VA wishlist. Time for.....

[Deleted member 29185]

Yes but as it has been pointed out V Atlantic is another company

I took the reference to mean that VS have a fairly decent business product.

rather than sticking with the Virgin group be it Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Australia or Virgin Trains ......

..........TT etc! :mrgreen:

 

[Warks]

That's exactly what they're waiting for. The upgrade/expansion is slated to begin Q2 2016.

Yeah I knew it was coming but not sure of the timing. Didn't expect it any time soon! I used to fly SYD-TSV up to 12 times per year and it was only the direct flight and the pricing that kept me there. At least Townsville is a small enough town to leave travelling to the airport until closer to the flight and there's free wifi (and the QP wifi!) to use in the terminal. The direct SYD-TSV flight seems to have become extinct though. TSV-SYD still ran last time I flew.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

The direct SYD-TSV flight seems to have become extinct though. TSV-SYD still ran last time I flew.

Virgin still offer a direct SYD-TSV & TSV-SYD pair (1519/1520, using a 73H - 10am ex SYD & 12:15pm ex TSV). Not sure what the loadings would be, but at 2hr 40min for the trip, it saves at least 2 hours compared with going via BNE. QANTAS don't go direct though - they leave that to JQ for 11am out of SYD and 1pm return flight

 

[Warks]

VA1519 seems a bit sporadic in nature then as it wasn't available on the dates I looked at the past couple of times. Also it was cancelled some months ago when I did manage to book it. I'll check and see what they've got.

Rarely a full flight I'd have to say from experience, which is good for me but not for VA.

 

[Warks]

I've noticed that if I log into VA then go to My Bookings and Velocity it doesn't require a second login now.

I've also noticed that My Bookings is littered with completed flights from November still. They used to disappear as soon as they were flown.

 

[Wezza]

VA1519 seems a bit sporadic in nature then as it wasn't available on the dates I looked at the past couple of times. Also it was cancelled some months ago when I did manage to book it. I'll check and see what they've got.

Rarely a full flight I'd have to say from experience, which is good for me but not for VA.

Yeah up until recently it seemed to be not running daily for whatever reason but now seems to be daily? Although it switches between 73H & E90 equipment regularly.

 

[Ausbt]

I've noticed that if I log into VA then go to My Bookings and Velocity it doesn't require a second login now.

I've also noticed that My Bookings is littered with completed flights from November still. They used to disappear as soon as they were flown.

Not my experience - my past month's worth of flights have always displayed. Not as bad as Qantas though - an LHR to LBA (Leeds) showed up for a full 10 months. I earned 44 QFF points per sector on that, would take a while if that was your weekly commute! BTW if anyone knows how I can earn points LHR to EDI let me know, Little Red have dropped that route pushing me back to BA ...and I'm only PS with Q now.

 

[justcallmeryan]

VA plat for going on 4 years now and I'd have to say, I still really like them. What I do feel has happened is that they've had a bit of an identity crisis. I think JB has ambitions of it becoming a big international airlines but lacks the resources and performance to do so.

I reckon VA could just focus on being a really really good domestic and regional airline, and leave the long haul stuff to the big boys. Why wouldn't you just work hard on being the BEST domestic carrier, serve a few token regional international destinations (NZ, Bali, Fiji etc - ditch LAX and AUH) and join a major alliance and leave it to them to do the long haul? *A would be my choice as SQ/Thai would give you the Asia and Europe network and UA/AC/NZ could handle America. Sky team also works with Delta, Korean etc, but probably not as exciting.

Plenty of examples of this model working overseas, and would allow VA to focus on doing one thing really well.

Just my two cents...

 

[Chicken]

join a major alliance and leave it to them to do the long haul? *A would be my choice

I agree, except it does not seem like Virgin group is into these sorts of things. Neither Virgin Atlantic nor Virgin America are part of any alliance.

 

[Gazza129]

Yep head in sand approach by the big V. There's us, just us and no one else.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

A working VA booking website would be great.
I am no specialist, but what does "this web page has a redirect loop", I have cleared cookies and history, and yet it comes back with a vengence.
Booking with NZ never brings this monkey up, granted its less points earn, ie, no status bonus, ...
My wish for VA is for them to really take a look at their booking website.
Have they now outsourced the booking system as well?

 

[Milefest]

I'd love somewhere comfortable to eat at the lounge. You either eat hunched over a low table or high on an uncomfortable stool over a bench. They should possibly add a separate area where they have dining tables and chairs much like many of the J and F intl lounges.

 

[jpk]

I think JB wanted to take things further, but they're just not making the profit they need to justify continued spending - people at SQ and NZ especially started asking questions.
JB also hinted in an interview in the last year that he was considering retiring in the not too distant future - perhaps he has had enough or feels like he has accomplished enough, and it will be up to someone else to kick it further.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

JB also hinted in an interview in the last year that he was considering retiring in the not too distant future -

...perhaps he's exasperated by the partners tightening the purse strings to such an extent it is preventing him from finishing what he started ........ which reflects poorly on him personally and detracts from his achievements!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If and when JB departs VA does it mean we go back to the LCC modle/system for VA?
While I am in 2 Au FF programs, I fear VA might go the AN way on the end.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

If and when JB departs VA does it mean we go back to the LCC modle/system for VA?

Doubt it. They are turning a profit just now, but they weren't as an LCC.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I'm late to this thread but here's my list anyway:

1. Fix the website.
2. Allow me to change my seat after selecting it.
3. Why do I need a Velocity Card and a Lounge Card? Wouldn't one do? Or better yet, no card at all and something electronic.
4. Did I mention fix the website?
5. Stop playing in no man's land. Either be full service and give me a meal and drink, or be a LCC and make me pay. Don't insult me with a stale slice of a sandwich and call it a meal.
6. Come up with a simple, plain English way to explain your status model. A rolling 12 month system is too hard to follow. It's easier to understand the QFF system. As a customer, easy works for me.
7. Allow customers to modify bookings made by corporate travel agents. The website is so bad I'm not sure if this is a glitch or a deliberate barrier.
8. Fix. The. Website. Please.

 

[serfty]

...
2. Allow me to change my seat after selecting it....

Are you referring to award bookings here?

 

[andye]

I prefer the rolling system with the proviso that date of flying is used rather than date of crediting.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Are you referring to award bookings here?

No, just a standard cash fare in Y. It could be related to number 7 on my list, especially if others have not reported difficulty.

I can select a seat after the corporate TA has booked. Usually row 10 and beyond as I have no status. Then anywhere from T-24 until I get to the lounge It shows all seats released but it won't let me select them.