This trip had me heading across to Sydney for a five day training course. It's been about a year since my employer switched allegiances from Qantas to Virgin Blue, and while I'm still not the biggest fan of Virgin Blue I have definitely grown more tolerant towards them.

Sunday May 27 2007
DJ 434 PER-SYD 16:05 / 22:15 (4h10)
Boeing 737-8FE VH-VUD "Bewitching Broome"
Seat 15C

View Large View Medium Photo © Chris Finney

View Large View Medium Photo © Carsten Bauer

At the airport I was impressed to see that they have finally introduced priority check-in for Blue Zone passengers. Blue Zone gives exit row seating (for an additional fee), but at the cost of not being able to use online check-in or the machines at the airport. So while previously this resulted in queueing for 15 to 20 minutes to check-in, we can now jump the queue and everyone's happy. What doesn't make sense to me is that there are now three queues but only two staff members (a third stands around next to the machines that we're unable to use).

Unfortunately Virgin Blue still don't have a lounge in Perth (and none is planned), so I waited with everyone else. Not a lot happening... a Qantas 743 arrived (operating their afternoon PER-SYD service) and a Thai A330 arrived at the International terminal to join aircraft from MH, SG, QF, and SA.

Boarding was on time and it appeared that loads were light, probably 65%. The exit rows were full though - I sat next to a man with prominent elbows. I briefly contemplated moving back a row but decided against it - the extra legroom allowed more comfortable use of the laptop. With no IFE I used the laptop to watch a movie and a doco. Virgin Blue's seats are firm and covered in blue vinyl, and on this aircraft the head rests were not adjustable.

In the first service I just had a juice ($2) and a water ($2). Hot meals were available with the second service, but I elected to eat from the 24 hour room service menu at the hotel instead. Maybe just as well, because by the time they reached row 15 there was no chicken left and only three lamb meals. Quite pathetic really with half the aircraft still to go. I had a chocolate muffin (they had run out of blueberry) and a Yalumba Chardonnay. The wine wasn't particularly good but went down surprisingly fast.

We arrived a bit early at 22:00 and the bags arrived reasonably fast to have us in a cab at 22:15. It was $76 to the Sebel Parramatta (strange place for a training course really). A disappointing three options on the 24 hour menu (toasted sandwich, lasagne or nachos) and after receiving my cold chicken, cheese and avocado toasted sandwich I concluded that I had chosen poorly.

Friday June 1 2007
DJ 429 SYD-PER 13:25 / 16:25 (5h00)
Boeing 737-8BK VH-VOD "Blue Moon"
Seat 14C

View Large View Medium Photo © Josh Akbar

View Large View Medium Photo © Charles Polidano

It turned out the training course was only a four and half day course, so my return flight was changed from 19:50 to 13:25. This meant having to leave the course slightly before the end, but it was better than hanging around for six hours.

On arriving at the airport I found the priority check-in queue (it had moved since last time). Some queue-jumpers were placed in the queue in front of us because they were running late, but it still only took a few minutes. Only aisle seats were available, which suited me nicely, but unfortunately they were in row 14 - the non-reclining row.

I bought lunch from Hot Wok, then went into the imaginatively named "The Lounge". The entry procedure is time consuming compared with The Qantas Club, as the lounge attendants (I can't bring myself to call these lovely ladies "dragons") must type your details into their computer to confirm your membership. They really should just give you a membership card. The lounge appears small but maybe that's just because of the business area and cinema that very few people use. Last week it was announced that The Lounge will be moving to the site of the old Ansett Golden Wing lounge at some point in the future.

The Lounge has alcoholic drinks are available after 11am, plus soft drinks, juice, and a mediocre selection of snacks. I had a Crown Lager (the best of the poor selection) and ate my lunch.

I left The Lounge as soon as the monitors indicated the flight was boarding - I don't trust the staff to call the flights anymore after a couple of near misses. Headsets were available at the gate, meaning this was one of Virgin Blue's aircraft that had "live2air" installed (the prominent lump on the top of the aircraft is the other giveaway feature - like the aircraft pictured below). The seats are the same firm, vinyl covered seats, but with tiny monitors installed the back. They also had adjustable head rests! Once again the exit rows were full (this was the first trip where I had seen this happen) but my neighbour had less prominent elbows than on the way across.

View Large View Medium

Photo © Martin Eadie

After the usual crew introductions and a dubious promise to make the flight as fun and memorable as possible, the safety demo was performed. Two "jokes" were thrown in (nobody laughed) like the Virgin Blue days of old. The live2air system was switched on so everyone could try out the system. We pushed back right on time and then sat on the tarmac for a few minutes, before taking off on runway 25. After about ten minutes the live2air system required payment of $10 via a credit card swipe to continue watching, but with nothing of interest on 24 channels, I elected to watch movies on the laptop instead.

It was surprising how unreliable the live2air system is - as bad as the Qantas AVOD system! The whole system had to be rebooted several times and in the end nobody was charged $10. I wonder if this is related to the caveat on the Virgin Blue site (the in-flight signal may be lost in turbulence and/or if banking of the aircraft is required and/or on flights crossing the Great Australian Bight).

Thankfully the flight was not particularly memorable, but the crew's presence was a bit more noticeable than on the Perth-Sydney flight (ie they came around a couple more times trying to sell us stuff). We came into Perth slightly early at about 16:15, landing on runway 03. The bags were out nice and quick and it wasn't long before I was home.

It seems Virgin Blue is continuing in their efforts to lure business traffic from Qantas, and to position themselves between low-cost (Jetstar, and soon Tiger) and full service (Qantas). They're now more professional than they used to be, they have adequate lounges in the cities where they choose to build them, and their Velocity frequent flyer program continues to add new partners. It will be interesting to hear the details of the status levels that are rumoured to be introduced shortly to the Velocity program.

Thanks for your report.

While I've not flown domestically in Australia for just over twelve months, I feel relatively qualified to comment on the service provided by Virgin Blue since they commenced operations in 2000. In the period 2000 - 2005, I flew with them between 5 - 10 times a year, mostly between MEL - BNE, SYD - BNE and in one instance SYD - PER.

I was interested to read that you regard DJ more "professional" now than they used to be. I'm not quite sure what you mean by that.

In each of the flights I took with them, I would be hard pressed to say that they were anything but professional and certainly provided a product in the air that was little different to that which Qantas offers. From your experiences, where have you observed Virgin Blue being unprofessional? Are you suggesting that to be professional, an airline like Virgin Blue must ensure that the customer experience reflects the sometimes staid, robotic and unfriendly service that its principal competitor offers? Would you regard Southwest Airlines, an airline that is now over 30 years old with a fleet of more than 300 aircraft as unprofessional, simply because they seek to make the travelling experience different and a little more lighthearted? In fact, WN is one of the most desired companies to work for in the US and I'd struggle to describe them as unprofessional.

If DJ have become more "professional", then in some ways, that's quite sad.

Hey there,
Thanks for the report, I enjoyed reading it.
I've had a few DJ domestic experiences lately but it's reaffirmed that I prefer the Qantas style of service more. In the past (between 2003-2004) I really enjoyed flying Virgin because it was cheaper, but now with fares being quite similar most of the time, I would always choose QF (even if there's a $10-20 difference).

Thanks again for the report!

Quoting Palmjet (Reply 1): Would you regard Southwest Airlines, an airline that is now over 30 years old with a fleet of more than 300 aircraft as unprofessional, simply because they seek to make the travelling experience different and a little more lighthearted? In fact, WN is one of the most desired companies to work for in the US and I'd struggle to describe them as unprofessional. If DJ have become more "professional", then in some ways, that's quite sad.

Damn good point, most people seem to prefer a care free joking atmosphere instead of a strict, up-tight cabin crew, Southwest airlines and similar airlines are enjoyable because of the atmosphere they have on board. Professionalism doesnt have to mean seriousness at all times. I dont enjoy flying SQ, although their FA's are good looking, they seem rather robotic, and the atmosphere on board is too "strict" or what some would call professional. I would fly a cabin crew similar to WN anytime.

Quoting Palmjet (Reply 1): leet of more than 300 aircraft

almost nearing 500 aircraft, simply amazing.

I have never flown DJ, but it seems youre satisfied with them. Is it fair to compare DJ to Qantas? I mean they are the number one and two carriers, but their business models seem quite different.

Quoting StevePER (Thread starter): Sebel Parramatta (strange place for a training course really).

Very strange! Did the company pay for that, or did you?

Quoting StevePER (Thread starter): Two "jokes" were thrown in (nobody laughed)

Have you seen that episode of the Chaser where one of the guys used the Virgin Blue "jokes" at a real comedy club?

QFF

Great report.

Look forward to flying on DJ in 2008 when I go to Oz  




Lee

Great report, thanks.

Quoting StevePER (Thread starter): At the airport I was impressed to see that they have finally introduced priority check-in for Blue Zone passengers. Blue Zone gives exit row seating (for an additional fee), but at the cost of not being able to use online check-in or the machines at the airport. So while previously this resulted in queueing for 15 to 20 minutes to check-in, we can now jump the queue and everyone's happy. What doesn't make sense to me is that there are now three queues but only two staff members (a third stands around next to the machines that we're unable to use).

- What, seems confusing, what's the real point??

Quoting StevePER (Thread starter): I sat next to a man with prominent elbows

- Oh yes, I seem to have them quite often!

Quoting StevePER (Thread starter): Virgin Blue's seats are firm and covered in blue vinyl

- Vinyal or Leather? - Vinyal is cheap, very cheap, oh, DJ is the airline.......

Quoting StevePER (Thread starter): Hot meals were available with the second service, but I elected to eat from the 24 hour room service menu at the hotel instead. Maybe just as well, because by the time they reached row 15 there was no chicken left and only three lamb meals. Quite pathetic really with half the aircraft still to go

- Pretty poor indeed, you can't sell something if you don't have what people want.

Quoting StevePER (Thread starter): after receiving my cold chicken, cheese and avocado toasted sandwich I concluded that I had chosen poorly.

- Indeed  

Quoting StevePER (Thread starter): They really should just give you a membership card

- Oh, too easy!

Quoting StevePER (Thread starter): I had a Crown Lager (the best of the poor selection)

- Never heard of it.

Look forward to future reports.

Rgds

Mark

Had to laugh several times about your sarcasm... Virgin Blue the airline which runs out of everything...

cheers: DALelite

Quoting Palmjet (Reply 1): From your experiences, where have you observed Virgin Blue being unprofessional? Are you suggesting that to be professional, an airline like Virgin Blue must ensure that the customer experience reflects the sometimes staid, robotic and unfriendly service that its principal competitor offers?

In my experience it's just the little things like not calling flights from the lounge, and charging money for absolutely everything (surely free water wouldn't be too much of a stretch). But really I'm referring to their reputation from years ago (before I started flying with them). Here's one comment I found...

Quote: The cabin service is good and friendly, but can border on being un-professional at times with the very young flight attendants all between 20-30 continually singing and joking on the passenger address system. But if you pay for cheap and cheerful I guess you get what you pay for.

Quoting QANTASforever (Reply 4): Very strange! Did the company pay for that, or did you?

Company.

Quoting QANTASforever (Reply 4): Have you seen that episode of the Chaser where one of the guys used the Virgin Blue "jokes" at a real comedy club?

Yes - the worst of the jokes on this occasion was "smoking on this aircraft is prohibited by federal law, and smoke detectors and cameras have been fitted in the toilets". Though while I'm critical of unfunny jokes like this, I still like it when they blow the whistle on the life jacket.

Thanks for all your comments! My next report should be a bit more exotic than this one. PER-AKL-PPT-BOB-PPT-SCL-EZE/AEP-IGR-AEP-FTE/PUQ-PMC-SCL-GIG-SCL-LIM-CUZ-LIM-SCL-IPC-PPT-AKL-PER on NZ, VT, LA, AR, LP and TA in November.

Steve

Well, i am looking forward to your next TR. Wonder what goes wrong this time. (don't get me wrong)

cheers: DALelite

Thanks for the trip report.

Quoting StevePER (Thread starter): The Lounge has alcoholic drinks are available after 11am, plus soft drinks, juice, and a mediocre selection of snacks. I had a Crown Lager (the best of the poor selection) and ate my lunch.

Crown Lager    lucky Qantas still serve some decent beers, used to be HP now Heineken.

Quoting StevePER (Thread starter): I bought lunch from Hot Wok, then went into the imaginatively named "The Lounge". The entry procedure is time consuming compared with The Qantas Club, as the lounge attendants (I can't bring myself to call these lovely ladies "dragons") must type your details into their computer to confirm your membership.

What a slow process; at least with Qantas your status shows up on the boarding pass, and now with Velocity number on the card there is no reason why the software isn't written to include whether you are entitled to access.

Great report - thanks for posting!! Ah yes, many fond memories of Oz....!
Cheers,
N272WA  

Great Trip report StevePER. I have to totally agree about the seats. They definately do feel hard. I am glad with the distances I have to travel my work has not switched from Qantas to Virgin.