Virgin 3.0 product revealed

[henrus]

Maybe they will join Rex/Rex join them.

Lol Rex complained about the proposed Virgin/Alliance Airlines deal so I doubt they'd be joining them at all.

I suspect it may be quite telling that Virgin does NOT say they’ll keep complimentary checked baggage on economy class tickets. Expect the U.S. system of paying for checked bags to come soon...

Personally, I don't think that's a bad thing if it means cheaper fares. I haven't checked a bag domestically in years (unless connecting on the same ticket to/from an international flight). If people want a bag domestically then they can pay for it and perhaps VA Silver/Gold/Plat get a bag for free.

 

[Pcoder]

I'd prefer that they introduce a basic economy fare without luggage rather then take luggage away from most fares.

The snacks are gone but they haven't announced what they'll do for coast to coast flights with the full meal service.

 

[Mattg]

The snacks are gone but they haven't announced what they'll do for coast to coast flights with the full meal service.

I expect it will be buy on board as well.

I wonder what they’ll do though for their trans-Tasman/Bali flights when these eventually return?

 

[TheInsider]

I expect it will be buy on board as well.

I wonder what they’ll do though for their trans-Tasman/Bali flights when these eventually return?

Would be BoB you'd think. Can't be too inconsistent with your product offerings.

 

[henrus]

Can't be too inconsistent with your product offerings.

Haha, you've obviously not flown Virgin in the last couple of years. It seemed like every second route had a different product:

	Domestic	Trans Tasman	Islands/Bali	USA/HK
Meal	Snack + Water/Tea/Coffee (and a happy hour drink between 4-6 weekdays). Buy on board except the Perth routes with a full meal.	One free meal with one free alcoholic drink or soft drink extra was paid	One meal (depending on the route) + one drink (often non-alcoholic) extra was paid	2 meals + snacks + full bar service and unlimited drinks
Baggage	1x23kg bag	1x23kg bag	1x23kg bag	2x23kg bags
Wifi	Free at 1mbps and paid for faster speeds	15 minutes free (at full speed) then $10-15	$10-15 for the flight	$20-30 for the flight
Check-In	90 mins to 30 mins except for major airports (all day)	2 hrs to 90 mins (except in AU where it was 3hrs)	2 hrs to 90 mins (except in AU where it was 3hrs)	3 hrs to 90 mins
IFE	Streaming except for the Perth routes with the A330 that had seat back.	Streaming	Streaming but could be seatback on the A330 to Nadi	Seatback IFE

 

[Zanzara]

What happens to lounge access in CNS, CBR & DRW etc., particularly with Business Class sales then? If those lounges that were VA lounges are cactus but they are still selling J class seats? Cant see QF being paid to welcome them in. There's currently no Priority pass or other shonky lounge alternative.... that may change I suppose? Doubt those ports will be discounted J class or vouchers being provided to gold/plat/j class as compo. QF will just suck up the business.

The food in economy was always a joke and a token.

 

[AIRwin]

What happens to lounge access in CNS, CBR & DRW etc., particularly with Business Class sales then? If those lounges that were VA lounges are cactus but they are still selling J class seats?

They will just be the same as other ports without VA lounges, for example BME, CFS, HBA, LST, ROK, TSV...

 

[henrus]

What happens to lounge access in CNS, CBR & DRW etc.

I think the bigger question is what happens to these spaces. Obviously, you've got Virgin agreeing that these lounges were too big for their needs. I've never seen more than 20 people in the Cairns lounge on my visits so I wonder if the space will just sit empty or if someone else will pick it up.

It'd be great if airports picked them up, operated them and Virgin was able to sign some deal for access but I can't see this happening given the costs that independent lounges want to charge.

 

[Bagpuss]

so I wonder if the space will just sit empty or if someone else will pick it up.

They sit empty until the airport operator finds a new tenant or re-purposes the space.

 

[TheInsider]

They sit empty until the airport operator finds a new tenant or re-purposes the space.

Yep, just like a normal business leasing space in either office/retail/housing etc etc

 

[hydrabyss]

One would have thought if borders had been opened and with international travel off the table Cairns may have been a popular destination increasing the demand for a lounge. But as mentioned it was a little big for the numbers that used it and I don't ever remember seeing a third of the tables used at anyone time.

 

[jakeseven7]

They will just be the same as other ports without VA lounges, for example BME, CFS, HBA, LST, ROK, TSV...

Yes the McDonalds food court

Maybe for J you will get a McHappy meal voucher.

 

[Zanzara]

One would have thought if borders had been opened and with international travel off the table Cairns may have been a popular destination increasing the demand for a lounge. But as mentioned it was a little big for the numbers that used it and I don't ever remember seeing a third of the tables used at anyone time.

Which actually made it a pleasant lounge to visit and unlike some of the others that on occasion were way too busy and resembled a bit of a zoo!

 

[antycbr]

Which actually made it a pleasant lounge to visit and unlike some of the others that on occasion were way too busy and resembled a bit of a zoo!

I'm hopeful that VA may come back to some of the ports in the future, if they survive. The cost base needs to be adjusted to the new reality unfortunately and it could have been worse.

The airports will be keen to cut VA a deal, the space can't be easily used for anything else really, unless the airports want to launch their own pay per use lounge.

 

[AIRwin]

I've never seen more than 20 people in the Cairns lounge on my visits so I wonder if the space will just sit empty or if someone else will pick it up.

I remember there is some QF office directly under the QP just before the escalators? The VA lounge in CNS is next to the QP so QF can expand into the space...

 

[bernardblack]

Anyone flown VA domestic economy this week? I'm interested in whether there will be buy-on-board or anything complimentary for MEL-SYD and vv this weekend.

 

[jakeseven7]

Anyone flown VA domestic economy this week? I'm interested in whether there will be buy-on-board or anything complimentary for MEL-SYD and vv this weekend.

Seatbelts are complimentary

 

[HS-TQE]

Seatbelts are complimentary

Along with a choice of a cup of water, coffee(?) or tea

 

[henrus]

Anyone flown VA domestic economy this week? I'm interested in whether there will be buy-on-board or anything complimentary for MEL-SYD and vv this weekend.

Still just a snack with a cup of water in economy. In Business it's still the snack box with water (in bottles), soft drinks/beer (in cans) and wine (in mini bottles).

 

[bernardblack]

Seatbelts are complimentary

Fancy!