Business Class Trip Report

[notzac]

Has anyone has the 330 from SYD to PER actually leave on time? Even once?

Both of the flights I've taken were bang on time, but I suspect I may have gotten very lucky :-|

 

[serfty]

Both flights were on XF"Awesome" - and indeed were, including on time departures.

 

[Moopere]

I must be scoring XFB then, "broken" hahaha. I should pay attention next time I board.

 

[Comoman]

I usually travel ex-Syd at 17h30. I've had 1 cancelled totally, 2 approx 30 mins late. Other 3 or so on time.

 

[Ascent]

The 330 crew were initially hand picked crew that had to apply to work on it, apparently now crew are just being rostered on.

 

[Justchecking]

The 330 crew were initially hand picked crew that had to apply to work on it, apparently now crew are just being rostered on.

Well you didn't think there'd be enough handpicked crew to crew 4 of those suckers did you?

 

[MomoWang]

I flew Cairns Brisbane yesterday. Very bumpy flight however I had the comfort of a new BSI aircraft with Business Class seat to satisfy me.

I hope Virgin can work with Cairns Airport to facilitate a priority boarding lane in some way, and obviously a lounge at some stage would be nice as well. Ground staff were very nice as usual. The service was a little inconsistent however I have generally experienced very good Cabin Supervisors, this one didn't do a bad job but didn't excel either. The delivery of the service needs to be the focus area for Virgin at the moment.

The catering was nice on this flight. It was the lunch service (12.45pm departure) and the meal was the chicken in red wine sauce with roast potato. The sauce was a little strong for me but a good meal and thankfully a change from the Sheperds Pie I experienced four flights in a row a few weeks back.

 

[Plutonus]

I flew BNE-SYD and SYD-BNE recently. On way down, service was flawless, but a little 'distant'. None of the chatty FAs, simply everything served well and offered top ups of drinks regularly (afternoon snack).

On the way back wasn't that great, cabin supervisor who was looking after J seemed more interesting in chatting to the other FAs then serving. No one blocked economy to allow J to go first on arrival until economy started moving forward.

On a side note, I've noticed this a bit now at lounge entry and on-board, whilst other guests get called Sir (or Madam depending), I simply get greeted with a hello or asked straight out questions. It's not a problem as such, it just seems odd to me. Perhaps because I am early 20s, and am not the market that Virgin particularly 'targets'. Don't know if anyone else has experienced this as well.

 

[mickeyc747]

On a side note, I've noticed this a bit now at lounge entry and on-board, whilst other guests get called Sir (or Madam depending), I simply get greeted with a hello or asked straight out questions. It's not a problem as such, it just seems odd to me. Perhaps because I am early 20s, and am not the market that Virgin particularly 'targets'. Don't know if anyone else has experienced this as well.

I get that I am Platinum and travel J and I dont get a welcome back whilst I wear a suit for work I shower and change at airports and wear jeans and Tshirt so I can travel in comfort. I think they need to learn any one can travel J class. They dont have to wear a suit or be old be older than time itself.

 

[Moopere]

Well, I don't wear a suit either, though likewise its never thongs and a singlet ... more often then not I get a "welcome back Mr. Moopere" and am usually referred to as Mr. Moopere during the flight too. Go figure ... perhaps its just luck of the draw??

 

[777]

I'm a plat with 2500 SCs in last 12 months. I don't wear a suit, mostly (not always) travel in Y, in mid 30s (possibly look younger) and almost always get a "welcome back", rarely get a "Sir". Which is how i prefer it. I really don't want to be called Sir.

Yeah, mostly get adressed as "Mr 777" these days and alternate between a collared shirt and a neat T-shirt depending on what i'm travelling for.

 

[ozmille]

I flew BNE-SYD and SYD-BNE recently. On way down, service was flawless, but a little 'distant'. None of the chatty FAs, simply everything served well and offered top ups of drinks regularly (afternoon snack).

On the way back wasn't that great, cabin supervisor who was looking after J seemed more interesting in chatting to the other FAs then serving. No one blocked economy to allow J to go first on arrival until economy started moving forward.

On a side note, I've noticed this a bit now at lounge entry and on-board, whilst other guests get called Sir (or Madam depending), I simply get greeted with a hello or asked straight out questions. It's not a problem as such, it just seems odd to me. Perhaps because I am early 20s, and am not the market that Virgin particularly 'targets'. Don't know if anyone else has experienced this as well.

I have noticed this on different airlines. BA check in commenting that my 2 pieces of luggage are not allowed in whY... As a OWE in J I wasn't impressed (since I grew my mo I look older then in my 20's so it gets better ). In my opinion all the J pax should be treated with the same respect.

 

[dandandan]

I flew back from OOL in J on Sunday and the CSM called Guy made it a truly fantastic inflight experience. We had the issue of J get PE a few weeks back so Sunday's flight was streets ahead of that, not just in comfort but the service offered in flight. I will be giving feedback about Guy to VA as he should be training other staff to work the way he does. We found it very impressive how he acknowledged our nearly 2 year old infant and offered a baby friendly meal for him. He offered a number of things off the regular menu we could give him and we selected the cheese which he served up out of the packet and on a plate. When we suggested a popper for a drink which they didn't have he came back with a takeaway coffee cup with a lid which was a fantastic idea. We had just said some water would be fine so such a simple and thoughtful thing like that made our experience very positive. Besides looking after our son he constantly kept an eye on our wine and offered us more. We recieved a drink offering when we boarded the plane, an offer of a digipad and our meal/snack which was a 2pm flight was a cheese plate and brownie which was very nice indeed. So my opinion is that the new full VA J service is great and it is made even better with CSM's like Guy.

 

[medhead]

I have noticed this on different airlines. BA check in commenting that my 2 pieces of luggage are not allowed in whY... As a OWE in J I wasn't impressed (since I grew my mo I look older then in my 20's so it gets better ). In my opinion all the J pax should be treated with the same respect.

That's when you need to be quick enough to think to say something like "that's good to know, I'll remember that if I ever fly in Y"

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I hope I'm not too far OT but on the issue of how we are addressed, Sir is very infrequent for me (which is fine), Mr. Swanning_it is reasonably common but seems to be on the wain.....especially as a greeting by the CSM. It used to happen every flight, now it seems at a very rough guess 50% of the time (if that). Otherwise it is usually just polite words with no specific greeting. I personally like the touch of being addressed by name (Christian or Surname is fine by me). Note, I'm not specifically speaking J here.

 

[maninblack]

On recent Virgin flight in J we got the following from a female FA, "would you GUYS like a drink" followed by "will you GUYS be enjoying our snack service this afternoon". The real doozy was a young male FA saying, "can you put the window shade up MATE." (no please mate!) Addressing passengeres as "mate" or "you guys" is probably just a little too casual especially as Mrs Maninblack certainly does not look like a guy!

 

[medhead]

On recent Virgin flight in J we got the following from a female FA, "would you GUYS like a drink" followed by "will you GUYS be enjoying our snack service this afternoon". The real doozy was a young male FA saying, "can you put the window shade up MATE." (no please mate!) Addressing passengeres as "mate" or "you guys" is probably just a little too casual especially as Mrs Maninblack certainly does not look like a guy!

Guys has a non gender specific usage in combination with "you" or "sorry" - just a bit of sepo BS [introduced to the game by the west indies]. I guess it is done like that for people who have trouble with "you" being both plural and singular.

Totally agree about "mate". Had a QF FA lob my snack at me on one flight while saying "here ya go, mate".


Sent from the Throne (80% chance) using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[mickeyc747]

I hope I'm not too far OT but on the issue of how we are addressed, Sir is very infrequent for me (which is fine), Mr. Swanning_it is reasonably common but seems to be on the wain.....especially as a greeting by the CSM. It used to happen every flight, now it seems at a very rough guess 50% of the time (if that). Otherwise it is usually just polite words with no specific greeting. I personally like the touch of being addressed by name (Christian or Surname is fine by me). Note, I'm not specifically speaking J here.

I think the respect should be given even if you are not travelling in J. A quick scan of the boarding pass should tell them your status and they could say Welcome Back Mr Swanning. Good for Golds and Platinums. Perhaps if they are Silver & Red a welcome back John (would be sufficent). If they are nothings then a simple welcome aboard. As being a loyal user of a product you deserve a higher recognition, all the passengers deserve respect regradless of status. Lets see what happens tomorrow travelling J OOL SYD then SYD PER A330.

 

[MichaelD]

I almost never get addressed as Mr MichaelD in J, mainly because I have lots of consonants in a row in my surname. I applaud any flight attendant who has a go, even if they do get it very wrong, because most just look at the manifest, squint, pause, think for a while and then ask "would you like the chicken or the beef, sir". Since life's too short to be offended by it, I simply amuse myself observing.

 

[mickeyc747]

Iets see what happens tomorrow travelling J OOL SYD then SYD PER A330.

Just found out tomorrow night it is VH XFB but it is currently 40975 FT above Murray Bridge and running on time so it may be a first that XFB doesnt break down.