Feeling ripped off by Virgin advertising - we now serve food and beverage

[medhead]

1. Turn on your TV.

2. Don't plan a career in law.

Beveridges with a photo of a glass of wine, Virgin should perhaps use a can of Pepsi if that is the case.

When I see food and beveridge I think beer or wine. But others here may think water. With virgin I now thing beveridge is water.

I vote with my wallet, so QF it is.

Just answer the question, where exactly does it say booze is now complimentary?

Food is now complimentary, when it wasn't previously. - True

You can get a drink on every flight for free, that doesn't say booze. - True

Having someone ask nicely if you want a wine doesn't mean it's free especially when the ad only says FOOD is free.

If the issue is a TV ad why link a picture of a print ad that does not at all support your position.

 

[blackcat20]

You can get a drink on every flight for free, that doesn't say booze. - True

But its the same tea, coffee, juice, water that it always was. The ad makes it seem like its something new and exciting, when its not.

 

[dk4]

Take it to the ACCC, let us know how that goes.

Might I suggest - The Advertising Standards Bureau Ad Standards ? Lodge a Complaint may be a better place to complain, as it deals with advertising regardless of whether you have made a purchase or not.

You can get a drink on every flight for free, that doesn't say booze. - True

However, many of the images that I have seen picture booze being served, without a disclaimer that booze is only complimentary on certain flights. So I think a reasonable person may infer from those images, that the reference to "beverages" also includes alcoholic drinks on all flights (without restriction to departure time or departure day). Look back at Qantas advertising (as an industry example), they are always very specific about exclusions when they exist, Virgin should have done the same IMO.

 

[medhead]

But its the same tea, coffee, juice, water that it always was. The ad makes it seem like its something new and exciting, when its not.

The ad doesn't say anything new or exciting about drinks, only food.

Might I suggest - The Advertising Standards Bureau Ad Standards ? Lodge a Complaint may be a better place to complain, as it deals with advertising regardless of whether you have made a purchase or not.

Just copying another's invocation of the ACCC.

However, many of the images that I have seen picture booze being served, without a disclaimer that booze is only complimentary on certain flights. So I think a reasonable person may infer from those images, that the reference to "beverages" also includes alcoholic drinks on all flights (without restriction to departure time or departure day). Look back at Qantas advertising (as an industry example), they are always very specific about exclusions when they exist, Virgin should have done the same IMO.

It does not make any claim that booze is free on every flight. If you want to focus on that picture there is also food being served - the now free food. It also says you can get wine, without any other claim that the booze is free.

 

[bullerdude]

The ad doesn't say anything new or exciting about drinks, only food.

The one in the Voyuer magazine does state 'complimentary food, beverages entertainment...' etc.



Yes it doesn't say what the beverages are, but given the add shows 'wine' being served it is fair to say that one could interpret the add to meant that wine is now free on Virgin flights.

But without a 'alcoholic beverages and soft drinks are only complimentary on weekday flights between 5pm to 7pm' it is somewhat misleading.

 

[Princess Fiona]

"Leave your cares behind and enjoy complimentary food, beverages, entertainment and checked baggage on domestic flights"

Underneath is a picture of an FA serving a red wine.

I'd bet my house that if you showed that Advert to a 1000 punters the vast majority of them would infer, incorrectly that VA are serving complimentary wine on their flights - all of their domestic flights.

IMHO the ad agency whether deliberately or not (more likely the former) are using powerful imagery to prime the audience into making a false assumption about the product.

 

[medhead]

The one in the Voyuer magazine does state 'complimentary food, beverages entertainment...' etc.

View attachment 50594

Yes it doesn't say what the beverages are, but given the add shows 'wine' being served it is fair to say that one could interpret the add to meant that wine is now free on Virgin flights.

But without a 'alcoholic beverages and soft drinks are only complimentary on weekday flights between 5pm to 7pm' it is somewhat misleading.

Which has nothing to do with the bit of my post that you quoted. The whinge related to the now complimentary bit when this is not new in relation to wine. As I have said, the ad does not say beverages or wine is now complimentary. It does not say anything is new or exciting about drinks.

"Leave your cares behind and enjoy complimentary food, beverages, entertainment and checked baggage on domestic flights"

Underneath is a picture of an FA serving a red wine.

I'd bet my house that if you showed that Advert to a 1000 punters the vast majority of them would infer, incorrectly that VA are serving complimentary wine on their flights - all of their domestic flights.

IMHO the ad agency whether deliberately or not (more likely the former) are using powerful imagery to prime the audience into making a false assumption about the product.

There are free beverages. Juice, water tea and coffee are all beverages that are available for free on all flights. The words in the text are correct. There are no promises that the wine is free. If we want to look at the pictures can I crack the sads about being ripped off because a VA staff member doesn't wheel my luggage around, and because they aren't over in hollywood doing clapper board duty? Can I crack the sads when they don't want to sell me a wine on my 6 am flight? Can I crack the sads to the ACCC when they serve me a muffin, or cheese and biscuits and not a sandwich on every single flight.

Simply put there is nothing clearly wrong about the advertisement when all elements are considered. It is a massive over analysis to claim that ad says wine is free on every single flight. Especially, when the person raising this has clearly stated that they know nothing has changed with wine (or beverages) service, and the advertisement does not claim wine (or beverages) service has changed. Hell, they know that beverage service policy hasn't changed but apparently some picture says it has changed. Sounds like an unreasonable bit of VA bashing.

 

[medhead]

Re: Feeling ripped off by Virgin advertising - we now carry your bags.

That's it!!! I'm going to the ACCC to get a $100000 fine because VA staff don't carry my bags for me. It's in a picture in an advertisement, it must be true.

 

[Mattg]

It's carefully selected though :/

Carefully selected by an accountant?

 

[UP4014]

A bit like a car rental company showing an Audi A8 then serving up a VW Polo. What, they both have a German badge, you expected what we showed in the ad !!

Matt

 

[Ausbt]

On my SYD-MEL this morning it was one Friand (for those that don't live in Syd's Inner West, it's a type of small muffin-cake with a very dense filling). Did Mangan design this delight? It wasn't bad, but geeze, how much thinking goes into this? I think Virgin need to team up with Adriano Zumbo personally, I could really go a slab of V8 cake with my black Arabica.

 

[JohnK]

VA should stop describing the stuff they offer as food. It's embarassing.

The stuff they give you in a box on Qantas doesn't look like the ads either...nor does Maccas or any other place IMHO.

The stuff in a box is really nice.

Had a chicken pesto wrap on today's 3:05pm SYD-BNE flight. I don't like wraps. This was tasty. Not soggy.

Shame I have to book more VA flights. I wish I'd won a competition with free QF flights.

 

[ozstamps]

I am far too busy running a busy business to make money so I can give it to Virgin and others, to bother with ACCC.

But you can GUARANTEE someone likely will.

For the benefit of the Bush Lawyers above, who do not own TV sets it is clear as these highly deceptive and misleading TV ads showing the rest of us, inflight passengers being asked if they'd prefer a Pinot Grigio or a Merlot, with ZERO fine print or exceptions to this (which are in fact MOST Virgin flights!) might note -

The Federal Court has just fined Coles $2.5 MILLION for equally totally misleading, and rather similar fake claims -

https://www.accc.gov.au/media-relea...ay-and-freshly-baked-in-store-bread-promotion

The bigger they are, the greater the ACCC loves nobbling them. These TV ads deliberately beak the law, that seems clear.

No-one lost a PENNY out of this Coles behaviour as you can see, but Chief Justice Allsop of the Federal Court was very clear that large corporations cannot outright lie in order to get market shares - Coles did it, and Virgin are doing it right now many would agree -



Coles to pay $2.5m for misleading "Baked Today" and "Freshly Baked In-Store" bread promotion

10 April 2015

The Federal Court has ordered Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (Coles) to pay penalties of $2.5 million for making false or misleading representations and engaging in misleading conduct in relation to the promotion of its par baked bread products, in proceedings brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The products were promoted as “Baked Today, Sold Today” and in some cases “Freshly Baked In-Store”, when they were in fact partially baked and frozen off site by a supplier, transported and ‘finished’ at in-store bakeries within Coles supermarkets.

In imposing these penalties, Chief Justice Allsop said “The contravening conduct in this case is substantial and serious. Notwithstanding the absence of any specific evidence as to loss or damage by a consumer or a competitor, it is clear that the significant potential to mislead or deceive and thus to damage competitors, the duration of the conduct, and the fact that the goods in relation to which the impugned phrases were used were “consumer staples” indicate that the objective seriousness of the offending conduct was considerable”.

His Honour also noted, “The evidence before the Court showed that Coles had engaged in the campaign with the clear purpose of improving its market share vis-à-vis its competitors, being bakeries such as Bakers Delight…It set out to do so by engaging in the conduct that, in fact, breached the Australian Consumer Law”.

“This penalty sends a strong message to companies that they should not use broad phrases in promotions that are deliberately chosen to sell products to consumers but which are likely to mislead consumers,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

“As the Chief Justice pointed out, it is important that sellers in the market recognise that consumers are entitled to reliable, truthful and accurate information”

 

[medhead]

If VA explicitly said you can get fresh baked Pinot Grigio for free on every flight, then they might be in the Coles boat. They don't say that, and they ain't in that boat.

 

[ozstamps]

Don't aim for a career in law.

Virgin IMPUTE the free baggage on all flights, snacks, and free wine are a new thing and are spending a fortune on TV ads, huge billboards and colours ads to sell that message with FA's serving booze in the ads.

It is false in regard to the booze. The booze policy has been the same for years. There is NOTHING new about it, but the ads impute there is.

ACCC could well take the view this massive campaign was aimed at improving its market share by attracting casual Qantas clients who now only get a free drink after 4pm on some Mon-Fri routes. Borghetti lives by market shares stats - it is a main focus and has been for years.

His Honour also noted, “The evidence before the Court showed that Coles had engaged in the campaign with the clear purpose of improving its market share vis-à-vis its competitors,

 

[bullerdude]

If VA explicitly said you can get fresh baked Pinot Grigio for free on every flight, then they might be in the Coles boat. They don't say that, and they ain't in that boat.

Respectfully disagree, acknowledging that we all entitled to our opinion.

The text in the ad clearly states that beverages are complimentary on all flights and the add 'infers' that alcohol is part of the complimentary beverages.

 

[medhead]

Don't aim for a career in law.

Virgin IMPUTE the free baggage on all flights, snacks, and free wine are a new thing and are spending a fortune on TV ads, huge billboards and colours ads to sell that message with FA's serving booze in the ads.

It is false in regard to the booze. The booze policy has been the same for years. There is NOTHING new about it, but the ads impute there is.

ACCC could well take the view this massive campaign was aimed at improving its market share by attracting casual Qantas clients who now only get a free drink after 4pm on some Mon-Fri routes. Borghetti lives by market shares stats - it is a main focus and has been for years.

That ad makes no statement about wine being new. You are absolutely wrong to claim it does. The new things are food, baggage and IFE, to anyone with a year 8 reading level.

The Coles case is irrelevant. Coles explicitly stated their bread was fresh when it was in fact frozen. Note the difference an explicitly written statement that the bread is "fresh baked". VA absolutely do not say they have "fresh baked" wine. Basically you're talking complete cough in making this comparison.

Love the bush lawyer insult, it would seem you're the king of bush lawyers with irrelevant case law.

Respectfully disagree, acknowledging that we all entitled to our opinion.

The text in the ad clearly states that beverages are complimentary on all flights and the add 'infers' that alcohol is part of the complimentary beverages.

What it actually says is that you can kick back and enjoy complimentary beverages. This is absolutely true, anyone can enjoy free tea, coffee, water or juice on all flights. It does not say all beverages are free. Not sure why you'd draw a false inference from one picture, that isn't supported by the words in the advertisement but not mention the other pictures. It is equally unreasonable to assume VA staff will carry my bags as it is unreasonable to think wine is free on all flights.

 

[bullerdude]

I draw upon this example of misleading advertising for the ACCC website.

• a transport company uses a picture of aeroplanes to give you the impression that it takes freight by air, when it actually sends it by road

And I draw upon a second excerpt from the ACCC website.

It makes no difference whether the business intended to mislead you or not. If the overall impression left by a business’s advertisement, promotion, quotation, statement or other representation creates a misleading impression in your mind—such as to the price, value or the quality of any goods and services—then the behaviour is likely to breach the law.

When I first saw that advertisement I actually assumed it meant soft drinks were complimentary but alas only between 5pm and 7pm.

 

[medhead]

I draw upon this example of misleading advertising for the ACCC website.



And I draw upon a second excerpt from the ACCC website.

Key word in your second quote - OVERALL. Is your overall impression of the print advertisement that you get free wine on every flight. Really? Out of all the information in that advertisement, the one and only, strong, overall impression is that you get free wine? Nothing about free food? Nothing about free IFE? Nothing about free baggage. You know those things in big bold print. Nothing about the free food offer in the picture, nothing about the VA staff member over in hollywood being a best boy, nothing about VA staff carrying your bags. No instead you've taken 3 words in a long paragraph, in a fairly tortured interpretation, to mean that you get free wine on ever flight? Really? Really?

 

[bullerdude]

Curious as to why you are defending VA with such vigor