VA wishlist. Time for.....

[Deleted member 29185]

Its embarrassing really, I feel for them, thinking they are a full service airline.

 

[Chicken]

Are you suggesting that would be a good thing or a bad thing? Remember that it wasn't too long ago that VS did that very option and it would appear they couldn't get it to work for themselves (although personally I'd love to have that option back).

I would not know as to why didn't it work for VS (Flying Club is actually my main frequent flyer program). Having said that, how many people in Australia know about Virgin Atlantic? People think I'm talking about Virgin Australia when I tell them Virgin Atlantic. Since VS has a business case to fly to HKG, and VA does not fly anywhere other that Australia and some outer islands e.g. Pacific Blue and New Zealand (OK, USA, like how many ports?), meeting VS half way would be nice.

Cathay Pacific is doing 4 flights a day SYD HKG. Qantas is doing 2 per day. That's 6 per day. Clearly there is demand for it. My uneducated guess is that CX is flying that they are onforwarding their passengers in Hong Kong.

Virgin Australia can also use HKG to onforward passengers to other parts of Asia, or VS onto Europe.

Clearly there is a market demand for planes not to fly to Europe via the middle east e.g. Singapore, Malaysia, Cathay Pacific.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I would not know as to why didn't it work for VS (Flying Club is actually my main frequent flyer program). Having said that, how many people in Australia know about Virgin Atlantic? People think I'm talking about Virgin Australia when I tell them Virgin Atlantic. Since VS has a business case to fly to HKG, and VA does not fly anywhere other that Australia and some outer islands e.g. Pacific Blue and New Zealand (OK, USA, like how many ports?), meeting VS half way would be nice.

Cathay Pacific is doing 4 flights a day SYD HKG. Qantas is doing 2 per day. That's 6 per day. Clearly there is demand for it. My uneducated guess is that CX is flying that they are onforwarding their passengers in Hong Kong.

Virgin Australia can also use HKG to onforward passengers to other parts of Asia, or VS onto Europe.

Clearly there is a market demand for planes not to fly to Europe via the middle east e.g. Singapore, Malaysia, Cathay Pacific.

I certainly don't disagree with you about Hong Kong. Let's hope your crystal ball is not a bit hazy. I also think quite a few know about VS (certainly lots on this forum plus travel agents, past customers etc) but if they weren't well known, isn't that their own fault for not marketing to the market they're trying to lure? I also think the Emiratis may not like being referred to as an Australian outer island.

 

[JohnK]

Instead of code share with Singapore or Etihad, imagine if they fly to Hong Kong themselves, then off load us to Virgin Atlantic in Hong Kong.

That would work.

Or any other destination in SE Asia.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

That would work.

How? (Genuine question)

I'd assume that the code share agreement with EY and SQ offers us far more options than ditching those and flying direct into HKG and tying into VS. (not to mention that both EY and SQ are financial partners in VA)

 

[Chicken]

How? (Genuine question)

I'd assume that the code share agreement with EY and SQ offers us far more options than ditching those and flying direct into HKG and tying into VS. (not to mention that both EY and SQ are financial partners in VA)

You are correct on that point. Problem with this is that, VA would forever to be some small time domestic airline, forever in this chicken or egg first problem.

Another way I can counter your argument is, can you rely on just one location - Singapore - to serve the whole of Asia? Some volcano blows up, oops, cannot fly anymore.

 

[JohnK]

How? (Genuine question)

I'd assume that the code share agreement with EY and SQ offers us far more options than ditching those and flying direct into HKG and tying into VS. (not to mention that both EY and SQ are financial partners in VA)

It's not about ditching. It's about going somewhere other than USA or the desert in their own aircraft.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Instead of code share with Singapore or Etihad, imagine if they fly to Hong Kong themselves, then off load us to Virgin Atlantic in Hong Kong.

It's not about ditching. It's about going somewhere other than USA or the desert in their own aircraft.

Actually it was about ditching! Have another read of Chickens post (my bolding)!

I agree totally with the words "In addition to" being used in lieu of the words "Instead of"!

 

[Warks]

I've come to this thread rather late but have to agree on many of the wishlist items. I don't fly enough to be chasing beyond WP as I just make SG each year.
But to reiterate:
1. fix the website
2. put Virgin Australia on your Velocity cards (are you ashamed of your airline? - yes I understand the separate companies thing)
3. flights to Asia especially Japan or some deal with ANA
4. join an alliance
5. don't charge me a fee to use your credit cards
6. put a Lounge in TSV!!! (supposedly it's coming)

 

[JohnK]

Actually it was about ditching! Have another read of Chickens post (my bolding)!

I agree totally with the words "In addition to" being used in lieu of the words "Instead of"!

Apologies. Misunderstood. Your second second sentence is what I meant.

 

[Notyourbag]

1. Add SYD-HKG, PER-SIN or SYD-KUL
2. Let SC flow over onto the next years balance (instead of earning 400 status credits to retain gold, let the excess Status Credits roll over)
3. Build a lounge in Hobart and Launceston
4. Build a Velocity App!
5. Don't charge me for using the Velocity Amex

 

[Warks]

I sincerely hope someone at VA is reading this! And acts on it. But I'm not hopeful.

 

[bullerdude]

4. Build a Velocity App!

Well they may be working on this one: Virgin Australia launches new iPhone smartphone app - Australian Business Traveller

 

[rfur78]

they have been badly lacking in this area so good to see.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

6. put a Lounge in TSV!!! (supposedly it's coming)

I would think that you'll be waiting until they do the airport upgrade/refurb/extensions for a VA lounge. I do Townsville 5-6 times a year and it's enough to make me consider flying QF on the way home if the pricing Gods match up.

 

[Wezza]

I would think that you'll be waiting until they do the airport upgrade/refurb/extensions for a VA lounge. I do Townsville 5-6 times a year and it's enough to make me consider flying QF on the way home if the pricing Gods match up.

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

 

[serfty]

I am thinking EY, NZ and other major shareholders are keeping a very tight rein on VA's purse-strings.

I would't expect much more than what is currently available/announced in the short term.

 

[Gazza129]

They are just a domestic airline to me. They don't fly anywhere. Not even to Europe.

Instead of code share with Singapore or Etihad, imagine if they fly to Hong Kong themselves, then off load us to Virgin Atlantic in Hong Kong.

Yes but as it has been pointed out V Atlantic is another company.....nothing to do with with V Aust if ever you have tried to get a complaint addressed. May as well hand you on to China Air or anyone else you can think of...........

 

[Chicken]

Yes but as it has been pointed out V Atlantic is another company.....nothing to do with with V Aust if ever you have tried to get a complaint addressed. May as well hand you on to China Air or anyone else you can think of...........

Oh yes we know that. I am simply saying that this could be beneficial for both airlines e.g. extra pax loading for VS, expansion for VA.

Passengers like me are now in the dilemma of holding VS Flying Club but flying Malaysia or Singapore, or worse, forced to fly opposition like QF CX, rather than sticking with the Virgin group be it Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Australia or Virgin Trains ......

 

[Gazza129]

I would not know as to why didn't it work for VS (Flying Club is actually my main frequent flyer program). Having said that, how many people in Australia know about Virgin Atlantic? People think I'm talking about Virgin Australia when I tell them Virgin Atlantic. Since VS has a business case to fly to HKG, and VA does not fly anywhere other that Australia and some outer islands e.g. Pacific Blue and New Zealand (OK, USA, like how many ports?), meeting VS half way would be nice.

Cathay Pacific is doing 4 flights a day SYD HKG. Qantas is doing 2 per day. That's 6 per day. Clearly there is demand for it. My uneducated guess is that CX is flying that they are onforwarding their passengers in Hong Kong.

Virgin Australia can also use HKG to onforward passengers to other parts of Asia, or VS onto Europe.

Clearly there is a market demand for planes not to fly to Europe via the middle east e.g. Singapore, Malaysia, Cathay Pacific.

There is a massive market to avoid the M East.

I have a fundamental and conscientious objection to supporting tyrants and their regimes in the M East despite the PR and glitz about their airlines. (Why support regimes that still carry out weekly beheadings as part of their "justice" systems?)

We have just booked on Cathay via HKG to Rome to avoid the M East. Yes it's been a pain and perhaps a little more costly...... but its my 2 cents worth.