Virgin Blue perception

[777]

Last year I had to fly SYD-MEL on DJ because work had a new policy about flying the cheapest possible fare (even though it was only about $35 less than the QF fare). The flight was late - about 90 mins. There was nowhere to sit at the gate. People sitting all over the floor and leaning on walls. There was nowhere for me to escape. No club. No nothing.

There was a club, you're just not a member of it. The Virgin Lounge at T2 Sydney is spacious, well appointed and much, much, much less crowded than most Qantas Clubs i've ever been into. It's not really a fair comparison to claim that DJ doesn't have a club or a lounge if you're simply not a member.

Having said, i think T2 in Sydney is actually pretty good. If you really wanted to pick on a port where DJ suffer in comarison on the terminal department it's MEL. In most other parts of the country i think it's much of a muchness.

777.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

T2 at Sydney is such a hole. T3 (the Qantas terminal) seems a luxury shopping mall in comparison. I suppose I am so used to T3 that T2 is such a horrible shock.

+1
I departed from T2 last week. What a hole.
Downstairs, luggage pick up looks like a dilapidated boarding house. Have a look at the ceiling, it's like some of those old "Fitness First" clubs which haven't been taken care off since opening their doors. T3 is miles ahead.

It's also going to be hard for Virgin to expand their check in/bag drop on the main floor because Jetstar has half of that front part of the terminal area. From what l saw, Virgin is also sharing bag drop with Tiger?

 

[Ricardo]

I have not flown Virgin (or any of its offshoots for about a year since using them for the last three years on Bris - Nadi for Hols) for a while. I do think and they say this publically if I recall, but not sure exactly where I saw it, that they are moving to compete with Qantas for a share of the more premium and business tpye products/travellers.

My experience was mixed with Virgin (and Virgin Pacific). I was charged $50 excess baggage at Christchurch once when I had gear for my two year old son. They swiped my credit card and did not give me any recepit or made me sign, so I disputed the transaction and amex gave me a credit for the $50. Yet we had the same baggage when leaving Bris and were not charged a cent extra, go figure. Service and flight to/from Nadi was ok I guess, a few jokes but nothing excessive, on time etc. I think I used points for some of the flight from memory as well.

I do prefer to use QF or JS when I can or Air NZ to NZ, but DJ is the only option at a good price from Bris - Nadi if we want a family break in Fiji.

I also had a very bad experience with Virgin mobile (which put me off anything Virgin) last year. Ordered two new iPhones, not delivered, so replacements sent. No sims no other info just two boxes with handsets ????? Then to top it all off they started to bill me for the phones that were not even connected ??? I had to get the Telco ombudsman to help me, as they were threating me with debt collection for about $150 for phones not even connected ??? So I am off Virgin and have since cancelled my velocity rewards program and will join QFF and Air NZ and maybe join Koru or QFF lounge program.

 

[openseat]

Another huge plus of flying versus the other alternative:

1) You got out alive!

In light of above all your minuses are actually pluses!

You would not get me on the alternative airline under any circumstances whatsoever.

People that work in the safety area of a third world airline (not talking about any country specifically here) may find something wrong with practices, bring it to someone's attention then hey presto find they have to leave that country because they're getting death threats from the highest person in the Govt.

Corruption is alive and well in some countries and just because aircraft "pass" regular checks does not mean they are safe. Money talks.

This is the reason why our organisation will only book on DJ to/from POM nowdays. We also use DJ to HIR, rather than whatever the latest charter firm from Europe IE (Solomon Airlines) are using.

I'm really surprised that QF still codeshare with PX - it may be something that they live to regret.

 

[drron]

I actually dont mind T2.
Also you could have gone to the QP in T2 as plats have any time access.Mrsdrron got in there last week when flying DJ home to MCY even though she had left her plat card at home.

 

[Pooch]

Yerse ... having bagged Virgin in an earlier posting, I must agree that the T2 lounge is comfortable - having been guested by a friend last year. I wouldn't say it's superior to the QF lounge, but it's certainly well maintained and offers the standard range of beverages and snacks.

 

[dajop]

There was a club, you're just not a member of it. The Virgin Lounge at T2 Sydney is spacious, well appointed and much, much, much less crowded than most Qantas Clubs i've ever been into. It's not really a fair comparison to claim that DJ doesn't have a club or a lounge if you're simply not a member.

And one could potentially argue that in situations where there is an extended delay the $30 or so (?) that it costs for one off access to the DJ Lounge may be a good investment. So there is a lounge, and even if one is not entitled to access it for free (status or paid member), it can be accessed by anyone for a fee.

 

[notzac]

There was a club, you're just not a member of it. The Virgin Lounge at T2 Sydney is spacious, well appointed and much, much, much less crowded than most Qantas Clubs i've ever been into. It's not really a fair comparison to claim that DJ doesn't have a club or a lounge if you're simply not a member.

Exactly what I was going to post. I think most airline terminal experiences tend to be pretty dire without premium check-in and a lounge to relax in ... irrespective of which carrier you fly with. Obviously that's going to colour your perception of an airline.

I don't think T2 is so bad either.

 

[Max Samuels]

I actually dont mind T2.
Also you could have gone to the QP in T2 as plats have any time access.Mrsdrron got in there last week when flying DJ home to MCY even though she had left her plat card at home.

Really? I had no idea. Where is that written or documented?

 

[Max Samuels]

I think most airline terminal experiences tend to be pretty dire without premium check-in and a lounge to relax in ... irrespective of which carrier you fly with. Obviously that's going to colour your perception of an airline.

I don't think T2 is so bad either.

I disagree. I have never seen the gate areas in T3 so overcrowded that people are lying on the floor. I think there is also a slightly different calibre of pax, generally speaking, on QF.

Why, just the other day I flew Brisbane to Albury via SYD on QF. While transferring to T2 in Sydney the difference between BNE/SYD terminals (not lounges) and T2 was very obvious.

 

[serfty]

... The flight was late - about 90 mins. There was nowhere to sit at the gate. People sitting all over the floor and leaning on walls. There was nowhere for me to escape. No club. No nothing. ...

There was a club, you're just not a member of it. The Virgin Lounge at T2 Sydney is spacious, well appointed and much, much, much less crowded than most Qantas Clubs i've ever been into. ...

A single entry pass to the lounge can be pre-purchased online for $30 if you are flying Virgin Blue ($35 at the entry).

Really? I had no idea. Where is that written or documented?

On the Qantas web site:
Fly - The Qantas Club - Lounge Access:

Member Type     The Qantas Club (Domestic lounge) 
	
Platinum 	Member and 2 guests can access lounge any
                time. Guests do not need to be travelling.

 

[medhead]

Really? I had no idea. Where is that written or documented?

www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/qantas-club-lounge-access/global/en#qfclub

That was hard to enter using iPhone

 

[Max Samuels]

www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/qantas-club-lounge-access/global/en#qfclub

That was hard to enter using iPhone

Thanks. Wow you really are hardcore to know all of this!

 

[serfty]

Thanks. Wow you really are hardcore to know all of this!

Stick around - you would be amazed at the collective knowledge of this forum's members ... :shock:

 

[medhead]

Thanks. Wow you really are hardcore to know all of this!

Well not that hardcore, just know where to find the information. I still had to look up the website, find the info and type the URL in my post.

Serfty on the other hand is hardcore hence why he beat me with the link

 

[serfty]

...
Serfty on the other hand is hardcore hence why he beat me with the link

Not really - I have it bookmarked

 

[drron]

Not really - I have it bookmarked

Thats hardcore.

 

[ejb]

...Last year I had to fly SYD-MEL on DJ because work had a new policy about flying the cheapest possible fare (even though it was only about $35 less than the QF fare). The flight was late - about 90 mins. There was nowhere to sit at the gate. People sitting all over the floor and leaning on walls. There was nowhere for me to escape. No club. No nothing.

...

Max,

As a WP you could have used the QP in T2.

Sydney (T2)

Second floor,
opposite Gate 49 0500 to last departure Ph: (02) 9352 7700
Fx: (02) 9352 7710

Would have made a bad experience better.

I have not used T2 since AN went down so can not comment on the state of the terminal.

ejb

 

[Max Samuels]

You know until I saw "up in the air" I didn't know people like us existed

 

[AirlineGuy]

So rumour is that as part of the new product onboard, Economy will still be pay for everything...nothing complimentary...what are your thoughts on this? VB would of become a real alternative to QF Economy for me if they had just offered water, tea, coffee and softdrinks for all in their Economy. Yes I could travel upfront, however budget does not allow for this, and most of business travel is done in Economy, where the little things like a drink with no fuss of getting change etc is very appreciated.

Anyway as I said it's rumour so it may not be true, here's hoping!