Almost had enough. Is VA flight service sliding?

[JohnK]

After 7 flights in a row on VA SYD-OOL and return I flew OOL-SYD return this weekend on QF.

There is nothing subtle about the differences. Received a meal and beer on Friday night and had a snack and ginger beer today.

Virgin has a long way to go and the only way they are likely to catch up is if QF is no longer operating.

Sorry if that sounds like scathing criticism but the little things matter and Virgin just does not get it....

 

[jetlagger]

After 7 flights in a row on VA SYD-OOL and return I flew OOL-SYD return this weekend on QF.

There is nothing subtle about the differences. Received a meal and beer on Friday night and had a snack and ginger beer today.

Virgin has a long way to go and the only way they are likely to catch up is if QF is no longer operating.

Sorry if that sounds like scathing criticism but the little things matter and Virgin just does not get it....

... And any positive points of difference in Virgin JohnK?

 

[tuapekastar]

Just completed another transcon VA trip in J (MEL-PER-MEL) and have to say the standards were well up on the last trip I reported. Perhaps not quite the all-out enthusiasm shown in the early days of this service (no handshakes, or extended personal chats, not that I need any of those) but certainly upbeat and no real mistakes. If I want to be picky, the CS got my name wrong (mixed up the seats), and no wine menu supplied on the return flight. But I already knew what I wanted.

After 5 legs on the ex-EK planes and one on a 738, I finally scored the new config 332, and have to say it was excellent. I think the QF IFE is a little more user-friendly to navigate than 'Red', but not a big deal. Food and bev good, overall great flights. Worth noting though that there were only 11 J pax outbound, and 10 inbound. My 'complaint' flights were more heavily loaded than that, so yet to see 'good' service on anything more loaded than ~45%

 

[KCMil]

Corporate loading don't really start to pick up until late Feb, though early Jan i was only J guest in MEL-PER transcon, so your flight was up on that!

 

[JohnK]

... And any positive points of difference in Virgin JohnK?

Cannot think of any for now.

I have Gold status for another ~18 months but I am not going to do 20 BNE/OOL-SYD returns to keep status for another year. When that happens Virgin will not even be a consideration thanks largely to their hefty rises on baggage surcharges.

 

[marcoakis]

I am completely disappointed by Virgin.

I booked a status run for this Friday using points:

MEL-SYD
SYD-MEL-OOL
OOL-MEL-SYD
SYD-ADL

All J. That'd get me to Gold... but oh god, it has been the most PAINFUL experience.

Since I booked, I've had Virgin email me and call me multiple times trying to force me to take direct flights. I've been on the phone for no less than 10 hours since I booked trying to explain that I do want the stop over in Melbourne.

After hours, I ended up talking to a supervisor who assured me everything was ok now, apologised for the inconvinience and emailed me the confirmed itineraries.

Well, guess what?

Yesterday someone from Virgin calls and tells me that she had GOOD NEWS... that now I've been put in a direct flight SYD-OOL. I couldn't help but yell at her and tell her how ****ty the service is. She said that they can't provide business as the aircraft doesn't have business class SYD-MEL.. WTF?

She said that she was going to offer me a similar service... when I question what would that be, she said FLEXI... flexi is economy. I booked Business class.

This morning I've spent another 45 mins with the Velocity team trying to figure out what is happening. They said everything looks ok and the guy has no idea why they've been calling me with so many changes.

I can't express how frustrated I am with VA at the moment... if things continue like this, I'll take my business to Qantas.

 

[medhead]

After 7 flights in a row on VA SYD-OOL and return I flew OOL-SYD return this weekend on QF.

There is nothing subtle about the differences. Received a meal and beer on Friday night and had a snack and ginger beer today.

Virgin has a long way to go and the only way they are likely to catch up is if QF is no longer operating.

Sorry if that sounds like scathing criticism but the little things matter and Virgin just does not get it....

What is the average cost of your flights? I just want to know how much this snack cost you.

Personally, I find the qantas snacks to be a complete and utter waste of time and space. I'd rather keep money in my pocket than reject another muffin or whatever other "snack" they are going to present.

 

[dandandan]

Sorry to laugh but this cracked me up;

I couldn't help but yell at her and tell her how ****ty the service is

Man you have had some problems with this one.

I am completely disappointed by Virgin.

I booked a status run for this Friday using points:

MEL-SYD
SYD-MEL-OOL
OOL-MEL-SYD
SYD-ADL

All J. That'd get me to Gold... but oh god, it has been the most PAINFUL experience.

Since I booked, I've had Virgin email me and call me multiple times trying to force me to take direct flights. I've been on the phone for no less than 10 hours since I booked trying to explain that I do want the stop over in Melbourne.

After hours, I ended up talking to a supervisor who assured me everything was ok now, apologised for the inconvinience and emailed me the confirmed itineraries.

Well, guess what?

Yesterday someone from Virgin calls and tells me that she had GOOD NEWS... that now I've been put in a direct flight SYD-OOL. I couldn't help but yell at her and tell her how ****ty the service is. She said that they can't provide business as the aircraft doesn't have business class SYD-MEL.. WTF?

She said that she was going to offer me a similar service... when I question what would that be, she said FLEXI... flexi is economy. I booked Business class.

This morning I've spent another 45 mins with the Velocity team trying to figure out what is happening. They said everything looks ok and the guy has no idea why they've been calling me with so many changes.

I can't express how frustrated I am with VA at the moment... if things continue like this, I'll take my business to Qantas.

 

[oz_mark]

Yesterday someone from Virgin calls and tells me that she had GOOD NEWS... that now I've been put in a direct flight SYD-OOL. I couldn't help but yell at her and tell her how ****ty the service is. She said that they can't provide business as the aircraft doesn't have business class SYD-MEL.. WTF?

She said that she was going to offer me a similar service... when I question what would that be, she said FLEXI... flexi is economy. I booked Business class.

This morning I've spent another 45 mins with the Velocity team trying to figure out what is happening. They said everything looks ok and the guy has no idea why they've been calling me with so many changes.

Left hand. Right hand.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I am completely disappointed by Virgin.

As much as I'd hate to sound like my teen kids, after reading that post, all I can to say is...........

OMG!

 

[JohnK]

What is the average cost of your flights? I just want to know how much this snack cost you.

Personally, I find the qantas snacks to be a complete and utter waste of time and space. I'd rather keep money in my pocket than reject another muffin or whatever other "snack" they are going to present.

We have been through this many times before.

With Virgin I paid $43.50 each for the OOL-SYD flights and as a Gold I earn 341 Velocity points valued at a whopping $1.70 and I received a small cup of water.

With Qantas I paid $48 each for the OOL-SYD flights and as a NOBODY I earn 1,000 QFF points valued at a minimum of $25 so work out how much that flight cost me. I received a meal and a drink valued at $7.50 as well and it also included a small cup of sealed water.

P.S You could possibly convince me to value the Velocity points above at $3.40 if you really made a good argument but if you do that than the QFF points suddenly treble in value as well. And yes I know I am being cheeky but you need to factor everything into the equation and what works for you paying for flexible airfares does not work for me trying to purchase the cheapest airfares possible.

 

[MarkD]

Im seriously finding it very hard to take this seriously. $43 and $48 respectively for airfares and all the whining and moaning. God get over it already, virgin is cough, qantas slightly less cough on a good day

 

[anat0l]

Im seriously finding it very hard to take this seriously. $43 and $48 respectively for airfares and all the whining and moaning. God get over it already, virgin is cough, qantas slightly less cough on a good day

One should keep in mind that these fares were obtained during a super OOL special.

Barring a Happy Hour or another freak sale, you'd be buggered to try and find such fares ever again.

The only thing that changes the assessment at the regular sale fares is that JohnK would obtain double the points on VA (because VA points are awarded on price of fares, which means super duper happy sale fares give little points).

 

[777]

As a platinum, any flight over $100 and i come out ahead. There are exceptions but i have more $100+ flights than $100- flights fortunately or unfortunately.

 

[medhead]

We have been through this many times before.

With Virgin I paid $43.50 each for the OOL-SYD flights and as a Gold I earn 341 Velocity points valued at a whopping $1.70 and I received a small cup of water.

With Qantas I paid $48 each for the OOL-SYD flights and as a NOBODY I earn 1,000 QFF points valued at a minimum of $25 so work out how much that flight cost me. I received a meal and a drink valued at $7.50 as well and it also included a small cup of sealed water.

P.S You could possibly convince me to value the Velocity points above at $3.40 if you really made a good argument but if you do that than the QFF points suddenly treble in value as well. And yes I know I am being cheeky but you need to factor everything into the equation and what works for you paying for flexible airfares does not work for me trying to purchase the cheapest airfares possible.

I asked you your average not the cost of your last 10 flights, that you got on a really great deal. You've done this route or similar 300+ times in the last few years. This is about the long term cost for you to get to Brissy. As for the points, they are a bonus and irrelevant to the question. You, and I, are in a position where we have to travel each week on a particular route regardless of whether we get points or not. Anyway, a true average is going to give a better idea of the true value than a one off special.

 

[anat0l]

I asked you your average not the cost of your last 10 flights, that you got on a really great deal. You've done this route or similar 300+ times in the last few years. This is about the long term cost for you to get to Brissy. As for the points, they are a bonus and irrelevant to the question. You, and I, are in a position where we have to travel each week on a particular route regardless of whether we get points or not. Anyway, a true average is going to give a better idea of the true value than a one off special.

Keep in mind you're not quite comparing apples to apples on your two situations.

The absolute price differences will vary outside the golden triangle and especially for medium / long haul domestic routes.

The market price of a cookie rarely changes based on the route it is served upon.

Yes, you can argue it based on payback value (i.e. after 12-14 fares the other carrier has given you a free equivalent fare, or whatever), but even then, some would write that off as a big deal (or not a huge loss).

Even the argument in principle is difficult to defend on either side, really. It's becoming more an Android vs. iOS debate, really... but this was not the intent of the topic at hand anyway!

 

[muppet]

Im seriously finding it very hard to take this seriously. $43 and $48 respectively for airfares and all the whining and moaning. God get over it already, virgin is cough, qantas slightly less cough on a good day

If everyone paid that regularly, we'd have no airlines in Australia.
Frankly, I get the same coughpy snacks, and I pay $200-$300 for a 40min flight.

Maybe we need more differentiation.

Saver = cough snack
Flexi = hot meals a la 1990's
Business = fancy shmancy chocolate nuts with hot meal

 

[Sojourner]

We have been through this many times before.

With Virgin I paid $43.50 each for the OOL-SYD flights and as a Gold I earn 341 Velocity points valued at a whopping $1.70 and I received a small cup of water.

With Qantas I paid $48 each for the OOL-SYD flights and as a NOBODY I earn 1,000 QFF points valued at a minimum of $25 so work out how much that flight cost me. I received a meal and a drink valued at $7.50 as well and it also included a small cup of sealed water.

P.S You could possibly convince me to value the Velocity points above at $3.40 if you really made a good argument but if you do that than the QFF points suddenly treble in value as well. And yes I know I am being cheeky but you need to factor everything into the equation and what works for you paying for flexible airfares does not work for me trying to purchase the cheapest airfares possible.

Unfortunately not everyone is able to: 1. Wait for flights to be on sale 2. Fly on the limited days, times and routes that sale flights are available.

I also love how the QFF fan boys conveniently forget how Qantas abandoned OOL for years leaving them only with Jetstar.

 

[JohnK]

I asked you your average not the cost of your last 10 flights, that you got on a really great deal. You've done this route or similar 300+ times in the last few years. This is about the long term cost for you to get to Brissy. As for the points, they are a bonus and irrelevant to the question. You, and I, are in a position where we have to travel each week on a particular route regardless of whether we get points or not. Anyway, a true average is going to give a better idea of the true value than a one off special.

Ohhh! Apologies as I misunderstood.

I do not have a current average but in 2010 over 63 flights I averaged ~$83 per flight and only 10 of those flights were over $100. Flights were also cheaper. But a guess I spend somewhere between $5,000 and $6,000 a year for domestic flights.

For the past couple of years there would not have been many times I have paid >$100 for a flight and certainly I have not paid $129 for a flight since they increased to that level last year.

Now I chose to do this as I have a job in Brisbane and a home in Sydney but frequent flyer points are not just a bonus but a serious factor to consider in the decision making process. Over the past 4.5 years on Qantas I have accumulated enough for 2 Oneworld economy awards. Makes the commute a little easier to swallow....

 

[medhead]

Keep in mind you're not quite comparing apples to apples on your two situations.

The absolute price differences will vary outside the golden triangle and especially for medium / long haul domestic routes.

The market price of a cookie rarely changes based on the route it is served upon.

Yes, you can argue it based on payback value (i.e. after 12-14 fares the other carrier has given you a free equivalent fare, or whatever), but even then, some would write that off as a big deal (or not a huge loss).

Even the argument in principle is difficult to defend on either side, really. It's becoming more an Android vs. iOS debate, really... but this was not the intent of the topic at hand anyway!

It was more an indicate that an absolute measure. The advantage that JohnK and I have is a long term price differential between the 2 airlines. Which gives a pretty good indicator of the price of the service on qantas. I would be very interested to see how SYD-BNE compares to SYD-ADL in that regard.

On the topic at hand about declining service, I think it is natural to compare to the other service options. If we know the service price, even in general terms, then we can ask ourself if the extra service is worth that extra cost.

Personally, I don't think a QF snack or breakfast is worth the extra cost I see. People say that VA service is poor and I can see that in some ways. But I also see a consistent standard on VA. In some ways knowing what to expect is more valuable than inconsistently superior service. Finally, most of the time I get on a plane I just want to be left alone = great on VA. Oh and they do boarding well from my perspective.

Having said all that I still fly qantas.

Ohhh! Apologies as I misunderstood.

I do not have a current average but in 2010 over 63 flights I averaged ~$83 per flight and only 10 of those flights were over $100. Flights were also cheaper. But a guess I spend somewhere between $5,000 and $6,000 a year for domestic flights.

For the past couple of years there would not have been many times I have paid >$100 for a flight and certainly I have not paid $129 for a flight since they increased to that level last year.

I spend roughly double that, IIRC. My feeling is that prices have got cheaper since 2010 even with the increase in headline fare. Currently $155 for ADL-SYD. But I budgetted $130 this year up from $125 last year. But this year I'm on about $101 for VA and maybe $115 or $120 for QF. Equivalent sale prices sees VA consistently $20 cheaper. Real hard to book QF in those cases, especially when leaving ADL.

The other thing that I am doing is booking fares much closer to travel date. 2010 I was at least 4 months in advance, whereas I still have flights to book in April now.

Anyway......