On board recognition - who gets any?

[bullerdude]

Flying back from Bali 2 weeks ago we were greeted along the lines of "Welcome back Mr & Mrs B, we dont have anyone flying in business today and as valued Platinum members we would like to offer you a business class seat". Very pleasant surprise, no business class food etc but a pleasant surprise all the same.

There seems to have been a number of status members who have recieved excellent service recently on short and long haul internation flights which is fantastic!

 

[totd]

I'm looking forward to my AKL-SYD flight on Wed. I've only just hit SG (the flight to AKL only just pushed me over the line this week) so it'll be interesting to see the difference from previous flights.

 

[Virgin Bart]

totd, unfortunately don't hold your breath. I did MEL-AKL-APW-AKL-MEL the other day and pretty much no recognition.... As a platinum!

I must say on the rare occasion I am acknowledged it is very pleasant.

 

[totd]

The flight over was fantastic. Chat with the CSM, apology for not being able to offer food service (Long story, covered in many other threads), and all the general FA swooning... But that was J with NZ, so one would expect a high level of legacy carrier service. The CSM did mention that Virgin are fairly new to the full service game and still have a bit to learn.

I'm not expecting a VA flight in PE to be anything like NZ J, but I can hope.

 

[mella2007]

Fantastic crew both yesterday and today on domestic Mel/Syd return. Welcomed back by the CSM on both sectors, very friendly...terrific service. All 8 seats full both ways

 

[maninblack]

I'm not expecting a VA flight in PE to be anything like NZ J, but I can hope.

Keep hoping Totally different league I'm afraid.

 

[Mondo]

I'm Silver, and have received the "Welcome back" comment on the last 7 flights, so I don't feelit is particularly special. I think it's just part of their script.

 

[mickeyc747]

On VA 1593 MEL NTL no welcome back, could not even read surname on boarding pass seated in J and Platinum. I am the only one in J. VA it is getting worse. Complete opposite treatment when I flew down QF, welcome back , then a personal conversation from CSM

 

[Inver]

On VA 1593 MEL NTL no welcome back, could not even read surname on boarding pass seated in J and Platinum. I am the only one in J. VA it is getting worse. Complete opposite treatment when I flew down QF, welcome back , then a personal conversation from CSM

That's really disappointing.

 

[totd]

All up, I'm pretty happy with the recognition on VA51 (AKL-SYD) and VA1176 (SYD-ABX).

It's hard to fault the SYD-ABX route now as I seem to do it so often, most of the FAs recognise me now. This time around we had Connor and Shane. It was pretty uneventful, although the AT7 seats are starting to get a bit long in the tooth (read: hard and uncomfortable).

I have no idea how many status pax were on VA51, but being a flight that left at sparrows fart, and a PE config 738, I suspect not many. PE was only the first 2 rows my companion and I were the only one that the CSM came and personally chatted to before take off. She also offered us Digi-e-players before anyone else and personally went through how to use them.

 

[mickeyc747]

On VA 1593 MEL NTL no welcome back, could not even read surname on boarding pass seated in J and Platinum. I am the only one in J. VA it is getting worse. Complete opposite treatment when I flew down QF, welcome back , then a personal conversation from CSM

Update whilst there was no boarding welcome back and lack of anything except a drink prior to take off. The service was great as a i am a newly diagnosed diabetic and VA not doing special meals the CS went out of his way to assist with a chicken sandwich from the main cabin, on multigrain bread. As the food offering in J contained to much fat and sugars. Whilst I am very pleased with the service after take off. There still needs to be consistency. Pity no special meals as QF,s diabetic snack was tasty and enjoyable.

 

[Aus ATC]

I had a nice "welcome back" from the CSM on a MEL-BNE flight yesterday. Not at the aircraft door (the other FA was checking boarding passes), but she said hello once I was seated. She remembered me from a business (comp upgrade) flight I had taken the week before - excellent service provided on that flight. On reflection, I am moved to pass on the feedback! Unfortunately this time I was in Y (Row 3 so can't complain too much!)

 

[gwilli1]

Well i just got back from doing a Status Run BNE-CBR-SYD which requalled me VA Gold and im still at 100% for recognition on boarding for the last 18 months . On top of that , on my CBR-SYD sector today , the CS offered me while we were taxiing to the terminal , 2 bottles of wine to take home. Nice ;-)

 

[Mondo]

Flew PER-MEL-OOL over the weekend. Got welcome back each time. Just qualified for Gold so will see if anything changes.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Flew MEL-MQL-MEL over the weekend. "Thanks, first row on your left" each time. Pretty disappointing especially from an experience cabin manager who I have seen many times in the air.
I'm platinum.

 

[robbie1984]

Recently flew to AUH on VA29 Flight over was in W and my chosen seat was 11A. I had a platinum shadow, received a welcome back at the door and the Cabin Leader come to welcome me onboard about 15 minutes after the crew were released from their seats. Recognised me as a loyal FF and thanked me for continuing to fly with VA, asked is he could get me anything, i asked for bubbles and received some from J. It was refilled a few times until i moved on to another drink of choice. Checked on me once during the flight just before he went for his rest break and again just before landing.

Flight back VA30 was in J, again had a platinum shadow, welcome back at the door and the Flight Manager come past while we were still at the gate, introduced himself and the crew member looking after me. Asked if he could do anything and had a general chat about where I had been, why I was traveling etc.

Overall I couldn't fault the service in W or J. The meals, drinks, attention in W was particularly good and i think i remember that more because you expect it in J. Another VA flight where everything just worked for me.

 

[docjames]

Deleted as I didn't realise it was the VA thread.

 

[N860CR]

My last VA J flight turned me right off it (and I have pretty much moved back to QF I hate to say). Crew disinterested, however one could say I got a little recognition... On boarding (seated in Row 1 in J) I stopped to put my bag in the overhead and the economy passenger behind me found it appropriate to just about push me over to get past. The cabin crew member serving the J cabin announced loudly to me "could you hurry up so everyone else can get on". After checking the manifest and, I'd assume, seeing Platinum he later gave a very half-coughd "sorry about the scrum during boarding". I guess that counts as recognition!

Qantas, while not perfect, have the business game fairly well sorted out. There are a few too many LCC minds at Virgin.

 

[esquire]

Recently took the PER-(PHE)-XCH-CCK with VA- obviously no J here but the crew (including the pilots) and ground crew were the worst I have experienced for years. The flight was besieged with issues - 2.5 hours late ( with no announcements until 1/2 an hour after boarding time, pilots turn up late and go and get coffee (crew were still at the gate at boarding time - which the sign was stating 'Final Call', then 25% of passenger involuntary offloaded (next flight in 4 days), any second bag off loaded (but only once the passengers were boarded and in full view of them (then some wanted to get off but were told bad luck) and no food for purchase. The crew were giggling during announcements, ground crew came on board and sat in business during the layovers to cool down and not one smile from a member of crew - but a reminder to me (row 2 seat) that "your in economy but somehow got allocated a business class seat". Upon arriving in Christmas Island initially advised I wasn't on the list of passengers flying to Cocos (had boarding card in my hand!). Then when finally arrived in Cocos found out return flight was cancelled - not by Virgin staff (there weren't any) but by the hotel owner! Never got any notice from VA.... Great Platinum service


amazingly (and somewhat disturbingly) the flight back (with different crew) to Perth was outstanding!


Chalk and Cheese

 

[medhead]

My last VA J flight turned me right off it (and I have pretty much moved back to QF I hate to say). Crew disinterested, however one could say I got a little recognition... On boarding (seated in Row 1 in J) I stopped to put my bag in the overhead and the economy passenger behind me found it appropriate to just about push me over to get past. The cabin crew member serving the J cabin announced loudly to me "could you hurry up so everyone else can get on". After checking the manifest and, I'd assume, seeing Platinum he later gave a very half-coughd "sorry about the scrum during boarding". I guess that counts as recognition!

Qantas, while not perfect, have the business game fairly well sorted out. There are a few too many LCC minds at Virgin.

That's almost the opposite to my experiences of J with VA. a number of times they've either stop boarding entirely for me to stow luggage or the crew have stowed the carry on for me. I take that as a business thing not platinum.