Virgin Blue - Feral to say the least...

[munitalP]

Yep, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Virgin Blue is FERAL in every respect and I won't back down from my statement.

QANTAS for all it's bad points have far better service than Virgin Blue easily.

I make a point of not flying the FERAL one, but on ocassion I have no choice, for example ROK to BNE - 737 (or Embraier) vs Crash 8, no choice, most times I need to fly out of Tassie (can always get there on QF but always seem to return on JQ or DJ) and last Friday, MEL to Newcastle, last minute flight.

Heres the FERAL approach, I'm on flexi fare with BLUE ZONE seating (thats pay extra for exit rows). I get to MEL 55 mins before departure - I have no luggage, check in through priority line (where's the at the gate check in?)

I go to gate 13. I particually asked the eye candy who issued the BP which gate and which direction... Down the stairs and turn left.

Sat there for ages - no sign of flight, I ask at the counter, 5 minutes past boarding and I get told its way over the other side, the gates been changed and I better run if I want to make the flight! OK - maybe I didn't hear it called as being changed - the BP has written on it the gate number so I know I'm not wrong...

Through security for the second time and hightail it down to the end gate - I'm sweating and they are calling me by name now...

I get on the 737 with glares from the attendants, I wander down to the exit rows and what do you know, they are full. I look at my BP again, this time looking at seat allocation to notice it's 18D issued.

After takeoff, I called a FA and explained the Blue Zone arrangement. After quite a number of excuses all of which were BS (the best being that my seat was reallocated as they thought I was a no show - I rebutted by pointing out that my BP was issued 50 mins before departure, how could I be a no show?) I was given a card to fill out and send to FERAL Blue.

I also pointed out that all of the PE seats were vacant, upgrade me and I would take it as bluezone - couldn't do that, send in the card and FERAL Blue might issue a refund for the blue zone.... hmmm

Again, FERAL Blue shows it's true colours and is no better than a vacation airline aimed at holiday makers who don't care what kind of service they get. There is even less chance I will fly FB from now...

:evil:

Mr!

 

[Saab34]

I had my first Virgin Blue flight yesterday, and never again...Left 55mins late, nearly missed my connecting JQ flight, old plane!, crew rude. Nightmare....A group of 20 also missed their connecting flight to Rocky, so their was heaps of arguing and screaming at the end.

However, have an E170 flight in two-weeks, so they will kepp getting my service on EJet Runs if they improve.

 

[PlutekPlutek]

Is there any way to check what routes they are flying the Embraer's on ? Unlike in QF where you click on the flight number and the equipment is shown, I can't see such an option in Virgin Blue. I'd happily fly with them knowing I'd be flying on an Embraer, but I can't see where I can check it. Otherwise I'm sticking to QF.

 

[Mal]

Is there any way to check what routes they are flying the Embraer's on ?

Try the timetable. Aircraft type is listed (although, I believe they don't differentiate between a 73G and 73H)
Virgin Blue > Timetables

There are certain routes that the planes are on, but off-hand don't recall which ones.

 

[Saab34]

Try the timetable. Aircraft type is listed (although, I believe they don't differentiate between a 73G and 73H)
Virgin Blue > Timetables

There are certain routes that the planes are on, but off-hand don't recall which ones.

Embraer Hot Spots are Canberra, Regionals(ABX,PQQ...) and Northen QLD locations. Usually on the routes JQ do well on, that DJ dont, you will find a Ejet for DJ.

But 95% of all those flights out of Canberra for DJ are EJets!

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

dj.innosked.com will get you the schedules without the eye candy Virgin Blue E-Timetable although the aircraft types are subject to change, but does show the different e-jets (E70 or E90) although not the 737's.

Cheers
DJ737

 

[MelUser]

I won't fly with them for the reasons you say.

I suspect that the crew are young, inexperienced and have very little discretion.

I also don't think that DJ training places much emphasis on passenger comfort - it is all about that fake/false smiling and "fun" and stupid jokes made over the PA system.

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

I won't fly with them for the reasons you say.

I suspect that the crew are young, inexperienced and have very little discretion.

They have the discretion to be civil and courteous, they just choose to not to be.

It's just DJ's (lack of) training and HR principles that lets their 18 year old's get away with it. A good smack on the a*se wouldn't go amiss.

A really poor quality organisation, which, hopefully, with the financial crisis, will go belly up.

 

[oz_mark]

A really poor quality organisation, which, hopefully, with the financial crisis, will go belly up.

While in a lot of respects they have a way to go, heaven help us if they do go belly up.

 

[Saab34]

While in a lot of respects they have a way to go, heaven help us if they do go belly up.

If they did go belly-up, Im sure old JQ would up those prices of theirs. However, surely TT would be a new significant player.

Anyway, Its not going to Happen, would Branson would ever let such a well-known assett of his go completly under??? Certianly not good for the Virgin name...

 

[munitalP]

If they did go belly-up, Im sure old JQ would up those prices of theirs. However, surely TT would be a new significant player.

Anyway, Its not going to Happen, would Branson would ever let such a well-known assett of his go completly under??? Certianly not good for the Virgin name...

Sir Branson - what's his stake nowdays?

 

[Standby]

Guys...a bit of OTTvenom in some posts here
I'm nowhere near pro DJ but I do share travel on them to my place in HVB from SYD with JQ(don't have the time to connect thru BNE)..and they get me there safe and sound.
I agree in order of true professionalism I still rate QF #1, DJ/JQ #2 and TT #3.
This view is based purely on my needs and expectations and they vary from person to person so lets leave it at that.
You get what you pay for in life..I don't pay much for DJ and JQ fares so adjust my expectations accordingly. There are inflexible/non responsive staff everywhere..ultimately the best way is vote with yr feet if you don't get "reasonable" service.
I think it fair that the exit row seat was taken if you got to the plane late,however after hearing the story it cost them absolutely nothing to recover the situation by putting U in an empty PY.Empowered staff make the right customer service decisions

 

[brissyflyer]

I get on the 737 with glares from the attendants, I wander down to the exit rows and what do you know, they are full. I look at my BP again, this time looking at seat allocation to notice it's 18D issued.

May help to check your BP when you get it, first thing I do is double check the seat number.

Then it can be fixed while still at the desk.

 

[ishkaban]

Quite an negative posting, one wonders why you would fly VB at all

I think it fair that the exit row seat was taken if you got to the plane late,however after hearing the story it cost them absolutely nothing to recover the situation by putting U in an empty PY.Empowered staff make the right customer service decisions

As far as I am aware, generally VB Cabin Crew can not use an "upgrade" to a PE seat as a service recovery tool.

Sat there for ages - no sign of flight, I ask at the counter, 5 minutes past boarding and I get told its way over the other side, the gates been changed and I better run if I want to make the flight! OK - maybe I didn't hear it called as being changed - the BP has written on it the gate number so I know I'm not wrong...

As frequent travellers, we should know that gate changes do happen from time to time due to a/c not being pushed back on time or operational reasons etc , I am always checking the screens for gate changes regardless of what it says on the BP.

I get on the 737 with glares from the attendants,

I often note that many flights are not delayed by the VB itself, but the speed in which passengers board the a/c, take seats, fumble around etc etc.
Although you may received a "glare" its probably because the crew just wanted to push back on time,

send in the card and FERAL Blue might issue a refund for the blue zone.... hmmm

This is standard VB procedure, the Guest Contact Centre looks after fare refunds

In regards to the BZ seating, I would hazard a guess and say that 99% of people as soon as they get the BP would check the seating allocation as they walk away from the desk/kiosk. And I am sure it could have easily been rectified by ground crew had they been told when it was issued.

 

[albatross710]

I had two flights with VB in the past three days. I got what I paid for, a return trip to Cairns at a reasonable price. I generally fly with Qantas and this is the first time on VB for three years.

Generally I felt more 'crowded' on the flight, the boarding and the departure. Staff were OK, nothing got me offside and nothing outstanding.

I was surprised to see Tom Hedley, a Cairns high flyer (currently on the financial ropes), sitting on the same VB flight.

Most of my travel is generally planned well in advance so I can avail myself of Qantas flights at the same price as VB.

 

[serfty]

I had two flights with VB in the past three days. I got what I paid for, a return trip to Cairns at a reasonable price. I generally fly with Qantas and this is the first time on VB for three years. ...

The problem here is that (when stripping away all the stuff about wrong gates and boarding late) the OP did not get the seating he paid for.

 

[Standby]

Quite an negative posting, one wonders why you would fly VB at all



As far as I am aware, generally VB Cabin Crew can not use an "upgrade" to a PE seat as a service recovery tool.



As frequent travellers, we should know that gate changes do happen from time to time due to a/c not being pushed back on time or operational reasons etc , I am always checking the screens for gate changes regardless of what it says on the BP.



I often note that many flights are not delayed by the VB itself, but the speed in which passengers board the a/c, take seats, fumble around etc etc.
Although you may received a "glare" its probably because the crew just wanted to push back on time,



This is standard VB procedure, the Guest Contact Centre looks after fare refunds

In regards to the BZ seating, I would hazard a guess and say that 99% of people as soon as they get the BP would check the seating allocation as they walk away from the desk/kiosk. And I am sure it could have easily been rectified by ground crew had they been told when it was issued.

Not to be picky but only the first of 3 quotes attributed to me is mine.
Also agree with Serfy ,ulimately the customer didnt get what they paid for..the staff had an easy fix solution and didnt take it . It costs very little to keep a customer but an aweful lot to get the back once they have walked

 

[MelUser]

It stikes me as astonishing that the Purser/CSM/whatever they are called this week, cannot upgrade a passenger.

I suspect that the Purser on a Virgin flight is so young and inexperienced that they will not be able to relate to the passenger's distress in the first place - ie they won't even be aware that anything is wrong or that the airline has in some way wronged or upset the passenger.

QF staff seem to be more in tune with passenger's needs.

 

[wallacej]

It stikes me as astonishing that the Purser/CSM/whatever they are called this week, cannot upgrade a passenger.

I suspect that the Purser on a Virgin flight is so young and inexperienced that they will not be able to relate to the passenger's distress in the first place - ie they won't even be aware that anything is wrong or that the airline has in some way wronged or upset the passenger.

QF staff seem to be more in tune with passenger's needs.

That is probably the most sensible quote in this entire thread so far.

For the purpose of clarity, I fly DJ 90% of the time, and with 80+ flights with DJ this year I have had minimal problems.

Looking for a solution is a better way to look at a problem, and I think the age of the staff is not too relevant, the training they rec. to become a CSM/Purser etc is probably lacking.

How much happier would it make a couple of Gold fliers, if they were brought up the front to an unused PE seat, or for the CSM to have it up their sleeve for situations such as the above.

(also brings to mind a bad baby smell that was left in the back of the plane near my seat... should have stuck my hand up for a PE seat to test them out)
Happy Flying folks..

 

[munitalP]

To add insult to injury, FERAL Blue want $20.00 from me to update my preferences on the velocity website

I have 2 flights booked for the near future on FERAL, these I promise will be the last


Mr!