Reggie starting to fly DJ

[Reggie]

WOW

What an experience today with Virgin Blue!

I had checked in online to preselect a seat, interestingly 1A and 1C were empty, and there were only 2 rows of PE. I was already in Row 2 and moved from aisle to window.

Check in today was wonderful, no waiting, the DJ checkin lady was bubbly happy, had a chat about the delays lately due to runway maintenance etc. Security was seamless, no queues, ran smootly

The Lounge in SYD was also not busy, it did start to fill til the end when a sports group of teen boys and girls came in(not sure who they were.

At the gate, Priority boarding was offered and I took advantage of it being second pax to board.

Again as per my last flight crew were very good, only negative I found was it was announced at the beginning of the flight there would be two service runs offered, but they only did the one. They also stated there was a hot meal offer of vegetable frittata but this would only be available on the first service.

The crew were well organised, they had already set up the Y+ Live2Air TV’s to be running at no charge. After takeoff I was offered a “My Dream Pack” “because the flight was over 3 hours”. I wondered why I hadn’t been offered one on the PER-SYD leg, as it was cold on that flight and the blanket would have definitely been welcomed. The pack contained a blanket, a pencil case type bag with a pair of socks, eye cover, ear plugs, blow up pillow, and toothbrush and toothpaste.

 

[Moopere]

Sounds like the food service is letting them down but otherwise an injection of enthusiasm resulting in better morale and service across the board.

 

[Reggie]

Just to finish the report for the trip from SYD-PER on Friday.

No airbridge at Perth, so down the stairs, but no biggy. Baggage started to come out very quickly. Looks like the VA tranship bags came out first. My bags didn't come out early, butsomewhere to the middle or third quarter, so priority baggage is something they need to look at for the J release. However that being said, I still had my baggage before I would have received them at QF with priority tagging.

 

[Reggie]

So after my first return flights PER-SYD-PER with Virgin Blue in Y+ comparing this to my usual J flights what do I think.

Would I use Virgin again - YES, I am using them tomorrow to ZNE then retrun later in the week, (I could have used QF), and I have also booked flights to CBR return for later this month.

What was the experience like - Lounges not full, all staff were polite and bubbly. Premium pax was treated like a premium customer that they wanted back. DJ were certainly nowhere near as bad as some people have reported.

Would I recommend DJ to other pax, and moreso my colleagues - YES, I have done so, and I have one flying DJ with me tomorrow.

Lastly the saving to my company to date is approc $1000.00

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Good reporting and thanks for the insight Reggie.

In regards to the baggage, l have had mixed results with QF even with J Class tags. Sometimes first out, sometimes last.

 

[Reggie]

Good reporting and thanks for the insight Reggie.

In regards to the baggage, l have had mixed results with QF even with J Class tags. Sometimes first out, sometimes last.

Likewise, amongst my problems with QF, the priority handinly of baggage is one of the bigger ones. At PER, all priority baggage is a joke, I have never had my bags come off the belt at the beginning, best was middle of the range, worst was when I had two pieces of checked luggage and they came out 5th last and last.

 

[Saab34]

Dont forget all VB staff in Perth (as well as Tiger, Skywest) are Aerocare, where as they are contracted to the airline in Sydney.

 

[samh004]

Sounds like the food service is letting them down but otherwise an injection of enthusiasm resulting in better morale and service across the board.

On that note, the last time I used them the CSM/equivalent mentioned to me that she’d seen the new menus and they were really good, she couldn’t wait for them to start using them. Also met the captain while waiting for the rear stairs, so their service is really good

 

[lovestotravel]

If you are flying with us tomorrow, you'll be seeing more than just our new cabin crew uniforms on board....

From Facebook

 

[lovestotravel]

I have had to call DJ twice this week to fix up a few upcoming flights. I never knew their call centre had moved overseas so I was expecting the worst....

However, both problems, of which were my fault, were fixed up in a very short amount of time with no fuss!

Compare this to a hassle I had on SQ a few months back where everything was too hard when calling them!

10/10 for DJ customer service on the phone!!!!

 

[jsd]

I never knew their call centre had moved overseas so I was expecting the worst....

Only part of DJ's Guest Contact Centre is based off-shore

Velocity Rewards - Off-shore
Economy Reservations - Off-shore
Premium Economy / Velocity Gold Reservations - Based in Brisbane

10/10 for DJ customer service on the phone!!!!

Agreed

 

[samh004]

Only part of DJ's Guest Contact Centre is based off-shore

Velocity Rewards - Off-shore
Economy Reservations - Off-shore
Premium Economy / Velocity Gold Reservations - Based in Brisbane

Is the V Australia centre separate or the same as the PE/Velocity Gold centre in Brisbane? Because I believe it’s based in Brisbane too?

 

[jsd]

Is the V Australia centre separate or the same as the PE/Velocity Gold centre in Brisbane? Because I believe it’s based in Brisbane too?

Same sort of thing, part on-shore, part off


Economy Reservations - Off-shore
Premium Economy Reservations - Off-shore
Business Reservations / Velocity Gold Reservations - Brisbane based (Same building as DJ I think???)

 

[notzac]

Economy Reservations - Off-shore
Premium Economy Reservations - Off-shore
Business Reservations / Velocity Gold Reservations - Brisbane based (Same building as DJ I think???)

Can someone please clarify for me whether Velocity Gold pax are entitled to use the premium line, irrespective of class of travel? If so, what is the magic needed to get through to that queue -- just select Business reservations from the menu?

 

[markis10]

Can someone please clarify for me whether Velocity Gold pax are entitled to use the premium line, irrespective of class of travel? If so, what is the magic needed to get through to that queue -- just select Business reservations from the menu?

Are you using the special number on the back of the card?

 

[samh004]

Can someone please clarify for me whether Velocity Gold pax are entitled to use the premium line, irrespective of class of travel? If so, what is the magic needed to get through to that queue -- just select Business reservations from the menu?

Whenever I call I just choose the PE booking option and then explain what I actually want, and haven’t been turned down yet.

 

[jsd]

Can someone please clarify for me whether Velocity Gold pax are entitled to use the premium line, irrespective of class of travel?

I can't find it published on the Velocity Website, but I've been told by a supervisor in the Brisbane Centre that I'm welcome to press the Premium option when I call

If so, what is the magic needed to get through to that queue -- just select Business reservations from the menu?

Yes

 

[Reggie]

My next trip was PER-ZNE.

I lined up in the wrong check-in line as the premium / gold / silver line had moved to the opposite end and I didn't notice it until it was too late and I was hemmed in by other pax.

I had online checked in, and this was the same as previous flights.

The big change was the included box meals and tea/coffee/water and OJ. After leveling the crew made an announcement that for WA Intrastate flights ONLY, Virgin provides free box meals, and there was a limited menu service which appeared to be drinks and chips and chocolates. The box meals were sandwich, cookies, cheese and crackers and pretzel snacks. biscuits, this is pretty much the same as QF WA intrastate flights except QF provide free soft drink.

The seats were great, wider and more comfortable than the QF B717's that fly the equivalent routes, with the bonus of no middle seats. on

We arrived into ZNE 5 mins prior to QF so our baggage came out first allowing us to get away before the rush out of the car park.

 

[Reggie]

Return Journey ZNE-PER

Plane 1 hour delayed.
New menu's on board, but being intrastate where not applicable. Free breakfast box, tea, coffee, juice and water.
Baggage was coing around as we came into the terminal.
Great flight / service / facilities.

 

[Reggie]

Tried checking in for my PER-SYD-CBR flights at around T-22hrs for my PER-SYD flight but kept receiving an error message. I then left it til T-23hrs SYD-CBR flight, and was able to check in for both flights.

On QF I thought I was able to checkin at T-24 for the first flight, no biggy, but worth noting.

Anyway a questions for those that may be reading this thread, am I able to guest non pax into The Lounge when flying out using DJ?