More Virgin suckage

[klavdy]

Well frankly you're not making any bloody sense :!: :evil:

Well, what do you want?
I was having a moan about flying Virgin, it's cathartic and soothing for me.

Here you go, I'll start a spin off thread,really wander off topic, meet young Justin.
I met young Justin on a recent A.A flight from Charlotte to LAX.
Jason wailed the entire way.
It was a masterful performance, the sheer stamina displayed by the wee tyke.

His Mother tried everything to sooth the child, she really did, even she was in tears after a while.
I held Justin for her while she went and composed herself, he settled for, oh, two minutes? then started again.
Awesome.
I've never seen or heard a kid cry for that long, I got off the plane and helped his Mum, thought the kid was ill, within site of the terminal doors he stopped crying and was a normal, happy baby instead of the devil spawn most on board thought he was.

 

[medhead]

Any way, the deal is we have to fly Virgin from BNE to POM, then APNG to site on one of their Dash 8's.
Now Virgin will not award Velocity points or status credits as all our tickets are "P" class.
This means you can't really gain status tiers so line up with every one else in the scrum at the check in counters and can't use the lounges.

That is a shame and a big difference with QF, at least QF have status credits. Then even if you are not allowed to collect points under an employer arrangement, at least you can get the status.

Otherwise, I'm not sure about the price comparison or comments re IFE. Even on QF, my IFE is iphone, rather then 2.5 men or other such rubbish. My one DJ flight CBR-ADL was great. And I always price compare. MY upcoming ADL-PER was especially interesting with DJ PER-xMEL-ADL (redeye) being cheaper then PER-MEL. Tells me that DJ are somehow honouring the direct fare even if with a transit. Whereas QF will most offer charge more. (btw I'm doing the redeye because the hotel is about the same per night as the flight)

Also looked into ADL-DRW with DJ. Cheapest by far, via PER or SYD. But then the cheapest QF fare was via ASP, with a few hours sitting around in the alice springs airport. Somehow, I think PER or SYD airport would have been a better option.

 

[klavdy]

The Alice Springs airport can be challenging.
Ever tried Port Hedland airport?
Karratha too.
It is a bummer about the points and status credits,no lounge access and no using the priority check-in counters (seeing as flying is all about the glamour these days) , any little benefit you can get to make the experience just that bit more pleasant is treasured and met with resentment when taken away.

 

[N860CR]

Unfortunatley (and these boards have proven it time and time again) some people just aren't ready to accept the DJ way of doing things and, even if the flight was perfect, they'll still make their way onto here and complain about something.

If you can't handle being called "darling", having a few flight attendants show a little emotion rather than be robotic or manage to find something on the fairly extensive DJ menu or on Foxtel to please you, then unfortunatley there is not a lot that can be offered here to make you feel any better.

 

[MrGreg]

Well frankly you're not making any bloody sense :!: :evil:

+1 to that

 

[sampson]

Unfortunatley (and these boards have proven it time and time again) some people just aren't ready to accept the DJ way of doing things and, even if the flight was perfect, they'll still make their way onto here and complain about something.

If you can't handle being called "darling", having a few flight attendants show a little emotion rather than be robotic or manage to find something on the fairly extensive DJ menu or on Foxtel to please you, then unfortunatley there is not a lot that can be offered here to make you feel any better.

Don't those Virgin staff know how to genuflect

 

[klavdy]

Unfortunately (and these boards have proven it time and time again) some people just aren't ready to accept that Virgin provide a sub par service on their international flights,and, in a display of denial, they'll still make their way onto here and pontificate about something, anything, once they have drunk deeply from the well of Virgin Kool-Aid.
Virgin domestic, along with Jet Star et al, provide a service that is not expected to be on the same level as premium carriers, that is a given.
When their International branches charge approximately the same price on the same route as premium carriers and provide a lesser service, moaning is valid.
Genuflect?

Just about anything is better than the snarling dragon bun tossers on lots of Qantas flights,smiling, friendly service is one thing, being implored on bended knee to have a "Nice Flight" in a display of company enforced emotion is another.

 

[ANstar]

That is a shame and a big difference with QF, at least QF have status credits.

And DJ also have statis credits.... but in this case it appears the flights are being booked ont he APNG code.

Now it would be the same situaiton if you flew on QF with an AA code on one fo the non earning codes... despite it being QF, you have bought an AA ticket with a fare class that si non earning.

 

[stryker]

Unfortunately (and these boards have proven it time and time again) some people just aren't ready to accept that Virgin provide a sub par service on their international flights,and, in a display of denial, they'll still make their way onto here and pontificate about something, anything, once they have drunk deeply from the well of Virgin Kool-Aid.
Virgin domestic, along with Jet Star et al, provide a service that is not expected to be on the same level as premium carriers, that is a given.
When their International branches charge approximately the same price on the same route as premium carriers and provide a lesser service, moaning is valid.
Genuflect?

Just about anything is better than the snarling dragon bun tossers on lots of Qantas flights,smiling, friendly service is one thing, being implored on bended knee to have a "Nice Flight" in a display of company enforced emotion is another.

I must admit that a huge problem with Virgin Blue is their staff.

I've never come across a more inane bunch of people in my life. Light-headed, self-centred and just downright annoying.

And I do fly quite a lot, so I get to see how many airlines operate. (* Alliance gold for over 10 years, average 150,000 miles a year). In my opinion, DJ is a very poor example of a LCC. No wonder Brett Godfrey has got the cough.

 

[medhead]

And DJ also have statis credits.... but in this case it appears the flights are being booked ont he APNG code.

Now it would be the same situaiton if you flew on QF with an AA code on one fo the non earning codes... despite it being QF, you have bought an AA ticket with a fare class that si non earning.

Not sure how that is relevant. I'm referring to the point that QF status and points are accounted for separately. So then in the case that a company deal prevents you from earning points you might still be able to have the status recognised. Unlike, it would seem from the OP, DJ where points earnt are used to determine the status, hence if you don't earn the points you can't get the status.

Not sure how an AA non-earning fare based on a relationship between airlines is comparable to a corporate travel deal with a single airline

 

[N860CR]

Unfortunately (and these boards have proven it time and time again) some people just aren't ready to accept that Virgin provide a sub par service on their international flights,and, in a display of denial, they'll still make their way onto here and pontificate about something, anything, once they have drunk deeply from the well of Virgin Kool-Aid.

It's unfortunate that you've managed to pick that up in your 12 posts here. However last I checked Pacific Blue offer exactly the same product as domestic Virgin Blue and while yes (just as on domestic routes) sometimes the fares are the same as the full service carriers, often they are not.

It would seem that this thread has proven that some people are not satisfied with this service and for that reason those people will often not fly with said airline. When work is footing the bill and one does not have a choice, then perhaps the best course of action is to liase with the person who organises your travel and express that you are not satisfied with the product on offer. I'm sure if they feel the reasons provided are sufficent to impact on your productivity, they'll take appropriate action.

 

[ANstar]

Not sure how that is relevant. I'm referring to the point that QF status and points are accounted for separately. So then in the case that a company deal prevents you from earning points you might still be able to have the status recognised. Unlike, it would seem from the OP, DJ where points earnt are used to determine the status, hence if you don't earn the points you can't get the status.

Not sure how an AA non-earning fare based on a relationship between airlines is comparable to a corporate travel deal with a single airline

If he did have status with DJ I am sure it would be RECOGNISED ont he DJ operated fligth despite the APNG code.... it's not about the recognition its the earning.

My point re AA was even if is QF metal, if you had bought a non earning fare code on an AA ticket (ops by QF) wou would still NOT earn status or points... so that is relevant as the OP has bought an APNG fare class that does not earn in the velocity progam. it has NOTHING to do with an agreement with his TA. As posted above it is a restriciton by APNG not the TA.

 

[sampson]

:?:What are Vaustralia's obligations for hotel costs and the like to passengers who were booked on the no-longer non stop Bsb-LA-Bsb or a Mel-LA-Mel flights? I booked about a week before a media release on coughet slipped in a line they'll be flying non stop on 2 days a week. Guess what, my plane isn't flying on those 2 days.

The call centre says

1. they'll change the flight to one going through Sydney, however it arrives at LA in the evening. They won't pay for a hotel near the LA Airport. As I was originally booked to arrive at 6.30am, I'm already booked in a hotel a zillion miles away at $US250 a night. I think its a bit rich of them to make me pay for a hotel in LA ($US250 I guess) when I have a hotel prepaid in full at my holiday area. I also lose two days of the holiday in travel and staying in LA overnight rather than arriving at 6.30am and getting to my intended hotel by 4pm.

2. they'll move me a day forward to fly out of Melbourne non stop but again any extra costs are mine to wear.

3. if I want a refund, they'll impose a cancellation fee even though they decided to send the plane to Thailand or Africa to make a profit (leaving me with the added cost!). Families can't afford to a fee per cancellation. They must be finding people are cancelling out because there's still the cheap promo fares and Premium economy is still less by nearly $600 compared to some fares still on sale in economy. (Why this great airline is hurting loyal flyers defies belief).

4. there's no guarantee the new dates won't change later. however that means I can't accept VirginAmerica's offer of 20% off any flight for every family member in first class. But if I don't book someone to fly with in the 14 days before leaving, there goes early bird sale fares.

5. other airline fares are now higher so, says the csr, basically the customer accepts the changes and the extra costs for hotels.

6. there's no physical address or PO Box to write a registered letter to. The ACCC and CAV say o use the internet and require a response in 2 days, then lodge a complaint.

Why sell tickets for weeks after slipping in a few words - without mentioning a reduction to only 2 days a week -under the irrelevant heading about coughet. Why then not have something to lure people back. Should customers just accept this ... and fly with someone else in the future?

 

[Nigelinoz]

I would think that V Australia's postal address would be sufficient to send a registered letter and I also think it would be the same as Virgin Blue which is
PO BOX 1034, Spring Hill,Qld,4004.

 

[medhead]

If he did have status with DJ I am sure it would be RECOGNISED ont he DJ operated fligth despite the APNG code.... it's not about the recognition its the earning.

My point re AA was even if is QF metal, if you had bought a non earning fare code on an AA ticket (ops by QF) wou would still NOT earn status or points... so that is relevant as the OP has bought an APNG fare class that does not earn in the velocity progam. it has NOTHING to do with an agreement with his TA. As posted above it is a restriciton by APNG not the TA.

Are we reading the same thread. Recognition of existing status is not the issue. Having a flight contribute to getting status is the issue. And there is no restriction to APNG in those comments.

Any way, the deal is we have to fly Virgin from BNE to POM, then APNG to site on one of their Dash 8's.
Now Virgin will not award Velocity points or status credits as all our tickets are "P" class.
This means you can't really gain status tiers so line up with every one else in the scrum at the check in counters and can't use the lounges.

Also it is not some TA deal it is a deal by the employer. The BNE-POM would earn if it wasn't for the deal between the employer and Virgin. That is what I read here as well, not some TA booking the wrong fare on a codeshare.

Recently the company went from Qantas/Air Niugini for flights from Aus to P.N.G to Virgin/Airlines P.N.G as Air Niugini would not/could not service the domestic leg from POM (Port Moresby) to the site.

 

[crazydave98]

The BNE-POM would earn if it wasn't for the deal between the employer and Virgin. That is what I read here as well, not some TA booking the wrong fare on a codeshare.

No, that's not correct. The deal is between the employer and AirlinesPNG, who have effectively subcontracted Virgin Blue to be the carrier by placing their code on the Virgin Blue flight. It is up to the marketing carrier (Airlines PNG) to determine whether or not it wants to award Velocity points and status credits (and in this case they have included boxed meals). The code booked under has nothing to do with it. The employer could if it chose, buy flights directly from Virgin Blue for BNE-POM (and all fares sold by Virgin Blue earn Velocity points and status credits) and then separate domestic PNG flights.

 

[medhead]

No, that's not correct. The deal is between the employer and AirlinesPNG, who have effectively subcontracted Virgin Blue to be the carrier by placing their code on the Virgin Blue flight. It is up to the marketing carrier (Airlines PNG) to determine whether or not it wants to award Velocity points and status credits (and in this case they have included boxed meals). The code booked under has nothing to do with it. The employer could if it chose, buy flights directly from Virgin Blue for BNE-POM (and all fares sold by Virgin Blue earn Velocity points and status credits) and then separate domestic PNG flights.

Oh, my mistake sorry.
But still as you say it is up to the marketing carrier APNG, to decide if they want to award points etc. and I assume the employer in setting up the agreement with APNG is happy there are no points or they didn't care to ask for them.

 

[straitman]

Oh, my mistake sorry.
But still as you say it is up to the marketing carrier APNG, to decide if they want to award points etc. and I assume the employer in setting up the agreement with APNG is happy there are no points or they didn't care to ask for them.

.... or paid less for the privilege of not having points allocated.

 

[pauly7]

When work is footing the bill and one does not have a choice, then perhaps the best course of action is to liase with the person who organises your travel and express that you are not satisfied with the product on offer.

Think this is probably the best answer. When one of my employers went from (domestic) QF to BFOD, some people went quietly to HR and threatened to walk if they were forced to fly DJ or JQ!

They were quietly told of ways around BFOD - that we all know on here... just be unavailable to fly the fares presented by the airline you don't want to travel on, say you have a meeting with someone in a terminal at X hours, say you need to fly with a customer/supplier on the same flight etc etc...................and as QF is much more competitive / DJ more expensive now anyway now it turned out that they were getting a decent % of the flights on QF without needing to do much of this!

Interestingly, we do this 'workplace health check' yearly and the BFOD came up as one of the big piss off factors, Management listened and Procurement reviewed the arrangement and have actually (although not published to the company yet) seen no significant saving from the arrangement but plenty of issues.... I have a feeling that QF, DJ will be rolled in to pitch for the domestic business as sole suppliers as a result... BFOD is really not what its cracked up to be.

So....You can only try and make your voice heard and try and drag a few other voices in too... If you are well regarded and valueable to the company then you will be suprised I think!

 

[medhead]

They were quietly told of ways around BFOD

Interestingly, we do this 'workplace health check' yearly and the BFOD came up as one of the big piss off factors, Management listened and Procurement reviewed the arrangement and have actually (although not published to the company yet) seen no significant saving from the arrangement

Really? Who would have thought?
(what came first the chicken or the egg)