Virgin Business Class Lottery - Pay for Business, get Premium Economy! Now 0 for 2.

[mannej]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

I am surprised no one has mentioned getting the ACCC involved yet...

 

[drron]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

There is also a 738 with PE seating.Had it yesterday MCY-MEL.It then went on to CBR.However when you look at the facts it really should be on the MCY sectors-try and book out of MCY on VA and you are only offered 3 varieties of economy so no one really can complain.However both I and mrsdrron are 1 out of 2 with real J MCY-MEL.

 

[mickeyc747]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

I can understand people getting upset at not being told that is unprofessional, I travelled last week and was advised both flights were a 737 700 non re furb. Due to weather I ended up with one sector as a 737 800 re furb so I was lucky. To me the plus side of the 737 700 was that everything bar the seats was Business class service and then I got 50% of my airfare back so as a Platinum for $244 I flew CNS to BNE had a nice lunch few wines got 9760 Frequent Flyer points and 120 SC's worked out at 2.03 per SC not that bad. But I will say if you had not been informed of the changes I understand that their lack of customer service is annoying and sloppy.

 

[VOZZY]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

The whole misleading and deceptive/ACCC thing aside.

VA must have spent an absolute fortune to bring all of this Business Class travel over from QF and just as they are making a big song and dance about the launch they are dissapointing these customers without so much as a call a credit or an apology. There must be a large number of QF business customers sampliing DJ for the first time now and DJ are just letting us walk in one door and straight out the other.

TC

 

[mickeyc747]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

The whole misleading and deceptive/ACCC thing aside.

VA must have spent an absolute fortune to bring all of this Business Class travel over from QF and just as they are making a big song and dance about the launch they are dissapointing these customers without so much as a call a credit or an apology. There must be a large number of QF business customers sampliing DJ for the first time now and DJ are just letting us walk in one door and straight out the other.

TC

I think communication is the big problem as you do get a credit of 50% of your airfare if you have a rogue 737 700/800.

 

[mavrick9]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

There seems to be quite a few people chatting here about paying for Business and not getting business. It doesn't seem just, that you've paid $500 - $1000 for a product that is worth less than half.


Virgin are not providing the product that you paid for. They are advertising a business class product on their website and outdoor but not supplying the product they are advertising. Perhaps misleading or deceptive conduct.


Perhaps just a quick and polite letter to Virgin could be the answer.








Misleading & deceptive conduct


------
The Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (formerly the TPA) says;


False Claims
For example, the law also says businesses must not make false claims about:
the quality, style, model or history of a good or service


Examples of misleading or deceptive conduct:
Some examples of conduct that may be misleading or deceptive are:
a mobile phone provider signing you up to a contract without telling you that there is no coverage in your region
a real estate agent misrepresenting the characteristics of a property, for example, advertising 'beachfront lots' that are not on the beach
a business predicting the health benefits of a therapeutic device or health product but having no proof that such benefits can be attained
a transport company using picture of aeroplanes to give you the impression that it takes freight by air, when it actually sends it by road
a company misrepresenting the possible profits of a work-at-home scheme, or other business opportunity
failing to include in advertisements that sale stock is limited in number or available only for a limited time.

 

[simongr]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

I think communication is the big problem as you do get a credit of 50% of your airfare if you have a rogue 737 700/800.

Useful info on the refund - I would have been stunned if they weren't refunding anything. What happens if it is in the standard white livery though?

 

[VOZZY]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

Useful info on the refund - I would have been stunned if they weren't refunding anything. What happens if it is in the standard white livery though?

Simongr

Please set your face to stun!

Of my three flights downgraded to 700's 2 were paid business and one was a platinum upgrade. For the upgrade flight there was no business seating and no meal. I have complained online for that flight For the other two I have complained online for 1 of the the 2 and I am yet to get a reply much less a credit.

Thing is a don't even care aboutthe credit as much as an apology on or after the day. Fingers crossed they will come through.

TC

 

[MomoWang]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

I would like to have a refund for not having a white livery however that's probably outside the scope of what I was purchasing for Business Class.

Virgin Australia's Business Class | Virgin Australia

My expectations for Business Class are those listed on the above page. That is what is being advertised and being sold. That is what I purchased. Therefore, that is what I would have expected to have received on my flight.

 

[MichaelD]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

To add some extra info to this thread.

The CSM on this second fail flight was excellent and my wife had quite a discussion with him on this issue. We are yet to hear back from Guest Relations despite several calls from us to them and various assurances of them calling us back (+ still awaiting responses to our 2 written complaints).

The plane in question;
VH-VBU
737-700
Fitted with 6 seats in Premium Economy - Row 1A/1C were absent.
No on board entertainment, not even DigiPlayers.

Snack only.

And it still cost us $509.

 

[mannej]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

You would expect that DJ/VA would have the communication lines better, considering that it is not the first time that there has been issues with rogue aircraft.

 

[Comoman]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

Well I am flying Mel-OOL tomorrow in business.

No phone call yet so hopefully everything back to normal.

 

[Demented Freak]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

Flew SYD-MEL on Australia Day. Ended up on VH-VBV, pretty much same situation as MichaelD described. Emailed a complaint a couple of nights ago, waiting for them to contact me.

 

[allitsab]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

I agree with those who see it as misleading and deceptive/bait and switch. If you don't get any compensation, I'd be involving the ACCC.

On a side note, I find it interesting to note that the VA reps fall overthemselves to thank people who talk about positive experiences, but when it comes to tough questions like this one the silence coming from the VA social media team is deafening.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

Out of curiosity how did you "know" it was a 738, given the timetable only indicates 73W and E190s operating? It probably explains the attractive pricing on the route given the usual equipment is likely to NOT have J seats, but J service! There were clearly some subs happening yesterday with the cancellations ex MEL, at least one 738 flew CNS-BNE (VH_VOU)

View attachment 5682

The Virgin website clearly states 737-700 or 737-800 when looking at the bookings page, and flight status page

Although I have found at times they say different things!

I'd probably trust the Flight Status page as it's updated more often (I assume)

 

[lovestotravel]

I agree with those who see it as misleading and deceptive/bait and switch. If you don't get any compensation, I'd be involving the ACCC.

On a side note, I find it interesting to note that the VA reps fall overthemselves to thank people who talk about positive experiences, but when it comes to tough questions like this one the silence coming from the VA social media team is deafening.

Yep, I'd expect a 50% refund, an upgrade from the cheapest economy fare to business for your next trip or I'd be lodging a complaint with consumer affairs!

Everytime I read one of these threads, I think back to the VA fanbois on here..

The ones that kept saying that Virgin don't announce things until everything is rolled out :shock:

Hilarious!

 

[muppet]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

I totally sympathise with those who've paid for business and not received it, it would be very frustrating.

However, given the shenanigans over the weekend - DJ probably (don't really know) had planes they hadn't expected on the wrong routes.

It has been stated that DJ are offering 50% which I think is pretty reasonable in most cases - except those who got absolutely nothing.

I don't think there will be much success for bait and switch complaints. Having booked QF J and got a 734 - do you ever get anything? NO. Is it better than DJ PE seats? NO.

Having booked QF J and got QLink Dash 8 do you get anything? YES - a refund of the difference from Fully Flex to J (definately not 50% off) and QF do this heaps more and for heaps longer - they've never been done by the ACCC. (That, however, I disagree with - but I do think DJs 50% is at least a gesture of godwill compared to QFs "too bad, so sad")

I think those that have had a poor DJ J experience due to this issue will all get their 50% - don't forget guys most of your complaints were lodged over the weekend and it's still Monday.

I hope DJ work a bit harder by keeping the non-refitted aircraft on specific routes so we can book with confidence.

m.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

It's more misleading and deceptive conduct!

As for success, it all depends how much time you have to chase it up.

Most companies expect that you will give up and not go to Consumer Affairs and/or the ACCC

Qantas can try to stand by the "no refunds/credits/blah blah blah" it's in the contract, but at the end of the day, in some cases, you can get a refund if you push hard enough :mrgreen:

 

[dfcatch]

The issue here, IMO, is not the subbing of aircraft - it's the selling of PE as Business on scheduled flights / routes that are not operating "Business Cabins".

That to me is the issue.

Having an aircraft subbed on you at the last minute is a different issue, and should be dealt with separately.

I will soon publish a detailed TR from my business experience yesterday.... But I will eat dinner first.

 

[stark]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

I was in business on sunday mel-bne or at least I was supposed to be They actually rang me on saturday (during Flounge lunch ) and told me I was on a PE configured plane and that I could have my points back and stay on same flight or I could change to another flight with new business, nice service I thought and I chose to change. Unfortunately I still ended up in a PE configured plane. Which I think was due to the delays and cancelations on sunday afternoon, still disappointing though. I'm now 4/4 for old PE.