If it cost 3,000 pounds to be upgraded to first class, I think Virgin is screwing all their passengers.

That's pretty common any time cash is transacted for something that isn't tangible, employees are pretty tempted to pocket the money. Even on a small scale, I always try to give tips at things like car washes in a way where it is visble to the whole workcrew, otherwise most of your tips don't make it past the first guy.

First up, Virgin doesn't even HAVE a first class. It has Upper Class, Premium Economy and Economy.

Don't get me wrong, Virgin Upper Class is BLOODY AWESOME (bar on board, you can sit with your feet up drinking champagne during takeoff, they make your bed for you while you sit at the bar, etc.) but it's probably worth getting your facts right Sun.

Secondly, "Scotland Yard detectives arrested the crew and are now trying to establish if any customers were fleeced." The word you are looking for there is "more", as in "any MORE customers were fleeced" - there is one already.

Thirdly, this seems odd - SURELY the crew were bright enough to think that the guy would try to claim the additional airmiles and therefore an investigation would be launched?

"99 cents", cash register drawers, etc., etc.

Any time you have a potentially non-trackable transaction, you have potential theft & fraud.

jabelar: That's pretty common any time cash is transacted for something that isn't tangible, employees are pretty tempted to pocket the money. Even on a small scale, I always try to give tips at things like car washes in a way where it is visble to the whole workcrew, otherwise most of your tips don't make it past the first guy.

You tip at the car wash?

/Mr. Pink

isamudyson: If it cost 3,000 pounds to be upgraded to first class, I think Virgin is screwing all their passengers.

Better question - why would a person who carries 3,000 pounds in cash on his person (in Nigeria of all places) have prebooked first class seats.

If he got his upgrade, but the crew pocketed his payment, then isn't it the company that they stole from, not the passenger? Which, if you'll pardon t he cynicism, might better explain why the company is pursuing the matter so vigorously.

Rising_Zan_Samurai_Gunman: isamudyson: If it cost 3,000 pounds to be upgraded to first class, I think Virgin is screwing all their passengers.

Better question - why would a person who carries 3,000 pounds in cash on his person (in Nigeria of all places) NOT have prebooked first class seats.

/FTFM

isamudyson: If it cost 3,000 pounds to be upgraded to first class, I think Virgin is screwing all their passengers.

Everyone knows that Nigerians have all the money now.

Just check your email.

ciberido: If he got his upgrade, but the crew pocketed his payment, then isn't it the company that they stole from, not the passenger? Which, if you'll pardon t he cynicism, might better explain why the company is pursuing the matter so vigorously.

There you go bringing logic into it.

Pimp slap.

Home counties = areas around London where everyone speaks with a posh English accent and looks down on those benighted folk who live Up North, if they can be bothered to think of them at all

/lives very far north

What first class might look like.

p4p3rm4t3: What first class might look like.

If that's the case, Virgin would not be a particularly apropos name for the airline.

Something else odd in the story is the comment about not being able to take a credit card due to fraud.

Here, in the good ole USA, just the opposite has happened in the last few years. Several US carriers have gone to a credit card only policy on board. The reason is because of the industry standard of theft, by the cabin crew.

I'm sure Virgin has great service and all, but would you really trust an airline that doesn't go all the way?

Being screwed by an airline pretty much applies to all of them doesn't it?

Pert: First up, Virgin doesn't even HAVE a first class. It has Upper Class, Premium Economy and Economy.

Don't get me wrong, Virgin Upper Class is BLOODY AWESOME (bar on board, you can sit with your feet up drinking champagne during takeoff, they make your bed for you while you sit at the bar, etc.) but it's probably worth getting your facts right Sun.

Secondly, "Scotland Yard detectives arrested the crew and are now trying to establish if any customers were fleeced." The word you are looking for there is "more", as in "any MORE customers were fleeced" - there is one already.

Thirdly, this seems odd - SURELY the crew were bright enough to think that the guy would try to claim the additional airmiles and therefore an investigation would be launched?

You've been waiting a long time to post this haven't you?

I don't blame these people. They probably make crap money. Otherwise, why the temptation to steal? Pay people an honest wage and they'll more likely respect you and not steal from you. I'm talking to all of the greedy CEOs out there!!!

/end rant

I'd make love to their vaginas

Doubleodoug: jabelar: That's pretty common any time cash is transacted for something that isn't tangible, employees are pretty tempted to pocket the money. Even on a small scale, I always try to give tips at things like car washes in a way where it is visble to the whole workcrew, otherwise most of your tips don't make it past the first guy.

You tip at the car wash?

/Mr. Pink

Those guys bust ass all day for 7 bucks an hour. Only costs me 10 bucks to get the car washed, so I give them a fiver that they don't get farked out of $2 in taxes on. Works good for everybody.

tuffsnake: Whenever you have people involved there will be theft. Next time you go into a bar or restaurant or any retail store take a look at all the cameras and other security devices, the majority are not because the owners are worried about theft from customers

/what's a "home counties"?

The Home Counties are civilisation.

Radak: Rising_Zan_Samurai_Gunman: Better question - why would a person who carries 3,000 pounds in cash on his person (in Nigeria of all places) NOT have prebooked first class seats.

Oh, also, I suspect almost everyone flying Lagos to London is on business. Chances are his employer was too cheap to buy him a good ticket and he's upgrading out of pocket.

Possible, but even for a 9 hour flight such as this, I think I'd rather just keep the 3,000 pounds and deal with it, and I'm fairly large and find no airline seat comfortable.

Julieahni: I don't blame these people. They probably make crap money. Otherwise, why the temptation to steal? Pay people an honest wage and they'll more likely respect you and not steal from you. I'm talking to all of the greedy CEOs out there!!!

/end rant

THIS.

I see this often at my airline. Flight attendants can't make rent with what they are paid. Not to mention the company treats them like garbage. You reap what you sow.

I'd rather go with a airline you can smoke on for $3,000 for a first class upgrayedd.

/DD for a double dose of my pimpin'

I wish flying was as awesome as it was before I was born:

Let me get this right:
Someone from Nigeria is complaining about a person(s) from a foreign country scamming them?

What am I missing!

Delta screws you with the luggage fees.

I love Southwestern.

I remember when just about every flight of 3 hours or more got you a hot meal and two trips down the aisle with free sodas and you got the whole can. If you were flying alone the cute lady stews would always wink and call you "Honey".

Oh...and a Lufthansa Chicago to Frankfurt round trip was $650 bucks USD.

Now you get 12 peanuts and a partial can of soda. If you are lucky.

It's all just a giant kleptocracy. Everyone stealing from everybody else.

hahaha If you deposit $3000 with the flight crew we will deposit millions of miles in your frequent flyer program. Just give us the $3000 and some small banking details. hahaa I'm still laughing. Should have used HERO tag.

Doubleodoug: jabelar: That's pretty common any time cash is transacted for something that isn't tangible, employees are pretty tempted to pocket the money. Even on a small scale, I always try to give tips at things like car washes in a way where it is visble to the whole workcrew, otherwise most of your tips don't make it past the first guy.

You tip at the car wash?

/Mr. Pink



Depends on if the sweet young thing doing the scrubbing rubs her bikini-clad hooters on the windows/windshield or not; YMMV....

rockradio1: I remember when just about every flight of 3 hours or more got you a hot meal and two trips down the aisle with free sodas and you got the whole can. If you were flying alone the cute lady stews would always wink and call you "Honey".

Oh...and a Lufthansa Chicago to Frankfurt round trip was $650 bucks USD.

Now you get 12 peanuts and a partial can of soda. If you are lucky.

And you try to tell the young people of today that, and they won't believe you.

The gate agent not the flight crew is who would have been payed for the upgrade. Other wise it just a bribe and does not qualify for mileage.

Craptastic: I wish flying was as awesome as it was before I was born:

I wish it was as awesome and fun as it used to be from the 70's on..
Airline competition, free Wine Cellar and cheese flights on Ozark.
'Steak' (chopped) and potato in coach on Delta L1011 and American DC-10s
out of LAX. (Real silverware)
Triple Airline miles from DFW to Tokyo, and you could use them
Man it was great then.

/Now I avoid it like the plague

FormlessOne: "99 cents", cash register drawers, etc., etc.

Any time you have a potentially non-trackable transaction, you have potential theft & fraud.

Or the $5 if we don't give you a receipt things you see at some stores.

Cormee: You've been waiting a long time to post this haven't you?

I've posted it repeatedly but nobody has replied....

Until now......

YOU are the chosen one....

i don't understand how sitting at the front of the plane should cost £3,000 more, it's just a little more legroom, and perhaps a few more attractive hostesses.

So,......they aren't virgins anymore?

Can't believe I was the first to say this.

DeadbeatPhD: Home counties = areas around London where everyone speaks with a posh English accent and looks down on those benighted folk who live Up North, if they can be bothered to think of them at all

Except for Essex.

/lives very far north

Jockland?

Strobeguy: Craptastic: I wish flying was as awesome as it was before I was born:

I wish it was as awesome and fun as it used to be from the 70's on..
Airline competition, free Wine Cellar and cheese flights on Ozark.
'Steak' (chopped) and potato in coach on Delta L1011 and American DC-10s
out of LAX. (Real silverware)
Triple Airline miles from DFW to Tokyo, and you could use them
Man it was great then.

/Now I avoid it like the plague

Two words...SINGAPORE AIR.
It's still fantastic to fly.

Lone Stranger: I'd rather go with a airline you can smoke on for $3,000 for a first class upgrayedd.

/DD for a double dose of my pimpin'


Let me guess, that's you on the right...