Virgin Blue's Frequent Flyer Program

[Fortune]

Is Virgin Blue setting-up a Frequent Flyer Program?
Where can I find details? How good is it?

 

[shillard]

Is Virgin Blue setting-up a Frequent Flyer Program?
Where can I find details? How good is it?

Rest assured, Vermin Blue will find some way to blame Qantas for whatever awful FF programme they decide to try and implement. They will declare the QF FF programme "anti-competitive", and ask Comrade General Secretary Alan Fells to step in and help them out.

The programme will probably be crud, some whispers of it being tied to the Star Alliance, but that will probably crumble when United goes bust.

 

[dajop]

Does one have to be so negative? Are you really just a Qantas exec here to spy on us? Whilst I'm not a huge fan of Virgin Blue (particularly the way the media laps up everything Branson does without question) - at the end of the day it looks like they're here to stay, the low cost Ansett replacement if you like. I did read in the Fin Review last Thursday that the Virgin Blue program will be based on a credit for each flight you make, and once you get to a certain number of credits - you get a free flight anywhere in the network. The article also said that you would still have to spend the same amount of money of flying to get a reward as you do under the Qantas program as an everyday member ((ie someone who doesn't get status bonuses). Still, will have to wait and see - don't know how reliable the sources for the article were.

 

[shillard]

Does one have to be so negative? Are you really just a Qantas exec here to spy on us? Whilst I'm not a huge fan of Virgin Blue (particularly the way the media laps up everything Branson does without question) - at the end of the day it looks like they're here to stay, the low cost Ansett replacement if you like.

Branson can't run a business in a proper competitive environment, he's run screaming to Comrade Secretary General Fells several times now, but then beats his chest like Tarzan when exhibiting the very behaviour he complains about. Utterly hopeless, no wonder Virgin Atlantic is in trouble.

No, I don't work for QF or any of its associated companies, nor have I ever. I call it as I see it.

 

[QF WP]

Branson's Baby

I agree with Shillard. I know Brett Godfrey (the CEO of Virgin Blue), but that wouldn't make me fly with Virgin. Unfortunately, they don't have the structure that suits me (terminal access particularly). So Qantas gets my business.

Their business model suits people who are price conscious and don't mind the queues and walking the tarmac. That doesn't suit me however.

Now that I am so heavily involved with Qantas, it would be a huge leap of faith to give up what I have to fly with Virgin...or Rex.

 

[dajop]

Branson can't run a business in a proper competitive environment, he's run screaming to Comrade Secretary General Fells several times now, but then beats his chest like Tarzan when exhibiting the very behaviour he complains about. Utterly hopeless, no wonder Virgin Atlantic is in trouble

Well that's his problem then isn't it? If he were serious, he wouldn't run screaming to Comrade Secretary Fels. Instead he'd go straight to John Anderson, like Geoff Dixon does. Remember it's for the national good. :roll:

 

[QF WP]

Virgin Club lounges

Well, Brett Godfrey has come out to squash any rumours...it's fact, Virgin are going to have a user-pays system for the Club Lounges; with amenities styled along the Virgin Atlantic lounges (massages, manicures, etc). Will be interesting to see how popular it becomes with the business sector who they are hoping to attract...

Now that they have some terminal access at last and I think (don't know for sure, as I don't fly with them) that passengers will have the use of airbridges to get on board (with exception of ADL where everybody get a walk on the windy tarmac...I quite enjoy the experience of breathing in jet fuel...not).

This may slightly reduce the overcrowding in QC lounges and I say, bring it on. Competition will be good...hey, even REX is good for competition.