Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

[pauly7]

Several members on the YSSY forum are suggesting that the new IFE system will be portable units,there is even one suggestion that they will copy Jetstar and use iPads but I really can't see them doing that.
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I too highly highly doubt they will do portable... It goes against everything they are trying to achieve and will park them right alongside Jetstar.

My guess is they will rip all the current IFE out of the A330 and replace it with Red AVOD, then follow with the 73H fleet.

(and hopefully also fix the divider or lack thereof between J and Y in the 73H at the same time!)

 

[Mal]

My (hopefully) final post on flags and Virgin Airlines.

Virgin Atlantic - Coloured flag - Maiden is holding it.
Virgin Nigeria - Coloured flag - Shown on fuselage next to name. [I realise this brand is no longer operating as Virgin Nigeria]
Virgin America - Coloured flag - shown next to registration number.
Virgin Australia - Grey flag - Maiden is holding it.

Even V Australia and Virgin Blue planes have the maiden carrying the (coloured) Australian flag.

 

[Major]

Not only are there plenty of moving parts within the airline to change, but all of our online digital properties take time to change too! :shock:

We'll have to work out a system of where and when the new aircraft will be so that we can get you all up close and personal with them!

Without reading 245 posts, did you manage to work out a system ?

 

[djfuzz]

I could have sworn I saw the new A330 at MEL last night. Saw an aircraft in new livery from the airport ramp and assumed it was a 738 they'd painted up quickly. Sure enough, I saw a very QF-like 738 leave a little later in new livery.

However, when we were on the runway, we could see another new livery aircraft waiting to take off on another taxiway. I couldn't quite gauge the size from where we were, but the winglets were most definitely not 738-style/size winglets.

If I'm not going totally crazy, why would the 330 be in MEL? Unless they'll soon be started 330 services from MEL-PER to supplement the all-important SYD-PER ones.

 

[Virgin Australia]

I could have sworn I saw the new A330 at MEL last night. Saw an aircraft in new livery from the airport ramp and assumed it was a 738 they'd painted up quickly. Sure enough, I saw a very QF-like 738 leave a little later in new livery.

However, when we were on the runway, we could see another new livery aircraft waiting to take off on another taxiway. I couldn't quite gauge the size from where we were, but the winglets were most definitely not 738-style/size winglets.

If I'm not going totally crazy, why would the 330 be in MEL? Unless they'll soon be started 330 services from MEL-PER to supplement the all-important SYD-PER ones.

Training or maintenance.

 

[pshepvic]

I could have sworn I saw the new A330 at MEL last night. Saw an aircraft in new livery from the airport ramp and assumed it was a 738 they'd painted up quickly. Sure enough, I saw a very QF-like 738 leave a little later in new livery.

However, when we were on the runway, we could see another new livery aircraft waiting to take off on another taxiway. I couldn't quite gauge the size from where we were, but the winglets were most definitely not 738-style/size winglets.

If I'm not going totally crazy, why would the 330 be in MEL? Unless they'll soon be started 330 services from MEL-PER to supplement the all-important SYD-PER ones.

Don't worry you're not going crazy - as I mentioned a couple of posts back it was definitely in Melbourne last night!

 

[straitman]

Don't worry you're not going crazy - as I mentioned a couple of posts back it was definitely in Melbourne last night!

It was on MEL on Sunday morning. Slumming it down toward T4.




Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[oz_mark]

I too highly highly doubt they will do portable... It goes against everything they are trying to achieve and will park them right alongside Jetstar.

My guess is they will rip all the current IFE out of the A330 and replace it with Red AVOD, then follow with the 73H fleet.

(and hopefully also fix the divider or lack thereof between J and Y in the 73H at the same time!)

Portable IFE's have some advantages over wired in-seat IFE's, one of which is that it is cheaper to rollout, and update as technology evolves. Just look at the various versions Qantas have installed to see that hardwired systems don't really get updated.

(AS for the A330/737 maybe they will have different solutions?)

Now for those that think that the latest QF incarnation of IFE is the greatest - How long are Qantas going to take to rollout the latest solution? A long time would be my answer.

 

[stuartfaz]

The flying lady in Silver is useless.

Honestly, you are desecrating the Australian flag, and everything it stands for unless you put it in colour.

I won't go into details now, but feel this is a very negative move from VA.

I don’t see an issue with it, but think there should be a colour flag somewhere on the aircraft, perhaps at the back like Qantas.

I disagree that the flag has been desecrated by not being in its true colours and I am very happy with how it looks but this is a matter of personal opinion based on how close one feels to the flag and what it stands for, so I respect where Mal is coming from.

It dosen't bother me either, Virgin are going for a specific look, and they've achived it.

However, its subject to your personal view, some may take offense to it.

I don't get the fuss over the colour (or lack of) of the flag, and I'd hardly call it a desecration. That term belongs to the tens of thousands of ignorant white European citizens's who sport a Southern Cross tattoo as if it were a modern day swastika, flying in the face of multiculturalism and completely forgetting that this land isn't their own (or even theirs originally).

We all know the colour of our flag and what it stands for. That should be enough in my eyes.

She flies the flag well, I say! The Lounge entry looks fantastic.

An interesting thing - the Flags Act doesn't actually specify colours, aside from talking about the 'blue flag' and the 'red flag'. It goes into intricate details of the size and placement of each of the stars, but nothing of the colours.

(Personally, I don't see anything that constitutes desecration of the flag)

What do you think the use of the coloured version was and why is this diminished by the monotone? It's simply a Virgin Group "tradition" to have the flying lady and it has been decided to retain but downplay it on the fuselage (a splash of colour would detract from the overall scheme) while using it more in other contexts such as the new Lounge entry (see photo elsewhere in the thread).

A lot of interesting opinions re the flag.

Personally, I think the complete absence of a proper Australian flag is terribly amateurish of what is now an international airline, particularly one seeking to become a 'flag carrier' of sorts by operating intl routes with an 'Australia' moniker.

While it may not be desecration under Australian law, it's definitely an oversight I would expect to see rectified.

Even a flag next to the rego number a la Qantas will do me. Until then, they might as well change their name from VAA: Virgin Australia Airlines to AVA: Another Virgin Airline.

 

[NSWhere]

From matters of national pride to a more selfish query: Is there any suggestion that the change in name will affect access to the Lounge for Priority Pass members?

 

[stuartfaz]

From matters of national pride to a more selfish query: Is there any suggestion that the change in name will affect access to the Lounge for Priority Pass members?

A segué worthy of Today Tonight

 

[NSWhere]

All it was missing was some reference to tradesmen of an ethnic minority getting in the way of a 'fair go'

Hmmmm, come to think of it - I wonder if Australian jobs were lost painting that 'Un-Australian' livery?

 

[stuartfaz]

All it was missing was some reference to tradesmen of an ethnic minority getting in the way of a 'fair go'

Hmmmm, come to think of it - I wonder if Australian jobs were lost painting that 'Un-Australian' livery?

Shonky builders who claim welfare to help harbour boatpeople killing the Australian dream in a sea of grey!

 

[LiamR]

particularly one seeking to become a 'flag carrier' of sorts

I'm sorry, but Qantas will always be out flag carrier, Virgin can't replace them, nomatter how hard they try, they don't have the history, and the reputation that Qantas has.

You may or may not know, I still feel a warm feeling when your overseas, and see my Qantas plane pull up at the gate.

 

[medhead]

A lot of interesting opinions re the flag.

Personally, I think the complete absence of a proper Australian flag is

Trouble is that there isn't a complete absence of a proper flag. The main suggestion is that the main elements of the flag must be present. And from my limited look, they are present.

I would also mention the misuse of the flag by other airlines as they should be using a red ensign not a blue ensign. Unless qantas, qantaslink, jetstar and whoever else have the Queen's warrant to use the blue ensign.

 

[ff-jr]

You may or may not know, I still feel a warm feeling when your overseas, and see my Qantas plane pull up at the gate.

I see them and think "I'd rather swim." Each to their own!

 

[pshepvic]

Ever occur to you guys that the last people through security, whom you didn't see, might not have been randomly selected? The guy is doing his job. The lines they say have been hard-wired into them, and if it irks you get over it (or stop flying) Twenty seconds is a small price to pay for decent security.

// Back to the real topic now please.

My comment wasn't a complaint. It was just an observation. The two people in front of us both got checked - there was one already being checked as we walked in, the next lady who was taking her laptop out etc while we checked in was checked, and then we were checked. Maybe others haven't been, particularly when it's busy, but when quiet there is a much higher chance of being explosives checked in the Premium entry. Not complaining about it, considering the whole process to get to the lounge will save me around 5 minutes (or more during the really busy periods).

My personal view anyway is that if you are going to do an explosive check it should be on EVERYONE, not just a random selection. I know this would slow down the security process, and they'd need more staff, but that's not my point.

It is very easy to work out a "system" to avoid being checked - I've managed to avoid the explosives check for the last 3 years of domestic travel, until now. I won't share my system in case there are terrorists reading, but it doesn't take a genius to work it out. It is easy for someone to get through without being checked if they really want to, and the only way to ensure absolute security is to check everyone like they do in a number of US airports.

 

[browski]

I see them and think "I'd rather swim." Each to their own!

I see them and think: "exactly how long can that 767 keep going"........then I turn back to my Singapore girl attendant as she refreshes my drink...........again

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Isn't it a high-tech scooter?

I've no idea.........but they look like a lot of fun!

Didn't I read somewhere that the inventor of those things died when he test drove an offroad phototype off a cliff?

 

[pshepvic]

I've no idea.........but they look like a lot of fun!

Didn't I read somewhere that the inventor of those things died when he test drove an offroad phototype off a cliff?

Yes he did!

The only thing is a segue is a "smooth transition from one topic to the next", whereas a Segway is a "smooth transport from one destination to the next"

They even have leasing options: Segway – The leader in personal, green transportation