Virgin Traveller is being extended

[MKB]

Good news for Virgin first-class customers. Virgin Traveller is being re-launched soon, but with some changes not yet disclosed, and will run to the end of the franchise on 9/11/14.

My own membership is being extended for another year "as a token of our appreciation for the help we received" during "our fight to continue running the West Coast Mainline". It's not clear if this applies just to people who were members at the close on 31/12/12 or anyone who had membership lapse in 2012.

I just hope the changes don't dilute the benefits, and that they re-launch soon.

 

[Roverman]

Is it any good? It seems a very expensive way to get some free weekend first tickets and a decent parking space!

 

[All Line Rover]

How exciting... No innovation just more of the same. Similar to the old-style compensation arrangements we are stuck with, with no sign of Delay Repay coming any time soon.

I appreciate now is not the time for significant change but VT have reached a plateau, even going downhill somewhat. Unregulated ticket prices continue to go up and the quality of the First Class service continues to go down. PPM has also gone down and whilst much of this is out of VT's control, not introducing Delay Repay doesn't help much!

 

[Roverman]

Has that been confirmed ALR about the compo arrangements?

 

[All Line Rover]

Has that been confirmed ALR about the compo arrangements?

The Passenger Charter is unchanged.

EDIT: Considering the charter is (apparently) going to be changed on 1st April I'm surprised Virgin aren't making a bigger deal of this. It's slightly odd to make a significant alteration on April Fools Day, but I recall something similar happening last year.

 

[Roverman]

Very true, its disappointing though that VT won't embrace the future, although I believe they will have to offer it on their next franchise.

 

[calc7]

Very true, its disappointing though that VT won't embrace the future, although I believe they will have to offer it on their next franchise.

Are you a betting man?

 

[Roverman]

Sorry, that should read, the next application they make for a franchise!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The Passenger Charter is unchanged and there has been no mention of alterations to compensation arrangements. If Delay Repay was indeed on the way I'm sure VT's marketing department would be shouting from the rooftops by now.

Improving the compensation regime was specifically in the DfT announcement of the VT franchise extension.

 

[All Line Rover]

Improving the compensation regime was specifically in the DfT announcement of the VT franchise extension.

Thank you for that. 1st April 2013. Not bad at all! I'm glad we can look forward to at least one improvement then. Hopefully they won't be like London Midland in taking up to 2 months to process claims.

 

[Roverman]

Its the way of the world now, if they can correspond with you in a non face-to-face way then they will take as long as they like.

My cousin has just been laid off from Shop Direct (Littlewoods) despite the fact his customer services department has emails and post from customers undealt with since 8th November 2012.

 

[MKB]

My new Virgin Traveller membership card, now complete with photo, finally arrived this week, valid until November 2014.

 

[ramitamimi]

Any recent news?

 

[ramitamimi]

So it now says this on the website:

Traveller is an invitation-only programme offered to our most frequent travellers booking tickets through our website virgintrains.com.
Invitations to join Traveller are sent by email so make sure you’re registered to receive communications from Virgin Trains to be sure that you’ll receive yours.
By registering your details here you consent to receive news and exclusive offers from Virgin Trains.