Virgin Blue embarks on brand overhaul

[bossreggie]

As much as I am looking forward to the changes.... I fear they will come too late for me. I was comped Gokd status last year but have only flown 3 times with them. I liked the staff and I enjoyed live to air. My comped Gold status will expire at about the same time as J class arrives. I don't want to be a "newbie" when flying so I will probably stick with QF. In hindsight I should have waited til late this year to apply for a status match.

 

[anat0l]

As much as I am looking forward to the changes.... I fear they will come too late for me. I was comped Gokd status last year but have only flown 3 times with them. I liked the staff and I enjoyed live to air. My comped Gold status will expire at about the same time as J class arrives. I don't want to be a "newbie" when flying so I will probably stick with QF. In hindsight I should have waited til late this year to apply for a status match.

Waiting may not have been to your benefit as DJ were almost unconditional in giving comps last year. In any case, there's no reason why you can't use your depth of flying budget to ask for a consideration again.

You could switch some of your long haul flying to EY or VA. A return trip in F or J of either gives pretty much instant DJ Gold, and a stack of points to boot.

 

[lovestotravel]

It would appear that DJ CHOOSE to use an alternative business model and are not out to "match" QF. I'm sure DJ could offer an all inclusive airfare if they wanted to at a higher price, but seems they prefer to offer choices.

The new business model has NOT been announced yet!!!

Wait til the official launch of business class WITH the airfares etc

I suspect the same model as the Air NZ Tasman structure...

 

[JohnK]

It would appear that DJ CHOOSE to use an alternative business model and are not out to "match" QF. I'm sure DJ could offer an all inclusive airfare if they wanted to at a higher price, but seems they prefer to offer choices.

DJ are not out to "match" QF? Then who are they out to "match"? JQ and TT?

Choices? DJ is offering very little choice and in my case at least DJ has nothing to offer as their stripped down airfare is almost the same as QF's all inclusive airfare.

Now, why would I choose DJ? For something different?

 

[straitman]

DJ are not out to "match" QF? Then who are they out to "match"? JQ and TT?

Choices? DJ is offering very little choice and in my case at least DJ has nothing to offer as their stripped down airfare is almost the same as QF's all inclusive airfare.

Now, why would I choose DJ? For something different?

It looks like you have missed the point that andyj was making.

DJ are not trying to present an identical product but certainly a comparable product. The way they do it can give you about the same or a substantially different outcome. With them though it is your choice.

 

[Dee Thom]

Choices? DJ is offering very little choice and in my case at least DJ has nothing to offer as their stripped down airfare is almost the same as QF's all inclusive airfare.
Now, why would I choose DJ? For something different?

Hmmm! I think I shall await the release of their combined offering before I jumped to a conclusion regarding fares, class etc., we may all get a pleasant suprise with pricing structures, I doubt that J.B.would price their new product packages above QF's; down the back should be aimed midway between the QF and JQ/TT offerings where you pay for the "extras" but with a bit more comfort.
Will they? We'll soon know.

Cheers Dee

 

[andyj]

DJ are not out to "match" QF? Then who are they out to "match"? JQ and TT?

Why do they need to be out to match anyone?

Choices? DJ is offering very little choice and in my case at least DJ has nothing to offer as their stripped down airfare is almost the same as QF's all inclusive airfare.

Now, why would I choose DJ? For something different?

I generally find their stripped down airfare saves me significantly. I often don't need to check-in luggage and don't need a token treat on a short haul flight - so I'm happy not to have a charge for those built in to my airfare - but I can choose to pay for luggage and food should I require them (and if I need these - I'll often choose Qantas if their pricing is similar).

You've made it abundantly clear, and not just in this thread, that DJ does not work for you - so you have no reason to choose DJ. It does, however, work for other people.

 

[lovestotravel]

Hmmm! I think I shall await the release of their combined offering before I jumped to a conclusion regarding fares, class etc., we may all get a pleasant suprise with pricing structures, I doubt that J.B.would price their new product packages above QF's; down the back should be aimed midway between the QF and JQ/TT offerings where you pay for the "extras" but with a bit more comfort.
Will they? We'll soon know.

Cheers Dee

Correct, as I keep saying...

Wait for the final release of the new Virgin Blue.....

 

[JohnK]

You've made it abundantly clear, and not just in this thread, that DJ does not work for you - so you have no reason to choose DJ. It does, however, work for other people.

DJ does not work for me because their pricing is aimed at.... well.... I do really not know what they are aiming at with their pricing.

Anyway I do want a choice but at the momemt I do not have a choice as DJ is a long way behind QF. And by the way I am not saying this in a bad way but just a fact of life for this frequent traveller/commuter. Now if it does not work me there must also be a lot of people out there in the same situation.

 

[andyj]

DJ does not work for me because their pricing is aimed at.... well.... I do really not know what they are aiming at with their pricing.

I generally book my travel with little lead time. Next week I have BNE - MEL - SYD - BNE, which I am booking today. The 3 legs with DJ are $316, with QF at the same flight times is $555. For my travel patterns (which are much less than yours as I'd only do 40 - 50 flights a year!!!) their pricing works very well - I don't need check-in luggage so by giving up an included meal I'll save over 40% of the QF fare. For me - that is a great saving - so I can see what they've aimed at with pricing.

 

[anat0l]

I generally book my travel with little lead time. Next week I have BNE - MEL - SYD - BNE, which I am booking today. The 3 legs with DJ are $316, with QF at the same flight times is $555. For my travel patterns (which are much less than yours as I'd only do 40 - 50 flights a year!!!) their pricing works very well - I don't need check-in luggage so by giving up an included meal I'll save over 40% of the QF fare. For me - that is a great saving - so I can see what they've aimed at with pricing.

This kind of experience varies and could go either way in any time frame!

From experience, sometimes I book within days and all the prices are sometimes painfully high (no low buckets left). In some cases, the DJ flights are more expensive than QF flights. To be more specific, in some cases it's a matter of timing. For example, the DJ flights are cheaper than QF at a certain time during the day, and at other times the QF flights are cheaper.

So, it could happen to anyone. Certainly the spot sale prices DJ beats QF, although it's a horses for courses argument once you take total cost into account (for some who use minimal extras on DJ + DJ Gold, DJ clearly wins).

 

[loobloke]

So I was screwing around on the DJ website today, and I stumbled across this on the DRW to ADL route...

http: //i55.tinypic com/ r7k7ci.jpg
http: //i54.tinypic com/ 3179mwn.jpg

If someone with more posts than me could repost the links/images without the space/dots missing it would be appreciated.

I know for a fact that DJ don't operate this route, nor can I find this direct route on other dates at all. It's just a single one off flight, and it seems very weird.

Being a frequent flyer of this route, I was surprised to see this, it's usually dominated by a JQ and QF monopoly, which is sad for me after my last few horrid experience with JQ, there is no way I want to fly them again.

Anyone have any idea what this means? Or why it would be there? Maybe a sign of something to come
Also, DJ 1483 is currently the PER to BME route? ...

 

[samiam]

So I was screwing around on the DJ website today, and I stumbled across this on the DRW to ADL route...

http: //i55.tinypic com/ r7k7ci.jpg
http: //i54.tinypic com/ 3179mwn.jpg

If someone with more posts than me could repost the links/images without the space/dots missing it would be appreciated.

http://i55.tinypic.com/r7k7ci.jpg
http://i54.tinypic.com/3179mwn.jpg

 

[docjames]

http://i55.tinypic.com/r7k7ci.jpg
http://i54.tinypic.com/3179mwn.jpg

I think you'll find there might be an AFL match that weekend in DRW, and I'd guess one of the ADL teams is playing. Work interweb filter prevents me from going to afl.com.au to check fixture.

 

[loobloke]

Ahh that's right, port is in darwin that weekend.

Pity, I thought it was just a weird and unannounced new route.

 

[Nigelinoz]

And you can bet that the aircraft rostered will be one of those with the AFL decals :!:
Cheers
N'oz

 

[yohy?!]

There is also an icecream sandwich ( vanilla bean ice cream between chocolate brownie cookies) This is not on the menu, as its a limited item, but mentioned verbally by crew over the pa.

Had this one tonight and it is lovely - like a big OREO cookie with ice cream, just takes about 10 minutes to fully thaw in the middle.

Also nice to have a gin and tonic that I could pour myself into Schweppes Tonic Water.

Also tried to Chicken Pasta previously which whilst is still a dried product was quite a nice moist consistency and pretty tasty.

 

[LiamR]

Had this one tonight and it is lovely - like a big OREO cookie with ice cream, just takes about 10 minutes to fully thaw in the middle.

Also nice to have a gin and tonic that I could pour myself into Schweppes Tonic Water.

Also tried to Chicken Pasta previously which whilst is still a dried product was quite a nice moist consistency and pretty tasty.

I'll have to try one on Tuesday... Are they on all flights?

 

[Misha]

Ohmmy goodnEss! I had one of these ice-cream cookies on DJ872 last night! It's like a Monaco bar, but the cookie is a bit chewier, like a chocolate brandy snap ... Hmmmmm

FA brought it over and asked for my opinion on it to have refused would have been terribly rude

Let's get them into the lounge!

 

[malmacdowall]

Ohmmy goodnEss! I had one of these ice-cream cookies on DJ872 last night! It's like a Monaco bar, but the cookie is a bit chewier, like a chocolate brandy snap ... Hmmmmm

FA brought it over and asked for my opinion on it to have refused would have been terribly rude

Let's get them into the lounge!

Sound really nice BUT...... Lactose intolerant