VA2 to Further Unbundle?

[jakeseven7]

Just an update on this, Bain/VA2 are doing market research again on unbundling their airfares - I just completed another survey for them.

Priority Boarding is an option you can pay for along with extra leg room, WIFI, meals etc.

See above what they are proposing you can pay for even if you are a non status member.

 

[MooTime]

View attachment 265430Just an update on this, Bain/VA2 are doing market research again on unbundling their airfares - I just completed another survey for them.

Priority Boarding is an option you can pay for along with extra leg room, WIFI, meals etc.

See above what they are proposing you can pay for even if you are a non status member.

mate you really must have very little experience in market research.......many companies far beyond airlines look for feedback of all far ranging info regarding their products & even other products.
I did probably the same survey just an hour ago, I don't recall a question regarding 'unbundling of products'.

I do market research many hours a week & the sheet they throw at you, really crazy at times.

To say VA are proposing the above snippet of unbundling is a little incorrect.

Then again I did market research on the Chinese made Haval SUV they were to import here & an option to name it was "Big Dog", it was very much laughed at, but ended up being just that, Haval Big Dog.......so you could be right on VA etc.

 

[jakeseven7]

mate you really must have very little experience in market research.......many companies far beyond airlines look for feedback of all far ranging info regarding their products & even other products.
I did probably the same survey just an hour ago, I don't recall a question regarding 'unbundling of products'.

I do market research many hours a week & the sheet they throw at you, really crazy at times.

To say VA are proposing the above snippet of unbundling is a little incorrect.

Then again I did market research on the Chinese made Haval SUV they were to import here & an option to name it was "Big Dog", it was very much laughed at, but ended up being just that, Haval Big Dog.......so you could be right on VA etc.

There is a focus group on it next week so I’d suggest it’s getting to the ‘pointyer ’ end if they are paying people for their opinion now rather than just the free panel.

I actually am a fan of them unbundling since status for me personally on VA2 is much harder now.

Why, are you not a fan? You seem a little upset? Let me know and I can pass on in the focus group!

Edit: I guess I’m being a little selfish being happy about the proposed changes.

 

[eastwest101]

There is a focus group on it next week so I’d suggest it’s getting to the ‘pointyer ’ end if they are paying people for their opinion now rather than just the free panel.

I actually am a fan of them unbundling since status for me personally on VA2 is much harder now.

Why, are you not a fan? You seem a little upset? Let me know and I can pass on in the focus group!

Edit: I guess I’m being a little selfish being happy about the proposed changes.

I wonder if someone on the paid focus group will be asking if priority boarding means nothing, as long as they have and enforce sensible cabin baggage limits, if they go down the route of unbundling free checked in luggage then the everything plus the kitchen sink crowd will be fying VA2 and causing them problems upon boarding as we see in the USA.

Will be interesting to see if they "unbundle" everything else in the plane though, I don't think that charging extra for additional legroom, meals, wifi and flexibility of travel date/time is very controversial.

I would love to know how monetizing emergency exit row seats is in keeping with CASA safety rules about a certain number of emergency exits being attended, surely the two policies are totally incompatible. I have seen lots of very full flights on JQ and VA in the past, with everything chockers expect for the two over-wing emergency exits and have always wondered how they have been able to sneak this past CASA. Especially now they cannot move people to exit rows after boarding due to keeping everyone in their assigned seat due to Covid.

 

[MooTime]

There is a focus group on it next week so I’d suggest it’s getting to the ‘pointyer ’ end if they are paying people for their opinion now rather than just the free panel.

I actually am a fan of them unbundling since status for me personally on VA2 is much harder now.

Why, are you not a fan? You seem a little upset? Let me know and I can pass on in the focus group!

Edit: I guess I’m being a little selfish being happy about the proposed changes.

focus groups are great, paid to give an opinion.

Anyway nah no way upset (It's Friiiiiday), you know how words can come across different as how we actually feel.

I'm not too fussed what VA do, I'm very happy with them & how they've come out of Val Admin. Few changes here & there, each to their own how they affect each one of us.
I'm happy to have QF.......JQ, well try to avoid.

Maybe let us know what thoughts are expressed in the focus group if your involved.

 

[jakeseven7]

I’m more than happy to take views of AFF members next week to the focus group as I can see both sides to the topic!

After I competed the community survey posted above I got an email asking me to attend an ‘in depth discussion’ over Zoom… paid…

I can see for higher status members they may see this as devaluing their benefits if any John Smith can just buy priority boarding and extra leg room space etc

But also for lower status members this may sway them to to fly VA2 over JQ / Rexy if they can buy these things, increase their overall business.

Personally as my employer has cut VA2 off our travel roster and to maintain any sort of status will be on my own coin when QF is too expensive or sold out, the ability to add Priority Boarding for $5 or whatever would be quite attractive!

 

[jakeseven7]

I wonder if someone on the paid focus group will be asking if priority boarding means nothing, as long as they have and enforce sensible cabin baggage limits, if they go down the route of unbundling free checked in luggage then the everything plus the kitchen sink crowd will be fying VA2 and causing them problems upon boarding as we see in the USA.

I’ve never really seen a massive issue in the US with this, but I’ve mostly flown AA.

I would love to know how monetizing emergency exit row seats is in keeping with CASA safety rules about a certain number of emergency exits being attended, surely the two policies are totally incompatible. I have seen lots of very full flights on JQ and VA in the past, with everything chockers expect for the two over-wing emergency exits and have always wondered how they have been able to sneak this past CASA. Especially now they cannot move people to exit rows after boarding due to keeping everyone in their assigned seat due to Covid.

Selling extra space would just be giving people Economy X rows as well though for cheaper ex-bundle rates perhaps? Not just emergency rows.

 

[Bagpuss]

When you are on focus groups and especially paid I'm pretty sure there stuff in there about sensitive information and not disclosing.

To mean from their screenshots is likely to be about fare includes and not "unbundling".

Most of this is about understanding the current trends and finding out what people value. For example if a lot of people respond "Priority Boarding" they would look further into their boarding and make sure it's right, if it has a low response it would stay as is.

 

[MooTime]

I can see for higher status members they may see this as devaluing their benefits if any John Smith can just buy priority boarding and extra leg room space etc

John Smith can just buy priority boarding & extra legroom atm.
From just $20 or so........Economy X.

Privilege of higher status this comes free.

 

[jakeseven7]

John Smith can just buy priority boarding & extra legroom atm.
From just $20 or so........Economy X.

Privilege of higher status this comes free.

Yes but I suspect it might even be cheaper…

I wonder if Priority Boarding might be like $5…

I was actually thinking how much I’d pay…

 

[Bagpuss]

Yes but I suspect it might even be cheaper…

I wonder if Priority Boarding might be like $5…

I was actually thinking how much I’d pay…

Priority boarding slows down the boarding process.

To speed it up business class on a 737 should be last. Ideally you would board from the back and front doors filling from the middle outwards. Or if using the front door, from the back forwards.

 

[jakeseven7]

Priority boarding slows down the boarding process.

To speed it up business class on a 737 should be last. Ideally you would board from the back and front doors filling from the middle outwards. Or if using the front door, from the back forwards.

Ok I’ll offer that in the focus group Boarding last should be the new PB for VA2!

 

[MooTime]

If us J got on last we'd have to throw back the champers awfully quick.
Actually probably better, tough enough downing it slowly.

J I like to get on first.
Y I like to get on last as least time in plane better.

 

[moa999]

If there is a good lounge, who need Priority Boarding.

Particularly when it often ends up with the earliest boarders just standing in the aerobridge

 

[BNEFlyer]

What was the question? Does this relate to Business or adding some of these options to Economy?

 

[jakeseven7]

What was the question? Does this relate to Business or adding some of these options to Economy?

Basically any economy fare you could select to add options like PB for cash

 

[jakeseven7]

If there is a good lounge, who need Priority Boarding.

Particularly when it often ends up with the earliest boarders just standing in the aerobridge

Overhead luggage space is a dog eat dog world on the 737s / single aisle aircraft that unfortunately dominate Australian domestic flying - that is one of the biggest reasons I like to get on earlier.

If I could get a dirt cheap VA2 fare and add PB for $5 I definitely would to beat the hordes jamming their Krispy Creme boxes in the overheads!

 

[eastwest101]

Overhead luggage space is a dog eat dog world on the 737s / single aisle aircraft that unfortunately dominate Australian domestic flying - that is one of the biggest reasons I like to get on earlier.

If I could get a dirt cheap VA2 fare and add PB for $5 I definitely would to beat the hordes jamming their Krispy Creme boxes in the overheads!

Yep fair enough - single aisle B737 and A320 dont have enough overhead room for a full plane, and definitely not enough when people are incentivized to bring on more than usual carry-on baggage, if airlines charge extra for checked-in luggage.

Whoever is doing the survey, please pass on from me that the VA Economy X product is a great idea and one of the few competitive advantages they have over Qantas (besides doing priority boarding properly more often). Its probably a Covid problem that is hopefully behind us soon, but the constant flight time changes and cancellations and lack of frequency are quite the show stopper when it comes to people booking with them, if we wanted to get there at some random time +/- 24 hours from what we booked, we would have booked a LCC like JQ.

I haven't flown on them a while as their schedule still makes them impractical, but how's the on-board service? I bet the crew morale has taken a real beating in the last few years.

 

[AIRwin]

I haven't flown on them a while as their schedule still makes them impractical, but how's the on-board service? I bet the crew morale has taken a real beating in the last few years.

Some positive reports recently:
Post in thread 'Virgin Australia Business Class Catering - Service, Meal times, Menus' Virgin Australia Business Class Catering - Service, Meal times, Menus

 

[jase05]

I haven't flown on them a while as their schedule still makes them impractical, but how's the on-board service? I bet the crew morale has taken a real beating in the last few years.

Crew have been amazing I’ve found and on-board service top notch.
All our flying is at the pointy end so no idea what’s happening with the riff-raff down the back though