The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story?

[markis10]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

However, you have stated that this was a late booking. I am assuming T-48 hours before you flew this was ticketed. Surely DJ would have known at that stage which plane was on that route and could have informed pax who has purchased PE that the PE product wouldn't be available?

Aircraft swaps on the day happen to around 20% of a fleet when things are average, make it a Friday with bad weather/strong winds in one of the golden triangle cities and that can go to 50%. Would you rather wait four hours for the aircraft with PE????

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

Aircraft swaps on the day happen to around 20% of a fleet when things are average, make it a Friday with bad weather/strong winds in one of the golden triangle cities and that can go to 50%. Would you rather wait four hours for the aircraft with PE????

Answer to question above; No, I'm ok with a seat anywhere to be honest, rather than waiting 4 hours. I guess this is where QF trump DJ (for the moment).

I thought about this when writing my reply this morning. What % of planes do get swapped around due to weather/cancellations/maintenance issues...etc etc before a scheduled flight? I have no idea so l thought that l would leave it out.
Maybe r0bs has just had bad luck so far? The chances are very slim, but it could happen.
But seriously, l would have swapped after the 2nd incident and gone back to QF. Guess some people learn the, hard, hard way.

 

[markis10]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

Dont forget DJ are adding a rogue aircraft every few weeks so the chances are increasing of getting one without PE, its going to be like that until June next year when the new order starts delivery.

 

[pauly7]

Dont forget DJ are adding a rogue aircraft every few weeks so the chances are increasing of getting one without PE, its going to be like that until June next year when the new order starts delivery.

Yes good point and its a double whammy as well...

They add a new rogue aircraft and them they usually retire a PE fitted one (as it's predominantly a fleet replacement program not incremental planes).

 

[r0bs]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

I think there are about 12 rogue 737s out of about 50 or so total 737s in DJ's domestic 737 fleet (someone feel free to correct, going from memory) but that means there are decent odds you will hit one!

So you are saying that 24% of the time DJ are selling a product they have no intention of delivering?

That is FRAUD.

 

[NM]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

For a true dummy spit, nothing has surpassed J passengers expecting a skybed equipped A330 to operate an international flight, to discover a 767 parked in the bay when they went to board

As disappointed as the passenger may be, substitutions of Dreamtime 767 for a Skybed A330 on an international route is very rare and certainly a lot less than 20%. If it happens on a domestic leg there is no issue since Qantas does not advertise Skybeds for domestic business class routes.

Oh the memories of hoping for a state-of-the-art Dreamtime-equipped 747 for trans-Pacific flights back in the 90's. How our expectations have changed. I used to keep track of which 747 regos had been upgraded to Dreamtimes and check which aircraft was at the gate.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

As disappointed as the passenger may be, substitutions of Dreamtime 767 for a Skybed A330 on an international route is very rare and certainly a lot less than 20%. If it happens on a domestic leg there is no issue since Qantas does not advertise Skybeds for domestic business class routes.

I never said it was a problem domestically. And on the flight I am aware of, more than one person was refusing to board!

The incident occured when the product changeover to skybeds was occuring, and illustrates the points that

1) It can happen on Qantas
2) It is most likely to happen while new product is being rolled out (or in the DJ case, not being rolled out)

 

[yohy?!]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

So you are saying that 24% of the time DJ are selling a product they have no intention of delivering?

That is FRAUD.

From virginblue.com.au :

^ Average 34” pitch. Seating will differ depending on aircraft type. The convertible seat and coughtail table is fitted to the majority of Virgin Blue’s Boeing 737 fleet. All seating on Embraer aircraft is two abreast, with additional leg-room for Premium Economy Guests. Images shown with convertible middle seat are Boeing 737.

ie YMMV

 

[NM]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

So you are saying that 24% of the time DJ are selling a product they have no intention of delivering?

That is FRAUD.

With that proportion of the fleet not having a PE cabin, I see a few options (and I have no idea if or how these may be implemented presently):

1. Aircraft scheduling/rotations should ensure the non-PE aircraft are used predominantly on routes/flights where PE is not offered for sale. Understanding that last minute rotations and substitutions will always need to occur, at least the probability of operating a PE flight with an aircraft without PE would be significantly less than 24%.

2. At check-in (either on-line or at a counter) the passenger should be informed that PE seating is not available on the flight and they should offered a choice of options, including changing to a different flight, a refund/credit amount, choice of seating including Blue Zone etc.

3. When booking there should be a very prominent message that PE is not available on all aircraft and if its not available on your flight you will be offered a choice of options per point 2.

4. If the substitution happens after the passenger has checked-in, which is quite possible with T-24 on-line check-in options now, the passenger should be informed either by a courtesy phone call, at the lounge or at the gate before boarding and given options as above.

Its all about setting the expectations, initially at the time of booking and then again at check-in time or before boarding.

 

[munitalP]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

As disappointed as the passenger may be, substitutions of Dreamtime 767 for a Skybed A330 on an international route is very rare and certainly a lot less than 20%. If it happens on a domestic leg there is no issue since Qantas does not advertise Skybeds for domestic business class routes.

Oh the memories of hoping for a state-of-the-art Dreamtime-equipped 747 for trans-Pacific flights back in the 90's. How our expectations have changed. I used to keep track of which 747 regos had been upgraded to Dreamtimes and check which aircraft was at the gate.

SWMBO & I were contacted a week before a flight to inform us the 744 was being substituted for a 743 containing no skybeds. They without prompt insisted we accept a compensation voucher - who was I to say no?

To the original poster. There has been a lot of good advice, but the best being walk away. Qantas must have really pissed you off to keep taking the PE vs no PE treatment you have been getting and still stay with DJ.

You have other choices, you are beating yourself up over this, at the end of the day, you are flying a slightly higher (just) than a LCC holiday airline that has visions of grandeur, but presently are a long way from it. You are flying for business, use a business based airline - oh, and if snotty flight attendants or scheduling annoys you, QF is out so your best option would be hire cars!

Of the 100's of business (J) flights on QF I have done, I have come across a very small handful of FA's who are a poor example of an FA. I have always had the seat I've booked - there is the 733 argument, but for me a care factor very low - maybe if I was flying 4-5 hours the 733 convert' seats would get up my nose, but apart from that, I wouldn't care too much.

So - the outcome as far as I can see is this:

1. Continue to fly DJ and get a 1 in 4 chance of an economy seat in place of a Y+ seat

or

2. Drop DJ and fly QF knowing that every jet in their fleet has a business class seat and you will always get what you paid for

or

3. Use hire cars - a slow and expensive option

I know which one I would be taking


munitalP

 

[markis10]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

2. Drop DJ and fly QF knowing that every jet in their fleet has a business class seat and you will always get what you paid for

So long as the customer does not want to fly BNE-KTA with an all Y config - then again there wont be J sold in the first place

 

[Mal]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

I flew BNE-PER today with DJ. I was on a rogue plane (didn't note the rego).

A few points:

- I think the PE pax were looked after well despite the equipment. I saw the digiplayers get given out, I also saw bottles of water going out to PE pax and others who I assume were Gold/Silver.
- Why is this plane on BNE-PER? The rest of the cabin had to suffer from not having Live2Air, and I assume this would be a route that would have good Live2Air usage.
- A person near me asked a FA if any digiplayers were available, and were told no. They were also informed that the aircraft is new and didn't have Live2Air installed yet.

A very poor choice of plane for this route IMHO, and I really don't believe the comment regarding the plane being "new" (and I realise CrazyDave98 has already commented about the meaning of "new" earlier in the thread).

 

[ishkaban]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

latest listing of "rogue" aircraft

NO LIVE 2 AIR & NO PREMIUM ECONOMY

VH VUV
VH VUR
VH VUT
VH VUS
VH VUU

NO LIVE 2 AIR

VH VOX
VH VUO
VH VBU

NO PREMIUM ECONOMY

VH BZG
VH VUX
VH VUW



Also the latest 777 is being delivered soon with the rego VH VPH

 

[ishkaban]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

A very poor choice of plane for this route IMHO, and I really don't believe the comment regarding the plane being "new" (and I realise CrazyDave98 has already commented about the meaning of "new" earlier in the thread).

That aircraft today BNE-PER was VH VUR and I am told it has been in service since Nov 2009

 

[oz_mark]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

l
Also the latest 777 is being delivered soon with the rego VH VPH

VPH is taking its time making its way here!

 

[markis10]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

VPH is taking its time making its way here!

Its been in Victorville for fit out from the 18th, due into SYD this weekend.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

Interesting. I heard it was moved to LAX a couple days back.

 

[Mal]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

latest listing of "rogue" aircraft

Thanks for the list.

Another issue I have with the plane chosen for the route is that I wasn't told at check-in that there was no Live2Air available.

from the virgin website:

live2air is Virgin Blue’s outstanding in-flight entertainment service streaming 24 live FOXTEL/AUSTAR channels directly to your own personal seat back screen*.

We also offer 8 recent release pay-per-view movies every month. Sometimes we even get them before they hit the big screen!

FOXTEL/AUSTAR is available from the minute you board until you arrive at the gate at your destination. It only costs $4.90 on shorter flights and $9.90 on longer flights. If you would prefer to pay cash then it’s $5 and $10 respectively - which means you don't have to wait for the entertainment to start.

Pay-per-view movies are offered on longer flights and cost $9.90 if paying with a credit card or $10 if you would prefer to pay cash.

All you need to do is swipe your credit card on either a TV channel or the movie you wish to purchase. It is as easy as that!! Of course if you would like to pay cash then you will have to get a Cabin Crew member to activate your screen.

(And yes, the T&Cs do have a weasel clause - "live2Air is available on the majority of Virgin Blue's Boeing 737 aircraft.").

One wonders if the plane was chosen to save fuel on the journey... I know it left SYD bright and early, arrived in BNE and then headed to PER. There were other journeys around the same time that it could have been used on - but of course PER was chosen. Not sure where it went next - but there are no short journeys ex-PER on the DJ network. More disappointed "guests".

I think I may have read previously about issues with L2A between BNE and PER... but this was a perfect flight to give it a go properly.

 

[MrJetset]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

Massively disappointing.

I have a reservation on VA HKT-SYD via BNE with the final sector on DJ. My booking reads 'Business' on both sectors. If it's a rogue aircraft on the final leg I'm going to be very angry as I expect Y+.

I'm half inclined to throw the last leg away. If I have to collect my luggage at BNE INTL I could book a QF flight from BNE to SYD, get front row of Y, and Business Lounge access.

 

[markis10]

Re: The great VIRGIN BLUE PREMIUM ECONOMY rip off! - Does anyone have a similar story

Why would you not be collecting your luggage at BNE, unless its a connecting INTL flight which DJ dont have at this stage.