On Monday, "Virgin Atlantic" transformed its global headquarters in Crawley, south of London, into a full-scale recreation of its in-flight experience. Cabin crew distributed glasses of champagne to visitors, who were then ushered into a designated departure lounge. From there, they embarked on the ultimate short-haul leap: a 20-minute journey in one of Virgin's training modules, installed in the room to teach the crew how to operate the interior of their newest aircraft, the A350.
The splashy bash was a coming-out, or rather take-off, party for the four-year project, which was followed last year by a small refresh of the economy cabin - the first such update in 10 years. The UK-based airline has ordered a dozens of the more fuel-efficient, greener aircraft, with the first four due to enter service later this summer. New Yorkers (and Brits) will be the first to experience the planes first hand; Virgin expects to deploy them from London to Atlanta and Los Angeles at a later date, which has not yet been announced.
So what can we expect from the A350? Economy seats are sturdy and basic, though three dozens of them will have 34 inches of legroom -- the best knee room behind the bus among its long-haul competitors. Bespoke Premium seats retain the leather finish of the current cabin and add larger TV screens and integrated footrests. The biggest changes are in the Upper Class cabin, where the shell-like Dream Suites now have privacy-enhancing screens, extra-spacious seats, and the same purple mood lighting that was once synonymous with Virgin America.
The biggest change, however, is that Virgin has removed its signature bar; one of the most well-known functions of the freight forwarder, however, according to customer feedback, it is no longer considered essential. Instead, the same entryway was set up as an airborne version of the clubhouse lounge, with seating for a total of eight people, both standing and seated (the latter can buckle up, allowing meetings to continue even when the air is choppy). The new layout allows multiple groups to use the space at once, while the old-school bar could often be co-opted — and dominated — by the very people you want to stay away from on the floor.
One of the key executives behind this redesign is Collin Manning, who was poached from Apple's retail design team after working for its stores around the world. Manning has been tasked with ensuring that the experience at 35,000ft is reflected on the ground and will also work on the global flagship Clubhouse at London Heathrow. His current focus is on the largest demographic in travel: millennials. This group, he notes, is keen on balancing laptops and dinner plates at the same table, so expect larger dining tables and an abundance of plugs.
The launch is just one element of Virgin's plan to regain some of the momentum it had during its heyday in the 1990s, and also aims to serve American travellers looking to continue their journey to other parts of Europe. The airline has already announced new services, operating between Boston-Logan and New York-JFK and London-Gatwick, the alternative airport to Heathrow and a hub for low-cost airlines like EasyJet to reach dozens of European destinations like Rome or Madrid. (Arch-rival BA already dominates the same London-Heathrow services.)
Back in January, Virgin took a stake in ailing English regional airline Flybe for a bargain price of $2.8 million to carry passengers around the British Isles. And after several years of cutting key routes (London-Dubai was last dropped, followed by London to Tokyo, Mumbai and Vancouver). Virgin Atlantic is finally expanding again, with flights from London to Tel Aviv from September and from London to Sao Paolo from next summer.
But things have changed since the saucy Branson-era Virgin of Addicted to Love-inspired photo ops and Vargas-style pin-ups were emblazoned on the hull. Those '40s-style glamor girls are set to be replaced with what the company calls aviation icons: stylized representations of a range of women -- and men -- who better embody their customers, according to Daniel Kernel, vice president of customer experience.
Why are people calling Virgin Mobile Customer Service 1-855(642)2660?
People call Virgin Mobile customer support for many different reasons, including:
Start new service
change or terminate service
Purchase and upgrade of devices
Technical support
Questions about the service
Billing and accounting issues
Questions about device repairs and replacements
Tips on calling Virgin Mobile Customer Service 1-855(642)2660
While calling most customer service call centers is straightforward, there are still a few things you can do to make the call go smoother:
Telephone customer service is available seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Central Time. Callers can use Virgin Mobile's toll-free number or dial 611 from a Virgin Mobile phone.
Have your account number ready before calling Virgin Mobile. While the agent may be able to use caller ID to look up your account information, using a phone that isn't connected to your account may prevent the agent from doing so. Your most recent Virgin Mobile bill includes your account number, as does your online account dashboard.
Take notes during the conversation. Although you may not need to do this, you can use a pen and paper to write down the representative's name, jot down a reference number or simply jot down information that might be helpful if you need to call Virgin Mobile again.
How do customers experience calls to Virgin Mobile Customer Service?
A review of online consumer websites shows that many people are dissatisfied with Virgin Mobile's telephone customer service. Major complaints include language barriers, long wait times, and incorrect information provided by phone operators.
Media Report
A consumer website shared the story of a man trying to buy a Virgin Mobile phone as a Christmas present. While explaining the company's need for expedited shipping and even switching to next-day air delivery, the company didn't ship the phone on time.
When he tried to cancel the phone he was assured that the delivery had indeed been cancelled and that he would be given a refund. However, the refund did not arrive and after several calls he was told the phone had been sent to him and he would have to send it back to get a refund.
What do I do if I'm not satisfied with my call to Virgin Mobile Customer Service?
Not all calls to Virgin Mobile will be successful in resolving your problem or answering your questions. If you hang up the phone and feel like you didn't get your point across or that the options offered to you aren't satisfactory, don't give up. Instead, get back in touch with Virgin Mobile and politely ask again that they look into your situation.
Take a few notes: Before you contact Virgin Mobile again, it's a good idea to write down what happened during the last call, what exactly your problem is and how you would like it resolved. Having this information to hand will help you better explain your situation to the next customer service representative you speak or write to.
Recall: Every Virgin Mobile employee is a unique person. Education, experience, and personality can vary from agent to agent, so calling back is often a good idea. Another customer service representative may be able to better understand your concern and find a solution for you.
Use Live Chat: Some issues are better explained and resolved in writing. Virgin Mobile's live chat option allows you to text directly to a customer service representative. One benefit of live chat is that you have a transcript of your conversation, which can be useful if you need to escalate your case.
Social Media Outreach: Virgin Mobile is active on several social media platforms. Contact us via Twitter or Facebook.
Send Email: Virgin Mobile supports email for customer service requests. Visit Virgin Mobile's website and fill out the online form.
Visit a retail store: Some retailers like Walmart and Best Buy sell Virgin Mobile plans and devices, though the brand doesn't have its own stores. A visit to a retailer may solve your problem, especially if you need to buy a new device.