On board recognition - who gets any?

[MadFairlane]

Sent feedback in this morning, hopefully they can review the situation for the better.

Regards,

 

[doubleplatinum]

Currently platinum on both VA and QF and can confirm VA very lacking. QF blows them out of the water by far. No usual recognition past priority boarding, constant mistakes with flexi vs saver and meals vs non are becoming annoying, about 6 times now on flexi fares after they have served the whole cabin flexi meals and then service items I'll request my flexi meal only to be confronted with a stupid look each time.

 

[jazza1971]

Was quite nice as a SG sitting in row 2 to be asked first what my J meal choice was on two E190 flights over the last two days First time that has happened.

 

[N860CR]

Travelled BNE-SYD yesterday. Booked about 90 minutes before departure and still got row 3 which was nice.

Just a "welcome aboard" at the door, nothing else heard from the crew during the flight other than an offer of something off the menu.

 

[striking]

As VA Plat, I find it very inconsistent, yes I get the obligatory "Welcome Back Mr ..." then nothing....

On a flight London - Abhu Dhabi flying Etihad, just on take off the FA approached me and welcomed me on board, advised they were aware of my status and that I was the only one on board that night and that to let her know if there was anything I needed I was seated about 3-4 rows back from the front of economy and when the dinner service arrived, she stopped and served me first before moving to the front of the plane.

Not much, but a lovely gesture and made me feel warm and fuzzy...

No flip to a recent economy flight on VA BNE - PER in economy, seated in row 3 ad was issued a galaxy tab, I asked the FA if I could get the good earphones that go in your ears, as I had left mine at home (rookie error I know), she looked at me and said, "these go in your ears..." so I spend the 6 hours with unable to hear a damn thing! That one comment made me question my VA flying, and I am now starting to switch over the QA, I fly every week domestically and international several times a year...

It doesn't take much, but VA really do need to work on their consistency.

As for the row 3 thing, I don't know who in the love of god would deliberately choose the middle seat with the other 2 are taken, show some respect! the beauty part too, is that row 4 and 5 will almost always yield an empty middle seat (IMFE).

 

[doubleplatinum]

Travelled BNE-SYD yesterday. Booked about 90 minutes before departure and still got row 3 which was nice.

Just a "welcome aboard" at the door, nothing else heard from the crew during the flight other than an offer of something off the menu.

Was this an offer for something complimentary from the menu? Or are you referring to the meal included with a flexi fare?

 

[Harj77]

As a platinum member i can count on my hands the number of times you get special recognition.
Sometimes you get acknowledged by name but this is starting to be less frequent now than the good old days of " welcome back Mr..."
however i would like to acknowledge Kimberly on the recent VA 52 from SYD- AKL flight on the 22nd May.
She was delightful. She personally introduced herself and asked if there was anything i needed she would be glad to help. Also gave me regular flight updates. At one stage i felt other passengers think i was some kind of VIP ....i wish.
Thanks again Kimberley and all your crew on the service that Virgin used to have and lets hope they are doing things to get it back to where it was.

On a slightly different note.....SYD-AKL-TAUPO return...$1200 on the VA website. $800 on Air New Zealand website. Both fares in the same class and with meals. Go figure.

Just sitting in the AKL lounge waiting for NZ105 sipping a Pinot.

 

[hummel]

It really seems that VA's alliance and code share partners recognise the SG/WP's much more so than VA itself.

In my case, I've only got the standard welcome back each time domestically. I'll be WP in a few weeks and am very seriously considering switching to QF after this, the cost difference isn't that much and yet VA is still not full service with regards to meals and no WP/J lounge.

It's a real shame to be honest, I've been a real supporter of VA since this new roll out but the way things are going I don't think I'll be around much longer.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I asked the FA if I could get the good earphones that go in your ears,

This gets me as well.

The hard black ones are unusable as earphones (though the dog enjoys chewing them)! Surely the soft ones that are just bareable aren't that much more expensive. When I forget my headphones (often, as that's not a high priority for me), most times my sweet boyish smile works with the white order, but occasionally I get, no!......black ones for you, fool!

 

[N860CR]

Was this an offer for something complimentary from the menu? Or are you referring to the meal included with a flexi fare?

Sorry, by that I meant offer to buy ​something off the menu.

 

[goingboeing]

The hard black ones are unusable as earphones (though the dog enjoys chewing them)! Surely the soft ones that are just bareable aren't that much more expensive.

I am surprised you managed to get the white ones - the last few east coast runs I have done have only had the high quality black earphones available....

Seems to have changed about two months ago? And they no longer have the Virgin Australia case, but instead come in a clear plastic bag, even in J.

+1 to not even name recognition lately as well. Just a "that will be row x on your left/right" and it's all over. Very bizarre as the crew are normally top notch when interacting with them, but they just haven't been told it is ok to be proactive and welcome PS/SG/WP guests a little more.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

the last few east coast runs I have done have only had the high quality black earphones available....And they no longer have the Virgin Australia case, but instead come in a clear plastic bag, even in J.

I have the feeling that may have been due to a shortage of supplies rather than a change to the included offering.

In late March, we found one of our J trips only had the hard black earphones, but all other J excursions since (last one about a fortnight ago) certainly had the white ones in the case back again.

 

[ywwol]

I just flew VA1 and VA2 to and from LAX. I used my Etihad Guest Gold ff number because I wanted points credited there. The cabin crew leaders came around, introduce themselves and offered newspaper and express pass to passengers in economy. I can only assume to status passengers as I was not able to hear. I received neither.

 

[KCMil]

Unfortunately at present it seems that only VA and AirNZ loyalty guests show on flight manifests.

 

[mickeyc747]

Just flew VA 78/79 over the past couple of days fair more recognition with VA New Zealand, welcome back, travelling in Y+, introductions and said don't hesitate to press the call bell, shame our Kiwi Cousins have it right, because I haven't experienced on VA Domestic.

 

[attroxx]

Did a return J status run today and got greeted by name by the gate agent at Brisbane and the CSM and front FA (same crew on both flights as the plane just turned around to Brisbane.. they could say welcome back and really mean it). Nicely though, both the FAs serving the rear of the plane had to come up front during the first flight for varying reasons (guarding and something else) and both of them said Good Morning to me by name. Even though the first flight was 1/8 in J, I was impressed they took the time to find out my name. The CSM also offered newspapers and a personalised greeting to a few passengers in Row 3 on the first flight.

Overall - a really great example of how things should go - the first flight was flawless. I felt for them on the return as there didn't seem to be a spare seat with 8/8 J and, while I didn't look at Y in detail, the CSM said it was full. Add in a medical emergency and I thought they coped with class.

 

[day-heg]

Flight 881 MEL-SYD this evening... normally it's hit and miss on the greeting for me and only since reading bits of this thread have I paid much notice.

Anyway tonight was a nice change, crew staff on the door was Mikela and she said "thank you for choosing to fly with us again Mr Day-Heg". Genuinely delivered, and a nice change to the "Welcome back" which I get from time to time.

Shane Mumford (a Sydney Swan, identified by his Gold bag tag, I know little about AFL but recognised the name) was right in front of me on boarding, and he didn't get the same welcome....

 

[cssaus]

I just flew VA1 and VA2 to and from LAX. I used my Etihad Guest Gold ff number because I wanted points credited there. The cabin crew leaders came around, introduce themselves and offered newspaper and express pass to passengers in economy. I can only assume to status passengers as I was not able to hear. I received neither.

My daughter, a (gifted) Platinum Velocity FF arrived on VA2 from LAX yesterday morning travelling in economy. She said the crew recognized her status, was offered first choice of meals and was given an express arrivals card.

 

[Mollycram]

QF93 25/5 J class Mel-Lax

Not only did I not get a welcome from the CSM but he actually consulted his iPad and skipped me. Gather my points upgrade made me unworthy..... Was only really annoying that I was snubbed when I had to chase my own immigration card down. Did think at the time that he should have made it less noticeable that he was only interested in talking to the people deemed worthy on his magical iPad.....

 

[MarkD]

QF93 25/5 J class Mel-Lax

Not only did I not get a welcome from the CSM but he actually consulted his iPad and skipped me. Gather my points upgrade made me unworthy..... Was only really annoying that I was snubbed when I had to chase my own immigration card down. Did think at the time that he should have made it less noticeable that he was only interested in talking to the people deemed worthy on his magical iPad.....

I guess you were on the wrong plane... This is a virgin thread