took a personal DVD player on our recent flight with FC so I can't see why you wouldn't be able to use one on Virgin, there was no power though but the battery lasted a good few hours. We had one where you attach your ipod to it, so it uses less power than playing a DVD direct. It was perfect for my 5 year old, we loaded her fav Disney films and she was a happy bunny.

 

[Chilly]

On the way out we had no problems but on the way back I had a problem with the headphones, I tried about 7 pairs to no avail but DBF who had his own headphones had no problems.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

It seems strange to me that on routes that probably contain a higher proportion of families with children than the other VA long haul routes that the planes used are not the ones with a decent entertainments system with games etc..

Because as I said earlier, the IFE was already installed when Virgin got the aircraft.

 

[PoppyAnna]

Because as I said earlier, the IFE was already installed when Virgin got the aircraft.

I don't quite understand your point.
Aren't VA allowed to move their fleet around their routes then? Are these 747's pre-programmed to only fly to MCO?
I think what Goofyfish was getting at was exactly this, can't they move these 747's to a less family orientated route?

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I don't quite understand your point.
Aren't VA allowed to move their fleet around their routes then? Are these 747's pre-programmed to only fly to MCO?
I think what Goofyfish was getting at was exactly this, can't they move these 747's to a less family orientated route?

Its quite simple really PoppyAnna.

Gatwick configured aircraft are configured for mostly what are known as the "Bucket and Spade" routes.
Their configuration is:-
352/55 economy seats
58 premium economy setas
14 upper class seats

Heathrow based 747's are configured for the buisness routes in the main and comprise of:-
318 Economy seats
32 PE seats
44 Upper Class seats

To put on aircraft as a norm with the Heathrow configuration would basically mean losing money on every flight, less economy seats to fill, less PE seats to fill and lots of UC seats to be used at a loss.
Whilst they can be used for short periods to fill in for other 747's being updated or maintained, you make your money on buisness routes, not on B & S routes.
People fly B & S routes maybe once or twice a year, and at a keenly priced market sector, Businessmen fly weekly/Monthly and at a premium.

Where would you put your best aircraft if you were a business?

Eventually the 747's at Gatwick will be replaced with either 787's or most probably the the huge A380's (Two plane loads of passengers in one aircraft) and these will have an updated IFE.
Don't forget many airlines still only have screens in the centre aisles and thats the scheduled companies.

 

[alisonbestford]

My TV wasn't working on our flight into Manchester a couple of years ago .

I was given a DVD player, for the flight, but offered no compensation
The crew maintained that onboard entertainment was a bonus, not actually a guaranteed feature of the flight

 

[Goofyish]

The crew maintained that onboard entertainment was a bonus, not actually a guaranteed feature of the flight

That's a rdiculous thing for the crew to say - one of the primary reason for people chosing VA is the in-flight entertainment. They certainly don't chose them for their seat pitch in economy or the food

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I think irrespective of the seating configuration every effort should be made to ensure all planes have entertainment systems that are in full working order.
Some people save up for years to go on holiday with Virgin and the flights are very long and usually expensive.
There may be more modern systems on some aircraft but irrespective of that they should ALL still work properly.

 

[PoppyAnna]

Its quite simple really PoppyAnna.

Gatwick configured aircraft are configured for mostly what are known as the "Bucket and Spade" routes.
Their configuration is:-
352/55 economy seats
58 premium economy setas
14 upper class seats

Heathrow based 747's are configured for the buisness routes in the main and comprise of:-
318 Economy seats
32 PE seats
44 Upper Class seats

To put on aircraft as a norm with the Heathrow configuration would basically mean losing money on every flight, less economy seats to fill, less PE seats to fill and lots of UC seats to be used at a loss.
Whilst they can be used for short periods to fill in for other 747's being updated or maintained, you make your money on buisness routes, not on B & S routes.
People fly B & S routes maybe once or twice a year, and at a keenly priced market sector, Businessmen fly weekly/Monthly and at a premium.

Where would you put your best aircraft if you were a business?

Eventually the 747's at Gatwick will be replaced with either 787's or most probably the the huge A380's (Two plane loads of passengers in one aircraft) and these will have an updated IFE.
Don't forget many airlines still only have screens in the centre aisles and thats the scheduled companies.

Thank you for the (somewhat patronising) explanation. Although I am not offended as we all have our field of knowledge/expertise and I am not an industry insider although I was rather stupidly a travel agent for a few years, so some knowledge remains.
I understand VA don't wish to "PO" their business regulars on their other routes. This is business pure and simple.
VA have a lots to answer for with this problem, regular delays on the MCO-LGW route and their customer service issues which many including myself have suffered at the hands of. Customers will soon start voting with their feet, and so they should.
The airline industry seems to have many caveats that this and that isn't guaranteed, regardless of what is advertised when you book your seat (oh, that isn't guaranteed either!). Nobody wants to ground the airlines so nobody deals with the problem, advertising standards are far too small fry to deal with the issue.

 

[alisonbestford]

That's a rdiculous thing for the crew to say - one of the primary reason for people chosing VA is the in-flight entertainment. They certainly don't chose them for their seat pitch in economy or the food

Absolutely but it was during a flight that had been delayed 36 hours,the cabin crew were pretty stressed out, with grumbling passengers, so we were just glad to be on the plane

 

[alibeau]

Can I ask....

Are most of these problems on flights from London or are Manchester flights suffering too?? We don't fly til Jan 08 and are flying UC from Manchester.......

Ali.

 

[diddldonna]

I am taking plenty of magazines and i-pod to be on safe side. My two need entertainment to keep them quiet, otherwise my children will talk people to death.

Donna

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Thank you for the (somewhat patronising) explanation. Although I am not offended as we all have our field of knowledge/expertise and I am not an industry insider although I was rather stupidly a travel agent for a few years, so some knowledge remains.
I understand VA don't wish to "PO" their business regulars on their other routes. This is business pure and simple.
VA have a lots to answer for with this problem, regular delays on the MCO-LGW route and their customer service issues which many including myself have suffered at the hands of. Customers will soon start voting with their feet, and so they should.
The airline industry seems to have many caveats that this and that isn't guaranteed, regardless of what is advertised when you book your seat (oh, that isn't guaranteed either!). Nobody wants to ground the airlines so nobody deals with the problem, advertising standards are far too small fry to deal with the issue.

It was not meant to be patronising, I am sorry you found it that way.
We all have ways of addressing the forum, perhaps I can be too direct, but others can come over as augumentative when perhaps they don't mean to don't you think Poppy Anna?
Certainly Virgin may lose passengers on this route, but perhaps the bean counters have weighed up the loss of cheap economy tickets against buisness class fares and decided at the moment they can risk it?
They are going to get a bit tighter as they open up more routes and this may also cause more delays (waiting for inbound aircraft to fly the next route)
Of course, all airlines go through problems, its how they address them thats the thing.
Regular delays are not an issue trading Standards would deal with, as they are part and parcel of travelling in all formas of transport.
The IFE situation, I think you will find on page 27 of the VH brochure (in small print of course!) its staes "inflight entertainment does not form part of your holiday. Virgin Atlantic aims to rectify any technical faults during the turnaround, however neither Virgin holidays nor Virgin Atlantic will be held responsible for any lack of availability due to technical faults or difficulties or aircrfat changes"
and on the Virgin Atlantic web site under T & C:-
"7.4 On board services

For operational reasons, we cannot make any guarantees about the provision/availability of in flight entertainment equipment and advertised programmes and computer games, special meals or any particular type of meals; availability of special in-flight services such as beautician treatments. Additionally, where special meals are provided, the fact that they have been prepared by third parties to our order means that, despite use of our endeavours, it is not possible for us to guarantee that they will always conform to their exact description. "

By buying either of these companies services you agree to these T & c's so have very little recourse in law.

Eventually someone will kick them up the bum to get it sorted and of course, the new aircraft coming over the next few years will have bright shiny IFE systems to go wrong (BA and Virgin suffer on their State of the art IFE systems all the time)
But many people will fly with a company regardless if the price is right. How many people fly on aircraft with small overhead screens because the price is good?

I do wish Virgin would bite the bullet and get rid of the "Vauxhall" Nova system

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Can I ask....

Are most of these problems on flights from London or are Manchester flights suffering too?? We don't fly til Jan 08 and are flying UC from Manchester.......

Ali.

Same aircraft service the gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow routes, sorry.

Give Virgin a ring and demand to know what they are doing about it.