Comments on: Virgin America

By: Davi Ottenheimer

Davi Ottenheimer — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:02:33 +0000

Oh, sorry, I meant to say “spoiled business travelers like Mordaxus…”

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:48:42 +0000

Davi, please keep it polite and congenial. Thanks!
Adam

By: Davi Ottenheimer

Davi Ottenheimer — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:05:50 +0000

shhh, you’re giving away the secret. i’ve long since converted all my travel to virgin america and never looked back. i could list a dozen reasons why they rock, but now you have given me a new one: petty whiners like Mordaxus won’t be sitting next to me. :P

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:17:49 +0000

Before committing to Virgin America, you might try calling their customer service phone number a few times. The two people I know who have flown Virgin America both told me that when they tried calling the customer service phone number, they never managed to get through: there were on hold for a few minutes, then the call just drops (this seems to be repeatable). Maybe this was just bad luck, but if it is typical, I’d personally find that a non-starter: what if you need to reach a person to change your flight, or refund a ticket, or correct a mistake, or for some other reason?

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:22:11 +0000

hmm, I certainly didn’t run into any such baggage limit. Had both my computer case & a 22″ roller suitcase with me.

By: Mordaxus

Mordaxus — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:53:33 +0000

@MikeA: I did (and do) check Seat Guru — that’s how I knew to pack an extra battery, bring a book, and so on.
I fly US->Europe eight to ten times a year, and have tried any number of alternatives to the usual flights. Virgin, MaxJet (pacem), and so on. They all have issues. For me, the frequent traveler, the occasional indignities of the major airlines make up in the long run for overall level.
When I’ve spoken to frequent Virgin fliers, they’ve said that yes, the stingy bag rules and so on are completely at the whim of the gate agent and they’ve learned to spot the ones who are cranky.

By: MikeA

MikeA — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:45:07 +0000

When I can I always fly Virgin – both domestic and international. As you say Adam, their service and laid-back style is great (but not for everyone), not to mention that the in-flight services are better than most other carriers.
I can’t wait until Virgin America expand and give the domestic carries a run for their money (and passengers), and really hope for more flights out of SEA as well :)
@mordaxus: You must have had an unlucky experience – I know that it’s down to individuals to make/break the experience for passengers, but I haven’t had any of that (and fly back-forth US->UK at least once a year on VA). You must have been unlucky with your plane as well, because most VA flights have seat power in premium. I always check out this site before I fly
http://www.seatguru.com/

By: Mordaxus

Mordaxus — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:00:28 +0000

In contrast, I flew VA exactly once, and am unlikely ever to do so again.
The one time I flew them, I had to make a last-minute trip to Europe and flying on American (my usual), would have cost over five grand. In contrast, the VA flight in Premium Economy was under $3000.
However, VA has no seat power in Premium Economy, and I wanted to bring an extra laptop battery, a book, and so on. VA limited me to 6kg of hand luggage on so-called Premium, so I had to play Sophie’s Choice with a rude gate agent against my laptop and book and check my rollaboard. Yes, I got a free G&T, but I’d have paid $5 to have my laptop battery.
In American coach, no one would have bitched me out about my hand bags, I wouldn’t have had to have an extra battery because they have seat power, and I wouldn’t have had to check my carryon.
Yes, I’m a spoilt business traveler, but I know bad service when I get it, and it irks me to pay Premium and get Worse Than Coach.