Virgin Business Class Lottery - Pay for Business, get Premium Economy! Now 0 for 2.

[markis10]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

Let's call it inconsistantly pro-active.

RedRoo got canned for his involvement in the T5 saga, yet not one mention about the lack of Virgin's presence in this form?

Maybe if this was going on for 5 months we might get to that point .

Your use of gender for Red Roo is probably inappropriate, Reps are gender neutral unless otherwise nominated since they may not be indicative of a particular person all the time!

 

[VOZZY]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

Hi folks,

I think Va may now be getting serious about this one.

i logged online complains with VA about this about 11 and 6 days ago for 2 flight. I just received an apologetic call from from the office of the CEO. They we're very kind in offering flight credits. They also asked to make contact to that same office to make the bookings with the credits to ensure a good experience.

The manager also confirmed what has been commented in the forum that VA have made a policy change and will no longer sell business class on the 737-700.

TC
Perhaps now I will stop ranting like a little girl

 

[DJ737]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

Hi there

Seems QF may also be getting in on the act after the end of March with the curtailment of QF29 at HKG
MEL-HKG-LHR one way in First for the bargain basement fare of $13,567 and you get to travel Business on the A330 from MEL to HKG before transferring to BA.
Or for $4 more you can go First all the way on the direct A380.

 

[MomoWang]

I am comfortable in the action Virgin Australia has taken in relation to this. No longer selling Business Class on any flight where it is scheduled to be operated by a 737-700 or Ejet and for existing bookings, contacting passengers and giving back the difference between the Business Class fare and a Flexible fare.

I will be curious to see if they apply the same logic to those who have already flown on the 737-700 in Business Class without the full Business Class configuration, and lodged a complaint about this.

 

[firefox]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

i took 2 business class flights today with VA (BNE-MEL-BNE)
I fly extremely regularly and this was my first "business" flights ive taken this year (back to work this week). (3-5 J class tickets a week mostly)
I've been with VA flying them now for about 7 years, and seen all the transitions.

I completely understand the pain people have had, i was talking with the crew on board they said there's been alot of pain as this thread shows.
However as a very very regular business flyer, i'd like to put a positive note on their changes.

I think these two flights today were the best i've taken with VA in at least the last 6 months.
They've really hit the nail on the head for people whom fly business class, and i am betting they are going to attract alot of people when they get these little issues sorted out. The food today was good, service was good, their new procedures are good and it made the front of the cabin feel alot more quiet and easier.. For a big day i had, this was great. It's what i expect when flying on a J and today they delivered.

I know they want to fill the front cabin, i am betting if they keep up what they are doing they are going to achieve it very quickly.

So to my crew today, and VA in general (i know there is still pain out there), thanks for listening and keep up the changes, personally other then maybe a better sav blanc wine, there wasn't much i could have recommended to change!

 

[dfcatch]

To add some balance - and i've been critical of the sale of Business in E-jets....

I think in fairness to VA - they genuinely do want to get this right.

And my hat goes off to the cabin crew who seem to have truly embraced the CEO's vision, and (like the lounge staff), genuinely seem to want to please and win over premium/frequent flyers.

I think that VA have significant growing pains, disparate systems and management structures, and from what I can see there is a lot of left hand not talking to the right hand.

The premature marketing and announcements of the J product are clearly illustrations of this.

I also believe that these "problems" are actually the result of good intentions. Ie. the respective internal teams at VA are so eager and enthusiastic that they simply "get ahead" of themselves without fully coordinating with other teams (or even being aware of the existence or role of said other teams).

With the rapid increase in head count at VA, I suspect that there are many that are in a bit of a rush to please Borghetti, without enough senior 'coordination' of efforts.

 

[futaris]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

I flew in a 737-700 SYD-BNE on Mon 30th. Where should I be lodging my complaint???

 

[AaronBradford]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

I flew in a 737-700 SYD-BNE on Mon 30th. Where should I be lodging my complaint???

Feedback Form | Virgin Australia

 

[Justinf]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

I got an Op Up last week flying Mel-Syd.
This was not what I paid for. I paid $114 for a Y class seat and had to settle for a $530 J class.
Where do I lodge a complaint?



(sorry, someone had to do it)

 

[MichaelD]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

I got an Op Up last week flying Mel-Syd.
This was not what I paid for. I paid $114 for a Y class seat and had to settle for a $530 J class.
Where do I lodge a complaint?

Feedback Form | Virgin Australia

Make sure you liberally sprinkle DYKWIA throughout the complaint and that because of your resultant mental anguish, from now on to lessen the chance of future upset all further discount Y tickets will require you to be seated in 1A.

 

[Justinf]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

Feedback Form | Virgin Australia

Make sure you liberally sprinkle DYKWIA throughout the complaint and that because of your resultant mental anguish, from now on to lessen the chance of future upset all further discount Y tickets will require you to be seated in 1A.

It is just not good enough. I specifically booked on a 737-700 to avoid eny chance of being comped an op up, and they switched aircraft at the last minute. I will take my business to Tiger Airways from now on.:evil:

 

[mickeyc747]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

I will be curious to see if they apply the same logic to those who have already flown on the 737-700 in Business Class without the full Business Class configuration, and lodged a complaint about this.

As stated earlier in this forum I got me 50% refund within 4 days and still got double status credits and points.

 

[jakeseven7]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

We should also not forget that DJ had to can the changeover schedule when QF went AWOL for a few days in order to add extra capacity to the skies, that also must have been a nightmare to manage in terms of flow on effects!

Thanks markis10 for the continuous promotion of VA. Yawn.

Let's call it inconsistantly pro-active.

RedRoo got canned for his involvement in the T5 saga, yet not one mention about the lack of Virgin's presence in this form?

I agree. They seem to be hiding under the table on this one!!

FWIW, I have had extensive personal contact with Virgin on this issue with someone in a position to properly address these issues and I am quite satisfied that the issues have been taken very seriously and addressed as a priority.

Everything that has been promised has occurred as promised to date, with one final call back scheduled for Monday (would have been today but both of us are flying).

I have little doubt that the sudden unavailability of J on 737-700s is in response to the feedback Virgin have received.

I too have fallen trap to the misleading conduct of VA on this issue.

Normal customer care couldn't have cared less and trotted out the same lines most other people on here were getting previously.

I did however elevate it through our corporate rep and have received a FULL refund plus some .... I'm not sure if this is standard or its because my employer's contract with VA is up for renewal shortly.

In summary, they've fixed it to my satisfaction - but I get a real sense that management at VA, probably more senior management are totally disconnected with the front line. I feel absolutely awful for the front line staff at the moment, the VA marketing machine is trumpeting this and that and it seriously feels like the first time the front line staff are finding out about stuff is from billboards and when the customers tell them!! I know they aren't purposefully trying to make their staff's life tough - but they seem to lack a decent internal staff communication system or something. Hope it gets sorted soon.

 

[jakeseven7]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

It is just not good enough. I specifically booked on a 737-700 to avoid eny chance of being comped an op up, and they switched aircraft at the last minute. I will take my business to Tiger Airways from now on.:evil:

Go back and elevate through VA call centre (try and get onto an Australian). Keep on pushing it up. You will get something back.

 

[AaronBradford]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

Go back and elevate through VA call centre (try and get onto an Australian). Keep on pushing it up. You will get something back.

You realise Justinf was joking, yes?

 

[markis10]

You realise Justinf was joking, yes?

I don't think so, LOL.

 

[jakeseven7]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

You realise Justinf was joking, yes?

I certainly felt like flapping my arms and trying to fly rather than fly VA again - before they sorted out my problem!!

 

[jaspon]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

i believe the sale of business class has now been pulled from all 737-700's until further notice, and the guest contact centre will be advising affected guests on these flights.

Affected pax will be offered a credit shell in the form of the fare difference between the j fare and the lowest flexi class fare

Pax will also continue to be seated in the forward 2 rows, and receive the benefits of priority check in, boarding, lounge, baggage, etc until the end of april and the business class menu and cabin service will be in place until the end of Feb 2012

 

[mavrick9]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

What happens if? -

Say I book a flex on 737-700 (no business), select row 1-2 seat.


Then flight gets changed to 738 with J.

Do I call VA and complain I didn't get my Flexi wrap?

 

[straitman]

Re: Virgin Business Class Lottery - now 0 for 2. Pay for Business, get Premium Econom

What happens if? -

Say I book a flex on 737-700 (no business), select row 1-2 seat.


Then flight gets changed to 738 with J.

Do I call VA and complain I didn't get my Flexi wrap?

I hope so. :mrgreen: