Virgin Blue announcements 26/08

[crazydave98]

Agree but alot (including myself I hope) are giving DJ lurkers and crazydave some great constructive feedback!

Yes thank you pauly7 - all feedback on our performance (even that which is negative) and suggestions for how we need to improve made on this forum is valuable. You would be pleasantly surprised at how widespread this information is used within the company, and hopefully also at how much of it is being worked on.

However, I just chuckle at the rants that say we have no idea what we are doing and must all be a bunch of idiots running the place (especially the ones based on entirely wrong assumptions or information). Not worth dignifying.

cheers

CrazyDave98

 

[straitman]

However, I just chuckle at the rants that say we have no idea what we are doing and must all be a bunch of idiots running the place (especially the ones based on entirely wrong assumptions or information). Not worth dignifying.

cheers

CrazyDave98

I am also amazed that there are some people here who only ever seem to find the negative aspect of any changes. Even bad decisions (and I'm not saying they are bad) mostly have some positives hidden in them.

These same people, who have no aviation business management knowledge, are so often the experts who do not actually contribute any real ideas of their own to the discussion.

 

[anat0l]

Do flights from Australia to the Middle East (on EK, EY etc.) typically go non-stop or is there a stop along the way (e.g. SIN or BKK)? I was always thinking the former...

Otherwise, a stop in SIN by new VA services could open up that market to them as well (although there are no other major Virgin airlines coming out of SIN...)

 

[pauly7]

However, I just chuckle at the rants that say we have no idea what we are doing and must all be a bunch of idiots running the place (especially the ones based on entirely wrong assumptions or information). Not worth dignifying.

cheers

CrazyDave98

But Dave, didn't you realize that several members of this board could *clearly* run DJ much better than JB anyday? ........

 

[markis10]

Do flights from Australia to the Middle East (on EK, EY etc.) typically go non-stop or is there a stop along the way (e.g. SIN or BKK)? I was always thinking the former...

Otherwise, a stop in SIN by new VA services could open up that market to them as well (although there are no other major Virgin airlines coming out of SIN...)

From memory half of the EK flights ex east coast are direct.

 

[mannej]

But Dave, didn't you realize that several members of this board could *clearly* run DJ much better than JB anyday? ........

For much cheaper aswell

 

[oz_mark]

These same people, who have no aviation business management knowledge, are so often the experts who do not actually contribute any real ideas of their own to the discussion.

The world be full of armchair experts.

Nothing wrong with negative feedback - there is often a lot to be learnt from mistakes

 

[dajop]

From memory half of the EK flights ex east coast are direct.

IIRC
EK:
PER-DXB 2x daily direct
MEL-DXB, MEL-SIN-DXB, MEL-KUL-DXB
SYD-DXB 2x daily direct*, SYD-BKK-DXB, (*1 of these will be suspended temporarily awaiting extra aircraft to come on line)
BNE-DXB, BNE-SIN-DXB

EY:
MEL-AUH, SYD-AUH (both daily), BNE-AUH (3 x weekly)

QR:
MEL-DOH (daily)

 

[crazydave98]

EY:
MEL-AUH, SYD-AUH (both daily), BNE-AUH (3 x weekly)

BNE-AUH is via SIN

 

[oz_mark]

From memory half of the EK flights ex east coast are direct.

...or do you mean non-stop

 

[dajop]

BNE-AUH is via SIN

oops yes my bad. Often have low fares SIN-BNE, and I have even looked at it a couple of times , but timetable didn't work for me (that and the "connecting" fares BNE-MEL were more than SIN-BNE return)

 

[ANstar]

Checkin opens 3 hours before, but when I arrived 2.5 hours before, they were still setting up and it took another 15 minutes to start checking-in the first pax, by then there was a VERY long line. Although they had about 8 desks and more staff than that, they only had 5 counters open. .

Check in for Pac Blue if I remember correctly starts at 2 hours before for Pac BLue flights.

 

[markis10]

Check in for Pac Blue if I remember correctly starts at 2 hours before for Pac BLue flights.

I think it varies by airport, however Virgin Blue are absolutely shocking at providing information on their check in and transfer procedures online, if it was not for the V Australia website most would not even be aware of what facilities were available for transfers in Syd for instance. The PB website says refer to the destinations section for opening hours and checkin, but at least for Auckland there is nothing listed!

 

[kamchatsky]

For much cheaper aswell

But cheap /= value. I am sure if I run DJ I would run it down to the ground! That why DJ paid JB to join them!

 

[lovestotravel]

Yes thank you pauly7 - all feedback on our performance (even that which is negative) and suggestions for how we need to improve made on this forum is valuable. You would be pleasantly surprised at how widespread this information is used within the company, and hopefully also at how much of it is being worked on.

However, I just chuckle at the rants that say we have no idea what we are doing and must all be a bunch of idiots running the place (especially the ones based on entirely wrong assumptions or information). Not worth dignifying.

cheers

CrazyDave98

Chuckle all you want - What was the loss that VA made again ? :shock:
How many route/schedule changes has VA made ?

So why the ditching of the E170s?
Why the ditching of Y+ ?
Why the ditching of Fiji, coughet & South Africa?

I am sure there is a reason all these great decisions have now been changed.

Let me think... Oh wait they are all making a huge loss and were stupid decisions to begin with.

Oh and as for "rants" again, why all the changes to VA ? Having a "chuckle" doesn't change anything except that VA is again struggling to find it's feet.

As I said I really hope they do, but it's not good having your head in the sand thinking it's all roses and happy days!

 

[lovestotravel]

You seem to be missing the point entirely Etihad will be competing with Emirates not Virgin. This arrangement gets daily flights to Abu Dhabi between both carriers and then onwards flights into europe.

The point being that Etihad & to a lesser extent VA will be competing with Emirates.

Etihad still hasn't made a profit in it's first 6 or whatever years of operation...

Sounds like the same track VA is following

 

[lovestotravel]

But Dave, didn't you realize that several members of this board could *clearly* run DJ much better than JB anyday? ........

JB - No, he knows what he was doing, but he has 24 months before I comment on his actual performance.

BG - Well his performance and wonderful decisions have left DJ/VA in the current mess that JB is going to try to clean up.

I'll wait for the annual report on the 30th June 2012 to see how he has performed :mrgreen:

 

[lovestotravel]

The A330's are the 11 year old A330's from Emirates ?

 

[oz_mark]

JB - No, he knows what he was doing, but he has 24 months before I comment on his actual performance.

BG - Well his performance and wonderful decisions have left DJ/VA in the current mess that JB is going to try to clean up.

I'll wait for the annual report on the 30th June 2012 to see how he has performed :mrgreen:

I think BG knew he had taken the airline as far as he could.

And just think of the mess QF would be in today if Dixon had got his way!

 

[lovestotravel]

Agree

To provide a bit of balance for my "rants"

VA - I have flown with them 4 times now and they are a great airline and I DO really hope they can continue to fly and find a market that QF leaves alone for long enough.

DJ - They have had so many changes of direction, but I do give them credit for trying to adapt and change for what was a good idea at the time. Y+, Live to Air - All great at the time, but so much has changed since then so they are adapting again and I do very much look forward to their new J and Y products and the new 737's with the Boeing Sky

Photos - 737 Boeing Sky Interior Unveiled at Flightstory.net - Aviation Blog

For those that haven't seen it/don't know what it is!

DJ 737's just feel "old" on the inside, the new lighting, seats, overhead bins and whatever IFE (which I assume will be in the back of each seat) will be a great overhaul.

A330's - Yep great for now, but bring on 787's in 2013/2014 for some new technology!

Change is good, let's hope they don't need to change too much more and can start to make some $$$

For now the 27% or so rise in their share price over the past week is a good start...