I am a member of Virgin Atlantic frequent flyer program and Virgin Holidays Club.. and regularly fly from Manchester to Orlando, HOWEVER !!!!, Virgin have yet again done the dirty on their Northern based clients, and are using a company called Air Atlanta to operate their Manchester - Orlando service, with no seat back videos, no Virgin livery the aircraft is A Boeing 747-300 all white with a green tail.
The subcharter company are advertising on their website that they are operating a charter service on behakf of Virgin which is not true..people have paid for a scheduled flight and the facilities that Virign advertise anr a MAJOR selling point to entice people to fly Virgin Atlantic..
It is entirely understandable that in the small print Virgin reserve the right to substitiute another aircraft in the event of unservicability of their own Aircraft but not on a long term basis like the current situation is..
Virgin are continuing to market their Flights/Holidays out of Manchester but I wasn't informed that I wouldn't be flying with Virgin Atlantic therefore I maintain that Virgin are misrepresenting their services out of Manchester and I suspect that if people were told at the point of booking they may be tempted to fly with another operater for much less outlay.. Air Atlanta also operate CHARTER FLIGHTS for other British comapnies out of Manchester..
Virgin did this in 1996 to their Manchester based clients so the con is wearing a little thin..Virginare undoubtedly the best British Trans-Atlantic carrier I love flying with them.. but I hate being ripped off and this is what ( I believe) Virgin have done to us..
The compensation is feeble they have offered 20% off duty free..thats great if you smoke or drink ...they sre not offering 20 % off Disney tickets ( surprise surprise !!) ..
In my opoinion Virgin should be offering every single person that they have conned a free return flight from Manchester to Orlando in a proper Virgin Atlantic Aircraft... and not a sub-chartered Carrier
Come on Virgin get your act together...and PLAY FAIR... I wont tell people that its probably because you have taken your aircraft away from Manchester to operate the new London - Delhi service... strange really you did the same to your Manchester clients in 1996 when you took the superb Airbus away from Manchester to operate the JO'berg service and gave Manchester Clients a sub chartered Martin Air Boeing 767 with no Virgin Facitlites on board funny that isn't it !!!!
If you really want to fly Virgin I would fly from Gatwick...because you could be with any Tom Dick or Harry if your flying from Manchester and have paid Virgin for your Holiday...I am really surprised by my long term hero SIR Richard Branson....I will continue to fly Virgin but I doubt if I will ever book a Manchester based holiday with them again....
I've been ripped off twice now, I'm not getting caught three times..
Added 15/07/2001
...to that extent I have booked with British Airways on their new Boeing 777 service from Gatwick to Tampa, with upgraded flights from Manchester to Gatwick in Club Europe, the only comparison to this service would be if Virgin used more Airbus A340s on the Florida route...some hope when they are flooding it with their older Aircraft...charter Service with Scheduled Fares ...come on Virgin sort yourselves out
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Economy
How often do you travel with this airline
Regularly
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Directly with this airline
Safety
Good
How well does it cater for disabled people
OK
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