Thinking it's time to give VA the flick

[docjames]

I don't seem to by flying the same airline as discussed here.

We've had nothing less than excellent service (ground, air, lounge), nor any Sabre issues.

Weird.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I can tell you for a fact that the upgrade/downgrade should never have happened. They have a policy now that once upgraded, it sticks!

KCMil, may I ask if you work for VA? The reason is that I hear a lot of talk (dispute) over what is fact and what is not here on AFF (A330s on order springs to mind) so it would be handy to know who may be in a better position to know the "facts". Purely from a selfish perspective and if you'd rather not say, that's OK as well.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

no change table installed in any of them. Sign on door said it was meant to have one. Complained. Steward then suggested that I change bubs on the toilet seat

I hope you send a complaint about that. I must admit, I rarely use the on-board facilities (I'm not yet at an age where my bladder can't handle the 1-2 hour flts I normally take) and when I do, I don't look for change tables (those days are definitely past for me), but expecting people to change a babies nappy either on a toilet seat, on the floor or on a pax seat is just primitive and an insult to not just those flying with a baby, but to other pax on the flight seated around them. Imagine if it was one of those lovely sloppy yellow styles that have an unusually quaint yet distinctive nose!

 

[Jama]

Hopefully, VA will be seeking some compensation from Sabre, given the damage, and in turn that compensation will be passed on to us in some form. Sabre isn't to blame though for the decline in the quality of service or the complete disregard, in some cases, of VA's loyal flyers. Unless VA turn this around fixing Sabre is only going to help on the surface.

 

[elbarto]

There was a post somewhere indicating the SABRE implementation team was needed elsewhere and it was January or bust (AKA late this year).

Most likely at Etihad ironically enough.

 

[markis10]

Most likely at Etihad ironically enough.

Yep, now completed:

Etihad Airways successfully completes passenger services system transfer | Al Bawaba

 

[robbie1984]

Yep, now completed:

Etihad Airways successfully completes passenger services system transfer | Al Bawaba

Successful and Successful are two very different things. Have tried a few bookings on their site and it's not playing along.

 

[Gremlin]

I had an interesting experience mid-week. Booked and selected Row 3 as per usual. Outbound no dramas, on return leg SYD Premium Entry Lounge Dragon hands me BP for 9B. I asked about my pre-selected seat and she told me I didn't have a choice as there were no windows or aisles left. I said that I'd pre-selected my original seat and she told me that I hadn't as there was no seat selection recorded. Even if something had happened in the system and the original seat selection had been erased I don't understand why it would assign a WP on a Flexi Fare seat 9B.

Went to the customer desk inside the Lounge and pulled up my original booking on my phone which clearly showed my original selected seat. Apparently they couldn't get it for me but did move me to 4D. I think some other poor sod would've has their 4D replaced by 9B on boarding.

Overall, it was rather a pain to deal with and whilst not upgraded and then downgraded I was left in a decidedly worse seat than the one I'd originally been assigned and couldn't get my original seat back.

 

[Bolthead]

I don't seem to by flying the same airline as discussed here.

We've had nothing less than excellent service (ground, air, lounge), nor any Sabre issues.

Weird.

I agree, despite some slow posting points I have had minimal issues with booking, seat allocation (at time of booking) or when contacting the call centre. I did have an issue with the overseas call centre however she was proactive enough to put me through to the Australian Plat centre and a solution was found. (this had nothing to do with a booking) Unlike many people here, I have only had about 5 return flights since Sabre implementation so I guess my exposure to issues are less than others. As well our company has policy to fly predominately Virgin so I have had to put all my eggs (including personal flights) into the Virgin basket. Despite this I wouldn't change. In deed if you follow other threads the Sabre implementing has been a 'god send' for me.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ty-status-run-master-46199-49.html#post772893

 

[jasejman2000]

I hope you send a complaint about that. I must admit, I rarely use the on-board facilities (I'm not yet at an age where my bladder can't handle the 1-2 hour flts I normally take) and when I do, I don't look for change tables (those days are definitely past for me), but expecting people to change a babies nappy either on a toilet seat, on the floor or on a pax seat is just primitive and an insult to not just those flying with a baby, but to other pax on the flight seated around them. Imagine if it was one of those lovely sloppy yellow styles that have an unusually quaint yet distinctive nose!

Yes. Have lodged a complaint. If it was a number 2's everyone would've known. Our little treasure packs a punch!

 

[DaveB]

Sabre install at Etihad explains the trouble I had booking and points paying for seats flying Etihad for June.
Lucky I don't have to worry about gaining status credits and just fly with who is the most convenient as long as it isn't One Star.
The Virgin domestic J though is a bit of a joke. Strange considering it's international product, apart from the lounges is far superior in the air IMHO.

 

[TSOOBI]

Cant be going to well ... MEL 11am today was a MESS !!!! checkin lines were almost out the door and a lot of frustrated and peeved off people in line. Actually listening to the conversations many were very upset and vowed not to fly virgin again. Priority checkin was 15 deep and moved quickly with the 2 staff members doing the best they could. I havent seen it that bad in a long time ... i wonder what the excuse will be to the shambles today ??

 

[BrentH]

I fully support the outrage felt towards VA.

You shouldn't have to put up with this ****. You should teach VA a lesson, and take your business elsewhere.

VA is a horrible airline, and nobody who has to share status with me should ever give it another chance!

If WP's and SG's want to stop flying in protest, it can only lead to positive changes:

• More room in the lounge
• More availability up the front
• Less competition for good fares
• More perks as VA works harder to steal QFF's

So, please - send that John Spaghetti guy a message he won't forget!!

Keep that W in WP!

 

[RickyT84]

Judging from the posts from the various posts, it looks like it is best to give VA a miss for a couple more months. I tried to book a VA flight the other day and find it really frustrating. I gave up in the end and booked with JQ instead.

It weird that after flying both a bit - I can't believe that VA makes a profit sometimes, and, for completely different reasons, I still can't fathom how QFi and QFd don't make money.....

Actually QFd made a bucket loads of money last year, it is QFi that is bleeding cash.

 

[drewbles]

Please feel free to vote with your feet. It'll make the lounge much better on Friday afternoons

Seriously though, I think some people are a little quick to judge. It's been what, a month or so since the change. Things will be bumpy. If it were me, i'd be moving quietly back to QF until things are running smoothly back in the VA camp, then quietly move back.

I'm quite happy to keep flying VA domestic, but will throw in QF if needed too.

 

[blackcat20]

Please feel free to vote with your feet. It'll make the lounge much better on Friday afternoons

Seriously though, I think some people are a little quick to judge. It's been what, a month or so since the change. Things will be bumpy. If it were me, i'd be moving quietly back to QF until things are running smoothly back in the VA camp, then quietly move back.

I'm quite happy to keep flying VA domestic, but will throw in QF if needed too.

From reading people's comments on here, it seems like VA are a bit hit or miss, either one extreme or the other at the moment. I flew them for the first time in years last month, and couldn't fault them (except that they called me Miss rather than Dr ). However, I have no status so I guess my expectations are a little lower than others...

 

[GOONER]

I'm def in the same boat as the OP been giving VA a very big chance but they can't deliver in my experiences.

 

[KCMil]

I fully support the outrage felt towards VA.

You shouldn't have to put up with this ****. You should teach VA a lesson, and take your business elsewhere.

VA is a horrible airline, and nobody who has to share status with me should ever give it another chance!

If WP's and SG's want to stop flying in protest, it can only lead to positive changes:

• More room in the lounge
• More availability up the front
• Less competition for good fares
• More perks as VA works harder to steal QFF's

So, please - send that John Spaghetti guy a message he won't forget!!

Keep that W in WP!

Really? have you actually re-read your post?
i'm sure VA would love to hit the airports with a wand and expand their lounges overnight.
What airline wouldn't want to create a tardis in the front of their aircraft where you can fit all status packs in the first 3 rows.
Who wouldn't want to get J access for the price of a saver fare
And I guess if everyone got CLUB membership just for being silver/gold or Platinum we'd all be happy.
What airline actually does all this and I'm there....

 

[totd]

Really? have you actually re-read your post?

I think you missed the sarcasm in that post.

 

[KCMil]

I certainly hope so, I was begining to despair at humanity if it is indeed not sarcasm! But a 12 hour day does dull ones senses!