VA Domestic De-boarding procedure

[Travel Guru]

I've noticed the last couple of flights I've taken that VA have started having a crew member stand between PE or J and Economy during deboarding much in the same way it happens on most international flights.

While I don't mind it on Intl flight whether I'm flying J or Y, sitting in Row 3C as I generally always do, I find myself a bit put out by it and really think on an aircraft such as a 737 it's unwarranted (certainly have never seen it happen on a QF 737 domestic flight).

While I love the Virgin experience (I swapped over shortly after Borghetti came onboard and have never looked back), this is the first time I've found myself feeling annoyed at anything the "new" Virgin have done, just thought I'd post as I'm curious what others thoughts are on it.

Must say I love the new VA Priority luggage tags, amazing how VA can make it work so easily and have my bag come off first when QF suck so badly at it (hmm, a training or incentive issue on QF's part perhaps).

Anyway, love to know whether I'm being too quick to judge or whether others share my views.
(I should say I would feel it was as unnecessary if I was in Y+/J as I do in Y which I always tend to fly on VA Domestic)

TG

 

[dfcatch]

I noticed this as well.

And although I thought to myself that it was "unnecessary", and that of course, I was going to let the PE pax disembark first - I don't see it as a negative.

Noteworthy - but not negative.

I see it as VA making an effort to make their premium product "premium".

Also remember that they need to "re-educate" regular VA flyers that they are no longer the airline of singlet wearing bogan leisure Travellers.

 

[serfty]

Qantas used to do this domestically as well - that seemed to cease around the turn of the century ...

Maybe they should stand between row 3 and 4, letting PAX in the the front 14 seats off first ...

 

[reductionist]

I like it.

I have been annoyed in the past when travelling in the forward cabin and Y pax have rushed past me to join the queue to disembark the aircraft.

Sometimes if one goes the rest will follow and then you're left waiting for someone gracious enough to stop and let you into the line to get off the plane.

 

[djfuzz]

Interestingly, they do this even when the premium cabin is empty!

I don't have a problem with it - it's not really an inconvenience and doesn't create any significant delays deplaning, even when in row 3. On the flipside, with the relative amount of free space in the premium cabin, I can imagine some less considerate Y pax taking advantage and rushing up to fill the vacuum before the premium pax have had a chance to leave, so this does preserve that small benefit for the latter. If it discourages people from leaving their bags in the front even when not seated nearby, then even better.

On the priority tags - I'm not 100% sure about the quality of the card used (yes, here come the trolls to admonish me for sweating the small stuff). On a recent trip during heavy rain in MEL, the tags were completely destroyed and the card basically spitballed across all of our luggage; not fun to clean up, let alone preserve any notification of 'priority' at the other end (not that that is a big deal or makes that much difference).

 

[Sifor]

I also like it.

When you've got to put on a jacket, grab your bag and fiddle around there's less pressure when you don't have to worry about getting pushed out of the way. Even when I fly Y I don't mind since the holdup is minimal.

 

[Major]

Sorry TG, but I like it. My last flight was PE and I had time to retrieve my bag before being trampled by Y masses

 

[Travel Guru]

Sorry TG, but I like it. My last flight was PE and I had time to retrieve my bag before being trampled by Y masses

No need to apologise Major, I put it out there as I wanted to know how valid my thought process was.

I guess I had a bigger issue with it the other day when in Row 3 of the old-PE config 737 where her standing behind Row 2 basically blocked me from getting out and getting myself sorted, wasnt as big an issue on the newly reconfiged plane this morning, just thought it was puzzling as havent really ever seen issues with de-planing.

TG

 

[aliens]

Gees de-planing de-boarding?? What a load of cough. Is this an American site with made up English?

 

[Travel Guru]

Gees de-planing de-boarding?? What a load of cough. Is this an American site with made up English?

Gee sorry professor, I couldn't think of the word disembark to save myself while I was posting, shoot me.

My sincerest apologies for any pain and trauma this caused you in reading my thread.

TG

 

[aliens]

Unfortunately you are not the only one. These crazy Americanisms are creeping in everywhere. Getting-off-the plane procedure works for when we cant remember the right words

Thanks for the upgrade but I am only a lowly cough. Prof

 

[mitchsheehy]

I like it as well

 

[simongr]

Unfortunately you are not the only one. These crazy Americanisms are creeping in everywhere. Getting-off-the plane procedure works for when we cant remember the right words

Thanks for the upgrade but I am only a lowly cough. Prof

Given that languages evolve and draw off other languages shouldn't we embrace change rather sticking with phrases tied to older modes of transport?

 

[Mavrrix]

This happened on my flight from OOL to SYD the other day, but what happened was that the flight attendant let all the business passengers off straight away, but then made the Y pax stand there waiting for about 5 minutes (I was in Row 5).

What was that all about :?:

 

[Homer]

Gees de-planing de-boarding?? What a load of cough. Is this an American site with made up English?

I love the irony of using "made up English" to complain about "made up English". Nice work.

 

[jaspon]

This is a new procedure provided as a benefit to PE/J guests, to let them off those few 20 secs or so earlier, until 10 or so guests disembark from the rear, for aircraft balance, then crew allow economy pax to disembark from the fwd door