Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

[LiamR]

That for me is the crux of the issue,Virgin's on time performance recently has been "middling" to say the best and it's something they need to address if they are looking to gain a slice of the business market,

You have a point there, but can I just say. (I'm not defending VA)

The flight I had on the 737 with BSI was delayed because its a new aircraft, and everybody wanted to go see it.

Misha's a330 was delayed proabley because its was the first flight with pax, the crew were learning everything and the airport was proabley getting use to having an A330 around.

I'm sure their OTP will improve, but using the first flight of the A330 out of MEL, proabley isn't a good example.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Liam I totally accept the points you make and your comments are certainly valid,the point I was making though was that DJ's OTP has recently been unsatisfactory and if they are looking to grab a slice of the premium business market with the rebranded airline then they are going to have to address the issue or they will find that potential passengers will stick with QF.
I really hope that Virgin get it right because I would love to see how QF responds to viable competition in the market but the reliability issue is vital in my opinion and I just wonder if they can't get it right on a Saturday evening can they get it right when it counts which is in the peak hours ,if they can't I have serious doubts whether the new brand will succeed where it counts-in passenger numbers-and on the balance sheet.
For the sake of aviation competition in Australia I hope they do succeed,only time will tell.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[Keith009]

Had a totally fab time at the sexy new MEL Lounge as I posted in another thread:

... and it totally exceeded all expectations! Staff were cheery even though it was 6am in the morning. Great design - super trendy, minimalist and clean line - win! If you love progressive design you'll have a great time here. The high bar looked like an amazing place to be when the bar is open and there's more traffic in the Lounge - great sexy spot for people watching over many sips of bubbly. Also loved the great looking yet comfy furniture - lots of funky chairs.

Brekky was much like that in the QF J lounge, just smaller portions. The barista made a great soy latte, and the OH agreed that the coffee (flat white is his normal order) is a lot better than that produced at the QF J lounge.

The Lounge would also benefit a lot from some chill, groovy tunes, which would make it a far more relaxing spot to unwind in.

All in all, it's like the hip new place to be! (in Melbourne Airport at least)

We were also allocated PE seats in row 3 when we asked the lounge receptionist whether we could be seated any further forward. Win!

The onboard experience didn't leave much of an impression as both of us slept for much of the way to ADL - only woke up near the end to find ourselves in a holding pattern waiting for fog to clear in ADL. PE seats in the E-jet were sufficiently comfy. Crew looked awesome in their new uniforms, especially those spiffy coats. No silly jokes from the very professional crew, though whoever was making the PAs sounded like a ditzy blonde...

 

[concorde71]

Had a totally fab time at the sexy new MEL Lounge as I posted in another thread:
We were also allocated PE seats in row 3 when we asked the lounge receptionist whether we could be seated any further forward. Win!

The onboard experience didn't leave much of an impression as both of us slept for much of the way to ADL - only woke up near the end to find ourselves in a holding pattern waiting for fog to clear in ADL. PE seats in the E-jet were sufficiently comfy. Crew looked awesome in their new uniforms, especially those spiffy coats. No silly jokes from the very professional crew, though whoever was making the PAs sounded like a ditzy blonde...

Nothing wrong with Ditzy Blondes, They are my favourite typr

 

[docjames]

the OH agreed that the coffee (flat white is his normal order) is a lot better than that produced at the QF J lounge.

That wouldnt be hard. :-|

 

[Virgin Australia]

The velocity call center is in KL.

This is correct

 

[Virgin Australia]

Good trip report Misha,well written and some good photos,but for me one paragraph stands out.
That for me is the crux of the issue,Virgin's on time performance recently has been "middling" to say the best and it's something they need to address if they are looking to gain a slice of the business market,lateness on a Saturday evening may not be the end of the world and I guess it's possible to make up time on the journey but reliability is one of the reasons why I'm even considering leaving QF-because the last 8 flights I have had on QF were all late- so if Virgin wants my business they need to demonstrate that they can get me from A to B on time,whether it's 8AM on a Friday or 7PM on a Saturday.
Thanks for the trip report.
Cheers
N'oz

Agreed, though it would be great if more people would take factors such as the weather into account - this morning is a perfect example - fog in Melbourne and Launceston plus heavy rain in Sydney.
Operating during times such as this is virtually impossible to be on time across the day.
We certainly don't like to be delaying or cancelling flights, but for safety's sake it is necessary.

 

[jsd]

This is correct

You just have to know the name of the person who gets stuff done there

Not saying that the other guys aren't helpful, its just easier to deal with one person sometimes

 

[Gremlin]

Agreed, though it would be great if more people would take factors such as the weather into account - this morning is a perfect example - fog in Melbourne and Launceston plus heavy rain in Sydney.
Operating during times such as this is virtually impossible to be on time across the day.
We certainly don't like to be delaying or cancelling flights, but for safety's sake it is necessary.

I switched loyalty a few years back to Virgin precisely because of their good on time performance. I know it's a nerdy trend, but I always make note of whether my flight was on time and whether the same competing flight for the other airlines was on time. So it becomes a like for like comparison. Issues such as weather should be impacting all airlines flying the same routes at the same time.

For me, on the routes I fly, at the times I fly, historically Virgin's OTP performance has been superior. In the past six months, it hasn't. I hope it is something that's getting the right attention internally because so many other steps in the right direction are being made...

 

[Noob]

I switched loyalty a few years back to Virgin precisely because of their good on time performance. I know it's a nerdy trend, but I always make note of whether my flight was on time and whether the same competing flight for the other airlines was on time. So it becomes a like for like comparison. Issues such as weather should be impacting all airlines flying the same routes at the same time.

For me, on the routes I fly, at the times I fly, historically Virgin's OTP performance has been superior. In the past six months, it hasn't. I hope it is something that's getting the right attention internally because so many other steps in the right direction are being made...

You should throw an email Virgin Australia's way, from my experience they reply quickly and actually solve the problem/take it on board not just brushing it off. Virgin Australia as a company and it's staff really do take customer's opinions seriously and haven't failed to remember it is the customer that has put them in the position they are today *cough* Qantas *cough*.

 

[Misha]

Any more information/details about the VA agreement with Aerolineas Argentinas? This is something that interests me greatly.

Cheers,

 

[docjames]

You just have to know the name of the person who gets stuff done there

Not saying that the other guys aren't helpful, its just easier to deal with one person sometimes

Care to share whom that might be?

 

[Misha]

Arrived at Sydney airport this morning and I am wondering if VA are rolling out some of their old planes with new livery?

At about 8.20 at the end of the taxi way - down near the sheds where smaller Rex planes sit, I saw a VA plane in new livery - just sitting there. Don't know if it was one of their new ones or a newly painted one.

Also, at the gate whilst taxiing in, there was an all-white plane taxiiing to other side of gate (at VA terminal)... is this old news or a plane that's being prepared for new livery?


*attached pic (taken from iphone so apologies for poor quality) of the all white bird*

 

[pshepvic]

Arrived at Sydney airport this morning and I am wondering if VA are rolling out some of their old planes with new livery?

At about 8.20 at the end of the taxi way - down near the sheds where smaller Rex planes sit, I saw a VA plane in new livery - just sitting there. Don't know if it was one of their new ones or a newly painted one.

Also, at the gate whilst taxiing in, there was an all-white plane taxiiing to other side of gate (at VA terminal)... is this old news or a plane that's being prepared for new livery?


*attached pic (taken from iphone so apologies for poor quality) of the all white bird*

Either it its VH-YFE which is the new BSI 738, which is not yet painted, or it's one of the last non-BSI aircraft that was delivered a month or two back - just before the new name announcement.

I doubt they'd paint existing aircraft all white, then put them back to service, then take them out again to paint the new livery. Much easier to do it all at once in the paint shop.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Probably YFE,or possibly could be VH-ZPR which is one of the Embraer 190's,it's still running around in all white but you would probably notice the difference in size between a 800 series 737 and an E-jet.
On the subject of Virgin fleet their latest 738,VH-VFF which I believe is the last non BSI new 738 on order should be with us pretty soon,maybe week after next,and I hear that the first ATR will be here very soon too.
Cheers
N'oz
BTW YFF will be delivered ex Renton in the new livery.
Edited to add:,Sorry just saw the picture,looks like YFE to me.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Any more information/details about the VA agreement with Aerolineas Argentinas? This is something that interests me greatly.

Cheers,

I have only heard negative feedback on Aerolineas Argentinas; major delays, rude staff, uncomfortable seats (in Y and J) and food + wine that is shocking. Even the lounges at Buenos Aires are terrible, from all accounts.

 

[Nigelinoz]

I have only heard negative feedback on Aerolineas Argentinas; major delays, rude staff, uncomfortable seats (in Y and J) and food + wine that is shocking. Even the lounges at Buenos Aires are terrible, from all accounts.

I had a look on Skytrax and it appears that you may be correct,this is just one review -

Last minute surprise cancellations and huge delays are routine in Aerolineas Argentinas. My short vacation last long weekend was ruined by this airline. Both flights BUE-COR and return COR-BUE were cancelled. In the first I returned to fly next day. In the second (COR-BUE) they sent me by bus (800km). Check with a knowledgeable and honest travel agent before becoming their hostage.

Aerolineas Argentinas Customer Reviews - SKYTRAX
Cheers
N'oz

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I had a look on Skytrax and it appears that you may be correct.

Nigel, l take Skytrax with a pinch of salt. Lots of 1 post wonders and it's skewed. Someone on FT posted a good review of BA First @Skytrax and was question by Skytrax if they were try to prop up BA?

Having said that, a few friends of mine have flown with Aerolineas Argentinas and l won't be game after their stories. Delays being the biggest issue. I've flown on LAN in South America and didn't have any issues with them, plus, they have the best looking FA's I have encountered, anywhere.

 

[jsd]

Care to share whom that might be?

No, bugger off he's all mine :mrgreen:


On the note of helpfulness, how awesome is that Virgin Australia , not many companies would help you source a very old document that you needed, print all 168 pages of it then send it to you

 

[Misha]

Either it its VH-YFE which is the new BSI 738....

:shock:

Probably YFE,or possibly could be VH-ZPR which is one of the Embraer 190's... ...you would probably notice the difference in size between a 800 series 737 and an E-jet.... ...their latest 738,VH-VFF ... the first ATR will... ...
BTW YFF will be delivered ex Renton....

:shock::shock::shock:

You people know way too much about these things. :mrgreen:

After all those responses (and thank you kindly for them) I get that: it's either one of the new ones, though possibly not...