Virgin Blue announcements 26/08

[ANstar]

By full service I'm meaning free meals, AVOD, proper J class etc.
Coming off an SIA flight, would you like a free meal and AVOD? Or a buy on board service and Live2Air on 5" screen?

For me its about consistency, and currently I do not think that these partnerships with some of the worlds best airlines (were talking EY and SQ here) will work with what is a very different onboard product- people like consistency!!!

To be honest I dont think it matters all that much. Look at the domestic US carriers and their buy on board and non existent IFE on most domestic flights... How do SQ flyers feel moving onto UA at LAX etc.... Or BMI.....

 

[Ansettaddict123]

To be honest I dont think it matters all that much. Look at the domestic US carriers and their buy on board and non existent IFE on most domestic flights... How do SQ flyers feel moving onto UA at LAX etc.... Or BMI.....

Point taken.
However, I really do wish that DJ would become a full service airline. I am sick of hearing the tired rhetoric of people that insist QF is far better than DJ purely because of an inflight meal (which they complain about anyway!).

 

[NM]

To be honest I dont think it matters all that much. Look at the domestic US carriers and their buy on board and non existent IFE on most domestic flights... How do SQ flyers feel moving onto UA at LAX etc.... Or BMI.....

And remember that many of the "best" airlines, such as SQ, CX, EK, don't offer complementary meals or IFE on domestic flights .

 

[Keith009]

By full service I'm meaning free meals, AVOD, proper J class etc.
Coming off an SIA flight, would you like a free meal and AVOD? Or a buy on board service and Live2Air on 5" screen?

To be honest I dont think it matters all that much. Look at the domestic US carriers and their buy on board and non existent IFE on most domestic flights... How do SQ flyers feel moving onto UA at LAX etc.... Or BMI.....

Or US Scareways...

 

[dajop]

To be honest I dont think it matters all that much. Look at the domestic US carriers and their buy on board and non existent IFE on most domestic flights... How do SQ flyers feel moving onto UA at LAX etc.... Or BMI.....

Exactly my point. Look at the UA domestic meal service, flights < 760 miles,you get nothing to eat as a Y passenger (some pretzels perhaps with a drink?). For longer flights you can buy a snack box full of prepackaged sh&#t. I would argue DJ already beats this offering. (as does JQ).

If you're on business and flying outside meal times or on flights less than 2 hours. Nothing. If you're in "first" you get some coughpy snack on short flights < 2hrs (for me a freshly reheated cookie is not first class, as much as people rave about them, I don't give a toss about something I could pick up in a mall for $2), and meals on longer flights if they are during meal times. On short flights DJ already beat this in Y+, and a longer flights not too far behind.

So that's the experience transferring from SQ to UA.

One thing though DJ is competing with QF, not UA/AA/US etc so that shapes things a lot. Although personally as far as food goes, pay for food is fine, but maybe DJ could think of something innovative relating to food, eg for corps, golds/silvers or offer some genuine quality options at a slightly higher price. Who knows.

 

[kamchatsky]

By full service I'm meaning free meals, AVOD, proper J class etc.
Coming off an SIA flight, would you like a free meal and AVOD? Or a buy on board service and Live2Air on 5" screen?

For me its about consistency, and currently I do not think that these partnerships with some of the worlds best airlines (were talking EY and SQ here) will work with what is a very different onboard product- people like consistency!!!

For most QF domestic, they only have drop down TV that is NOT AVOD. For international V Australia already has excellent AVOD and full service food offering ..... Live2 Air would be fine if they can make it free ...

 

[anat0l]

And remember that many of the "best" airlines, such as SQ, CX, EK, don't offer complementary meals or IFE on domestic flights .

Now that's not fair they don't have any domestic flights to prove themselves...

In saying that, even the shortest regional flights on said airlines (not sure how short EK "regional" flights can be...) receive full service in all cabin classes, which includes IFE. It may not be AVOD, but it's IFE.

Most intra-Europe travel on full cost carriers do not offer IFE of any sort, and the food is variable at times, albeit it is free. Most of the time it is just a low fidelity sandwich or birdseed. A token consumable, but the flip to this is supposed to be that flights are often so short they can't be bothered with too much food (most intra-Europe flights would be about 1-2 hours long). For some reason, Europeans also tend to eat much less at times than Australians do, but they do tend to drink more (not necessarily alcoholic, although they do better in that too). I thought this was also reflected in the food culture on airlines in Europe, but it could also be the result of extensive cost cutting, too.

The common argument that the mark of a full service carrier is free food. That's slowly dwindling away thanks to the US airlines, along with free checked baggage.

 

[oz_mark]

By full service I'm meaning free meals, AVOD, proper J class etc.
Coming off an SIA flight, would you like a free meal and AVOD? Or a buy on board service and Live2Air on 5" screen?

Can you name a single domestic airline that offers all this, on every flight?

 

[dajop]

In saying that, even the shortest regional flights on said airlines (not sure how short EK "regional" flights can be...) receive full service in all cabin classes, which includes IFE. It may not be AVOD, but it's IFE.

Not true! All you get travelling (in Y) between SIN & KUL on SQ - or MH for that matter, and I assume MI as well - is a little plastic cup of water/juice (maybe tea/coffee? not sure) and the IFE doesn't get turned on. Granted it is short (about 30 miles longer than SYD-CBR), but you get more on QF on SYD-CBR. If you want anything to eat on that sector (as if) you need to travel on an LCC!

I assume it would be the same on the 73 mile flights from HKG-CAN.

 

[anat0l]

Not true! All you get travelling (in Y) between SIN & KUL on SQ - or MH for that matter, and I assume MI as well - is a little plastic cup of water/juice (maybe tea/coffee? not sure) and the IFE doesn't get turned on. Granted it is short (about 30 miles longer than SYD-CBR), but you get more on QF on SYD-CBR. If you want anything to eat on that sector (as if) you need to travel on an LCC!

I assume it would be the same on the 73 mile flights from HKG-CAN.

I forgot about SIN/KUL, but it's been labelled as a bus/shuttle service for so long now it's not funny. I used to fly SIN/KUL a few times when I was much younger (and the price was much higher and there were fewer (read: none) LCCs), but I can't remember getting much if any food.

I don't know if there's IFE for the SYD/CBR flights (of course, none if you take the DH4 services). And the "more" on QF is just the token snack from sbc and possibly a choice of drinks (juice, tea, coffee, water).

Bugger I would know what QF J pax get on SYD/CBR (is there anyone here who isn't a politician who has managed to fly the route in J?), but MH/SQ in J don't they get a token something to eat in J?

 

[oz_mark]

Not true! All you get travelling (in Y) between SIN & KUL on SQ - or MH for that matter, and I assume MI as well - is a little plastic cup of water/juice (maybe tea/coffee? not sure) and the IFE doesn't get turned on. Granted it is short (about 30 miles longer than SYD-CBR), but you get more on QF on SYD-CBR. If you want anything to eat on that sector (as if) you need to travel on an LCC!

For the price MH and SQ charge for this sector, you think they would throw in a meal I typically take the LCC option these days on that sector.

 

[Keith009]

I forgot about SIN/KUL, but it's been labelled as a bus/shuttle service for so long now it's not funny. I used to fly SIN/KUL a few times when I was much younger (and the price was much higher and there were fewer (read: none) LCCs), but I can't remember getting much if any food.

I don't know if there's IFE for the SYD/CBR flights (of course, none if you take the DH4 services). And the "more" on QF is just the token snack from sbc and possibly a choice of drinks (juice, tea, coffee, water).

Bugger I would know what QF J pax get on SYD/CBR (is there anyone here who isn't a politician who has managed to fly the route in J?), but MH/SQ in J don't they get a token something to eat in J?

You get a small snack on MH and SQ in J on SIN-KUL. I'm surprised they even bother, there's probably about 20 mins for service. I flew KUL-SIN on SQ F when they operated F/Y on this route, got a chicken salad, no Krug. :shock:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....os/mini-jaunt-in-asia-on-9304.html#post117660

All that's changed now is the meal is smaller, wrapped in plastic and served in a caserole - often a sandwich of sorts.

 

[kamchatsky]

Not true! All you get travelling (in Y) between SIN & KUL on SQ - or MH for that matter, and I assume MI as well - is a little plastic cup of water/juice (maybe tea/coffee? not sure) and the IFE doesn't get turned on. Granted it is short (about 30 miles longer than SYD-CBR), but you get more on QF on SYD-CBR. If you want anything to eat on that sector (as if) you need to travel on an LCC!

I assume it would be the same on the 73 mile flights from HKG-CAN.

I flew HKG-CAN Y on KA 2 months ago. They provide muffins and water bottles for the flight. It was a mad rush though given the time in the air is actually very short!

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Can you name a single domestic airline that offers all this, on every flight?

No, I cannot; you've got me there!
But seriosuly, imagine the halo effect that DJ would experience providing this! (albiet it will probably never happen)

For most QF domestic, they only have drop down TV that is NOT AVOD. For international V Australia already has excellent AVOD and full service food offering ..... Live2 Air would be fine if they can make it free ...

I am fully aware of the former point- and would have to agree that Live2Air is a great product, if only you could change channels mid flight
I am also aware of the latter point, and again agree that it is a great product (despite the fact that I havent used it as yet).

 

[kamchatsky]

I am fully aware of the former point- and would have to agree that Live2Air is a great product, if only you could change channels mid flight
I am also aware of the latter point, and again agree that it is a great product (despite the fact that I havent used it as yet).

Well you cannot change the channels of QF drop down TV anyway!

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Well you cannot change the channels of QF drop down TV anyway!

I know, Domestic On Q is a pile of S%!t (unless you get a new a332/738 with AVOD ).

It couldnt be that hard to make it so you could change channels in flight could it?
That would make it an AMAZING system, provided that it remained at the same cost

 

[777]

I am fully aware of the former point- and would have to agree that Live2Air is a great product, if only you could change channels mid flight
I am also aware of the latter point, and again agree that it is a great product (despite the fact that I havent used it as yet).

Isn't the whole point of LTA that it is 24 channels of Live TV and you CAN change channels whenever you like? I actually love LTA and would be well p'ed off if it disappeared.

A system like the Virgin America one (a combination of Live TV and some Video on Demand) would be ideal. They also have a mix of free and PPV stuff - some channels are free and some premium ones you need to pay for.

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Isn't the whole point of LTA that it is 24 channels of Live TV and you CAN change channels whenever you like? I actually love LTA and would be well p'ed off if it disappeared.

A system like the Virgin America one (a combination of Live TV and some Video on Demand) would be ideal. They also have a mix of free and PPV stuff - some channels are free and some premium ones you need to pay for.

Firstly, I have never been able to change channels on LTA (sadly ); although i agree with the idea of being able to! (this would make it a GREAT system! provided it had a bigger screen)

I also LOVE the idea of making it a VA style IFE, that would be a major point of difference with people; i think giving DJ a large advantage over QF

 

[medhead]

Firstly, I have never been able to change channels on LTA (sadly ); although i agree with the idea of being able to! (this would make it a GREAT system! provided it had a bigger screen)

The couple of times I've used I've had no problems changing channels. But only used it while free during take off.

 

[markis10]

Firstly, I have never been able to change channels on LTA (sadly ); although i agree with the idea of being able to! (this would make it a GREAT system! provided it had a bigger screen)

I also LOVE the idea of making it a VA style IFE, that would be a major point of difference with people; i think giving DJ a large advantage over QF

You do need to pay to be able to change the channels once airborne, however I have had no issues either.