Public Servants In Virgin Blue Brush Off

[Nigelinoz]

Public servants are flouting a directive from the Federal Government to use non-Qantas carriers to fly between Sydney and Canberra.A Senate Estimates Hearing yesterday found just 12 per cent of trips taken by Government agencies in the December quarter were with Virgin Blue.
Full Text :
http://www.travelweekly.com.au/dirplus/images/travelweekly/TravelTodayPDF/25_02_2009.pdf

 

[Flashback]

I guess because DJ doesn't have a free "wipe your bottom for you" service.

 

[mushypeas]

DJ need a prepaid service at flight booking - say an extra $10 gets you a sandwich and coffee etc, I would almost guarantee this would increase their sales.

the ability to charge your expenses while on the plane to your corporate card would definitely be a go'er.

 

[Blackswan]

After trying to rebook flights today using the Virgin Blue call center, I can see why.

I always try and stay as polite and as courteous as possible when dealing with call centers (as I understand working on the phone all day must be difficult for staff). But after getting off the phone today with DJ, I felt like I'd had better conversations with off-shore telecommunications companies.

Every time I deal with QF on the other hand, I always feel a little valued.

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

DJ need a prepaid service at flight booking - say an extra $10 gets you a sandwich and coffee etc, I would almost guarantee this would increase their sales.

the ability to charge your expenses while on the plane to your corporate card would definitely be a go'er.

To be competitive with QF, DJ need to become a non-LCC.

That's not going to happen, so they will always be at the bottom of the list.

 

[brissyflyer]

DJ need a prepaid service at flight booking - say an extra $10 gets you a sandwich and coffee etc, I would almost guarantee this would increase their sales.

the ability to charge your expenses while on the plane to your corporate card would definitely be a go'er.

Actually you can use credit credit cards on board and they give receipts.

 

[pauly7]

DJ need a prepaid service at flight booking - say an extra $10 gets you a sandwich and coffee etc, I would almost guarantee this would increase their sales.

the ability to charge your expenses while on the plane to your corporate card would definitely be a go'er.

You can already - but the issue is that if you are a person with a decent sized expense account and receipts flying everywhere like me it is a pain in the proverbial to do so. Has been discussed here many many times before, but a great improvement would be 'free' meals bundled into any iteration of a flexible fare that a corporate might purchase.

They just need to make it easier and more attractive for corporates and public servants to travel with them and business will follow. Just scheduling flights is not enough.

I also know of some companies that are on BFOD that don't allow its staff to charge onflight food/bev at all unless it is breakfast or dinner (and that is stipulated by being between certain hours).

 

[drron]

It would be interesting to know of those DJ fares how many were used by people with little say such as temporary workers.
Out of interest I looked at my figures-but this is for fares paid by State governments.
6 sectors with a choice of QF,DJ,JQ-5 were DJ,1 was QF.
12 sectors with a choice of DJ or JQ-12 with DJ.
10 sectors with only choice was ZL.
2 with only choice JQ.
1 with a choice of QF or ZL-was ZL.
So when there was a choice of airlines DJ is the clear winner with 17/18
QF was 1/6
JQ 0/18

 

[Ms Lucy]

After trying to rebook flights today using the Virgin Blue call center, I can see why.

I always try and stay as polite and as courteous as possible when dealing with call centers (as I understand working on the phone all day must be difficult for staff). But after getting off the phone today with DJ, I felt like I'd had better conversations with off-shore telecommunications companies.

Every time I deal with QF on the other hand, I always feel a little valued.

I have to agree, based on my experience. I was booked on DJ November last year. I rang their call centre at an off-peak time (probably one weekend) several weeks before travel to link two bookings so that there was a change of being seated with my travel companions. I've done this several times when travelling with QF; generally done with no drama and a one minute phone conversation. With DJ, though, it seemed to be a major thing. Took ages. I was put on hold for several minutes, the gentleman came back on and "Thanks for holding. It won't take too much longer", then another wait on hold. I started to worry about what might be going on; had they misunderstood what I was asking? Was I being a major pain? In the end, when we did travel, we were seated together so the request worked but it seemed to be such a big deal (though the staff member was quite nice).