Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Class

[aaflyer]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

I wish they'd put a bar on the Airbus, they could resell my seat. I'd just hang out there.
Do you think people will pay extra for a J seat on the East West route. I can't see how when market forces will most likely be what is price driven.
Also what guarantee is there if your aircraft is substituted to a non upgraded A/C or even a 737.

The complete conversion will be done between March and August 2015, so not much of a period of worrying about an 'old' J config.

The threat of downgrade to 737's is, of course, always a problem. That's with any airline though, moreseo with VA having less volume of widebody a/c doing the east-west runs.

 

[Stone]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

Does anyone have information on the upgrade option on Singapore flights? I have an upcoming SQ flight (but on a VA code share) that I would love to try and upgrade. I was looking at doing the domestic leg earlier today, but will hold off.

 

[moa999]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

Not sure if it's been posted already, but

Business Class - New Features on A330 & B777 Fleet | Virgin Australia

Has more details on the 777 upgrades including changes to Premium Economy and even an Economy plus

Thought the video might show more, but sadly its just a video montage of the existing photos.
No detail about the 'unique tablet holder' or a low shot showing the foot well.

Actually the video has a 2nd picture which shows some additional storage in the console.
Compared to Cathay this section appears raised to provide room for the seat control switch/screen, and also some element of storage.
While not shown I assume the tray table is still a swing out from the same spot as Cathay.

 

[Oxy]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

"as well as an improved online booking capability for Velocity Frequent Flyers to redeem flights on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir"

About time for some online improvements!

 

[Austman]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

Seems they have also razed a bar:

However, the premium economy bar will be axed as part of the make-over.

Virgin Australia Boeing 777 premium economy 'economy plus' seats - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[Justchecking]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

Well this announcement pretty much tells me we can expect the big birds to disappear off the domestic network (except as part of an international run) from about August 2015. I doubt they are installing suites in order to keep the miners happy. Any downgrades of planned C2C services with the suites to a 737 is going to be very ugly indeed, but should make for entertaining threads here.

 

[moa999]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

Well this announcement pretty much tells me we can expect the big birds to disappear off the domestic network (except as part of an international run) from about August 2015. I doubt they are installing suites in order to keep the miners happy. Any downgrades of planned C2C services with the suites to a 737 is going to be very ugly indeed, but should make for entertaining threads here.

Can't see that happening - no way VA and certainly QF can run all their services using narrow bodies, and I can't see VA growing corporate contacts using 737s on C2C

 

[markis10]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

Can't see that happening - no way VA and certainly QF can run all their services using narrow bodies, and I can't see VA growing corporate contacts using 737s on C2C

Of course wide bodies are only a recent addition for VA so they can certainly run all narrowbody, but I doubt they would want to go backwards.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

I wonder if we'll see any changes to SilverKris SIN access for plats?

 

[moa999]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

I wonder if we'll see any changes to SilverKris SIN access for plats?

If you upgrade. Can't see any different treatment versus star elites

 

[rtyuiop]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

I imagine SQ would have a bit of a mutiny on their hands from their own status flyers if they did that. Unfortunately!

 

[bullerdude]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

Well this announcement pretty much tells me we can expect the big birds to disappear off the domestic network (except as part of an international run) from about August 2015. I doubt they are installing suites in order to keep the miners happy. Any downgrades of planned C2C services with the suites to a 737 is going to be very ugly indeed, but should make for entertaining threads here.

Keep in mind that the A330 have the additional economy capacity which is no doubt useful coast to coast. But yes there will likely be issues when A330's get switched for 737's on that route :-/

And with Qantas putting the new business suite on the domestic A330's VA have to install an equivalent to stay in the running

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

So the rollout won't be finished until Jan 2016, waits for the cries of protests when QF announced a long-lead time as well for a fleet more than double in size

 

[serfty]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

I wonder if we'll see any changes to SilverKris SIN access for plats?

Well they have for AirNZ elites with a recent partnership announcement.

http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/star-alliance-singapore-airlines

 

[dajop]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

Well they have for AirNZ elites with an announcement today.

But only when traveling to/from NZ in economy (business etc already get that of course) and didn't that include SQ elites traveling to/from NZ as well?

 

[Justchecking]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

Can't see that happening - no way VA and certainly QF can run all their services using narrow bodies, and I can't see VA growing corporate contacts using 737s on C2C

It wasn't very long ago that VA did do the transcon on all narrow body. But my post was more aimed at seeing the wide bodies only on certain timings (rather than all flights East -->West) and connecting onto an off-shore flight. I believe some less popular flights are indeed narrow body transcon already? Consolidation of business timings only as the birds do a rotation that includes an offshore run. I wonder how many of the QF flights transcon will be A330 and how many not.It would be nice to think these aircraft are for domestic only but I doubt that very much.

 

[smatho10]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

Just tweeted by AusBT

@AusBT: Update: Virgin Australia says “oops, sorry, but Velocity redemption rates for Singapore Airlines seats are NOT being reduced next month”

bubble burst...

 

[Stone]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business Cla

Does anyone have information on the upgrade option on Singapore flights? I have an upcoming SQ flight (but on a VA code share) that I would love to try and upgrade. I was looking at doing the domestic leg earlier today, but will hold off.

I think I have found the answer to my questions by re-reading the press release. Flight upgrades come about through the conversion of Velocity Points to Kris Flyer Points, and hence can only be done on bookings with Singapore. It does make my CBA Diamond more attractive now as I can yield Kris Flyer points indirectly for much better international premium redemptions.

 

[maninblack]

Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business...

Great looking new seat. Yes they won't be wasting these for 4 hour flights to Perth for long except perhaps SYD - PER. The Perth boom will die in the cough in the next few years anyway so where to for these lovely new seats?

 

[samh004]

Re: Virgin Australia raises the bar yet again revealing its new Domestic Business...

I am insanely impressed, love the storage spaces, especially charging ports concealed in a storage space. Looks like a great seat.

I only hope Qantas can compete with their seat, and hope their seat goes to the whole fleet too at some stage (well other than 737 and smaller).

My only criticism is that it's easy to do things like this when you don't have to actually turn a profit to succeed. Just ask your big brothers for a hand and they wont ask about the money you're haemorrhaging after all, it's hurting your only competitor, whom the brothers all dislike anyway. And I'm sure prices will rise