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BA e-voucher update
If you request a voucher instead of a refund with BA, you currently have to use it over the phone. Obviously this is not a very efficient way to do this, so BA has been trying (for a very long time) to get the vouchers issued as e-vouchers. They have been trialing e-vouchers with customers who request vouchers via Twitter for simple single passenger bookings without extras. My friend recently tried this and it worked perfectly. BA have been satisfied with the trial and now they will soon start converting single passenger vouchers so can be used online. In the next phase those that have ancillary products (bags etc) which be able to get e-vouchers. Finally, they will look for those with multiple passengers on a booking and those who used Avios either in full or for part of the booking.
British Airways suspend London-Portland indefinitely
Yet another victim of COVID has been claimed very sadly. After waiting for a long time to get a direct flight to Portland, BA has suspended their London to Portland service indefinitely. BA was due to launch the route on 1 June 2020 but had already delayed it until 2 September 2020. Today the route has been taken off sale and has disappeared from the timetables. I am not surprised by this as I think we will see a slow resumption to smaller cities rather than the major hubs in the US given the current situation.
If you have flights booked, I would expect BA to offer you a reroute or a refund.
Great video of final Qantas B747 flight over Sydney – will BA do the same?
You may remember I recently published pictures of one of the last B747 flights from Sydney. If you would like to see more of the flight (or some great scenery around Sydney) then you will enjoy this video. Rumour has it that BA ARE considering whether to do something to mark the retirement of all their B747s so we may get to fly on them one more time. Nothing has been decided yet but at least they have not ruled it out by the sound of it!
Virgin Atlantic take to the skies again
After a three month hiatus, Virgin Atlantic will be welcoming customers back onboard with the first passenger flight departing London Heathrow to Hong Kong yesterday evening. To ensure the health and safety of customers and crew, Virgin Atlantic is implementing additional measures to offer peace of mind in the airport and when taking to the skies. These include enhanced and thorough cleaning practices at check-in, boarding gates and onboard including the use of electrostatic spraying of high-grade disinfectant in all cabins and lavatories before every flight, ensuring no surface is left untouched. Safe distancing will also be adhered to wherever possible, and mask-wearing will be required throughout the journey. All customers will be provided with a personal Health Pack for their health and safety, which will contain three medical grade face masks to be worn onboard, surface wipes and hand gel. Customers will be given additional space onboard, some seats will not be available, and they will be marked with special pillows.
The airline will be offering a simplified hot food service in all cabins, redesigned to limit interaction, enclosed and controlled from preparation in a Covid-safe, monitored environment to the moment it is served. Economy and Premium Economy customers will now enjoy a “Fly safe, eat well” meal box, which incorporates a choice of two hot meals, cheese and biscuits and a dessert pot washed down with a choice of wine, beer, soft drinks and bottled water. Upper Class customers will receive a choice of three hot meals, desserts, including cheese & biscuits and a ciabatta roll, all delivered to their seat on a tray. All customers will receive a second meal service which, on day flights from the UK, includes the delicious Mile High Tea in collaboration with celebrity pâtissier Eric Lanlard.
Given the cutbacks on food on some airlines, I think this sounds like Virgin are doing a good job. I am not in a hurry to book with them anytime soon though until they sort out their refund mess. Four months since I first tried to cancel my fully refundable flights and get a refund, I’m still waiting…..
Corneel Koster, Chief Customer Officer, Virgin Atlantic commented: “We will always ensure that health and safety remain our number one priority, whilst keeping our signature Virgin spirit and I am proud of all our teams who have been working tirelessly to implement new measures and evolve our customer experience. We are looking forward to welcoming customers back onboard, taking them to the skies safely and in true Virgin Atlantic style.”
“The health and wellbeing of our customers and crew is at the centre of all our operations and that includes social distancing at the airport and onboard wherever possible, meticulous cleaning of the aircraft and individual Health Packs for all customers, containing medical grade face masks, hand sanitizer and surface wipes.”
As travel restrictions around the world start to relax and customer demand increases, Virgin Atlantic will add more routes back into its network. Hong Kong, New York JFK and Los Angeles will be amongst the first destinations to restart with further routes added throughout August, September and October.
1 comment
I e said it elsewhere, I’ll say it here.
The people of Portland don’t want to be in Portland ( unless they’re part of mob). Losing out on a visit is no great loss. If you want to visit Russia why not just visit actual Russia. As it happens you can generally move around the streets much less hampered in Moscow than you can Portland.
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