Virgin "Business" from Bali to brisbane

[markis10]

It's an absolutely rubbish analogy. What the hell's a Vector for a start?
.

A Opel Vectra in Kiwi!

 

[pat25d]

Firstly... Virgin ATLANTIC is not the same company as Virgin AUSTRALIA. Different company structure, different owners, different destinations, different planes, different seats.

Now to your complaints:

- Lounge Internet: Pretty poor to have to pay for Internet, but unless it Virgin Australia owned operated lounge then you don't have much guarantee of services. Bali is definitely a leisure destination and there's 0% chance of VA opening a lounge there.

- Seat and footrest: I totally agree with you about the lack of footrest however I disagree about your thoughts on the seat. For a regional/short-haul J seat I think it's great and comfortable. These forums are for discussion, some like the VA J seats, others don't.

- IFE: The digiplayers aren't the greatest IFE of all time but they do their job, are clearly advertised on the VA site and are open to crashing, just like every other IFE system.

- Hair in food: Pretty bad but I don't think that's a standard item on their menu so I wouldn't go bagging a whole company based on that. A simple complaint to the CSM would have fixed it.

- Cheese platter: Could be improved but not a deal breaker for me.

 

[trooper]

I think the basic problem is that the OP seems to assume there is some actual meaning to the phrase "Business Class"...

Is it not true that in Europe "Business" class consists of a blocked middle seat in Y? I'd see that as a clear indication that there is no "standard".. and airlines are free to label things as they wish..

(So we have various "BusinessFirst" type names.. or on my usual airline.. Business Premier.. WTH does that mean?)

I see this marketing situation as a good reason to apply due diligence in researching what is actually provided... after all, had the OP checked what WAS being offered he apparently would not have been grossly led astray...

What does the OP think "business class" means, and where is this definition to be found?

 

[munitalP]

@777 my point underscored.

Vectra auto corrects on my iPhone to vector.

Re-read my analogy without you purple tainted lenses applying the Holden badge instead on Virgin then apologise.

 

[Fruitcake]

@777 my point underscored.

Vectra auto corrects on my iPhone to vector.

Re-read my analogy without you purple tainted lenses applying the Holden badge instead on Virgin then apologise.

A better car analogy would be buying the fully optioned version of the SS, and the fully optioned version of the Vectra - then being upset that there's more room in the back seat of the SS.

And that's ignoring the OP's benchmarking of DJ short haul J against a completely different airline's long haul J product. The most appropriate comparator, in my opinion, is either JetConnect trans-tasman J or QF domestic J. As it happens, Virgin short haul J would probably still fail against those benchmarks, but at least the starting point is arguably fair.

To the OP: Jetstar and Garuda both offer the style of product you're after, so you'll need to take your custom there in the future.

 

[pat25d]

I honestly don't believe that DJ J is worse than J* Starclass.

They use the same lounge in DPS, the food isn't anywhere near as good (excluding the hair issue for the OP) and unless I am mistaken J* use recliner J seats too.

 

[Fruitcake]

I honestly don't believe that DJ J is worse than J* Starclass.

They use the same lounge in DPS, the food isn't anywhere near as good (excluding the hair issue for the OP) and unless I am mistaken J* use recliner J seats too.

It's true that they both have recliners. Admittedly I've never set foot aboard a JQ widebody but a few seconds of googling showed me that the JQ A330 recliners have footrests. I think that would be an advantage over 7 hours in DJ's 737 J seats for many people

(Although based on my domestic JQ and DJ experiences, personally I'd trade the leg rest for DJ service every time.)

 

[pat25d]

I think Bali and Thailand are those odd destinations where the length of flight is enough to justify wide body international class planes/service, but there isn't any money in it as the 'demographics' of pax to those destinations won't make the flights profitable.

Maybe someone needs to build a mine near DPS.

 

[lovestotravel]

I have to agree with Sean on this!

Going to book a flight to Denpasar, the flight is marketed as "business"

You expect a business level of service, which you won't find on a 737 and especially for a 6ish hour flight

Virgin are asking 2,807.02 AUD for a "business" flight from Melbourne to Denpasar...

Definately not worth that price at all

 

[MadFairlane]

Ah, the tyranny of being able to choose between different carriers.

 

[pat25d]

The problem is that there is no definition of Business Class.

Plenty of Europe and Asian shorthaul Business class is similar to DJ/J* which adds to the confusion.

 

[lovestotravel]

The problem is that there is no definition of Business Class.

Plenty of Europe and Asian shorthaul Business class is similar to DJ/J* which adds to the confusion.

Indeed and buyer beware..........

 

[777]

@777 my point underscored.

Vectra auto corrects on my iPhone to vector.

Re-read my analogy without you purple tainted lenses applying the Holden badge instead on Virgin then apologise.

I don't have a clue why you think the analogy is somehow underscored or why you expect an apology. @Fruitcake pretty much summed it up. Long haul and short haul are ALWAYS going to be different regardless of brand confusion and if you've already flown in the plane in one direction complaining about the fact it didn't magically turn into something different on the way back is - at best - optimistic.

 

[lovestotravel]

I honestly don't believe that DJ J is worse than J* Starclass.

There is a HUGE difference between VA J and J* "J" and from your post it appears you have not travelled on either or both.....

While the seats are a similar size:
Footrest
A330 vs B737
Seat Recline, I'd recall that J* "J" reclines at least double if not more than VA J




This is yet another example where people are confused with the different offerings that VA has, more-so in business class.

Consistency is key, but even though the flight is 5-6 hours, it's still classified as a "short haul" flight

Virgin Australia's Business Class | Virgin Australia

Flight Definition | Virgin Australia - Although the map link is not where it's meant to be

An A330 would be great on this route, although bogans pretty much want the cheapest fare.....

 

[markis10]

There is a HUGE difference between VA J and J* "J" and from your post it appears you have not travelled on either or both.....

While the seats are a similar size:
Footrest
A330 vs B737
Seat Recline, I'd recall that J* "J" reclines at least double if not more than VA J




This is yet another example where people are confused with the different offerings that VA has, more-so in business class.

Consistency is key, but even though the flight is 5-6 hours, it's still classified as a "short haul" flight

Virgin Australia's Business Class | Virgin Australia

Flight Definition | Virgin Australia - Although the map link is not where it's meant to be

An A330 would be great on this route, although bogans pretty much want the cheapest fare.....

There is a lot more spaces the DJ J cabin when the seats are not reclined , when they are reclined in the JQ cabin it's terrible if you are not in the first row, thanks to the 38" pitch married to the seat style.
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/traveller-tips/flight-test-jetstar-starclass-20101021-16v7q.html

 

[pat25d]

I didn't say they were the same, I said that I don't believe VA to be worse.

I haven't been in Starclass, but looking at the review on Ausbt I'm glad I haven't. Seats look ****, poor leg room etc.

Yes VA J on a 737 isn't great for 5+ hours, but I would rather it than J*.

And the only point of difference for the OP between them is a footrest and more recline (but less legroom). Everything else is at least the same.

 

[lovestotravel]

There is a lot more spaces the DJ J cabin when the seats are not reclined , when they are reclined in the JQ cabin it's terrible if you are not in the first row, thanks to the 38" pitch married to the seat style.
Airline review: Jetstar StarClass | Flight test

True, but that goes back to increased recline on JQ

I'd take the increased recline on a longer flight

But again YMMV

 

[lovestotravel]

And the only point of difference for the OP between them is a footrest and more recline (but less legroom). Everything else is at least the same.

Which make a huge difference

Flight over 3 hours I'd take less room and more recline!

 

[Paddy55]

Putting aside the Virgin Fan Boys histrionics, here's my take on the OP's comments:

1. VA Hard product will vary from plane to plane, and you really need to research to see what you're getting re seat design, etc,
2. VA Soft product really shouldn't vary too much when on comparable flight lengths regardless of aircraft type.

Doesn't sound like they do.
Personally I don't care whether it's a holiday destination or not, the fare cost sets some expectations.

Last year I flew HKG-DPS-HKG. One way was a 744 and the other a 777. One 'long haul' config, and one 'regional' config.
Very different hard products, but near identical soft product and no difference between LHR or DPS as the destination. You knew it was CX J.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Business Premier.. WTH does that mean?)

Well clearly it would be a step up from Business Deuxieme

IMHO

The hair in food thingy warrants a gripe, but suspect that would be about Bali catering.

The lounge with paid wifi sounds better than a lot of Pacific lounges, with no wifi, paid or otherwise (HGU had no running water when I was there which didn't make for pleasant toilets.)

Cheese platter: what was the cheese like? It wasn't billed as an apricot platter.

As J goes I'd rate the seats as good, IFE as substandard on VA.

Comparing Virgin Atlantic with Short Haul Virgin Australia, well thats like comparing Wartburgs with Trabants (Fanboys: this is a joke) Or Hoolden Victras with Foord Tellstars

I expect an apology from anyone who doesn't gush with approval at my post

Isn't Friday night good!

Cheers skip