Number of flexis per flight

[Casual Class]

On Tuesday I had an interesting DJ experience. Among other things in mid flight a FA told me that they had run out of flexi meals however, I could make a meal out of items on 'the menu'. I would have preferred a flexi meal to items on the menu, but not sure I'm upset enough to make a fuss of it (esp when I am chasing up legitimate issues with VA eg. Shop and Earn points not crediting). The FA went on to explain they had packed 4 flexi meals onboard, however there were 7 flexi pax (including myself). Now if i had to guess the number of flexi pax on a flight I would have thought 4 or 7 would be far too low a number. Now this was an evening flight on a 737-800 that was about half full. I can't help but think that if the number of flexi on a flight is single digits the rebranding to Virgin Australia hasn't been all to successful at attracting pax that are willing to pay a premium. Thoughts?

 

[Fruitcake]

The half-year reports back in January noted that 25% of revenue now comes from flexi, premium economy, or business class fares. That's up from 11% in July 2010. Of course, things may have changed in the past four months. but for VA's sake I'd hope not given these figures predate network wide business class.

See slide 12 - and given this is before network wide business class that 'yield' chart is fairly impressive.
http://www.asx.com.au/asx/statistics/displayAnnouncement.do?display=pdf&idsId=01271315

 

[Deleted member 29185]

The FA went on to explain they had packed 4 flexi meals onboard, however there were 7 flexi pax (including myself).

Not withstanding yet another example of poor catering management and the fact there will always be the odd poor performer in an airline business model, this does contrast rather starkly from what I've read/heard of sometimes in excess of 100 flexis on a DJ 800!

 

[777]

The half-year reports back in January noted that 25% of revenue now comes from flexi, premium economy, or business class fares. That's up from 11% in July 2010. Of course, things may have changed in the past four months. but for VA's sake I'd hope not given these figures predate network wide business class.

See slide 12 - and given this is before network wide business class that 'yield' chart is fairly impressive.
http://www.asx.com.au/asx/statistics/displayAnnouncement.do?display=pdf&idsId=01271315

Worth noting that given the price difference 25% of revenue could be say, 10% of seats or maybe 10 to 20 people on an average full-ish 737. I suspect that number is higher on some routes and some times of day and lower on others.

 

[Justchecking]

You cannot use a single flight to judge the success or not of a product. Sales can vary widely from flight to flight, day to day and thats applicable to any industry, any product. It's a bit like saying well geez, those Samsung flat screen plasma's are a bit of a failure. Only one sold in my local Harvery Norman on tuesday. The big picture is everything and one flight is not the big picture.

 

[Mal]

Which sector? There are Flexi-light and Flexi-heavy sectors. Same with various times as well.

Certainly I've been on a flight or two which the Flexi "run" seemed to be short. But I've been on others that seem to take forever. Time and Route definitely matter.

Also, there could have been Flexi's moving to an earlier flight (Catering Not Assured) which affected what was loaded etc. DJ don't seem to overload meals.

 

[Fruitcake]

Also, there could have been Flexi's moving to an earlier flight (Catering Not Assured) which affected what was loaded etc. DJ don't seem to overload meals.

That was my thought too. Does anyone happen to know if the manifest has enough information to allow the cabin crew to see who shouldn't be "assured" catering?

 

[Mal]

That was my thought too. Does anyone happen to know if the manifest has enough information to allow the cabin crew to see who shouldn't be "assured" catering?

I think it does. Was bumped to J recently where the entire J cabin was full. At the lounge, someone else being bumped was advised CNA (I wasn't, strangely). When I got to the plane, the staff did chat with one or two guests about CNA that I saw. As I slept the entire flight, I didn't know if I was due to be offered anything... But I was never told CNA officially. Perhaps they prioritise on paid then status. Not really sure.

 

[lovestotravel]

VA still don't understand catering..

I get that they are morphing from a LCC to "Qantas"

But not getting catering, business class meals, selling J on aircraft with no J etc

It's not going to keep customers happy.

For me the novelty of J on VA is wearing off, the same boring food, usually having to ask for a sandwhich from Y to keep me full...

VA need to fix catering ASAP

Ditch the $$ spent on Luke Mangan and invest it in lounge food (hot dogs again a novelty that has worn off) fix the J class catering and improve the damn menu in Y it's very boring!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

That was my thought too. Does anyone happen to know if the manifest has enough information to allow the cabin crew to see who shouldn't be "assured" catering?

Catering not assured is only (actually I should correct myself to say should only) be for flt change pax's. Surely no none dreams that buying a flexi ticket may be without a meal because a flt changer took yours because they had higher status :shock:. Perhaps the OP may like to confirm if theirs was a change of flt or an original booked flexi.

 

[dandandan]

Luke Mangan may be a legacy liability contract, I say just write it off and him!

There is so many better chefs out there available. The hot dogs you mention is a case in point along with the Baker's Delight scroll that I have been served up a few times.
Home > What we bake > Product Search > Sweet Chilli and Cheese Scroll

I used someone else's image for this but it sure looks like the BD one.

VA still don't understand catering..

I get that they are morphing from a LCC to "Qantas"

But not getting catering, business class meals, selling J on aircraft with no J etc

It's not going to keep customers happy.

For me the novelty of J on VA is wearing off, the same boring food, usually having to ask for a sandwhich from Y to keep me full...

VA need to fix catering ASAP

Ditch the $$ spent on Luke Mangan and invest it in lounge food (hot dogs again a novelty that has worn off) fix the J class catering and improve the damn menu in Y it's very boring!

 

[lovestotravel]

Luke Mangan may be a legacy liability contract, I say just write it off and him!

There is so many better chefs out there available. The hot dogs you mention is a case in point along with the Baker's Delight scroll that I have been served up a few times.
Home > What we bake > Product Search > Sweet Chilli and Cheese Scroll

I used someone else's image for this but it sure looks like the BD one.

I have that exact meal once on the MEL-OOL flight as a lunch meal.......

But yep pay Luke out, quietly drop his name and improve the food.

VA have spent the $$ on the hard product (cutlery, plates etc) but the actual food items are an EPIC FAIL

 

[Casual Class]

You cannot use a single flight to judge the success or not of a product. Sales can vary widely from flight to flight, day to day and thats applicable to any industry, any product. It's a bit like saying well geez, those Samsung flat screen plasma's are a bit of a failure. Only one sold in my local Harvery Norman on tuesday. The big picture is everything and one flight is not the big picture.

Normally I would agree with you, just the way the FA spoke, seem to imply that this was an abnormally high number of flexi (of course they could also be trying to excuse a catering stuff up). I have never notice the load of flexi v saver on other flights. The number just seemed very low and hence I thought I would see what others on here thought. I particularly found it interesting that the number of flexis was less than the number of J seats.

Which sector? There are Flexi-light and Flexi-heavy sectors. Same with various times as well.

MEL-OOL DJ 755 Departing at 6:40pm

Catering not assured is only (actually I should correct myself to say should only) be for flt change pax's. Surely no none dreams that buying a flexi ticket may be without a meal because a flt changer took yours because they had higher status :shock:. Perhaps the OP may like to confirm if theirs was a change of flt or an original booked flexi.

I was at the airport very early and was offered an earlier flight, I did take that. I didn't imagine doing so, which I thought my ticket entailed me to do, would be a major drama. I had booked a flexi on the later DJ761. I was still close to 100 minutes early for DJ755. I wondering where the line would be drawn. It would have been possible for someone to make an original flexi booking on that flight after I checked in, leaving with VA with even less notice of their passage. How should they be treated.

I was under the impression that flexibility and catering were some of the features of a flexi fare. As I said I would have preferred a flexi meal but I wasn't majorly upset. However, I am surprised to see such a defence of DJ for not delivering on advertised features. Given that the fare class is named for the flexibility of that fare class, I would not expect for DJ to routinely treat those who then exercise that flexibility as second class pax.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I would not expect for DJ to routinely treat those who then exercise that flexibility as second class pax.

Except they do state that they do not guarantee the meal on flights when changed. Point taken about those that book and pay later than your change. Presumably they expect their meal, but give less notice to DJ to oragnise it.

 

[lovestotravel]

What is the flexi meal ? Is it the business meal or something different again ?

 

[EuroKick]

It depends.... A scroll, fruit tub and juice for breakfast, cheese, crackers, chocolate and choice of drink for snack service, then maybe a spinach and cheese roll thing for lunch etc.. Nothing fancy. Certainly not too bad. I just miss hot meals.

 

[pshepvic]

MEL-OOL DJ 755 Departing at 6:40pm

There's the reason. MEL-OOL would have a much lower number of Flexis than say MEL-SYD or MEL-BNE. That's just the nature of tourist routes vs business routes. MEL-SYD on some flights has more Flexis than Savers onboard (especially at peak weekday times).


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