Thoughts ? VA in its desire to become a business airline forgot economy

[Melburnian1]

I agree that the VA food offerings (except for transcon) are miniscule and almost pointless.

dfcatch's analysis was excellent, but no one mentions which airline is the more punctual.

While it may not be true of every route (or direction within a route), VA more often than not beats QF for punctuality. On some routes, the difference is marginal; on others like MEL - HBA - MEL, at times QF has been a long way behind VA.

That may not matter so much to many leisure flyers, but to businessmen and women, it must be of some importance if their days are packed full of meetings, clinching that deal and so on.

 

[Quickstatus]

I have always wondered why airlines that run these short haul flights persist in pretending that they offer inflight catering.
Passengers are waiting at the gate (those not in a lounge). Why not make the whole departure gates a lounge. The best example I have is LGA airport. The gates surround a bar, eatery etc where passengers can get proper coffee, drinks and food.
The segregation of food courts down in one corner of the airport is stupid because it's not where the passengers are.
The airport that has also got it right is MSP where gate passengers can order delivery of food and drink to their gate.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Why not make the whole departure gates a lounge. The best example I have is LGA airport. The gates surround a bar, eatery etc where passengers can get proper coffee, drinks and food.

I think I'll get drawn and quartered for this comment, but here goes anyway ... JQ do exactly that at BNE. The gates are in the time honoured circle out the end of an arm and a bar and food servery is in the middle of them! Maybe "orange is the new black" when it comes to catering for pax!

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

The airport that has also got it right is MSP where gate passengers can order delivery of food and drink to their gate.

Like It !

 

[Quickstatus]

The airport that has also got it right is MSP where gate passengers can order delivery of food and drink to their gate.

Like It !

MSP actually has good quality restaurants airside, unlike the poor offerings at most other airports.

 

[Rigs]

I find the quality of service in Y very good. I have also noticed extra effort lately to acknowledge status in the Y cabin. When flying domestic in Y the crew are at least as nice as the crew on Singapore Airlines. As for not everything being free onboard, it might not be a popular view but I don't really value a beer on a <2hr flight. Just give me a coffee. I understand why Qantas and VA have mostly moved away from that sort of thing.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Doing VA on BNE-PER-BNE in Y, is painful
737's
No IFE (screen) and the seats are rock hard
Velocity number has also been entered and is on boarding pass, still have to do a points claim - 2 week wait. Wow.
Virgin website is rubbish, too clunky. App? Does VA have one?
Meals have been surprisingly good though.
PER Terminal is brilliant, credit where credit is deserved, very nice.

Overall, QF is better in my books, from a Y perspective

 

[Dannyism]

This is how I see it...

There are three well recognized airline business models. Full service, low cost and hybrid. Pretty self explanatory but wikipedia has plenty of info.

Virgin was originally low cost, they then found jetstar and tiger to be better at that (offshoring their maintenance etc.). Virgin then tried to become a full service carrier and couldn't quite get the business market off of Qantas. Now they are trying to position themselves as a hybrid carrier, offering the benefits of discount Y with some perks such as baggage, snack, drink and decent service. All whilst still offering a blue ribbon experience for business/premium customers.

Personally, I think they will(should/might) do well with the hybrid model.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

All whilst still offering a blue ribbon experience for business/premium customers.

Whilst I agree with what you wrote, I think they're failing at this point and I doubt they'll do any good as a hybrid with fares that QF better. Admittedly, in last few days I have noticed some pretty decent Y- fares. Perhaps they've realised.

 

[Dannyism]

Thanks swanning_it

I agree that if they don't position their Y fares correctly (just above jetstar, but just below Qantas) they won't offer any value to the consumer. J fares I'm not sure sure about, I don't know the market well enough :/ All the senior mangers/execs at my workplace fly Qantas J on long haul I think, not too sure.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Further to my comments.

I think that CEO Mr John B (+ Virgin Team/Staff) is/are doing the best he/they can, with what he can (money wise). Just from my recent observatios of PER Terminal, if John B could be unleashed, he'd do some damage to QF

 

[james1]

I think the issue is they fail to deliver on what they advertise. Case in point - I flew VA661 from CBR to SYD this afternoon departing @ 5:15pm.

On the website it states; 'All Economy guests receive complimentary tea, coffee and water on all Virgin Australia flights. In addition we also offer a selection of complimentary beer, wine, cider and soft drinks on all Australian domestic flights with a scheduled departure time between 5pm and 7pm, Monday to Friday.'

Onboard however, it was 'tea, coffee or water only'.

Seems to be consistently inconsistent.

 

[Mattg]

I think the issue is they fail to deliver on what they advertise. Case in point - I flew VA661 from CBR to SYD this afternoon departing @ 5:15pm.

On the website it states; 'All Economy guests receive complimentary tea, coffee and water on all Virgin Australia flights. In addition we also offer a selection of complimentary beer, wine, cider and soft drinks on all Australian domestic flights with a scheduled departure time between 5pm and 7pm, Monday to Friday.'

Onboard however, it was 'tea, coffee or water only'.

Seems to be consistently inconsistent.

You should have received a complimentary drink on that flight. I would be sending feedback to VA.

FWIW, I flew SYD-CBR recently on a 5.05pm flight and we were offered beer & wine as advertised.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

if John B could be unleashed, he'd do some damage to QF

The problem is, they did give him free rein for a number of years and many millions of dollars, but he failed to achieve what he espoused. Any business must be mindful of throwing huge money into a pit which is not producing gold.

I think the issue is they fail to deliver on what they advertise. Case in point ...

This is the bit I'm just at a loss to understand. VA are paying the staff wages regardless of whether they do an ordinary job or a great job and they have budgeted for their promises. Why the heck they are allowing staff apathy and poor customer service to continue unabated is beyond me. It would cost them nothing more to run an airline where pax leave the plane saying "what a fabulous flight I just had" and yet they seem perfectly comfortable with pax leaving the plane saying "what an uninspiring experience, QF do that better". This point in isolation, is enough for the board to be asking JB to "please explain" (IMHO)!