Should business class be buyer beware?

[Sprucegoose]

Let's for 1 minute forget my complaint about my experience.

I still think it is wrong for Virgin to be selling Business class in economy seats and putting all the blame on the customer to be buyer beware.

And then to see another customer service response as a form letter is appalling. We don't deserve to have an individual tailored response? Or are they too busy dealing with complaints?

Do you have any understanding of what 'quit while you're ahead' means !!!

Just vote with your feet.

 

[Fruitcake]

I'd still rather take "buyer beware" than rely upon a regulated definition of travel class onboard aircraft in Australia. Imagine the results of a government body defining what you could sell as a "business class" and an "economy class" seat. Economy class would end up with a mandated minimum pitch of 34", and political pressure would dictate that business class standards be set very low to aid social justice or some such nonsense.


I can buy SYD-CNS return on a QF 737 for $1,800 or a on a DJ E190 for $1,320. I'll take the 16.5" inches of extra shoulder room (but with 1" less leg room) for a saving of $480 please.

 

[JohnK]

I can buy SYD-CNS return on a QF 737 for $1,800 or a on a DJ E190 for $1,320. I'll take the 16.5" inches of extra shoulder room (but with 1" less leg room) for a saving of $480 please.

Or you could purchase 2 economy seats on QF for ~$600 (maybe less), or on DJ for ~$500, and save a further minimum ~$720.

I don't get it. I must be missing something very important. Is the status symbol that comes with pretend business class that important? Surely the pitiful food offering and a few extra drinks cannot make it worth that much more.

 

[Fruitcake]

JohnK, I agree with those points re buying two economy seats instead and the implied value of cash J fares.

Even though I gave the example using cash J fares for SYD-CNS I personally would not pay a cash J fare for a domestic flight ($200 happy hour fares being the only exception) with either airline. However, if you're going to value the J fare as a sum of its parts you need to include the value of priority checkin, security, lounge access, and boarding (at some ports), as well as access to the premium entry in SYD if flying DJ and informally guaranteed overhead bin access on board, the extra legroom (which the E190 J setup does offer), better service standards (FA dedicated to the cabin) and priority baggage. For a status pax such as yourself you get a lot of those things anyway, so the value is zero. But they are included in the price regardless.

Whether those all add up to the value of the J fare is a personal question. However I do spend the time researching aircraft type and configuration before purchasing, which helps avoid disappointment (well, apart from discovering how much I hate QF Skybeds - all the research didn't help me there - but I can't complain, I got what was paid for .)

 

[JohnK]

For anyone interested I sent further feedback regarding this matter 2 days ago.

It has been difficult to let it go and the experience has left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I received a response today apologising for the initial response and the way my feedback was handled. I have also been given more than adequate compensation which has gone a long way to restore my faith in Virgin and their customer service.