Virgin Australia moving to Full Service?

[LiamR]

Just stepped off DJ546, while I was flicking through the inflight magazine, Voyeur. I noticed this little article.

Capital Gains

A new shuttle service to Canberra offers more choice.

With up to 10 return services daily, Virgin Australia's new Capital Connect shuttle service between Canberra and Sydney offers three different menus: 'Start My Day' from 6am to 9am; 'Keep me going' from 9:30am to 4pm; and 'Winding Down' from 4pm to last flight, which includes complimentary beer and wine.

"The service is unique to this route and is part of our overall brand repositioning" says Martin Daley Virgin Australia Group Executive Product and Guest Services.

Virgin Australia plans to gradually roll out the product across its Boeing 737 fleet, along with its new 737-800 business and economy class interiors on all domestic aircraft

While we could argue what full service is (I for one miss the days of Hot breakfast/dinners in economy), am I reading this right in thinking Virgin have 'officially' announced their plans to move to full service catering? Hinting that it may take some time?

Based on my observations, it looks like when a route gains a proper J service, such as MEL-PER, they offer free Coffee, Tea & Water at the same time. Perhaps they'll start doing this when other 737 services start selling full J?

Food for thought... [SUB](Pardon the Pun)[/SUB]

 

[Justchecking]

I hope so. For me on flights und 2hrs I don't really care about eating but a free cuppa would go over a treat.

 

[leemin]

Although it doesn't really phase me, I think it would help the 'full service' perception if DJ were to start offering included meals.


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[Jack Melon]

Pretty obvious they will.

They already do it on the Capital Connect Runs
They already do it on all MEL,BNE,SYD to PER flights
They will start doing it on the new ATR new services to PMQ, Gladstone, Emerald etc.
And i just also found out that it will also start on MEL-CBR-MEL services.

They want to become a full service carrier to match Qantasia, this is what they have to do. Plus they want to attract more business travellers, not all of them travel in business class, so it may convince the economy class ones to move to virgin because you get full service.

Lets just see how it comes along! Exciting times ahead.

So whats left now?
- New IFE
- Star Alliance
- Flybuys

 

[DJ332]

Just stepped off DJ546, while I was flicking through the inflight magazine, Voyeur. I noticed this little article.



While we could argue what full service is (I for one miss the days of Hot breakfast/dinners in economy), am I reading this right in thinking Virgin have 'officially' announced their plans to move to full service catering? Hinting that it may take some time?

Based on my observations, it looks like when a route gains a proper J service, such as MEL-PER, they offer free Coffee, Tea & Water at the same time. Perhaps they'll start doing this when other 737 services start selling full J?

Food for thought... [SUB](Pardon the Pun)[/SUB]

Pardon my ignorance, but has this offering of a free refreshment service to saver pax on MEL-PER or any of the other consistent new 737 J services been documented? Have been inactive on here for the last few days. I'm guessing it has something to do with the new full service galleys

Have to agree though, food is a big drawcard for me and as soon as QF cut hot breakfasts in Y I quickly lost interest in paying the premium to fly our national 'full service' carrier. Bring back the golden age of flying! DJ certainly need to consider at least hot dinners in Y for flexi pax - the aperitifs course doesn't quite cut it for me.

 

[jaspon]

Pardon my ignorance, but has this offering of a free refreshment service to saver pax on MEL-PER or any of the other consistent new 737 J services been documented? Have been inactive on here for the last few days. I'm guessing it has something to do with the new full service galleys

All Transcon flights to and from PER -SYD/MEL/BNE now offer complimentary tea,coffee & water

 

[cavemanzk]

So whats left now?
- New IFE
- Star Alliance
- Flybuys

Now that NZ is a 20% share holder and growing, one would think them joining *A would happening very soon. NZ also paired up with Flybuys in New Zealand this year, so you can now earn airpoints at any flybuys retailer.

 

[pshepvic]

I think DJ really needs to be full service for everyone - serving Flexi pax first then a second run for items off the menu takes longer than just going down the aisle once and putting a standard tray on everyone's table (a la QF). In some cases how they do it now means not everyone can be served - take the night of the storm recently. The seatbelt sign didn't go off until 25min into the flight, and was back on 20min later. Half the plane missed out, whereas with "full" service everyone could at least have been served food and one drink.


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[pauly7]

Pretty obvious they will.

They want to become a full service carrier to match Qantasia, this is what they have to do.

So whats left now?
- Flybuys

I'm confused, compete with Qantasasia/redQ?? have VA announced they are setting up an airline in Asia too to capitalise on the massive growth over there??! Must have missed that one.

RE Flybuys, I work with Coles quite a alot. There is something in the works but Coles and VA are fighting over redemption and payment rates.
Hope it comes off though.

 

[Major]

Now that NZ is a 20% share holder and growing, one would think them joining *A would happening very soon. NZ also paired up with Flybuys in New Zealand this year, so you can now earn airpoints at any flybuys retailer.

This would only apply to NZ retailers as flybuys NZ and flybuys Australia are different companies.

You cannot use your Aust flybuys card in NZ

 

[Jack Melon]

I'm confused, compete with Qantasasia/redQ?? have VA announced they are setting up an airline in Asia too to capitalise on the massive growth over there??! Must have missed that one.

RE Flybuys, I work with Coles quite a alot. There is something in the works but Coles and VA are fighting over redemption and payment rates.
Hope it comes off though.

I was being sarcastic about "Qantasia". If its that bad of a deal and no sense of humour i will call it "Qantas".

 

[LiamR]

Pretty obvious they will.
They already do it on all MEL,BNE,SYD to PER flights

I wouldn't call complimentary Tea, Coffee & Water full service.

 

[Jack Melon]

I think DJ really needs to be full service for everyone - serving Flexi pax first then a second run for items off the menu takes longer than just going down the aisle once and putting a standard tray on everyone's table (a la QF). In some cases how they do it now means not everyone can be served - take the night of the storm recently. The seatbelt sign didn't go off until 25min into the flight, and was back on 20min later. Half the plane missed out, whereas with "full" service everyone could at least have been served food and one drink.


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They could just serve everyone, and keep flexi fare type and just keep the flexi options and some other perks? As usual business get the unlimited

 

[LiamR]

I think DJ really needs to be full service for everyone - serving Flexi pax first then a second run for items off the menu takes longer than just going down the aisle once and putting a standard tray on everyone's table (a la QF). In some cases how they do it now means not everyone can be served - take the night of the storm recently. The seatbelt sign didn't go off until 25min into the flight, and was back on 20min later. Half the plane missed out, whereas with "full" service everyone could at least have been served food and one drink.


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+1 to this. On short sectors the crew really struggle to get meals out to everybody. It also creates waste and increased storage areas onboard. Having to store flexi drinks, and then drinks for sale is unnecessary doubling up IMO.

[Off topic]

I've noticed that if you are on a terminating flight (That is, the aircraft is overnighting and/or the crew are leaving the aircraft) the caters and cleaners hand around the rear of the aircraft, waiting for everybody to disembark so they can eat the left over meals. So at least somebody is enjoying them!

[/Off Topic]

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I think DJ really needs to be full service for everyone - serving Flexi pax first then a second run for items off the menu takes longer than just going down the aisle once and putting a standard tray on everyone's table (a la QF)

+1 to this. On short sectors the crew really struggle to get meals out to everybody.

Although I understand the problem the crew have and in fact witnessed the problem numerous times, I think we should be careful with what we wish for.

Personally, I think if the flight is so short the crew have trouble getting around the aircraft, then F&B is really not that critical. On extended flights, the issue doesn't present itself and we have to remember that DJ were vowing to service both the LCC market and the full service market to not just take on Qantas but to also retain their LCC pax. Full service to all pax will certainly make DJ a more attractive choice for LCC pax.....but only if the fares for that section of the aircraft remain at LCC prices (or within cooee). That's not been my recent experience, with JQ nearly always cheaper (sometimes considerably cheaper) than DJ.

From where I sit, I see DJ moving toward being totally a Qantas alternative and leaving LCC for JQ and TT. Whether flyers like me stay with DJ on those terms will largely depend on how much they move their fares toward QF. At the moment, I see them sited between QF and JQ prices, but if they choose to move them closer to QF, then as much as I'm appreciating the changes for the better, I'll most likely ditch the silver/gold FF status ego and return to plebdom aboard JQ. I do wonder at times, how many small business FFers like me are weighing up the same options.

 

[pauly7]

I was being sarcastic about "Qantasia". If its that bad of a deal and no sense of humour i will call it "Qantas".

Thanks for that Jack I actually honestly didn't get your joke that's all and no it's not 'that bad of a deal'. No need to get huffy.

Guess we will have to come up with a name new name for Virgin "Australia"!! Perhaps Virgin Pomkiwi

 

[medhead]

Gotta say I really resented having paid an extra $40 or $50 on Qantas yesterday all to get a free Byron bay cookie and 200ml of coke. I think it would be a mistake for DJ to offer everyone free F&B on all flights. For me they have a major advantage of cheaper fares when I know I'm not going to need (or get) a free meal. And before anyone gets uppity, I flew QF yesterday because of schedule.

Now that NZ is a 20% share holder and growing,

Technically 19.9% and it is not going to grow unless NZ want to make a full take over offer. Something that I doubt is on the cards.

 

[DGW]

On a DJ flight a couple of months back I ended up stranded in the rear galley (due to turbulence and getting up at the wrong time) and while strapped in the crew seat I started to chatting to one of the cabin crew, and being around the time of the inflight menu changes the topic of the menu came up. She told me she had a friend working in catering and that she'd been told "eventually everyone will get one of these" pointing to the flexi meal tray. I tend to think this is inevitable but I guess time will tell.

 

[MarkD]

I do wonder at times, how many small business FFers like me are weighing up the same options.

O most certainly do weigh it up and do indeed use a mix of dj/ qf. I couldn't bring myself to go tiger, but seriously will consider jq and paid qantas club membership ( dropped to lowly qf silver now)if the prices go too high



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[muppet]

I wouldn't call complimentary Tea, Coffee & Water full service.

Qantas don't give much more LiamR. While I like VA becoming full service, one thing I liked was being able to choose something. If you don't like say a tuna sandwich (QF served that thrice to me...gross) you get nothing.