Introducing Virgin Blue's new A330 Service

[samh004]

I'm curious to know how DJ Business Service can be award winning given that no one has yet experienced it?

The award-winning service could refer to existing service, as it’ll be the same staff

 

[The Rok]

well im in Abu Dhabi, where Etihad are declaring that "its official, we are airline of the year", check the small print and it will say 2009. No different to Qantas declaring its 5 billion "Awards" won over the past 15 years or so, no mention of how relevant they are to their current service...

 

[oz_mark]

Yep, big sigh from me. Pricing competitive but not compelling, 2-3-2 seating not worth $$. I'll stay put on QF for the time being as careful flight selection less likely to disappoint.

Certainly the announced retail price may not seem compelling, but the real competition for business class is going to be in the private fares that we can't see. I would expect that in that arena there may be some seriously good offers from DJ to get company accounts.

 

[dk4]

Wait for everything to be worked out and then announce the whole lot in one massive PR event!!!!! The whole lot and time frames of when it's going to happen.

Have to agree with you.

IMO the biggest message that Virgin needed to get out was "we are doing business in a brand new way".

However, by using this piecemeal approach to try and build momentum, their communication strategy has stayed exactly the same as it was during the failed New World Carrier strategy. (i.e. small continual baby steps towards enhancements, promoted with regular product upgrade media engagements).

Therefore the underlying subliminal message to consumers has been “we are doing business the same old way”, which I reckon isn't what they were after.

I've said it before, but it's probably too late to say it again, we (customers) needed a shock and awe campaign, with a substantive big bang, not the tired NWC "drip feed"… :-| but I’ve lost interest in them now…

 

[Moopere]

I've said it before, but it's probably too late to say it again, we (customers) needed a shock and awe campaign, with a substantive big bang, not the tired NWC "drip feed"… :-| but I’ve lost interest in them now…

Yeah, well said. Though personally I don't really care as I'm looking for substance rather than media hype, nevertheless, I agree, a re-launch should be awesome and literally tear my attention away from whom I usually do business.

 

[StevePER]

Certainly the announced retail price may not seem compelling, but the real competition for business class is going to be in the private fares that we can't see. I would expect that in that arena there may be some seriously good offers from DJ to get company accounts.

My company's corporate discount is similar (in percentage terms) to our economy discount, and certainly a much better deal than QF would give us. I expect there are other companies that get a greater discount than we do.

 

[lovestotravel]

Award winning service.... As mentioned above, what awards ???? :shock:

Lots of companies state they have won awards for this and that *

The * usually indicates a poll of internal staff, select customers or some award from years ago!

 

[LiamR]

Award winning service.... As mentioned above, what awards ???? :shock:

Lots of companies state they have won awards for this and that *

The * usually indicates a poll of internal staff, select customers or some award from years ago!

After stopping for lunch at Ballina while driving from CFS-OOL, one shop had won the award for 'worlds thickest thick shake' and another had 'worlds best beef pie'.

My question, who decides this... Is there some sort of world's thickest thickshake commitee?

I think the same thing applies here for Qantas and Virgin's Award Winning (Insert product here)

 

[pshepvic]

After stopping for lunch at Ballina while driving from CFS-OOL, one shop had won the award for 'worlds thickest thick shake' and another had 'worlds best beef pie'.

My question, who decides this... Is there some sort of world's thickest thickshake commitee?

I think the same thing applies here for Qantas and Virgin's Award Winning (Insert product here)

World's thickest thick shake ... wouldn't that just be a tub of ice-cream with a straw in it?

 

[LiamR]

World's thickest thick shake ... wouldn't that just be a tub of ice-cream with a straw in it?

I was thinking the same thing, isn't a really thick, thick shake just a cup of Ice Cream?

Back on topic...

 

[samh004]

World's thickest thick shake ... wouldn't that just be a tub of ice-cream with a straw in it?

I’m sure there must be some criteria, probably that is has to be able to be poured into a cup

Companies always say they have the best version of something until someone complains about it, or challenges that claim.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

And stop saying, "Award Winning Skybed" - yes you won an award - get over it, that was ages ago

You'll love the new billboard advertising at SYD Aiport intersection of "General Holmes Drive and Mill Pond Rd"; a massive "Skybed - SYD-PER" just got put up the other day.

 

[samh004]

You'll love the new billboard advertising at SYD Aiport intersection of "General Holmes Drive and Mill Pond Rd"; a massive "Skybed - SYD-PER" just got put up the other day.

Ironically, it’ll most likely be the Skybed that won the award, so fair is fair.

 

[soorox]

Virgin Oceanic would have been a good name for the new DJ. Too bad the submarine got it. I wonder what's their slogan gonna be?

Virgin Australia - Your airline either has it or it doesn't

All that aside, I think an announcement will be coming up very very soon, we even saw snippets of the new livery and the new flying lady (very dull, no colours), those were the A332 for the shooting of the unveiling at the brand launch and maybe for a new advert like VS.

 

[Virgin Australia]

This came via email today from Velocity:

"We are excited to announce Virgin Blue's new Airbus A330 Business Class Service, offering space, comfort and luxury from Sydney to Perth and back again.

With award-winning service, luxury leather seating, 62 inch Business Class seat pitch, multi-channel entertainment and our range of high quality meals designed by Luke Mangan, Virgin Blue's Airbus A330 service will redefine the Domestic Travel experience"

I'm curious to know how DJ Business Service can be award winning given that no one has yet experienced it?

Hi Chris, The copy doesn't refer to 'business class service', just that the Virgin Blue service, over the years, has been "award-winning" - 2010 we won awards from both Skytrax, and Choice.
But as others have said, what does a past award really mean in present day?
That is a completely fair point, and what shouldn't be lost is that we are known for our service and have won previous awards for it - hence the copy used.
We are looking forward to proving to you that we are able to execute that same outstanding service within the confines of the business class cabin.

 

[LiamR]

If we want to bring up sneeky marketing.... This I find a mis-trusting....

Virgin Blue On Time Performance | Virgin Blue

Virgin Blue has maintained the best on-time departures performance of all domestic carriers since records began – something we’re a little proud of.

In other words, because Qantas is an International carrier, they don't count, and other domestic carriers include Jetstar and Tiger...

 

[straitman]

I wish DJ all the best with this, but given the current climate of high oil prices I think they are going to need it and with QF throwing everything at DJ

I am not sure what I was expecting but simply re-launching an ex-Emirates product has kinda let me down I guess....

Also I am sure they won't be putting the same type of seats in the 737's, not with that seat pitch I am assuming ?

Instead of all these teasers, I think it would be better to hit the market with everything at once.

New Livery
New IFE on all aircraft. Announce what is happening and by when
New Seating on all aircraft. Announce what is happening and by when
Business class rollout, as per above, on all aircraft and by when.
Full expansion of A330's or 787's or whatever they want to use for East-West coast flights. having 2 or 3 or 4 A330's so you have a mis-match of fights doesn't help.

We are constantly fed little bits of information and I guess by the end of June we'll know all!

Free limo transfers and that for now are just gimmicks, most corporates/business can just charge back taxi/limo/hire car transfers back to the company anyway. At least I do So having this included makes no difference to me and lots of others I assume. Also after mid-July it means nothing.

At the moment we have 737's some with Live2Air and some without, 2 Ex Emirates A330's and 2 others (from memory) which should have the new seating for DJ. A full consistent launch would be better I feel.

We shall see what happens in the next few months with pricing and offerings and final announcements.

I am just impatient :evil:

I totally agree with you. The whole rebranding roll-out is boring. Do it properly or not at all. I am so bored with DJ's strategy of feeding us small segments of their rebranding (menu changes, half painted planes, interviews with hints of possible names, ra ra ra I am over it. It's not a corporate approach considering they want more 'corporate' business. :evil:

I totally disagree with both of you :!:

In a practical business sense doing it all as Globetrotter suggests is not possible. It could have been squeezed together somewhat but never into the short timeframe you are suggesting.

In any case had they been able to do a complete rollout then others would complain for precisely the opposite reasons. i.e. 'they should have taken their time and tweaked things as they went to ensure a smooth rollout'

Doing it this way ensures that a lot of people pay attention to the ongong methodology rather than being a one hit, here it is, wonder. It is very business savvy and how many big corporations bring out (release) new products.

 

[LiamR]

Slightly OT .....
I'm going to be careful what I say...

Welcome to Facebook - Log In, Sign Up or Learn More

After listening to thousands of comments from you, our Facebook fans, we've made a change - from tomorrow, Happy Hour 2.0 ....

Wonder what It'll be.

 

[samh004]

Slightly OT .....
I'm going to be careful what I say...

Welcome to Facebook - Log In, Sign Up or Learn More

Wonder what It'll be.

So long as it’s not as bad as iSnack 2.0

 

[lovestotravel]

In a practical business sense doing it all as Globetrotter suggests is not possible. It could have been squeezed together somewhat but never into the short timeframe you are suggesting.

In any case had they been able to do a complete rollout then others would complain for precisely the opposite reasons. i.e. 'they should have taken their time and tweaked things as they went to ensure a smooth rollout'

Doing it this way ensures that a lot of people pay attention to the ongong methodology rather than being a one hit, here it is, wonder. It is very business savvy and how many big corporations bring out (release) new products.

I didn't give a time-frame and of course it is possible to launch everything at once.

This on-going release of bits and pieces of the puzzle is going to take up to 6 months in total, excluding the A330 announcement. So they could have waited til June and announced business class, new seating, IFE, food, drinks, etc etc then

It could have been very easy to wait til May/June and announce everything in one go.

As I said they are rolling out A330's with a different IFE system to what they will put on all other planes. I hope when they finally do announce everything they have a roll-out plan that doesn't take years to implement.... It all still seems disjointed to me

Also, curious as to what exactly are they tweaking as they go along to ensure a smooth rollout??? What was planned and what have they changed ?

In the meantime the DJ share price continues to drop... 0.300 :shock:

Oh and HappyHour 2.0... All the comments on Facebook just asking for cheaper fares on various routes..... I guess that's the market DJ still want to capture since their marketing of their relaunch is constantly on Facebook. :shock:

Sorry to tell the Facebook followers that fares are much cheaper on Jetstar and Tiger.