Virgin business class Bali flights rip-off

[Harthagan]

I reckon if I was saving $1000 flying VA versus QF 737 to Bali, I'd be delighted with the overall experience including the $50 I spent on getting sloshed in a paid lounge.

Each to their own. Not sure where you plucked $50 for international lounge access equivalent to Qantas First Lounge which you get as a platinum member with Qantas, even when flying Jetstar in Y.

Last time I checked Virgin still charge $65 for their domestic lounges for a "casual pass".

 

[stm1sydney]

Not sure where you plucked $50 for international lounge access equivalent to Qantas First Lounge

I didn't.

 

[Zips-Numerate-Viscosity]

I've said it before, I'll say it again. as a plat you're much better off in economy x than business unless you can get a reward seat.

I should probably search the forum if you've said it before - why?

For context, I'm short, and prefer the guaranteed horizontal space between me and the next passenger to the vertical space that my legs can't reach anyway.

What is the legroom difference between Economy X and Business? I suppose we'd need to differentiate between:

Row 1: Business bulkhead
Row 2: Business
Row 3: Economy X bulkhead
Rows 4+5: Economy X.

 

[PERLHR]

Yeah actually: what is the difference between row 3 and 4 and 5?

 

[MooTime]

Yeah actually: what is the difference between row 3 and 4 and 5?

Don't know, never sat in row 4 or 5.
Row 3 way to go baby.

 

[PERLHR]

Don't know, never sat in row 4 or 5.
Row 3 way to go baby.

Looks like nobody seems to have sat behind row 3!!

 

[stm1sydney]

I actually prefer row 4, there is plenty of leg room and you don't have the fixed arm rests with the tray tables in them (row 3). And you have row 5 leg room behind you so no bumping from behind, unlike being in row 5.

 

[Awebproject]

Your experience sounds very disappointing indeed. Some of what you've listed is well-known (e.g. no lounge access in DPS) but some is not great at all (poor gate communication, no PDB, no spirits, warm beer etc.). My J flight from DPS-MEL back in 2018 would be probably my worst VA experience too. Catering was awful (your crew meal chicken sandwich with stale bread was what we were served as the meal in J!). But nowhere near as disappointing as you describe. DPS is known as a sub-par departure port. I'd encourage you to lodge your complaint direct with VA. When I did, I received 10k points compensation.

I have experienced the same issues more recently. Now Platinum members get penalised for changing business class flights its ridiculous they are not listening to there ferquent flyer customers & Jetstar is offerring much better service to Bali, quieter planes better seats & food and lounge use in Bali.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @Awebproject .

yes, we can hope Virgin lifts it's game to Bali hopefully after the next injection of capital, one way or another

 

[simmomelb]

I have experienced the same issues more recently. Now Platinum members get penalised for changing business class flights its ridiculous they are not listening to there ferquent flyer customers & Jetstar is offerring much better service to Bali, quieter planes better seats & food and lounge use in Bali.

Can you elaborate on "Now Platinum members get penalised for changing business class flights"? There have been no changes which I can see.

I wouldn't get excited about the lounge in Bali (Very basic for an international lounge), but if you want to check it out, anyone can enter for $35 USD.
But yes, VA should start offering lounge access to all business (J) class bookings on international routes, and that's also applicable to other routes, including those out of Australia to Bali, Queenstown, Fiji etc.
It would be easy for them to build the entry fee into the fare.

 

[travelislife]

As a platinum I find it ok. Get free economy X which is way better than a Jetstar A320 Econ seat. Also free Wifi worked for most of my last flight.

Only thing I wish Virgin had was the ability to preorder a meal so there was better options. LCC do this, so not sure why Virgin can’t make it happen for international flights.

 

[knagelli]

Now Platinum members get penalised for changing business class flights

Can you shed some light on this ? How is the the platinum member get penalised ?

I do acknowledge that the VA flights to/from Bali are just like a domestic flight within Australia ; reason I ask is that I have had some issues with the flight to/from Fiji with VA and trying to understand if there is something common. ta

 

[drron]

Just as well I didn’t read this thread before we went to Ball in March. We went J and had no status. We knew that there would be no lounge access. The price was much lower than other airlines including JQ.
Service was excellent and the food was good. Plus with the SCs it was time to make the domestic switch.

 

[jrfsp]

I wouldn't get excited about the lounge in Bali (Very basic for an international lounge), but if you want to check it out, anyone can enter for $35 USD.

For $35 you get a nicer experience at one of the eateries in the main dept lounge

 

[simmomelb]

For $35 you get a nicer experience at one of the eateries in the main dept lounge

Yeah the last time we entered we were out of there within 20 minutes and eating down at one of the other eateries. Far better.

 

[Major]

Yeah the last time we entered we were out of there within 20 minutes and eating down at one of the other eateries. Far better.

Agreed. We did exactly the same thing