of Virgin, check-in and stuff

[aspro2]

Flew DJ for the first time in a while. Used their online check-in outbound, which was admirably simple, and got myself a seat up the front in the more-legroom area Had to check in at the airport on the way back, using a BlueCheck terminal. They are a pain. I had used one previously, shortly after their introduction, and was surprised at how sluggish the interface is. Nothing has changed! No prizes to the designer of the pages, nor to the person who decided to run these terminals on secondhand PCs from 1995 or something. It took 20-30 seconds for the seat plan information to load! At least the screen was kind enough to say "loading data". Watching other customers, it seems that people are confused by the way info is displayed, and feel unsure what's going on when there are long delays between screens. To be fair, the info pages aren't *that* bad, but these things have to be designed for almost the lowest common denominator in order to be effective. QF QuickCheck is much better.

DJ's gates at SYD are looking a bit tatty nowadays. Many of the seats are dirty and stained and the carpet is also stained or worn.

Unlike some AFFers, I have nothing in particular against DJ as an entity. The brand's "cheeriness" has its amusing moments, but like so many of these concepts, it easily feels cheap or thoroughly insincere. My greatest concern is the low average age of their staff, with the result that interactions are often unprofessional and their ability to deal with difficult situations is poor. I won't fly DJ on evening flights, having seen too many drunken passengers and poor management of resultant problems by the cabin crew. Yesterday on the ground, I watched four gate staff laugh and giggle over a website they were looking at on one of the computers at the gate counter. They were like a pack of teenagers and this affected how they dealt with customers who interrupted their fun. The show went on for a good 15 minutes. (I was watching from a distance, not interacting with them.)

 

[clifford]

Yesterday on the ground, I watched four gate staff laugh and giggle over a website they were looking at on one of the computers at the gate counter. They were like a pack of teenagers

They were a pack of teenagers (DJ won't employ anyone over the age of 19). Ask the ex-AN hosties who applied for a job there.

 

[Guest]

Correct me if I'm wrong........ you're complaining about DJ being cheap and unprofessional - yet you're making the choice to fly them.... and in discount Y.

You do have a choice in airline travel in Australia.

If you want quality, you need to pay for quality.

 

[aspro2]

Correct me if I'm wrong........ you're complaining about DJ being cheap and unprofessional - yet you're making the choice to fly them.... and in discount Y.

You do have a choice in airline travel in Australia.

If you want quality, you need to pay for quality.

I didn't complain about DJ being cheap. I didn't say I had no choice. I was simply making observations for the benefit of anyone who was interested. And as DJ fits less and less into the LCC bucket anymore, it warrants comparison with QF where appropriate.

 

[Guest]

.......as DJ fits less and less into the LCC bucket anymore, it warrants comparison with QF where appropriate.

Absolutely... do you think they're actually trying to take QF on directly more now?

 

[Yada Yada]

Flew DJ for the first time in a while. Used their online check-in outbound, which was admirably simple, and got myself a seat up the front in the more-legroom area Had to check in at the airport on the way back, using a BlueCheck terminal. They are a pain. I had used one previously, shortly after their introduction, and was surprised at how sluggish the interface is. Nothing has changed! No prizes to the designer of the pages, nor to the person who decided to run these terminals on secondhand PCs from 1995 or something. It took 20-30 seconds for the seat plan information to load! At least the screen was kind enough to say "loading data".

I agree that the Blue terminals are a bit slow - not a showstopper but a tad annoying if you are in a hurry. I tend to use the web checkin most of the time now instead.

DJ's gates at SYD are looking a bit tatty nowadays. Many of the seats are dirty and stained and the carpet is also stained or worn.

I've noticed that the gate lounges could do with a bit of a clean up but don't find them too bad. The MEL terminal is worse. I assume that SAC is responsible for this?

The new food hall in T2 is good, and when they have finished rennovating the area where the main bar was, this end of the terminal will be better than T3, IMO.

Unlike some AFFers, I have nothing in particular against DJ as an entity. The brand's "cheeriness" has its amusing moments, but like so many of these concepts, it easily feels cheap or thoroughly insincere.

I've never felt this way. I have a good friend who despises the DJ "cheeriness" and felt the whole experience was cheap. I could never understand this. Whenever I fly QF in economy, the cabin and food/drinks are essentially the same as DJ, the only difference being that the QF staff are generally a grumpier lot. So I find the cheery nature of the DJ crew make it a better experience than QF. A lot better.

They were a pack of teenagers (DJ won't employ anyone over the age of 19). Ask the ex-AN hosties who applied for a job there.

A bunch of the ex-AN hosties are now working for O7. And they are delightful. 8)

Correct me if I'm wrong........ you're complaining about DJ being cheap and unprofessional - yet you're making the choice to fly them.... and in discount Y.

If you want quality, you need to pay for quality.

DJ are not unprofessional. Don't mistake QF's neater uniforms and surly attitudes for professionalism! I've even found this in J.

You do have a choice in airline travel in Australia.

Yes! Fly OzJet! 8) Anyone who flies SYD-MEL is nuts if they don't try OzJet's $199 fare this month. It is insanely good value.

 

[N860CR]

I fly DJ all the time (been over 12 months since I've taken a QF domestic flight) and can't say they are unprofessional at all. The cabin crew are obviously trained to be very bright and cheery but that's certainly a welcome change to the unpredictable QF crews. I think a lot of people who have a problem with the "attitude" of the DJ crews are those who feel that because they are flying (regardless of cabin class) they should be treated like royalty.

The DJ product has taken on QF and suceeded. They are certainly different styles of companies however obviously the DJ product is working and working much better than QF's attempt at a LCC.

 

[aspro2]

I've noticed that the gate lounges could do with a bit of a clean up but don't find them too bad. The MEL terminal is worse. I assume that SAC is responsible for this?

I thought the terminal interiors were the responsibility of the individual carriers...?

Unlike some AFFers, I have nothing in particular against DJ as an entity. The brand's "cheeriness" has its amusing moments, but like so many of these concepts, it easily feels cheap or thoroughly insincere.

I've never felt this way. I have a good friend who despises the DJ "cheeriness" and felt the whole experience was cheap. I could never understand this.

I agree. Many people approached DJ with disdain from the beginning. I don't mind some of the banter, but the insincerity kicks in with silliness like "to make your flight as memorable as possible" and a few bits like that. In general interactions, DJ staff are little different from QF, but it's in their ability to deal with out-of-the-ordinary situations where I have strong reservations. I haven't seen much evidence of conflict-resolution or in-flight problem management. (This is from observation -- I have never been part of a conflict with DJ staff.) What I've seen makes me wonder strongly about the quality of the more serious areas of some staff training.

 

[dajop]

... but the insincerity kicks in with silliness like "to make your flight as memorable as possible" and a few bits like that ...

Yes this always struck me as a bit odd. Sure if you're a first time flyer, you want the flight to be memorable. But hey if it's your first time in your life, sitting in an aluminium tube at 36,000 ft being projected forward at 900 kph, it's going to be memorable regardless of what the crew do. As for those of us who fly a lot, I think we'd prefer flights not to be memorable ..... those that are memorable are the flights that really don't go that well, you know a bit of turbulence, a few bumps, an aborted taxi, a go-around .....

 

[aspro2]

... but the insincerity kicks in with silliness like "to make your flight as memorable as possible" and a few bits like that ...

Yes this always struck me as a bit odd. Sure if you're a first time flyer, you want the flight to be memorable. But hey if it's your first time in your life, sitting in an aluminium tube at 36,000 ft being projected forward at 900 kph, it's going to be memorable regardless of what the crew do. As for those of us who fly a lot, I think we'd prefer flights not to be memorable ..... those that are memorable are the flights that really don't go that well, you know a bit of turbulence, a few bumps, an aborted taxi, a go-around .....

Exactly! I always think to myself "It had better bloody not be memorable!"

 

[Yada Yada]

I thought the terminal interiors were the responsibility of the individual carriers...?

You may be right. I have no idea and was making an assumption because it is a shared terminal. While DJ have their own "branded" gate lounges, they sometimes use the "non-branded" gate lounges right up the end of the pier (e.g. 38 & 40), so I wonder who is responsbile for them? The entire pier could do with a bit of work. The O7 gate lounge (G39) is quite tired looking too.

I haven't seen much evidence of conflict-resolution or in-flight problem management. (This is from observation -- I have never been part of a conflict with DJ staff.) What I've seen makes me wonder strongly about the quality of the more serious areas of some staff training.

I've never seen a problem on DJ either, yet. For that matter I can't remember the last time I saw a problem on domestic routes on QF either. Perhaps it's mostly a problem on long-haul after sufficient qtys of booze!

 

[aspro2]

I've never seen a problem on DJ either, yet. For that matter I can't remember the last time I saw a problem on domestic routes on QF either. Perhaps it's mostly a problem on long-haul after sufficient qtys of booze!

Unfortunately booze can be a problem on DJ's evening flights, in my experience, which is why I won't fly with DJ in the evening. (I've had occasional drunk or drugged neighbours on QF, but in DJ they seem to be more likely to be travelling in packs.)

 

[NM]

Unfortunately booze can be a problem on DJ's evening flights, in my experience, which is why I won't fly with DJ in the evening. (I've had occasional drunk or drugged neighbours on QF, but in DJ they seem to be more likely to be travelling in packs.)

On QF they travel in packs also. Those with Qantas Club access are grouped together down the pointy end of the cabin.

 

[aspro2]

Unfortunately booze can be a problem on DJ's evening flights, in my experience, which is why I won't fly with DJ in the evening. (I've had occasional drunk or drugged neighbours on QF, but in DJ they seem to be more likely to be travelling in packs.)

On QF they travel in packs also. Those with Qantas Club access are grouped together down the pointy end of the cabin.

At least they're quarantined :?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

and easily spotted by their boarding at the last minute and the carryon tags

 

[clifford]

Correct me if I'm wrong........ you're complaining about DJ being cheap and unprofessional - yet you're making the choice to fly them.... and in discount Y.

You do have a choice in airline travel in Australia.

If you want quality, you need to pay for quality.

Just flew QF BNE-SYD on a 737-800 in Steerage.

Quality was not one of the words that came to mind (apart from the lack of ...).

 

[clifford]

While DJ have their own "branded" gate lounges, they sometimes use the "non-branded" gate lounges right up the end of the pier (e.g. 38 & 40), so I wonder who is responsbile for them? The entire pier could do with a bit of work.

Suggest you talk to Max (the Axe) Moore Wilton.

A lovely chap.

 

[Yada Yada]

Suggest you talk to Max (the Axe) Moore Wilton.

A lovely chap.

Yes. Max is a real piece of work. :x

 

[DJ CC]

FYI I believe that the terminals are rented space from the respective owners of each airport. This has caused a bit of friction over who pays for what.
I assume that the lounges came furnished as they were taken over from AN and if that is the case surely the owner needs to replace them???

As for BlueCheck this is the way of the future so if webcheck is better for you then I would go with that because one day you will turn up to the airport only to find all the monkeys in the BlueCheck machines have gone on holidays if you get my drift.

 

[Yada Yada]

FYI I believe that the terminals are rented space from the respective owners of each airport. This has caused a bit of friction over who pays for what.
I assume that the lounges came furnished as they were taken over from AN and if that is the case surely the owner needs to replace them???

As for BlueCheck this is the way of the future so if webcheck is better for you then I would go with that because one day you will turn up to the airport only to find all the monkeys in the BlueCheck machines have gone on holidays if you get my drift.

Welcome to AFF, DJ CC. I appreciate the information. BTW, do you work for Virgin Blue?