Rise In Upper Class Theft Of Salt & Pepper Pots Shakes Airline Industry

No longer will Virgin Atlantic Upper Class passengers be able to season their in-flight meal from lavish silver pots. The airline announced Friday it will be discontinuing use of the airplane-shaped salt and pepper sets as it replaces all Upper Class cutlery and dining ware sets next month.

The unique condiment containers have been in use for 12 years, and thousands have not so suspiciously disappeared. Turns out these little trinkets have been turning up on eBay, fetching bids of £20 ($31.) Currently there is a set up for auction going for £28 ($44) at press time.

But prices might be on the rise.

“We’re expecting a last minute rush when fans realize that their supply is coming to an end," Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman Janine Doy said in a press release. “Prices for “liberated” examples may also increase as they do in any market when stock becomes scarce."

Doy added the thievery is a "back handed" compliment to how well they were designed by Virgin's in-house team.

Recently manufactured pots bear the stamp “Pinched from Virgin Atlantic" in a failed effort to deter thieving passengers.

Comments

[waitingforlifeafterbush]

09:06 AM on 10/09/2011

This is just silly. Given the high price of first class tickets, when they realized how popular these things were - they should just give it to the passengers. It's not like they are losing money on these items. So, instead of the usual eye mask and other cheap stuff they leave on the seats for the cattle class, they could make these the take away gift.

Seriously - how much could they be paying for these things when they buy them en masse.

[chrsmith3]

03:55 PM on 10/08/2011

You would have thought they would switch to plastic after they noticed the losses,,,Maybe they did and this is just a shill story to promote Virgin Atlantic,,,,,

[myngbl]

03:46 PM on 10/08/2011

they are plastic, bad journalism

[nchaney]

03:40 PM on 10/08/2011

Another example of how the greedy always ruin things for everyone else.

[myngbl]

03:38 PM on 10/08/2011

Why is HP calling them 'lavish silver pots' they are plastic. I have some. Bad journalism.

[tom8626]

06:28 PM on 10/08/2011

I would think they are just reporting what they were told, no?

[frankerin]

03:15 PM on 10/08/2011

An old hospitality problem from hotels to cruise ships now from first class air. People assume two things knowing the opposite to be true. 1. These things are discounted in the rates, 2 people expect freedom to collect souveniers, even beyond the bath amenities. The free rides offer since the country began to bring in customers has really taken hold. Let them change the cutlery, so what. People will find other sources ,but the van will feel oppressed, and look at first class rates harder.

[bmitche]

03:15 PM on 10/08/2011

Good move for the airline.

[myngbl]

03:37 PM on 10/08/2011

Why? Have you seen first class flight rates? I rode Virgin and took the silver PLASTIC shakers. It is very customary. All international flights try to outdo each other with the little slippers, toiletry kits, sleep masks, etc......they are yours to keep.

[TheAncientOne]

03:14 PM on 10/08/2011

How ridiculous to put "Pinched from Virgin Atlantic" and expect people not to take them. That's an invitation for someone to take them as a souvenir with the blessing of the airline. R Kirsh who posted at 01:08 PM said it very well, "How absurb!!!"

[bshum3]

02:31 PM on 10/08/2011

Too funny ! Kleptomania IS a disease of the wealthy . The poor steal to survive .

[frankerin]

03:16 PM on 10/08/2011

Milk another cow why don'tcha

[carolineeaton]

11:03 PM on 10/08/2011

Because that's the cow that applies here.

[carolineeaton]

11:07 PM on 10/08/2011

Get another saying, why don't cha?

[aanbcaa]

02:27 PM on 10/08/2011

Why doesn't VA legally go after the sellers on eBay for dealing in stolen merchandise? Just simply call the appropriate police authorities and report these people are selling stolen items and they're willing to press charges.

[basketpam]

01:54 PM on 10/08/2011

I'm not surprised one tiny little bit by this article. I owned a store for 7 years that sold items that were a little bit more on the pricey side compared to Walmart and the Dollar Store. We were SHOCKED at the number of so-called "well off" people who shoplifted from the store. We mostly had our Thomas the Tank Engine cars disappear. People who definitely looked as if they could afford to buy the items we would find later would lift them. I definitely remember one time a mother and daughter pair, Daughter in early 30s, mother in late 50s or early 60s - DEFINITELY people with money - pocketed several and walked out of the store before we noticed they were gone. So we're not talking kids here. People old enough to KNOW better. How people sleep at night who do this I'll never know. I think I can honestly say I have NEVER stolen anything from a store in my life. In today's world especially I would be scared to death to even try it with security camera EVERYWHERE. Just today in my local Ace Hardware store I saw two printouts of a man and a woman who recently shoplifted. There they were, plain as day for all of their friends and family to see. I wonder how they'll feel when they know their children know about their actions? Some people have no shame.

[myngbl]

01:40 PM on 10/08/2011

Sorry, the 'lavish silver pots' are silver plastic. Not made to be refilled. If the airline is stopping the salt and pepper service in first class they better replace it with something better than the McDonalds paper packs. That won't fly. All first class international flights offer salt/pepper to take as a gimmick. Same as they give you (with their motto imprinted) tooth brushes, toothpaste, sleepmasks, slippers, etc.........Thai airlines gives you orchids and silk slippers.

[crazyryou]

01:48 PM on 10/08/2011

What would the passengers do if the salt and pepper shakers WERE replaced with the paper packets? Cry? Demand to be put in economy seating?

[myngbl]

03:40 PM on 10/08/2011

Find an Airlines that still delivers quality services for their First Class customers, which comes at an exorbitant price....is there a problem?

[Phoebe917]

01:34 PM on 10/08/2011

we try to fly first class whenever we travel, as my husband is very tall. we've never flown VA, so i don't know what goes on there. but i can tell you this, i've never seen anything on american carriers that i would be prompted to steal. subpar meals, subpar drinks, and in the last few years, i haven't seen a decent salt and pepper shaker. the flight attendents are good, the spaciousness is good, but other than that, you get nothing for upgrading. (well, i forgot, you don't have to wait in line on check-in, and you are fist ones out)

[myngbl]

03:43 PM on 10/08/2011

You have to fly Internationally to get real good meals, etc....Most still offer carved meats, champagne and caviar service, etc.....Virgin offers a wonderful first class with private angular seating which converts to a single bed, which is bedded with down pillows and comforter.

[chrsmith3]

03:44 PM on 10/08/2011

Well maybe next time they'll get your snobby butt to your destination an hour before the coach passengers,,,,

[Phoebe917]

04:11 PM on 10/08/2011

"snobby"? that is pretty funny. you don't know me. if i am paying roughly twice what it costs to fly "steerage" ( i threw that in because you can chew on that, while calling me a snob), one expects to get better service. as my husband, as i stated is tall, and needs more room and i have a bad wheel, so lines and waiting are a pain for me. you don't have to be so me an, especially not knowing me, my family nor our circumstances.

[crazyryou]

01:16 PM on 10/08/2011

Why, then, don't they just sell them to anyone that wants to buy them? They could make a little money selling them to business or economy class also.Or include it in the cost of the meal. it doesn't take a whole lot of thinking to come up with a way the airlines could profit off this.

[David Amaya]

02:28 PM on 10/08/2011

My thought exactly! If the Rebel Billionaire was smart (And who dare says he ain't) he could have been selling these trinkets to his loyal fans and given the proceeds to one of his many charities!

I bet he's kicking himself and his marketing team for not seeing the oblivious, If the fans want to buy the stolen bootleged items, they'll pay a fair amount for the official one!

[myngbl]

03:44 PM on 10/08/2011

people collect them like shot glasses.

[tom8626]

06:34 PM on 10/08/2011

Just because people "take" them or "steal" them as the airline see's it, does that make it right?

[R Kirsch]

01:08 PM on 10/08/2011

The stamp “Pinched from Virgin Atlantic" is easily seen as an invitation to take (pinch) them, especially in a first-class setting. A better stamp would be "Property of Virgin Atlantic - Do not remove from aircraft". Virgin knew and expected (thus intended) or at least should have known and expected, that the items would be taken. They indicate they will continue to have them and clearly they do expect them to be taken.

To characterize it as theft is ludicrous, almost slanderous.

How absurd!!! Virgin (and/or Huff Post Travel) is wrong.

[prosymom]

01:34 PM on 10/08/2011

why would anyone think taking somethink like that is ok and expected?? do you generally steal salt shakers, cutlery, and napkins from restaurants; I suppose you think it's ok to steal pillows and robes from hotels as well...

[crazyryou]

01:55 PM on 10/08/2011

'Pinched' has two meanings: a little bit of salt/pepper or to steal. It is a play on words. Get it? This is a non-issue and just a funny, fluff piece from huffpost. It seems the airline expects their first class passengers to take these little tokens with them.

[teryflwr4u]

02:31 PM on 10/08/2011

I worked in an upscale hotel in West Los Angeles for 15 years and you wouldn't believe what people would steal. Pillows, blankets, TV's, fax machines, flower arrangements, decorative accessories that were not glued down, cocktail glasses, dinnerware (it was sterling silver), holiday decorations, ornaments off the Christmas trees. Pretty much anything they could get their hands on. And these were people paying premium prices for their hotel suites or dining in the hotel's expensive restaurants. Nothing surprises me anymore.