The Virgin Awakens... Maybe. Hopefully.

[Carrots]

The first signs of new life under Bain.

It will be interesting to see what the next few weeks entail.

As CEO and Managing Director of Virgin Australia Group, I’m honoured to welcome you onboard as we prepare to embark on an exciting new chapter in our journey as an airline.

Since starting the role in November, the team and I have been working on a plan to set Virgin Australia up for future success, and in the coming months there’s a lot to look forward to.

We have appointed several new faces to our Executive Leadership Team, all with a proven track record and deep experience in aviation or consumer-focussed businesses, and I’m genuinely excited by the breadth of experience these leaders bring to Virgin Australia.

You’ll also soon start to see some of the new initiatives we’ve been working on come to life, including a fresh onboard menu in Business class, retail menu in Economy class, the opening of our new-look flagship lounge in Adelaide and many new and innovative ways to earn and redeem Points through our Velocity partners.

Our commitment to you

Loyalty will play a big part of our future direction, and I want to assure you that Virgin Australia’s unique service and the passion our people have for our brand is here to stay.

With a vaccine on the way, we are hopeful that the worst is now behind us, and that State and Territory border restrictions will settle down and enable us all to get back to business and reconnect with family, friends and the rich life experiences brought by travel.

Because safety and wellbeing is important to us, we’ve also introduced a range of measures in response to COVID-19, including a hosted bar service in our lounges, contactless check-in and boarding, and educational resources to assure travellers are comfortable when they next choose to fly.

To enable you to fly with confidence no matter what happens, we are offering free booking flexibility until 31 January 2022 for guests who book to travel with us by 30 April 2021. And we are coming up with even easier ways to manage your own booking changes.

Commitment to great value fares and award-winning service

Our commitment to providing an award-winning service without the price tag hasn’t changed, and we’ll continue to keep you informed of upcoming sales and experiences alongside our weekly Happy Hour on Thursdays. We will also continue three-class seating options including Business, Economy-X and Economy.

We are making significant investments in technology, introducing new check-in facilities at major airports to give you a more seamless journey and building our proposition around you as our long-standing and most loyal guests.

Update on Virgin Australia lounges

Our lounge spaces in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Perth are now open, with Canberra to follow soon. This month, we will also open our new-look lounge of the future in Adelaide which will provide guests an experience and aesthetic more aligned with our uniquely Virgin brand.

Benefits and rewards for loyalty

As the loyalty program of Virgin Australia, our aim is to make it easier for you to reach your dream reward sooner. With over 70 program partners, more than 200 e-Store partners, and new and exciting brands on the horizon, earning Velocity Points on the things you do every day has never been easier.

Whether you prefer to redeem your Velocity Points on flights, flight upgrades, cars, hotels, products, gift cards - even wine, the choice of reward is yours.

The future for Virgin Australia is bright and we look forward to continuing our journey as Australia’s most loved airline for many years to come.

In a world full of choice, I want to thank you again for your continued commitment to Virgin Australia and Velocity Frequent Flyer.

Yours sincerely,
Signature
Jayne Hrdlicka
CEO and Managing Director, Virgin Australia Group [\quote]

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

The first signs of new life under Bain.

It will be interesting to see what the next few weeks entail.

Perhaps this should of been posted in "A little bit of humour"

 

[jakeseven7]

got excited for a second then realised just another nothing PR release.

 

[serfty]

It should be interesting to compare the differences between VA in May 2019 and May 2021.

 

[Economypeanuts]

I find the parts that are left out more telling. Get the feeling velocity points will no longer be useful for anything other than virgin domestic or gift cards. That sucks.

I notice they've removed the reference to transfer to Krisflyer from their website as well, so it appears to be fully canned not paused - correct me if I am wrong!

 

[aus_flyer]

Got my Platinum kit this week. Welcome letter (dated early Feb) was from Paul Scurrah. Might be time for VA to update their templates!

 

[jase05]

Got my Platinum kit this week. Welcome letter (dated early Feb) was from Paul Scurrah. Might be time for VA to update their templates!

Came on here to post the same.
Pretty average form if you ask me

 

[Mattg]

I find the parts that are left out more telling. Get the feeling velocity points will no longer be useful for anything other than virgin domestic or gift cards. That sucks.

I notice they've removed the reference to transfer to Krisflyer from their website as well, so it appears to be fully canned not paused - correct me if I am wrong!

The reference to KrisFlyer transfers still seems to be there?

Singapore Airlines

Earn Points with Singapore Airlines when you travel in an eligible fare class on flights with a SQ flight number that are operated by Singapore Airlines. You can also earn Status Credits and redeem Reward Seat. Learn more now.

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

 

[Economypeanuts]

The reference to KrisFlyer transfers still seems to be there?

Singapore Airlines

Earn Points with Singapore Airlines when you travel in an eligible fare class on flights with a SQ flight number that are operated by Singapore Airlines. You can also earn Status Credits and redeem Reward Seat. Learn more now.

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

Oh, interesting

When I view by googling it and clicking through where it used to be referenced it doesn't have it on the page anymore.

Thanks for providing that link, gives me a glimmer of hope!

 

[Mattg]

Oh, interesting

When I view by googling it and clicking through where it used to be referenced it doesn't have it on the page anymore.

Thanks for providing that link, gives me a glimmer of hope!

Unfortunately I still doubt the KrisFlyer transfer option will return. But you never know!

 

[HS-TQE]

Chances of KrisFlyer transfers would be very low under Bain's ownership. If they do return, it'll likely because Bain got "something in return" from SIA/SQ (to cover the losses) to make it happen.

 

[jakeseven7]

This thread title needs to be changed to ‘the Virgin turns over in bed and keeps snoring’

 

[Bagpuss]

In another thread, posters compliaining about a lack of communication.
When they send out communications (something is better than nothing) it's critical as well.

Didn't mind the email as it confirmed a number of points which give some re-assurance.

 

[kookaburra75]

In another thread, posters compliaining about a lack of communication.
When they send out communications (something is better than nothing) it's critical as well.
Didn't mind the email as it confirmed a number of points which give some re-assurance.

While it was good to receive 'something' after all of the silence, there wasn't anything new - the Canberra Lounge is still "...may open soon..." status. I just want to see what their new flight schedules will really be, including CBR-SYD route. At the moment, while flights show up in their system, they are simply ghosts and I need something a bit more than that to put my business $'s through Virgin.

 

[Bagpuss]

At the moment, while flights show up in their system, they are simply ghosts and I need something a bit more than that to put my business $'s through Virgin.

Which is no real difference to any other airline during the current operating climate.

 

[jakeseven7]

Which is no real difference to any other airline during the current operating climate.

I personally have been travelling almost nonstop through the pandemic and I and the business have had the most problems with VA2 scheduling, ghost flights and credit process.

Let us all hope it gets better to give Rex and JQ some real competition...

 

[dk4]

Didn't mind the email as it confirmed a number of points which give some re-assurance.

Bagpuss, for many of us actions speak louder than words...

With memories of Compass 2.0 & Ansett 2.0 - Virgin 3.0 (I count DJ as 1.0 & 1.1) should have hit the ground running months ago IMO.

And with Qantas Group almost approaching (domestic) business as usual (in fact, improving its economy QF booze offer, even if it is currently non-spirit of Australia in business) and Rex out to impress, VA hasn't been standing still, it's been sinking! (Looks like an emergency water landing and no one* got out in time.) VA's network/frequency feels like the mid 2020's, while QAN's is sooooo outpacing it (looks like a water landing on the Hudson and everyone* survived) that a relationship with Virgin simply isn't an option any more. Headwinds have become a hurricane due to JH's immobility & fixation on supplier/staff costs, and lack of commitment to customer service.

* I am talking passengers/customers/guests.

 

[auflier]

i d rather trust that irishman than her

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Maybe when Rex flexes its new FF "muscle"...