Virgin Blue Experience

[wiz]

It's interesting to read the reviews from the newbie DJ travellers. I have been flying them on and off for a while now (I switch airlines a fair bit due to a BFOTD policy), and agree with pretty much everything that has been said (seats, Lounge etc).

One thing I can add about Virgin Blue though, is that if things do go wrong, and you make the effort to inform them - either directly or through their complaints process - they always go to great lengths to set things right. I think it's fair to point this out publicly, because not only does it make me feel better about returning as a customer but, conversely, I often hear that Qantas' pro forma responses are almost always below satisfactory.

Now if I could go off on a tangent here... What are people's throughts about the DJ in-flight 'amusement'? By this I mean the entertainment (jokes, wise cracks etc) made over the PA by the cabin crew. I'm curious because I wonder if it will be toned down as they move into their new business model.

 

[yohy?!]

Now if I could go off on a tangent here... What are people's throughts about the DJ in-flight 'amusement'? By this I mean the entertainment (jokes, wise cracks etc) made over the PA by the cabin crew. I'm curious because I wonder if it will be toned down as they move into their new business model.

This has been policy since earlier this year I believe - I have noticed the difference on both DJ and PB flights.

 

[kpc]

Went down to QF Lounge and flashed the Plat card and requested guesting of two pax to which the answer was yes for me, but not for the other two.

The current rules allow you two guests as a QF plat so I don't understand why you were declined entry to the QF club in Adelaide:shock:
Access to The Qantas Club lounges

 

[Justinf]

This has been policy since earlier this year I believe - I have noticed the difference on both DJ and PB flights.

Definitely. Have taken about a dozen DJ flights in the last few months and not one 'joke' or wise crack made at all.

 

[straitman]

I will be having my first DJ experience in a long time on Wed afternoon so here's hoping they can impress.

 

[Justchecking]

Now if I could go off on a tangent here... What are people's thoughts about the DJ in-flight 'amusement'? By this I mean the entertainment (jokes, wise cracks etc) made over the PA by the cabin crew. I'm curious because I wonder if it will be toned down as they move into their new business model.

Its rare to hear them on anything except on a leisure sector. Actually the 'flair' has been morphing steadily over the past few years away from that.

 

[Justinf]

Its rare to hear them on anything except on a leisure sector. Actually the 'flair' has been morphing steadily over the past few years away from that.

It has indeed. I have been greeted by name and had 'Welcome back Mr .....' due to the FA seeing my BP which has Silver status. I think it's a nice touch and it has happened on the past half a dozen or so flights.

 

[samh004]

I will be having my first DJ experience in a long time on Wed afternoon so here's hoping they can impress.

How did it go?

It has indeed. I have been greeted by name and had 'Welcome back Mr .....' due to the FA seeing my BP which has Silver status. I think it's a nice touch and it has happened on the past half a dozen or so flights.

Perhaps I’ll stop giving them just a glance at my seat number and see if they greet me a bit more personally in the future. Not really a fair comparison though that my next 6 flights are in J.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I agree, the seats are far too hard, and quite uncomfortable anyway.

I find JQ seats much more comfortable in comparison.

 

[markis10]

Had my first DJ flight tonight in quite some time, and I have to say overall it was a good experience. Spent the day doing a training course at a venue that has McDonalds seats (good for an hour), finished early and headed out to the airport.

Went to check in for the 7PM, asked if I wanted an earlier flight and was moved to 4.30 no issues at all. No free drink but no big deal, was just glad to hit SYD 2.5 hours early.

Have to agree with the other posters that the seats are not great, but the crew were as good as any QF crew I have had. Landed in Syd and was in the train in 10 minutes, on balance I really could not ask for any more.

I have to say that giving DJ gold customers flexibility in their flight options is a big win, firstly I did not get the chance to use the lounge facilities so DJ some $$$, and more importantly I got a chance to chill out at my destination knowing I was finished for the day early, for me that is priceless, thank you DJ.

 

[straitman]

I will be having my first DJ experience in a long time on Wed afternoon so here's hoping they can impress.

My son in law and myself had a short DJ experience last week and I have to also say they came through well.

WE had enough time to have a couple of beers in the MEL lounge before heading to the gate about 20 min late. We were in row 4, with 5 of the 6 row 4 seats occupied and a good load further back. There was nobody in rows 1-3.

Canberra seemed to appear very quickly and we disembarked about 15 min late. The worst part of the whole adventure was the Canberra weather as we got soaked whilst getting to our vehicle through all the works going on around the airport. I guess it is unfair to blame DJ for the weather :!:

My next experience will probably be in early Feb.

 

[drewbles]

Its rare to hear them on anything except on a leisure sector. Actually the 'flair' has been morphing steadily over the past few years away from that.

The most 'flair' I got on my recent DJ flight was on landing in MEL from SYD. We came into some pretty miserable weather (rainy/windy/cloudy etc) and on landing the FA said "Welcome to Melbourne, where the weather forecast is... looks like there might be a chance of rain!".

Was not over the top, and quite light hearted. Apart from that, as others have mentioned, the bone-crunching hard seats are not something I would want to sit on for more than a MEL-SYD sector, and maybe MEL-BNE. Definitely not MEL/SYD-PER (here's hoping the A330 product is significantly better).

As it was my first time on DJ since around 2001, I noted how 'cheap' the onboard experience felt. Couldn't watch the flight map without ads for 30 seconds out of every 40, and it felt quasi ryanair-ish. Here's hoping that changes too (I have no desire to pay for live2air; my iPad usually takes care of my onboard entertainment needs on domestic sectors).