Bain Capital takes Control of Virgin Australia

[jakeseven7]

I think we need to acknowledge corporate travel is dying and will not rebound to anywhere near where it was. This changes how VA will position themselves

LOL maybe a little overstated.... sure its on a pause right now but that won't be forever.

 

[I love to travel]

LOL maybe a little overstated.... sure its on a pause right now but that won't be forever.

I would be interested to know what travel budgets look like in companies. We are zero until 30 June 2021, it is effectively banned unless CEO approves.

 

[jakeseven7]

I would be interested to know what travel budgets look like in companies. We are zero until 30 June 2021, it is effectively banned unless CEO approves.

I've posted ours before - ours is back in limited form from Nov and we have money per normal (minus International of course) next year.

 

[ethernet]

Fee free changes would be the ONLY thing to convince me. However if you look at say AirAsia, fee free changes can still be murderously expensive, to the point of abandoning the flight.(At which point they loose future sales) I don't see Bain being this nice. Remove lounges and FF perks, they got problems. Unions will be easy to bully in this price taker environment.

 

[drex]

I've got quite a bit of work travel commencing within the next few weeks right up until June next year (prob around 20-25 return flights within Queensland) and will probably roll the dice and try and build up some status with Qantas. My Platinum status with Virgin won't expire until late next year and that should give me enough time to see how they are going to position themselves. I really want to remain loyal but the outlook isn't looking too positive.

 

[jakeseven7]

I've got quite a bit of work travel commencing within the next few weeks right up until June next year (prob around 20-25 return flights within Queensland) and will probably roll the dice and try and build up some status with Qantas. My Platinum status with Virgin won't expire until late next year and that should give me enough time to see how they are going to position themselves. I really want to remain loyal but the outlook isn't looking too positive.

I’m hearing Bain/VA2 WP’s get two sachets of seasoning for the 2 minute noodles.

 

[p--and--t]

I’m hearing Bain/VA2 WP’s get two sachets of seasoning for the 2 minute noodles.

But is there a choice of flavours. those WPs are a fussy lot.

 

[Rembrandt]

I still think they will be a hybrid. It doesn't make sense to become Tiger 2.0 as they will loose corporate customers and customers who want to fly with a bit more prestige. However, maybe the short term is budget until the airline industry gets back on it's feet which will take a few years.

I feel they may ditch Virgin to save money in the long run. However, I doubt they will rebrand to 'Tiger' that naming will drive people away. Velocity Air / Australia would be a good brand name change.

 

[Volando]

I had my first ever flight in VA J class yesterday when offered a decently priced upgrade by the checkin kiosk on my SYD-BNK flight. No cup noodles; instead a second granola bar to accompany my plastic cup of water and slyly offered coke or lemonade. So yeah inflight catering was a fail and no lounge of course.

BUT as a QF SG one often hears these astounding rumours from VA of priority boarding actually working, good service in the air and priority bags being first on the belt. Like unicorns, these things all seemed like mystical fables to me prior to yesterday. I can report they are real.

I’ve flown VA Y class plenty of times (no status) and have usually pegged the experience barely a nose ahead of JQ tbh. J on the other hand, with a very good cabin supervisor and solid ground experience shows that the airline has the building blocks to be an effective mid-market competitor that looks after its premium and status pax...if only Bain allowed them to do so. Sadly all indications are that the switch and bait is well under way and as unbelievable as it seemed a couple of weeks ago I now think REX actually has an opportunity to swoop in and have some success on the golden triangle if large numbers of loyal VA passengers feel cheated and leave the fold but don’t all end up with QF.

 

[jakeseven7]

I had my first ever flight in VA J class yesterday when offered a decently priced upgrade by the checkin kiosk on my SYD-BNK flight. No cup noodles; instead a second granola bar to accompany my plastic cup of water and slyly offered coke or lemonade. So yeah inflight catering was a fail and no lounge of course.

Out of interest, given Bain/VA2 are saying the lack of catering is because of wanting to stop touch points for covid, did you physically pick the muesli bar / drink / water yourself from for the bar cart? Or are they giving you sterile wipes to wipe down the packaging with after?

 

[Volando]

Out of interest, given Bain/VA2 are saying the lack of catering is because of wanting to stop touch points for covid, did you physically pick the muesli bar / drink / water yourself from for the bar cart? Or are they giving you sterile wipes to wipe down the packaging with after?

None of the above. In J yesterday and Y last week, water and snacks were handed to pax in the normal way. (Just like QF has been doing for months).

I can’t see how the diminished service is anything other than pure Bain cost cutting. Not having BoB might be to do with the logistics and challenges of restarting supply chains for such a diminished fleet and schedule, so that can be legitimately pegged to the pandemic I’d say - though more on economic than health grounds.

 

[jakeseven7]

None of the above. In J yesterday and Y last week, water and snacks were handed to pax in the normal way. (Just like QF has been doing for months).

I can’t see how the diminished service is anything other than pure Bain cost cutting. Not having BoB might be to do with the logistics and challenges of restarting supply chains for such a diminished fleet and schedule, so that can be legitimately pegged to the pandemic I’d say - though more on economic than health grounds.

Yup I agree with you, but I hadn’t used Bain/VA2 since they took over, so didn’t know how they were distributing food/drinks onboard and sounds like there are multiple transmission points anyway so clearly it’s absolutely nothing to do with being covid safe. Thanks!

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Maybe they'll stumble onto the magic formula and make plenty of money.

How do you make a million dollars in the airline industry again?

More asset stripping - find 1000 (or two) bar carts will get $1m (or two). There must be some just lying around....lol

 

[serfty]

..
I can’t see how the diminished service is anything other than pure Bain cost cutting. Not having BoB might be to do with the logistics and challenges of restarting supply chains for such a diminished fleet and schedule, so that can be legitimately pegged to the pandemic I’d say - though more on economic than health grounds. ...

I have come across reference to VA in recent times not buying much if any catering at all and have simply been running down the stock they currently had; with that reference there was mention that this would change once Bain take full control.

 

[HS-TQE]

More asset stripping - find 1000 (or two) bar carts will get $1m (or two). There must be some just lying around....lol

I wouldn't be surprised if they were already "leased" and/or have loans taken out on them by "encumbering" them against the banks.

 

[oz_mark]

I have come across reference to VA in recent times not buying much if any catering at all and have simply been running down the stock they currently had; with that reference there was mention that this would change once Bain take full control.

I've heard that negotiations with Gate Gourmet have been challenging!

 

[Milefest]

VA should instruct cabin crew to pick up supplies from supermarkets on the way to the airport for J pax if their catering contracts aren't in place. Emirates already does this in special instances for their premium cabins

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

VA should instruct cabin crew to pick up supplies from supermarkets on the way to the airport for J pax if their catering contracts aren't in place. Emirates already does this in special instances for their premium cabins

As do private jet flight attendants from the ‘viral’ stories I read. Hopefully with a cash/credit before purchase given jobs are even at risk

 

[antycbr]

As do private jet flight attendants from the ‘viral’ stories I read. Hopefully with a cash/credit before purchase given jobs are even at risk

Imagine the food hygiene risks that would come with that. The airline would need a HACCP certification for food services and shopping at Coles won’t meet that.

 

[jakeseven7]

Imagine the food hygiene risks that would come with that. The airline would need a HACCP certification for food services and shopping at Coles won’t meet that.

Should I email Bain/VA2 and tell them Fantastic Noodles are on special this week then or not ?