Virgin seem to be getting everything right

[carpenteria]

In regards to J flights, I do a fairly regular BNE-DRW shuffle, and not sure if it is the times I fly but they are often at least half occupied, if not full (as it was a few weeks back). Whereas the TVL-BNE shuffle is rarely occupied at all. I guess if you are going to splurge 3-4 hours > 2 hours. Plus the 1 Flight BNE-DRW per day vs the multiple returns from TVL probably spreads the load a bit.

Which on a related note did my first ever J flight BNE-DRW (J is usually waaaaaaaaaay beyond my pay grade TYVM half price upgrades!) and found it phenomenal, could be my relative inexperience in the pointy end but super friendly staff, great food and a perpetually full glass of my beer of choice, pretty sweet! Got 2 more DRW-BNE flights on flexi in the next month, want to upgrade but alas, no reward seats Become an addict heh.

Which leads me to another thought, as much as it was nice and totally worth the points (at the current rate especially!) The going rate for J seems a bit high for what you get still - I get that is the point but what I was wondering how often people actually pay for J outright vs using points or points+pay?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

It is the one thing that holds me back from spending my long haul J dollars with VA.

Totally agree

 

[smit0847]

I think the common complaint is Virgin Australia not being a member of an Alliance, not that their alliances are poor.

In premium classes this may be the case but Etihad and Delta both have an awful Y product. Thank god they got SIA onboard.

I don't know why Virgin worldwide don't start their own alliance - I know it wouldn't cover everywhere but with Australia, Atlantic and America already under the Virgin name (as well as other randoms like Nigeria and Samoa) a fair chunk of international travel is covered and surely their Virgin brand are far more closely aligned than the random Etihad and Delta brands (for example, Etihad dont even do PE). When I flew Virgin America it felt like what VA is slowly becoming (progressive, relevant, beneficial and classy)

 

[Boris spatsky]

J for me is all about business. Being able to do work on the plane, or being able to get off and go straight to work in another country. Domestic J still seems a waste to pay for considering the price, but as long as someone else keeps paying for it, then i will keep doing it!

 

[serfty]

Note that with DJ points upgrades, you need to be booked in the more expensive 'flexi' fares in the first place. (Same with WP UC's).

 

[greenfish]

DJ wins for me on price. DJ business is inconsistent to poor on the CBR-BNE run (1 from 4 pre-flight drinks, way too many cheeseboards!) - would be disappointing if not points + pay.

There is no priority boarding in CBR with either QF or DJ. The DJ lounges in SYD and CBR are overcrowded at peak hours (when I fly) and very much inferior to the QF business lounges in both locations (though I love the kerbside access in SYD). DJ BNE lounge is nice though.

I've had great service from both QF and DJ - too close to call for me there, though ringing the DJ platinum line at really odd hours hasn't been great.

DJ promotions keep reeling me in. I'd just thought about a punt at WP1 - and a DJ double status credit offer arrives - so Partner Platinum beckons.

IFE is a shambles on DJ. Always funny when they announce the live2air service when business and the first couple of rows of economy get nothing apart from a digiplayer if they're lucky.

Drinks service is inconsistent in Y - sometimes it comes, sometimes not. Ambiguous as to what is free and when.

So definitely doing a lot of things right, but plenty to work on.

 

[JohnK]

And the reasoning must be that I am too hard to please as I do not actually see much difference from the times I flew Virgin pre-September 2011 and now.

Same aircraft, same product, same lack of service, lack of inflight radio and no cheap airfares for the times I want to fly.

Let's not start with lounges, FF programs, alliances as Virgin is not even in the same ball park. I have flown something like 50 Virgin flights in the last 5 or so years and I have around 20,000 Velocity points. The same flights with Qantas would have earned me at least 50,000 QFF points.

What are we actually comparing again? Business class cabins with one passenger? Cannot be good for business.

 

[MichaelD]

I fly lots of varied sectors, but my "bread and butter" is MEL-SYD. There has to be a reason why Qantas is consistently full or near full in J whereas when I fly Virgin in J I am usually on my own on these sectors.

I love the positive Virgin staff attitude, but frankly I have had no issues at all with Qantas cabin crew in J in the last year or all - just 100% consistent, professional service. Not as friendly as the Virgin cabin crew, but totally professional.

Virgin J catering just plain sucks. They are basically a Qantas Y meal put onto a fancy tray. That's if you're lucky to actually get a meal instead of a coughpy snack. On the other hand, I have had many pleasant meals and snacks in Qantas J. One exception - Qantas J breakfast is lousy, so I eat brekky in the lounge.

The Virgin website is horrid for frequent flying tasks. The constant need to login and relogin just gets tiresome.

The seats - I am still scarred from the 737-700 J fiasco.

International - forget it.

I'm still willing to give Virgin about 25% of my business J flying and all of my personal domestic J flying since I see steady improvements, but the multitude of small annoyances does grate.

 

[pat25d]

I have flown something like 50 Virgin flights in the last 5 or so years and I have around 20,000 Velocity points. The same flights with Qantas would have earned me at least 50,000 QFF points.

That means your Virgin flights were $80 each on average if you had no status, and only $40 each if you were WP the whole time.

Something doesn't add up.

 

[markis10]

Let's not start with lounges, FF programs, alliances as Virgin is not even in the same ball park. I have flown something like 50 Virgin flights in the last 5 or so years and I have around 20,000 Velocity points. The same flights with Qantas would have earned me at least 50,000 QFF points.

.

And the reason you flew Virgin, I bet it was price, the same flights with Qantas were dearer so those points would have come at a higher cost? I bet all those GLT residents who have been paying $500 for a one hour flight with QF that earns 1000 points wished DJ had been able to fly to GLT a lot earlier than they did!

 

[JohnK]

That means your Virgin flights were $80 each on average if you had no status, and only $40 each if you were WP the whole time.

Something doesn't add up.

That would just about be right.

I actually have just over 23,000 Velocity points and all but 8 of those flights were without any status.

 

[pat25d]

That would just about be right.

I actually have just over 23,000 Velocity points and all but 8 of those flights were without any status.

Well then you paid quite substantially less than you would have with Qantas (around 50%), hope you are taking that into account with your comparison between the two.

 

[munitalP]

Ya'll know - VA is actually doing a heap of great things to move their customer base from the LCC flyer to a regular/business flyer. They have a good attitude (the company) and have attracted a particular demographic to the purple curvy airline - this demographic is also very vocal on websites like this or FT.

Each to their own, but as I pointed out in a recent JQ bash thread, I fly my personal flights based on cost. I was GOLD Velocity before the status match, and will be earned GOLD after my Wanker Platinum status drops off - I feel qualified to comment, I don't get the BS about priority boarding and this AWESOME service...

I walk up to the front of the line on QF - I join the crowds 3 paces later in the air bridge - nothing is different on VA. OK, VA beat QF to the punch on putting up signs, but QF have been priority boarding for a long long time on INT flights - more important to me, 300 PAX vs 100 on a 737...

Remind yourself also, EVERYONE gets fed (albeit kinda MEH) on QF - VA are still selective. I don't care as I seldom eat on a DOM flight anyway.

Please stop this Holden is better than FORD bogan activity... it's hurting my head - I will need to go put on my BMW sunglasses ( )

 

[LiamR]

I agree TheInsider, I'm concerned as a) a shareholder

Umm?



I bought a small amount of shares during the ash cloud when they were hovering around 22c. No complaints from me.

 

[greenfish]

I bought a small amount of shares during the ash cloud when they were hovering around 22c. No complaints from me.

While I transferred 100,000 points from my Amex to Velocity last night, then noticed the thread on redemption level changes. Grrr.

Seems to me that Virgin seems to be attempting to outdo Qantas in the "enhancement" stakes recently, with:
- Change to the piece system for baggage
- Complimentary upgrades only when there are reward seats available
- Significant increase in redemption levels for business / PE seats

 

[TonyHancock]

I feel qualified to comment, I don't get the BS about priority boarding and this AWESOME service...

I walk up to the front of the line on QF - I join the crowds 3 paces later in the air bridge - nothing is different on VA. OK, VA beat QF to the punch on putting up signs, but QF have been priority boarding for a long long time on INT flights - more important to me, 300 PAX vs 100 on a 737...

For me it is simple. I want to board my flight quickly and place my, within limits, carry on luggage in the overhead locker above my seat. I can do this with DJ/VA domestically, but on three of the four occasions when I have flown QF this year I have not been able to do this. I agree QF has been doing this for a long time on international flights, and doing it well, which makes it even more illogical that they are unable to do this on domestic flights. Everyone has different needs and requirements I guess.

I don't qualify myself as a particularly frequent flyer and am keen to hear the different views expressed here. I know I do tend to bang on a bit about priority boarding, perhaps I am just odd, but it is important to me.


Sent from the passenger seat of my Audi.

 

[munitalP]

...
I don't qualify myself as a particularly frequent flyer and am keen to hear the different views expressed here. I know I do tend to bang on a bit about priority boarding, perhaps I am just odd, but it is important to me.


Sent from the passenger seat of my Audi.

well sir, your punishment will be 2 crown lagers at the next meet!

I thought you were a DYKWIA....

 

[TonyHancock]

well sir, your punishment will be 2 crown lagers at the next meet!

I thought you were a DYKWIA....

I consider medhead and Johnk to be the frequent flyers. Those guys do the hard yards. There is no way I could do their travel. I'm back to swanning about in J again!!

(Two Crown Lagers coming up at the next meet. )

 

[Moopere]

I know I do tend to bang on a bit about priority boarding, perhaps I am just odd, but it is important to me.

You are not alone, and for the same reasons. Its the summation of many individually small things, this being one, which pushed me over to what I previously considered to the the "dark side" ... DJ....

 

[medhead]

I'd highly recommend QF730 on Monday morning for all those (looking at you MuntialP) who don't see the point of priority boarding. Good luck walking up to the front there, unless you've experience packing down in a scrum.

I'm also flattered at being considered a Frequent flyer. Truth be told, I only fly twice a week (on the whole) and only a relatively short distance. I know others travel more frequently and even in J it's probably a bit harder than my caper.

Umm just experienced another QF messed up version of priority boarding. Why the hell is the priority lane still standing there while the announcement for J, WP and rows 13 to 20X is being made; yet at least 6 people have been boarded from the other lane?


Sent from the Throne