VA Business Class under review: What changes would you like to see?

[jakeseven7]

Frequent flyer point availability.

Internationally. In J or higher.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Love how some think that VA is going to go more upscale with their Business Class, I guess everyone can hope!

We can dream, can't we?
We can only idly gossip.
Bain can change things, or they might not.
I think they will keep J as it is, but will raise J fares a tidy sum.
With JH at the helm, from her JQ days, I am sure she would know the inner runnings of an airline.
VA3 can earn more, by increasing fares, they know there are some people who want J, but won't/can't afford QF's J, so will fare VA3's J.
I would certainly pay for a VA3 J fare, if its $150 less than QF's J fare, if only for the space, VA3's B737 2x2 J class, instead of QF's B737 3x2... if flying to the same city, at roughly the same time of the day.
Sometimes, the difference of time of departure between the 2 is only about 10/15 mins, esp PER - ADL before 11pm curfew.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Virgin Australia announced today, among other things, that it is conducting a review of its domestic Business Class product.

I have a few open questions for AFF members:

• What do you expect to change?​
• What would you like to see in a new Virgin Australia Business Class offering?
• Would you be happy with a reduced Business Class offering if it meant cheaper airfares, or would you just pay more to fly Qantas?

• I expect things to down market, you won't expect something better in economy that you can't get in business class, likely offers to upgrade to business class will be more available.
• USB power and free wifi, economy could have 30 minutes free wifi where business has free for the whole flight.
• You can't make it too cheap, its like removing the cheese from the pizza, you need to have some wow factor because a bigger seat with free alcohol is not going to cut it and get the increase in airfare.

It really depend on what is available in economy got to make sure that Virgin don't offer something on the menu in economy that you would like in business class. Virgin need to get the economy offer correct and then tailor the business menu to suit.

VA3's B737 2x2 J class, instead of QF's B737 3x2... if flying to the same city, at roughly the same time of the day.
Sometimes, the difference of time of departure between the 2 is only about 10/15 mins, esp PER - ADL before 11pm curfew.

Poochie, have you not flown on a QF 737, 2x2 same as VA.

 

[AIRwin]

Poochie, have you not flown on a QF 737, 2x2 same as VA.

@AustraliaPoochie may be referring to the number of rows?

 

[agentgerko]

I only fly Biz on VA but don't hold any great status so am always happy that they offer all seats in seat selection, whereas QF only ever offer last row seats to non-status Biz travelers. I don't use power, rarely use wifi and don't drink when flying. I'd be more than happy with decent sandwiches and a juice.. But the lounges must stay, and the priority boarding, overhead lockers and cabin separation also.

 

[eastwest101]

I only fly Biz on VA but don't hold any great status so am always happy that they offer all seats in seat selection, whereas QF only ever offer last row seats to non-status Biz travelers. I don't use power, rarely use wifi and don't drink when flying. I'd be more than happy with decent sandwiches and a juice.. But the lounges must stay, and the priority boarding, overhead lockers and cabin separation also.

Well said - with less frequency VA will have to offer a J product that is better and cheaper than its competitor, they already did this with priority boarding done properly (almost no cost), cabin separation and overhead locker enforcement (done better than QF) - closure of VA lounges will be the deal breaker so I expect Bain will have no choice but to renegotiate lease rates at airports for lounge space and/or contract cost of operating those lounges. Guaranteed USB or even 240V AC power in all J class seats should be a consideration, but understand the cost hurdles of doing this given the tight capital constraints.

This will be an interesting stage of seeing exactly how much money Bain are prepared to spend on the recently squired business, so far it looks like things such as lounges in DRW, CNS and CBR are a bridge too far for Bain so it looks unlikely that any product improvements will be happening in the near future.

 

[Mr H]

I would anticipate an Air Asia model - business tix include one meal that is available for purchase in economy, and one drink. Lounges (2 hours max) have paid entry, free tea and coffee with everything else paid. New planes will not have business seating but may offer "up front" economy packages for much higher prices.

 

[antycbr]

I would anticipate an Air Asia model - business tix include one meal that is available for purchase in economy, and one drink. Lounges (2 hours max) have paid entry, free tea and coffee with everything else paid. New planes will not have business seating but may offer "up front" economy packages for much higher prices.

The lounges with a pay for everything model won’t work as you are handing the entire platinum and most of gold tier to QF on a platter.

If you do this you may as well close the lounges all together.

Lounges are key to driving revenue through Velocity which is the only real asset of value in the group.

If they were going to do this they would have pulled alcohol from BNE when it reopened, but they haven’t.

 

[HS-TQE]

They won't be "new planes" for some time at VA for the short term either. Which means having to keep the J seats for the foreseeable future, whether if J gets restructured (up or down) is yet to be seen.

I would not be surprised if they are looking at Spirit Airlines "Big Front Seat" model where they're basically just paying for the seat+space. But throw in some WestJet perks in there (e.g 1 bag + complimentary snack/meal+drinks in Domestic Premium (J) Class).

 

[jakeseven7]

They won't be "new planes" for some time at VA for the short term either. Which means having to keep the J seats for the foreseeable future, whether if J gets restructured (up or down) is yet to be seen.

And they don’t really want the ones they do have on order either, as they have a nasty habit of randomly falling out of the sky....

 

[turffy]

Hi All
On a slight tangent - has anyone heard if Platinum AMEX will still have access to lounges (those few left).
Also do we know if the relationship with airlines like Etihad be reinstated?
Thanks Turffy

 

[Poss]

I would be happy if they had the lounges open. You could then have something to eat before flying and for short domestic flights, a hot snack and a reasonable red whilst in your seat, an easily accessible USB port, monitoring of the overhead use of the locker space whilst flying. I guess where they can improve at little or no cost is the service provided. The personal attention to smaller details. I have been on a flight with only one other business class passenger (international) and they still forgot to bring the red wine. It's the little things. If there is no service or offering, charge a little bit more than Economy X for the larger seat and be done with it.

 

[AIRwin]

Saw from another thread that new business class offering will commence on 25 March...

 

[BCons]

Saw from another thread that new business class offering will commence on 25 March...

25 March - the very day I hv a return trip to Mel and VA doesnt have a sched to suit either way So its back to the red roo to see how they do things at the pointy end..

 

[AIRwin]

25 March - the very day I hv a return trip to Mel and VA doesnt have a sched to suit either way So its back to the red roo to see how they do things at the pointy end..

Hopefully you'll still have reviews of the catering from guinea pigs...

 

[Must...Fly!]

25 March - the very day I hv a return trip to Mel and VA doesnt have a sched to suit either way So its back to the red roo to see how they do things at the pointy end..

At least one of the airlines has a schedule that suits you...two trips now gone begging for me because I can't get flights at the right time - at any price! (yes ok before anyone mentions private, that's not going to happen...)

 

[AIRwin]

Received an email from Velocity on business class:

Fly for business | Virgin Australia

www.virginaustralia.com

 

[Mattg]

Received an email from Velocity on business class:

Fly for business | Virgin Australia

www.virginaustralia.com

Doesn't seem to be any new information here?

 

[MooTime]

Doesn't seem to be any new information here?

Yes I don't see anything different either.

Usual VA or QF emails always at least have some sort of generic sale.

This email was really one for the SPAM folder.

 

[oz_ally]

Not sure about anyone else but I find this first sentence in the email a little off-putting:

"It's the eye contact."

Yeah I expect a little bit of extra treatment if paying for Business but I would think that all passengers deserve eye contact don't you reckon???