Virgin Australia E190 Business Class

[serfty]

[-]Jan[/-]Dec 28th I had a 737 for a [-]Jan[/-]Dec 30th flight swapped out for an E90 - really could not change as connecting from PER.

 

[pshepvic]

[-]Jan[/-]Dec 28th I had a 737 for a [-]Jan[/-]Dec 30th flight swapped out for an E90 - really could not change as connecting from PER.

Will be interested to hear what it's like - if nobody else reports before that.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[serfty]

Will be interested to hear what it's like - if nobody else reports before that. ...

My bad - it was late last month and just like a typical 1C PE E190 flight - offered choice from menu/Bar and DigiPlayer. (SYD-MEL)

 

[brad330]

Just got off CBR-BNE-CNS and asked about E-Jet Business. On both fights I was told that E-Jet's will recive new seat coverings and that Business will not be installed and that Business customers will recive All Business perks (Gourmet Food, Amenity Kit etc..) just normal economy seat with black head rests not coloured.

 

[markis10]

I have an E190 on the 29th ex NTL in J. Hoping to use the full baggage allowance in J after the weekend in the hunter.

 

[kevrosmith]

AusBT are reporting that they will block the seat next to a J class booking on the E190. Someone earlier mentioned a hope that they will be discounting J Class tickets on E190 aircraft (e.g. SYD-CNS). Looks like no such luck. SYD-CNS is $999 regardless of the aircraft operating (737-700, 737-800 or E190!) Not good form I reckon, considering I can pay $150 more for QF domestic J seat and service.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I was in an E190 today ( row 3 in Y).
Little discernible difference to the previous PE service. 2 passengers in J, complained a little as the service was a morning snack (11.20 dep).
FWIW I would not be happy to either pay or upgrade to this for a short flight.
Definitely wouldn't be happy for a longer flight.

 

[Justchecking]

I was in an E190 today ( row 3 in Y).
Little discernible difference to the previous PE service. 2 passengers in J, complained a little as the service was a morning snack (11.20 dep).
FWIW I would not be happy to either pay or upgrade to this for a short flight.
Definitely wouldn't be happy for a longer flight.

What was the snack? More than a coffee or mufin I hope. I have to admit if I shelled out for J class anything less than a full meal, decent drinks and dessert would leave something to be desired in my mind. I dont care what time of day it is...I'd want the full monty.

 

[Moopere]

Thanks for the info folks. Have an E190 J coming up SYD-CNS and will now definitely be looking for one of the 737 flights instead ... or even a QF flight if the price turns out to be similar.

 

[jaspon]

AusBT are reporting that they will block the seat next to a J class booking on the E190.

aisle seats in row 1 & 2 are ALWAYS blocked off, only ever 4 business class guests onboard

 

[travelislife]

If they are going to block the seats they may as well remove them and put in proper seats in their place with a bit more width. Not sure the best way to go about increasing the pitch though.

 

[jaspon]

i believe the J seats will be getting new seat covers and also curtain cabin divider in the short term

 

[Justchecking]

I think the pitch would be fine if the seats were wider. Sure not everyone would think they were equivalent to 737 or A330 but you have to make allowances for aircraft size. But I do think most people would expect a 'special' seat. Isnt that what sells a J ticket primarily? Extra space, extra comfort, nicer amenities etc.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I can see a lot of disgruntled premium flyers booking J on 737s and ending up with operational changes, being given an E190.

I know I'd be a very unhappy pax and asking for reimbursement. The meal is sundry. In my eyes, it's all about the seat! I'm with travelislife on this score.....if they're going to rip 'em out, recover 'em and block the aisle anyway, don't stuff around, just throw in the real J seats. Furthermore, if they're only planning on 4 x J pax per flight as a max, then that could be a very attractive 1 + 1 configuration. Now that would be a very nice and elite cabin to market.

 

[Moopere]

I can see a lot of disgruntled premium flyers booking J on 737s and ending up with operational changes, being given an E190.

Yep. I'd be annoyed.

The meal is sundry. In my eyes, it's all about the seat!

Its about all of it to me. I'm prepared to negoiate over price if the service levels are dropped. So, no meal? Fine, lets pay a bit less. Narrow seat? Ok but lets talk price. No recline, sure, but price again. No priority board, baggage...sure, how much is that worth to you? None of this stuff individually would stop me flying J at an appropriate price. At what point does the value drop down low enough to decide to simply fly Y though?

DJ stumbled over this problem with the PE pricing/product. Standard pricing but disappointing 'rogue' fitout planes. It really annoys premium Pax.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

DJ stumbled over this problem with the PE pricing/product. Standard pricing but disappointing 'rogue' fitout planes. It really annoys premium Pax.

Yes and we all remember the fallout from that. I can remember getting a rogue when I'd bought PE and a fellow pax absolutely tore strips off the poor FA who was trying to explain. They shouldn't have to wear that kind of abuse for whatever reasons.

 

[leemin]

Yes and we all remember the fallout from that. I can remember getting a rogue when I'd bought PE and a fellow pax absolutely tore strips off the poor FA who was trying to explain. They shouldn't have to wear that kind of abuse for whatever reasons.

The Product Development team should be trying to ensure there is no reason for pax to feel the need to tear strips off FA's in the first place.

I do, however, agree that berating the FA is bad form on the part of the pax. It's not their fault.

 

[Princess Fiona]

What was the snack? More than a coffee or mufin I hope. I have to admit if I shelled out for J class anything less than a full meal, decent drinks and dessert would leave something to be desired in my mind. I dont care what time of day it is...I'd want the full monty.

Couldn't see, sorry Was on a small side plate. The J passengers asked about breakfast but were told that finished earlier and lunch wasn't served until later.
They were offered anything from the main menu but declined.
This is pretty disappointing especially flying ex-NTL ( and similar airports) where no opportunity to graze in the lounge beforehand.
I think the E190 is very far from J class in terms of hard product also.
Almost forgot:
Seemed to be a new announcement today that the forward toilet was for the ( up to 4 ???) business class passengers and the rear toilet for everyone else.
Now that's what I call a "throne room"

 

[kevrosmith]

I'll be very interested to see what happens with DJ1429 SYD-CNS on the E190. This flight is often full, and even as the PE product, often ended up with plenty of non-PE pax and non-Status pax in the seats, even leaving me in row 3 with status. :evil: Sure, they didn't get the PE service.

What will they do now? I strongly doubt that they are really going to get even 4 pax buying J tickets on that flight.. it's a leisure destination after all. I'll be interested to see if they put non J pax in the seats, and/or if they put Status pax in (me please! ) whether they'll get the J service.

Even on my flight from OOL-SYD this week on 737, an absolutely full plane had plenty of obviously non J-purchased and non Status-pax sitting up in the J seats. I was back in row 4! Who's responsible for the allocations here? Ground staff? Are they given direction/procedures on better handling allocation of seats in these situations?

DJ need to do a better job of this compared with QF. QF manage their seat allocations for Status pax much better. The back of the plane has non-status and cheap fare pax crammed in, while toward the front of the plane, Status pax and high-fare pax are given a much better deal (allowing for weight distribution of course.)

I think DJ would've been better off keeping the PE product for some aircraft and selling seats on those aircraft as such at usual PE prices. (e.g. SYD-CNS usually has 1 x 737-700, 1 x 737-800 and 1 x E190 per day). However, I am aware this would cause issues for operational changes to aircraft types on the day.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Seemed to be a new announcement today that the forward toilet was for the ( up to 4 ???) business class passengers and the rear toilet for everyone else.
Now that's what I call a "throne room"

Gerard Depardieu will have to bring a bigger bottle!