State of Virgin Blue
Crew rest.
If things are going so great guns for Virgin Aus then why are they canning the MEL-LAX flights which were due to start in September?
When you combine that with dropping a SYD-LAX service it looks like those 777s are going to be sitting around in the Eastern Park in Sydney for a while longer.
The fact is that the Pacific has become an ocean of Red Ink for Qantas and they are very worried about how an aggressive Virgin group will effect their profits.
When you combine that with dropping a SYD-LAX service it looks like those 777s are going to be sitting around in the Eastern Park in Sydney for a while longer.
Prat.
I am not talking VA down. I am being realistic, which something people need to be. Having your head in the sand is a guarnteed way to go broke. I have lost so much money, it hardly matters. BUT I would ratrher VA recognise the issues at hand and do something about it.
All these stories about VA doing well are total rubbish. If there's ever a good load factor I can assure you that is not with premium paying customers.
I know the global economic crisis has a lot to do with it but there are some blatant errors on VA's behalf...
ie.
Firstly they should have consolidated SYD-LAX before even attempting BNE oo MEL.
They need to get a competitive FF program that matched the likes of UA or QF
Better staff training in long haul service (ie close galley curtains and keep noise down)
Interline agreements BEFORE commencing
Decent Catering
Proper inflight ammenites (ie eye shades they you cant see through)
Decide whether they are a full service carrier or not - if so improve service or otherwise offer a genuine LCC service
Offer something unique to Business clas pax in the spirit of Virgin (ie. chauffer service)
Better marketing - offer vacation packages
blah blah
All these stories about VA doing well are total rubbish. If there's ever a good load factor I can assure you that is not with premium paying customers.
I know the global economic crisis has a lot to do with it but there are some blatant errors on VA's behalf...
ie.
Firstly they should have consolidated SYD-LAX before even attempting BNE oo MEL.
They need to get a competitive FF program that matched the likes of UA or QF
Better staff training in long haul service (ie close galley curtains and keep noise down)
Interline agreements BEFORE commencing
Decent Catering
Proper inflight ammenites (ie eye shades they you cant see through)
Decide whether they are a full service carrier or not - if so improve service or otherwise offer a genuine LCC service
Offer something unique to Business clas pax in the spirit of Virgin (ie. chauffer service)
Better marketing - offer vacation packages
blah blah
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QF SYD/MEL - LAX, there's a good chance the aircraft won't be old. The 6 -400ER's are less than 10yo and have been designed around the 777 with slimmer seats, resigned o'head bins, cabin lighting and noise protection. Add the odd 380 and late model RR 400's with similar cabin configs as the ER's and the Pac flights are a fairly young fleet.
But none of this matters for the average pax. I would bet that aircraft type is the last thing that is considered (if at all) when purchasing a ticket. It comes down to price, previous experience, their friends/colleagues experiences, FF programmes etc. Delta will shake things up a little on the Pac route, but US carriers do not have good repeat business outside of FF's.
But none of this matters for the average pax. I would bet that aircraft type is the last thing that is considered (if at all) when purchasing a ticket. It comes down to price, previous experience, their friends/colleagues experiences, FF programmes etc. Delta will shake things up a little on the Pac route, but US carriers do not have good repeat business outside of FF's.
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Its great to see that you are vocal and loyal to VA Crew Rest., but as someone else here has said its another thing to stick your head in the sand and deny what is happening. I recently hear of load factors in the region of 60 pax! and this from VA crew. (Mind you this was after a few coldies!
)I have nothing against VA as i have a few close friends working there and they love the work (sounds like more fun than QF at the moment), but the concern they have about the long term viability has me also concerned. I just hope things pick up soon for them, and the long term future of the Virgin group is assured. The last thing anybody wants to see is another Ansett type disaster.
)I have nothing against VA as i have a few close friends working there and they love the work (sounds like more fun than QF at the moment), but the concern they have about the long term viability has me also concerned. I just hope things pick up soon for them, and the long term future of the Virgin group is assured. The last thing anybody wants to see is another Ansett type disaster.
Speaking with someone who is CC at VA and who I used to work with about their loadings etc. she said that Business and Premium Economy were always close to full and that load factors had exceeded expectations.
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Originally Posted by pylet
But none of this matters for the average pax. I would bet that aircraft type is the last thing that is considered (if at all) when purchasing a ticket. It comes down to price, previous experience, their friends/colleagues experiences, FF programmes etc. Delta will shake things up a little on the Pac route, but US carriers do not have good repeat business outside of FF's.
I assume the same will occur when the 787 arrives.
My belief is that passenger demand will drive the uptake of newer aircraft because, given a reasonably similar price (i.e. full fare airline to full fare airline or low cost to low cost) people will become educated very quickly either through direct experience or word of mouth.
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Holy cow! you CHOOSE the A380!
I dont know many people who would say that. In fact I know a lot of people who choose to AVOID the A380 at all costs. But that's probably because they are just not Airbus sort of people and would also avoid the entire A3 family.
Are you just pulling our collective chains???
Also, I probably agree with PYLET. It all comes down to $$ and reliability 90/10.
I dont know many people who would say that. In fact I know a lot of people who choose to AVOID the A380 at all costs. But that's probably because they are just not Airbus sort of people and would also avoid the entire A3 family.
Are you just pulling our collective chains???
Also, I probably agree with PYLET. It all comes down to $$ and reliability 90/10.
Nunc est bibendum
My little bro travels frequently between SIN and SYD. He flys the A380 (QF or SQ) every chance he gets. He'll arrange his schedule around it. They are out there and (sadly for Boeing lovers) they are increasing in number.
Good loads do not equal profits. VA is currently offering industry rates (anybody who has ever worked for an airline/hotel/resort, etc) less than $3000 Business for a return from BNE to LAX, just on $1000 in Y+ and less than $700 for economy. Just becasue you see one full plane please understand that this does not mean that all the pax are paying viable fares. Current fares are just to get bums on seat but do NOT pay the bills.
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All will be revealed in time. I notice that BG and co have given themselves options so things cant be going that bad. In fact I would say that it is a sign that things are going better than expected. If they expected VBA not to be around in the long term they wouldnt have bothered would they?
I cant wait for the next BITRE numbers that show how VBA have increased pax numbers. I would rather have full planes breaking even than empty planes at a loss.
I cant wait for the next BITRE numbers that show how VBA have increased pax numbers. I would rather have full planes breaking even than empty planes at a loss.
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Man, there is plenty of uninformed gob****e on this thread. From both sides. Any chance some of you might wait till some real figures are forthcoming before you sprout about how good ANY of the Pacific carriers are doing?
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Yes, but you are QF employee aren't you?
I would rather have full planes breaking even than empty planes at a loss.
I would agree with previous posters in that very few pax actually make an airline choice based on aircraft type. Fair enough that plane geeks will do this, but your average punter doesn't even know what plane they have been on when they get off at the other end...
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Originally Posted by goodpseed
Holy cow! you CHOOSE the A380!
I dont know many people who would say that. In fact I know a lot of people who choose to AVOID the A380 at all costs. But that's probably because they are just not Airbus sort of people and would also avoid the entire A3 family.
Are you just pulling our collective chains???
I dont know many people who would say that. In fact I know a lot of people who choose to AVOID the A380 at all costs. But that's probably because they are just not Airbus sort of people and would also avoid the entire A3 family.
Are you just pulling our collective chains???
Quieter, larger, newer, more comfortable - list goes on.
And I'm not particulalry pro Airbus, as I said I fully expect the 787 to have similar advantages and, if that proves to be the case, will take either of the new types in preference to older types (be they A or B manufactured).
Originally Posted by goodpseed
Also, I probably agree with PYLET. It all comes down to $$ and reliability 90/10.
Somehow I think not. Just my opinion of course.