Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

[Mal]

So what's with the Qantas sign (above the car roof) at 0:13 ?? :mrgreen:

And at 0:25, it appears she is about to hop on QF422 (to PER)... Strange, that QF422 goes MEL-SYD!

 

[AaronBradford]

And at 0:25, it appears she is about to hop on QF422 (to PER)... Strange, that QF422 goes MEL-SYD!

The video actually was GP422, no logo, and departure time 3pm-ish The screen behind that also says Perth.

 

[docjames]

it will be a long period of time before the entire fleet is completely Virgin Australia branded. But now that the name is out (officially) hopefully we can bring you more info as each plane goes in.... and comes out shiny and new!
.

I wonder if we could have a thread / sticky that keeps a list of the updated aircraft? And which ones are still in the old?

 

[Bundy Bear]

When I first heard about the name and the saw the planes I guess I was a little underwhelmed. I actually think there is a little bit too much white, but I think it will grow on me.

Advert looks good.

I guess one thing we all want is that the planes run safely and to run on time.

I would have thought a change of onboard product would have been included with the relaunch, in the past say 10 years ago an airline passenger would have expected some sort of meal or snack but now all your major airlines in the world, AA, Delta, United don't provide much in the way of onboard food I thought that Virgin Australia might have provided some sort of drink service. Straight away Virgin would then act like the rest of the airlines around the world and would actually match Air NZ on trans Tasman and New Zealand domestic, this would get away from the LCC feel.

You will recall that date of "prior to June 30"?
Obviously still more to come!

Also can i bring to everyone's attention this:

View attachment 2111

As part of our new A330 service from Sydney to Perth, we've developed a thorough walk through of the A330 aircraft and it's benefits to you, the business or economy traveller.

In a first for not only an Australian company, but a first for any airline in the world to utilise an interactive 360 degree video to showcase the inner aircraft cabin.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions!

Thanks for this link, the A330 looks really nice inside.

You realise we do hotel package deals too right?

haha, great at least our Virgin Australia rep has a sense of humour.

 

[sydstar]

I really am a fan of the new livery....simple and crisp, not too cluttered and does look quite classy

Virgin also took out a full wrap-around ad on today's SMH which certainly does look impressive

The only downside for me was the lack of any anoucement regarding Velocity, I was hoping something would be annouced (new branding, NZ, Asian alliance), however, I guess we'll have to wait!! I'll also be interested to see the TT offering, whether DJ(still??) will match NZ or move more towards their system ('build your package')?

 

[Sifor]

One thing that has me wondering is when will we actually start to fly on the new aircraft? That 737 looks pretty much ready... I'm very keen to see J prices, of course they will be cheaper than QF but by how much

 

[777]

737 config?

Does anyone in the know have any idea what the seat pitch is on the new 737s?

With business class the config is 168 Y and 8 J for a total of 176. Which, from memory is the same number of seats as you got with the old PE configuration.

A while ago (back in the Godfrey era) there was talk about DJ playing with the config of their 737s so that the back half of the plane squeezed in an extra row to give extra leg room up front. It looks like the slimline seats buy an extra few inches across the cabin but I'm just curious about what they ended up deciding for the economy config.

I don't suppose anyone has a seat map yet?

 

[samh004]

One thing that has me wondering is when will we actually start to fly on the new aircraft? That 737 looks pretty much ready... I'm very keen to see J prices, of course they will be cheaper than QF but by how much

I'd assume the new plane/s will start on the golden triangle only for now but it's going to be hard to sell the seats in one aircraft if it gets held up somewhere.

But I wonder how difficult it's going to be to remove ~3 rows from the existing fleet and add 8 J seats. To me it seems like that should be a relatively quick upgrade per aircraft. I'm guessing it couldn't be done in the paint ship though, but should still be relatively quick, no?

I don't think the rest of Y is as important in the look/feel department as swapping out PE for J to start luring business pax.

 

[spaceboi]

Re: 737 config?

Does anyone in the know have any idea what the seat pitch is on the new 737s?

With business class the config is 168 Y and 8 J for a total of 176. Which, from memory is the same number of seats as you got with the old PE configuration.

A while ago (back in the Godfrey era) there was talk about DJ playing with the config of their 737s so that the back half of the plane squeezed in an extra row to give extra leg room up front. It looks like the slimline seats buy an extra few inches across the cabin but I'm just curious about what they ended up deciding for the economy config.

I don't suppose anyone has a seat map yet?

It was mentioned yesterday that 738 J pitch was 37".
However if you look at the various pics it looks like row 2 is about 37" but row 1 looks to have a few inches added (especially with the FA standing in front of row 1).
You'll also notice that the 1st row of Y is HUGE. (it takes up almost 3 windows!).
A few of us noted/commented on this after the pics were posted and thought perhaps it may be for the proposed Y+ (cabin select).

I had to also wonder if it's for future upgrades to J where you could easily remove 1st row of Y and add in another Row of J, or shift that row forward to create more multiple rows of Y+.

Whatever the case may be, based on that particular seating plane, there's signs of there being a heap of room to offer quite a few seating options, it seems.

i'm just surprised that none of the happy-snappers noticed it as they went through the plane.

 

[mannej]

Now that we have seen inside the A330, can anyone who has been on one of these EK birds share their experience?
Loop based IFE in Y, AVOD in J. That was back a few years, I am not sure if it has been upgraded since.

 

[LiamR]

But I wonder how difficult it's going to be to remove ~3 rows from the existing fleet and add 8 J seats. To me it seems like that should be a relatively quick upgrade per aircraft. I'm guessing it couldn't be done in the paint ship though, but should still be relatively quick, no?

After asking around, it appears that each aircraft will be taken offline for 2 weeks, having new cabin, seats, J class & repaint.

This will happen over the next year, it will be a bit slow at first, but within the next few months, the majority of the aircraft should be re-fitted.

I can't say if what I've been told is true or not, just whats floating around in Virgin at the moment...

LR.

 

[777]

After asking around, it appears that each aircraft will be taken offline for 2 weeks, having new cabin, seats, J class & repaint.

This will happen over the next year, it will be a bit slow at first, but within the next few months, the majority of the aircraft should be re-fitted.

Seems the logical way to do it. It would probably make sense to wait until the IFE situation is resolved before starting on a bulk makeover as that would be a major component of any refit and you would have to do it twice if you started too soon.

Obviously the new builds will come with this installed, from there the logic thing would be to start with the rogue a/c (with no PE), then gradually work your way through the older ones.

Will be interesting to see how the new cabin looks on pre sky interior planes -- a lot of them are very new and will probably be in the fleet for quite a few years.

In the interim, it would be nice to see DJ run some kind of promo or offer to let Golds sample the business seats (for cash, points or free) before they are on sale.

 

[samh004]

Is the J upgrade coming to the E-Jets too? or are they going to remain Y only?

 

[777]

According to this A very Australian Virgin takes off | Plane Talking the E-Jets will be done but not until last.

 

[ksthommo]

Virgin Australia have sale fares at present. haven't received an email
advising same yet. On sale until 11 May.

 

[AaronBradford]

Just received the e-mail - still being sent from v-mail.virginblue.com.au though

 

[Nigelinoz]

If they do offer J seats on the E-jets and can do so at a price point which is within the budget of a self funded business traveller like myself then I may well be interested in trying them,especially if they offer it on ABX-SYD.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[Virgin Australia]

Or the Singapore Airlines 777 thats panned over at 0:46?

Plane spotter!

Can't help but draw comparisons with the Delta 'Atlanta Anthem' relaunch ad a few years ago...the new ad gives that sense of VA redesigning the airline from the ground up. What a great commercial. The livery is also strangely reminiscent of the old Silverjet 767s....so wonderfully understated!

Glad to see that the theme of the advert is clear to pick up!

Virgin Australia have sale fares at present. haven't received an email advising same yet. On sale until 11 May.

The email has just been sent, so should appear in inboxs over the next few hours.

So Mister "Virgin Australia" any joining fee waiving of "The Lounge" to celebrate that?

Sorry, we have to pay for the ad now!

The only downside for me was the lack of any anoucement regarding Velocity, I was hoping something would be announced (new branding, NZ, Asian alliance), however, I guess we'll have to wait!! I'll also be interested to see the TT offering, whether DJ(still??) will match NZ or move more towards their system ('build your package')?

A few more ducks are needing to line up before that announcement can happen

 

[Danger]

A few more ducks are needing to line up before that announcement can happen

Line up? Sounds ominous. Bring it on.

 

[DJ332]

Can anyone reveal whether QF removed the Virgin Australia wrap-around from their complimentary copies of The Australian for Cityflyer services this morning?