Well - tried it once, won't bother again

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chocolate radiation man

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I'm venting and apologise if my POV is different to everyone else here, and I am not interested in being told "give them another go". I'm a once bitten twice shy type of guy and frankly don't care for sloppy service and paying decent dollars for a poor product...

Where do I start?

I needed to visit Darwin on my rotation home lets just say "incognito".

I'm quite well known at the lounges and of course by the other FIFO's in and out of ADL/DRW who in the majority, fly Qantas. So, after watching an episode of Dexter, I said to my wife "hide in plane (pun intended) view - I'll fly up and back on VA".

I used an external booking system to book my flight(s) and being hand luggage only, I raced off two days later for my first of 4 HELL flights over 2 days.

Ok, that's a little unfair as the flights south were better that the ones north, but man oh man have Virgin Australia got a lot to learn.

VA401. Seat allocation 1A
Poor CSM service. VA status PAX recognised in row behind before I was even offered a good morning.
Shabby service, overhead bin filled with luggage (I assume crews), I had to ASK for a coffee, not to mention a pretty poor seat comfort wise.

VA1351. Seat allocation 2A
1A was empty. Before takeoff I asked the CSM if "after takeoff" would it be OK to move to 1A. There was a noisy kid behind me, no drama, that's what kids do, but I might as well get some distance between us right? The CSM berated me quoting load profiles etc quite loud and to a point of embarrassment. I reiterated again that I wanted to move to the empty seat (assuming it stayed empty as the door was still open at that point) AFTER takeoff, but the CSM kept on with the sever NO.

Within 5 minutes of the seatbelt sign being turned off, a passenger from the economy cabin was moved to 1A.

During the flight service I was pretty much ignored except for the compulsory interactions needed and I would chalk that flight up to the defining moment of "never again"

The flights home were much better - CSM spoke to me, but I felt they were only interested in their own upcoming weekend activities and had no "zest" in their service - tired perhaps, too long a day? I don't know, but for an airline who claim to be equally as good as Qantas, have "raised the bar" I think is their latest tag line, they are a long way short of the "ordinary" service on QF.

CRM
 
I suspect your definition of flights from hell is a little different to the mainstream one. I certainly don't find it unusual to hear the crew giving a regular more attention than a casual flyer, each to their own :confused:
 
And I suspect your definition of my mainstream is different to mine, each to their own. (screwed up face icon thingy)

Obviously it's wrong to pass an opinion here that's left field as well
 
If you regularly fly business class domestically then yes Qantas are better, where Virgin wins is that business class a lot cheaper, maybe not as good but still better than the cost on Qantas.
I am glad that Virgin staff recognize a status passenger.
 
If you regularly fly business class domestically then yes Qantas are better, where Virgin wins is that business class a lot cheaper, maybe not as good but still better than the cost on Qantas.
I am glad that Virgin staff recognize a status passenger.

Love the name! Pity about the Freo Icon...

I agree Mr. Bear, but if a passenger is paying for J service, a passenger should receive J service. If you bought a bottle of Bundy and it was full of tea instead - well you have the vessel it was supposed to be supplied in, but you don't have the product...
 
Assuming the above description to be an accurate reflection of the day, which I can believe because I have experienced similar, then its a pathetic attempt on VA's part to run a Business class cabin.
 
Having paid a lot (to me), of $$ to upgrade to J SYD - DPS, the flt out facilities and CSM service was extremely underwhelming. I do not recommend it. When sent the pro form feedback giving examples, I heard nothing of course. Just have taken it as a lesson.
 
If you regularly fly business class domestically then yes Qantas are better, where Virgin wins is that business class a lot cheaper, maybe not as good but still better than the cost on Qantas.

I'd concur. "better' is really subjective. I believe I receive 'better' value with VA in J which is why I fly them.

I haven't flown J on QF in a long while, nearly two years, but last time I did I was pretty underwhelmed by the rickety old 767's with broken _everything_ out of PER and the service then was hardly warm and inviting. The crossover for me to VA J was an easy one, the only thing that lets them down in my view is their very basic lounges. Mind you, I realise I'm getting mostly cream here, my flights are almost always transcon and I am careful to choose the 332's. Running up and down the east coat in the 73H's is not really fun or a premium experience.

I am glad that Virgin staff recognize a status passenger.

Yes, agree with this. Assuming the people behind were status, but its a fair bet.
 
Within 5 minutes of the seatbelt sign being turned off, a passenger from the economy cabin was moved to 1A.

If I'd experienced all of that, I would probably feel just like you. But in 160 sectors with VA over the past few years I've never even seen a passenger moved from Y to J after take-off (and I generally sit in row 3 so I'd notice). I've had my share of VA J (!) as well and been happy with the service. There are things they get wrong and it's clearly a younger, less 'stuffy' atmosphere than Q, but I prefer it.
 
VA1351. Seat allocation 2A
1A was empty. Before takeoff I asked the CSM if "after takeoff" would it be OK to move to 1A. There was a noisy kid behind me, no drama, that's what kids do, but I might as well get some distance between us right? The CSM berated me quoting load profiles etc quite loud and to a point of embarrassment. I reiterated again that I wanted to move to the empty seat (assuming it stayed empty as the door was still open at that point) AFTER takeoff, but the CSM kept on with the sever NO.

Within 5 minutes of the seatbelt sign being turned off, a passenger from the economy cabin was moved to 1A.

During the flight service I was pretty much ignored except for the compulsory interactions needed and I would chalk that flight up to the defining moment of "never again"

I'd definitely give them feedback on that! I've never had any problems moving to vacant seats in J.
 
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In one sense it's nice that they seemingly recognised the status passenger, but if a non-status passenger has paid a lot of money to be in the cabin, they should at least be getting a level of service for that cabin, and from the sounds of things, that didn't happen. I recall someone once relating a story to me of how UA would serve status J pax first, giving them the best choice, even if they had upgraded for instance, over someone who had paid top dollar. It rewards a certain amount of loyalty sure, but alienates a future repeat customer in the process.

Interesting they wouldn't let you move seats but later did an onboard upgrade. That's the kind of thing I'd be taking extreme details of and forwarding on to the relevant department... so they could check exactly who was moved and discipline if necessary.
 
I'd definitely send feedback about an economy passenger being moved. I've never received any sort of special welcome as a platinum VFF member. But I have seen a couple of special people get extra special treatment and that really annoys me. I don't mind if they treat me like everyone else on the aircraft, which is what they do, but that should apply across the board. Clearly the cabin crew don't value my business over the next person.

I have no idea how the noisy child would be a problem given the massive gap and barrier between rows 2 and 3.

When were you in VA401? Been getting that one a fair bit lately.
 
Interesting they wouldn't let you move seats but later did an onboard upgrade. That's the kind of thing I'd be taking extreme details of and forwarding on to the relevant department... so they could check exactly who was moved and discipline if necessary.

Did it appear that any of them knew the on-board upgrade?
Were they male or female? Attractive...
Related to anybody?

Or carrying a giant Toblerone?

(Amazing what attention you can receive on a long haul flight with 4.5kg of Toblerone ftr)
 
I'd definitely send feedback about an economy passenger being moved. I've never received any sort of special welcome as a platinum VFF member. But I have seen a couple of special people get extra special treatment and that really annoys me. I don't mind if they treat me like everyone else on the aircraft, which is what they do, but that should apply across the board. Clearly the cabin crew don't value my business over the next person.

I've had the experience once on a lightly loaded (both cabins) QF service ADL-MEL. Was asked if I would like to moved (from 4D) on taxi, after the safety demo. Ended up in 1D. I was offered menu choices last etc... so I was below everyone else in the cabin, but I guess the pick of the litter in Y. Happened to have just reached P1! :p
 
Wow, if those flights were very very very hell-like I wonder what flight is heaven-like for you, is it when the CSM says hi to you first before the elite flyer in row 2 ? :rolleyes: :-|

Anyway, this story is a real flight;

How I Survived The 33-Hour Flight From Hell | Lifehacker Australia

Maybe some people are taking the term 'hell flight' too literally.

I think the op is probably a status flyer but wanted to see what the differences were, and as such hasn't just gone into this thinking he's a god, but has tried not to be too critical. As always though, detecting how someone says something online is hard. From what I recall, his LTSC on QF alone was in the tens of thousands...
 
I must be weird because I find domestic Business on Virgin Australia and Qantas pretty much the same ... Different, but much the same.

Granted some flights stand out due to outstanding crew but such crew pop up now and then on both airlines
 
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