Virgin business class Bali flights rip-off

[ols]

We do - every year - most beautiful people
in the world - and most of them possess nothing - we try to help where we can - we stay in the most fabulous hotel on border Legian/Seminyak - we go to a fabulous restaurant every night - we walk for >1hr on beautiful hard sand every morning - we lay around a beautiful pool for hours or walk 20mtrs to the beach - and all that at such a reasonable cost - and all above providing employment opportunities for these beautiful people

Maybe YOU need a lesson in holiday planning - don’t forget YOU may not be the worlds greatest expert on what others like

Exactly.
Just avoid Kuta
Outside the main strip Bali can be incredibly expensive these days, Uluwatu, Jimbaran, Ubud.

 

[Jfaith]

I’m flying Sydney to Bali and back in 2 weeks in Business and these posts got me worried now.

 

[Saab34]

I wish they would invest a bit more in short haul international when it comes to J passengers. Considering the price premium they ask for, an extra $20 or $30 invested in the passenger experience goes along way. It’s not going to send them broke.

Still find it quite bizarre an airline that pushes the Business product slogan, with a full blown frequent flyer program, has lounges domestically, completely steers clear around lounge access for J pax internationally.

Perhaps they should not market it as ‘Business’. Call it economy plus or something.

 

[Harthagan]

Still find it quite bizarre an airline that pushes the Business product slogan, with a full blown frequent flyer program, has lounges domestically, completely steers clear around lounge access for J pax internationally.

Perhaps they should not market it as ‘Business’. Call it economy plus or something.

Agreed. Virgin's international business product is a joke until they can offer lounge access; either through partnership arrangements, or otherwise.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yeah. From everything I’ve read VA to Bali is pretty much the same as a domestic flight, but maybe with some pudding after mains.

GA and JQ probably the better products on this market.

Kmart sells inflatable camping pillows (about 30cm by 15cm), $3.50. And perhaps these flights are the ones to use the JQ J amenity kits! Small blanket and everything else you might need (i’m throwing one in my bag for later this year).

Agree we shouldn’t need to take our own amenities, but VA is what it is. It’s a shame as their pricing to DPS isn’t reflective of the lower offering.

 

[Bagpuss]

Kmart sells inflatable camping pillows (about 30cm by 15cm), $3.50. And perhaps these flights are the ones to use the JQ J amenity kits! Small blanket and everything else you might need (i’m throwing one in my bag for later this year).

Wow, we had noodle-gate now you want k-mart-gate ...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Wow, we had noodle-gate now you want k-mart-gate ...

Absolutely!! No point being uncomfortable just to make a point

 

[HS-TQE]

A shame that the 'J' prices on the Bali flights aren't lower than the likes of their LCC/'Value Orientated' rivals of JQ or even Batik Malaysia/Indonesia, considering the lesser services that VA provides.

JQ at least provides lounge access for those purchasing J MAX fares, whereas Batik (both carriers) are in the same situation as VAi with limited/no lounges (only available at CGK and HLM).

 

[simmomelb]

Agreed. Virgin's international business product is a joke until they can offer lounge access; either through partnership arrangements, or otherwise.

Whilst I agree in general for international lounges, I wouldn't bother with the only international lounge on offer in DPS, it's really not worth visiting. When I was in this lounge a couple of months ago, there were zero beers or wines (no alcohol) and the food on offer was terrible.
I left the lounge and went to the multiple options downstairs that everyone has access to, which was much nicer than the lounge.
VA is considering some sort of lounge partnership, but if/when has not been decided yet (all a little slow on this front).

 

[Stealthflyer]

I’m flying Sydney to Bali and back in 2 weeks in Business and these posts got me worried now.

I wouldn’t be. I just hopped off my return flight to DPS and I had quite a different experience. I wasn’t interested in alcohol on the return flight because I wanted to sleep but on the way over it was free flowing and the crew gave us endless snacks. Wine and spirits were offered throughout the SYD-DPS flight. I knew from posts on this forum that there weren’t any blankets offered so I took my pashmina. I also knew that there was no lounge access, so my expectations were tempered. I still think it’s a shame that there’s no lounge access and it will influence my bookings in the future but I was redeeming points in this instance so I was content with what I got.

I think managing expectations is important. This isn’t SQ J. Plus DPS - SYD is a red eye and so most people just want to sleep. The crew did a terrific job of getting dinner out fast and the tray tables cleared swiftly so we could do so.

 

[Jfaith]

I wouldn’t be. I just hopped off my return flight to DPS and I had quite a different experience. I wasn’t interested in alcohol on the return flight because I wanted to sleep but on the way over it was free flowing and the crew gave us endless snacks. Wine and spirits were offered throughout the SYD-DPS flight. I knew from posts on this forum that there weren’t any blankets offered so I took my pashmina. I also knew that there was no lounge access, so my expectations were tempered. I still think it’s a shame that there’s no lounge access and it will influence my bookings in the future but I was redeeming points in this instance so I was content with what I got.

I think managing expectations is important. This isn’t SQ J. Plus DPS - SYD is a red eye and so most people just want to sleep. The crew did a terrific job of getting dinner out fast and the tray tables cleared swiftly so we could do so.

This is great to hear!!!

How was the catering on the way back?! Any tips for DPS airport? It's been years since I was there.

Lounge wise in Sydney I have AMEX access but even the reviews of that at the moment are not so great.

Thank you

 

[SilverFlamingo]

A few weeks ago I had the unpleasant experience of flying Virgin J from Bali to Melbourne. For AUD$1500...
- flight running 2 hours late with not a single communication from VA; the departures board was still showing as "on time" when we eventually took off 3 hours after schedule
- no lounge access in DPS (even JQ give you this)
- no blanket, pillow, or amenities; the FA made some vague comment about them being removed BECAUSE OF COVID (...sigh)
- had to brush crumbs off the seat before sitting down, indicating the planes are not being cleaned between flights (despite the promise of "enhanced" post COVID hygiene)
- no pre-departure drink offered
- no spirits offered
- room temperature beer (I kid you not) - this is across all VA flights i have taken in the last 12 months
- no snacks offered at all; when I asked to purchase some to go with my drink I was told "oh we have them what do you want?"
- the FA came around to take dinner orders saying "the meal will be served then then it's lights out folks"
- I asked if I could have my meal later as I'd just eaten in the lounge (at my onw expense); the FA said no problem, just give her 30 minutes notice to heat it up
- when I asked later for my dinner was abruptly told it had "gone cold", which was curious because I hadn't asked for it to be heated up' given the atrocious service I didn't pursue the matter
- she did offer me a crew chicken sandwich; the bread was tale (I'm not making this up)
- the "gourmet" three course meal dessert was a tiny red foil wrapped heart chocolate

I flew this VA route numerous times in J pre-COVID and I'm now wondering if it was actually a different airline; amenities, lounge access, free flowing drinks and a sense of bonhomie and generosity. Not now.

I left a scathing review on Tripadvisor, noting when I did that the six reviews within the last 6 months of VA service on this route uniformly gave one star. Passengers were talking among ourselves about the disappointing experience, the FA actually said they had been sending off all the negative feedback to management but "they aren't listening".

The delay, cabin cleanliness, lack of PDB, beer temp, lounge access is fair game.. the food complaint not so much IMO. Keeping the hot meals is difficult in the 738 set up and there are rules around health and safety with how long it can be kept either hot or cold. This isn’t an SQ/QR long haul J product we’re talking, it’s a domestic style narrow body. I’m wondering how long you waited? Wouldn’t be blaming the FAs for that, sounds like they did their best to find you something after your been picky with meal times.

The spirits are by request, I often opt for a G&T. Why not just ask? “Atrocious service” is getting a bit Karen-like.

The Bali runs really stretch the limit for this kind of J product. I’ve done it twice from the east coast and not planning on doing it again.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The delay, cabin cleanliness, lack of PDB, beer temp, lounge access is fair game.. the food complaint not so much IMO. Keeping the hot meals is difficult in the 738 set up and there are rules around health and safety with how long it can be kept either hot or cold. This isn’t an SQ/QR long haul J product we’re talking, it’s a domestic style narrow body. I’m wondering how long you waited? Wouldn’t be blaming the FAs for that, sounds like they did their best to find you something after your been picky with meal times.

The spirits are by request, I often opt for a G&T. Why not just ask? “Atrocious service” is getting a bit Karen-like.

The Bali runs really stretch the limit for this kind of J product. I’ve done it twice from the east coast and not planning on doing it again.

I dunno… I would have ‘thought’ they just kept the meal chilled and didn’t heat it until the pax wanted it? I’ve been on many red-eye intra-asia flights on narrow bodies and they can keep the meal and heat it before landing rather than at takeoff. I thought VA also double catered meals on some domestic routes? which should mean they can keep them chilled for several hours, at least.

My assumptions may be wrong, but unless the crew explain otherwise the pax is in the dark.

Atrocious service? I’ve had some ‘not so good’ domestic crews. Nothing outrageous, but some are better than others. It’s only domestic crew working to Bali? So possible you could get the same variance as domestic.

 

[HS-TQE]

It would be the VAi crew that's working the Bali runs. Those crew would be regularly rotated between DPS, NAN, ZQN, APW from the East Coast cities (along with ADL-DPS) and the BNE-VLI route.

 

[twinaisle]

It would be the VAi crew that's working the Bali runs. Those crew would be regularly rotated between DPS, NAN, ZQN, APW from the East Coast cities (along with ADL-DPS) and the BNE-VLI route.

Are you making assumptions? It's domestic crew doing DPS. I'm not VAI and I still do DPS and short haul The "Vai" crew are most at Qantas now.

You have most new crew working DPS so it's a mixed bag. Some good, some bad, some should have left when covid hit.

 

[twinaisle]

I dunno… I would have ‘thought’ they just kept the meal chilled and didn’t heat it until the pax wanted it? I’ve been on many red-eye intra-asia flights on narrow bodies and they can keep the meal and heat it before landing rather than at takeoff. I thought VA also double catered meals on some domestic routes? which should mean they can keep them chilled for several hours, at least.

My assumptions may be wrong, but unless the crew explain otherwise the pax is in the dark.

Atrocious service? I’ve had some ‘not so good’ domestic crews. Nothing outrageous, but some are better than others. It’s only domestic crew working to Bali? So possible you could get the same variance as domestic.

VA isn't Qatar. VA don't do dine on demand. You either eat or you don't. Again, this isn't a domestic flight (I mean, I see it as one) aircraft gets catered in DPS for the red eye flights which is a dinner loaded flight. No one will keep the lights on longer than needed. I smash out that service then turn the lights off to maximise rest for my guests.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

VA isn't Qatar. VA don't do dine on demand. You either eat or you don't. Again, this isn't a domestic flight (I mean, I see it as one) aircraft gets catered in DPS for the red eye flights which is a dinner loaded flight. No one will keep the lights on longer than needed. I smash out that service then turn the lights off to maximise rest for my guests.

i know it’s not advertised as dine in demand… but is it easy to keep one meal chilled and heat it three hours later? (I don’t know the mechanics of VA’s galley).

 

[twinaisle]

i know it’s not advertised as dine in demand… but is it easy to keep one meal chilled and heat it three hours later? (I don’t know the mechanics of VA’s galley).

It could be done, meals are loaded fresh so there's only so long you can keep it chilled. You might land a crew who could accommodate you because they want to or are nice but what's stopping you from "the crew on my last flight did this!" To another crew when someone tries to be nice and accommodates you?

It's about a simplified service. Why would I want to open up a can of worms and then have other guests requesting to eat at various times when I try to be nice and accommodate one guest especially on a red eye especially when out service flow indicates that meals should be served at xyz?

 

[SilverFlamingo]

It's about a simplified service. Why would I want to open up a can of worms and then have other guests requesting to eat at various times when I try to be nice and accommodate one guest especially on a red eye especially when out service flow indicates that meals should be served at xyz?

Exactly my thoughts too.

I personally wouldn’t eat later than the cabin on a narrow body red-eye - the reading light and noise would disturb others sleeping.

My biggest gripe is lack of lounge access (and even then the DPS lounges offer cheap paid entry). Other than that the product is generally similar or cheaper than JQ/etc. A bit of expectation management wouldn’t go astray.

 

[Stealthflyer]

This is great to hear!!!

How was the catering on the way back?! Any tips for DPS airport? It's been years since I was there.

Lounge wise in Sydney I have AMEX access but even the reviews of that at the moment are not so great.

Thank you

Dinner was perfectly nice. It was a choice of tomato pasta with grilled veggies or a crumbed chicken and potatoes. I had the pasta and my travelling partner had the chicken. There was a side of cheese and biscuits and a cake of some kind (I didn’t try it so I can’t vouch for its quality). I didn’t feel like alcohol after a week of celebrating so I stuck with soft drink. Others had red wine though. The cabin crew asked at dinner if we wanted to be woken for a breakfast muffin and/or coffee, which I thought was very considerate. I planned to sleep till touchdown and have a coffee in the SYD domestic lounge.


I didn’t have anything to eat at the airport but my friend had a ramen that she said was soothing and just what she needed. The food offerings at DPS are nothing to write home about but if I were hungry I’d have no problems finding somewhere to eat. My pro tip: buy drinks at the WH Smith rather than the food outlets - it’s much much cheaper.