Declining levels of IFE

[serfty]

End of the day it's a cost cutting measure and nothing else! Saves $ on installation, maintenance and fuel!
...

Works for me, even with gift voucher based CC fee avoidance on QF, VA flights on Domestic routes are coming in about 10%-15% cheaper than similarly timed QF flights.

Also, as a VA WP, I can now get the coveted front row of economy on booking - at the same time assisting my hoarding of Velocity for those international award bookings.

 

[lovestotravel]

Works for me, even with gift voucher based CC fee avoidance on QF, VA flights on Domestic routes are coming in about 10%-15% cheaper than similarly timed QF flights.

Also, as a VA WP, I can now get the coveted front row of economy on booking - at the same time assisting my hoarding of Velocity for those international award bookings.

I'd rather pay a little more and have a decent lounge without hot dogs and with spirits, a meal inflight (snack sometimes), FA's who know what they are doing and recognise loyalty along with IFE. Saving a few hundred dollars here and there is not worth the hassle of flying Virgin

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

I'd rather pay a little more and have a decent lounge without hot dogs and with spirits, a meal inflight (snack sometimes), FA's who know what they are doing and recognise loyalty along with IFE. Saving a few hundred dollars here and there is not worth the hassle of flying Virgin

Can I ask how someone who has repeatedly said he doesn't fly Virgin, would know anything about flying with Virgin at all?

 

[lovestotravel]

Can I ask how someone who has repeatedly said he doesn't fly Virgin, would know anything about flying with Virgin at all?

LOL - All reports on here are that nothing has changed really!

Last flight was about 15 months ago

Still serving hot dogs in the lounge ?
Still cancelling flights due to poor loadings ?
Still got Luke serving up poor food ?
Still no fixed IFE ?
Still no audio IFE ?
Do all aircraft have AC charging ports so that customers can charge their own IFE ?
Still losing money ?
Website still not working properly ?
Still have to log in many times to the website ?
Any J lounges yet with spirits or real food ?

 

[straitman]

LOL - All reports on here are that nothing has changed really!

Last flight was about 15 months ago

Still serving hot dogs in the lounge ?
Still cancelling flights due to poor loadings ?
Still got Luke serving up poor food ?
Still no fixed IFE ?
Still no audio IFE ?
Do all aircraft have AC charging ports so that customers can charge their own IFE ?
Still losing money ?
Website still not working properly ?
Still have to log in many times to the website ?
Any J lounges yet with spirits or real food ?

lovestotravel,

Once again I'll try to put some perspective in the discussion.

My wife and I are Platinum FFs with both Qantas and Virgin Australia so I figure we can offer a reasonably balance perspective on the discussion. Whilst you are perfectively welcome to have an opinion it is only reasonable that others may have a different perspective and disagree with you. What I see above is a list of everything you can think of that is wrong with VA but no real comparison with Qantas or acceptance of other peoples opinions.

Comments in turn:
Many people like hotdogs. Last time we were in a VA lounge was the first time my wife had experienced the hotdogs and commented that it was a pleasant change to the half hearted offering we normally get in lounges.
Personally I have had more cancelled QF flights than VA flights. (for what ever reasons)
Quite a few threads here lately with regard to the 'slop' and/or bad food offerings on Qantas in both J and Y.
IFE being rolled out across the fleet. Look ahead a few years and I'm willing to bet (read reliable 'aviation' source articles) that fixed IFE is the way of the dinosaur.
Audio IFE rolled out as part of the package.
No charging in Y. Not a problem on short haul IMHO.
So is QFI so I hope you don't fly them either.
Qantas web site is currently less user friendly than the VA web site IMHO.
Correct no spirits. Not the end of the world.
The lounge food is good and/or bad in all lounges at different times.

From where I sit both airlines are better and/or worse on occasions. The more important thing IMHO is service recovery and that is where Qantas has been really bad in the past but is getting better. On the few occasions needed my overall experience though is better from VA. Our worst was a time that we made feedback for a reasonably significant issue and got no response. After a second query I got a personal phone call from the 'Guest Experience Manager' Office of the CEO and all was resolved very quickly. I can't say I've ever had that sort of response from QF.

 

[ashleyn]

Maybe off thread but how many FF's take their own IFE ? I certainly do regardless of the airline. I have my ipad with movies of choice and music and NCC headphones so I'm immune to any nuances of the IFE.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Maybe off thread but how many FF's take their own IFE ? I certainly do regardless of the airline. I have my ipad with movies of choice and music and NCC headphones so I'm immune to any nuances of the IFE.

It's possibly not for this thread, but I frequently read people state they have the iPad (or whatever) loaded with their choice of movies. May I ask how one does that? I have a fair selection of DVDs, but I have absolutely no intention of taking them as they've all been watched to death. I have Telstra T-Box and I can't see how I can rent a movie and load it on a laptop. How does one do it............legally (I'm absolutely opposed to video piracy)?

 

[markis10]

It's possibly not for this thread, but I frequently read people state they have the iPad (or whatever) loaded with their choice of movies. May I ask how one does that? I have a fair selection of DVDs, but I have absolutely no intention of taking them as they've all been watched to death. I have Telstra T-Box and I can't see how I can rent a movie and load it on a laptop. How does one do it............legally (I'm absolutely opposed to video piracy)?

You can rent them off iTunes.

 

[ashleyn]

You can rent them off iTunes.

Ditto me, happy to pay the small fee.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

You can rent them off iTunes.

So does that work for non-iDevices?

 

[toowongman]

So does that work for non-iDevices?

Yes, Android devices have "Google Play" which has movies and so on for rent and purchase.

 

[aupirate]

Usually take my own device as I'm over missing the end of a movie on short hops. I have movies on my samsung note2 which i find is a good size. No issues of where to put the device when there is a meal on the table. It has s 64gig micro sd card as well as its own memory so plenty of space.

 

[lovestotravel]

Thanks for the non-reply VFF. You asked for more details and I gave them, but liked another reply after my comment.. Bit hard to address my points I guess..

All good though - Best of luck to VA and they need it still with their "trying" efforts Hopefully they start making some real $ sometime soon but I see too many cash drains ongoing....

I am very happy with QF and have zero reason to fly VA domestically

 

[Steve Dyer]

Thanks for the non-reply VFF. You asked for more details and I gave them, but liked another reply after my comment.. Bit hard to address my points I guess..

All good though - Best of luck to VA and they need it still with their "trying" efforts Hopefully they start making some real $ sometime soon but I see too many cash drains ongoing....

I am very happy with QF and have zero reason to fly VA domestically

With all that said why do you continue to push VFF from a Social media perspective? If I were running the social media team at VA, i would not encourage my staff to be drawn into debates... I personally, and i suggest a large number of people have similar gripes with Qantas, or Virgin for that matter, yet dont make a point of airing here... Just my personal thoughts....

 

[straitman]

Thanks for the non-reply VFF. You asked for more details and I gave them, but liked another reply after my comment.. Bit hard to address my points I guess..

Thanks for my non reply lovestotravel. I did address your points as have a few others here.

All good though - Best of luck to VA and they need it still with their "trying" efforts Hopefully they start making some real $ sometime soon but I see too many cash drains ongoing....

Similar cash drains to QFI which you don't comment on.

I am very happy with QF and have zero reason to fly VA domestically

Amex Reserve CC free flight is with VA so there is one reason.

 

[medhead]

Currently running an average of $131 on QF and $123 on VA for my domestic work flights. I rather have the cash in my pocket than pay for a breakfast I'm never going to take. Plenty of good reasons to use VA.

It's possibly not for this thread, but I frequently read people state they have the iPad (or whatever) loaded with their choice of movies. May I ask how one does that? I have a fair selection of DVDs, but I have absolutely no intention of taking them as they've all been watched to death. I have Telstra T-Box and I can't see how I can rent a movie and load it on a laptop. How does one do it............legally (I'm absolutely opposed to video piracy)?

I use DVD shrink and handbrake to convert my DVDs for use on iPads. I use an analog tv tuner to convert shows recorded on foxtel iQ box for use on iPad - mainly sports that I don't have time at home to watch. You can debate the legality. But in both cases I have paid for the content at the going rate. I'm using available technology to convert to a convenient format. The electronic files are for my personal use and are not shared.

 

[eastwest101]

Thanks for the non-reply VFF. You asked for more details and I gave them, but liked another reply after my comment.. Bit hard to address my points I guess..

All good though - Best of luck to VA and they need it still with their "trying" efforts Hopefully they start making some real $ sometime soon but I see too many cash drains ongoing....

I am very happy with QF and have zero reason to fly VA domestically

Well I enjoy your posts lovetotravel and it is a shame that you feel that some of your concerns about VA aren't being addressed. I think you have pointed out some legitimate problems with VA - in particular the IFE and their web site. It seems that VA are committed to the BYO device wireless IFE as their solution, like you, I don't like it but they seem committed to it so for some it can just go in the 'Con" column of all the pros and cons that make up VA vs QF comparison.

Certainly I agree with you that VA is not perfect, but I think you would agree that QF is not either. Your problems or 'Cons' that you have highlighted about VA are definately important to you and you have changed your travel plans accordingly. I totally respect that - its your choice.

Would I be able to assume that if VA fixed most/some of those problems that you would be willing to reconsider flying VA domestic again? For instance if they kept their wi-fi IFE, fixed their web site properly and rolled out J lounges and refreshed the onboard food offerings would that be enough to try them again?

Often with QF and VA comparisons its really just a case of which is least bad at doing things that are important to you as a customer and frequent flyer. Both airlines do some things very badly in my opinion - like VA for IFE and website but they do get PB right, versus QF whom have better but certainly not ideal IFE and food but cannot seem to do PB correctly. They actually seem to be competing very well as to whom can make their web sites worse than before.

Anyway - back on topic - I miss the old LTA a bit too but I personally burn a lot of what I want onto a portable DVD player and/or use a tablet/laptop to view my own stuff that I may not get time to view at work or at home. Thats my 2c worth anyway...

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Thanks for the non-reply VFF. You asked for more details and I gave them, but liked another reply after my comment.. Bit hard to address my points I guess..

All good though - Best of luck to VA and they need it still with their "trying" efforts Hopefully they start making some real $ sometime soon but I see too many cash drains ongoing....

I am very happy with QF and have zero reason to fly VA domestically

We felt it was quite clear that Straitman addressed your 'points' lovestotravel.
Thanks for the best wishes though, hopefully you'll see feedback come through over the coming months that sway you into trying/flying us one day soon.
Then we'll look forward to a trip report with substance!

 

[Warks]

I had the Galaxy tablet on my SYD-TSV flight earlier this week and as I'd brought my own headphones it worked a treat (except for the reflection). I've had trouble hearing the sound on these in the past as the supplied headphones are rather poor, even the 'good' ones aren't much better. I had to hold them to my ears with the tablet at full volume to hear it in the past. I am certain the upper volume range has been rendered inaccessible.

On the way back today we were told wi-fi was available. I'd loaded up my laptop with Silverlight a few days ago and was primed to use the wifi but all I got was the "we're sorry" message as it continually tried to load. I pressed the call button and after about 20 minutes the FA asked what the problem was and I told him. He said he'd check and see if it was working for anyone else and went to the other end of the plane but never came back. I assume it just wasn't switched on. What a boring flight with nothing at all to see or listen to. Most people seemed to be reading or playing with phones or listening to their own music players so I don't know if anyone else was prepared for the wifi.

Anyway I'm not impressed at all. Especially when I had my Ultrabook (with its very thin 'lid') on the table and the woman in front chose to drop her seat about halfway through the flight. Just saved the screen from getting damaged.

 

[JohnK]

The whole point on the 'BYO device' model, is that it future proofs the entertainment offering inside the cabin in regard to IFE technological advancements.

So what happens to those (like me) who do not own a 'BYO device' or if they did own one they do not want to cart it everywhere with them on their travels?

Sorry, no IFE for you?