PR preparation for the Borghetti replacement underway
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PR preparation for the Borghetti replacement underway
This in the SMH this morning:
John Thomas helped save the US airline industry. Can he steady Virgin Australia?
Soft-story PR drop on a public-holiday Monday, 'introducing' the new man to the public I guess? Certainly not the sort of self-promoting story a cautious number 2 would ever allow to be published - unless the number 1 spot was already locked up.
John Thomas helped save the US airline industry. Can he steady Virgin Australia?
Soft-story PR drop on a public-holiday Monday, 'introducing' the new man to the public I guess? Certainly not the sort of self-promoting story a cautious number 2 would ever allow to be published - unless the number 1 spot was already locked up.
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The last 3 lines of the article...
If Thomas does have eyes for the top job, he's not giving anything away.
"I've got my hands full at the moment and I'm having a lot of fun at the moment," he says. "Lets keep it at that."
The reporter travelled to Los Angeles with John Thomas as a guest of Virgin Australia
"I've got my hands full at the moment and I'm having a lot of fun at the moment," he says. "Lets keep it at that."
The reporter travelled to Los Angeles with John Thomas as a guest of Virgin Australia
Can't come quick enough... the place is a sheltered workshop... a haven for the incompetent and near-do-well, with the decent people and those who know what they're doing being the ones with bruised heads from banging them against the wall.
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I just hope it's not too late!
A once great place to work is now a pale shadow of its former self.
He's going to have a heck of a time undoing the damage that's been done!
A once great place to work is now a pale shadow of its former self.
He's going to have a heck of a time undoing the damage that's been done!
Yes indeed quite possibly more of the same!
Given the appalling standards of the US domestic Airline industry, I dont see how this golden boy who cut his teeth in the US industry, will improve things at Virgin, particularly for the staff!
US airlines have some of the lowest paid staff in Aviation!
It's interesting to note he is credited with saving the US industry, by for one charging for passengers checked in baggage!
And yet the only US Airline to have always been profitable, Southwest, doesn't charge for checked baggage?
Low fuel prices and the big three mergers over there have had a lot to do with the recent improvement in US carriers fortunes!
Given the appalling standards of the US domestic Airline industry, I dont see how this golden boy who cut his teeth in the US industry, will improve things at Virgin, particularly for the staff!
US airlines have some of the lowest paid staff in Aviation!
It's interesting to note he is credited with saving the US industry, by for one charging for passengers checked in baggage!
And yet the only US Airline to have always been profitable, Southwest, doesn't charge for checked baggage?
Low fuel prices and the big three mergers over there have had a lot to do with the recent improvement in US carriers fortunes!
Nunc est bibendum
At QF, after Dixon finished up in 2007/8 (?) Joyce proved the old adage of 'out of the frying pan, into the fire'. I hope VOZ can avoid proving that yet again.
I think the claim that paying for bagagge, as introduced by JT, saved the US airline industry is a bit of a stretch, and hence the 'messiah' label is most likely a bit of a stretch too. He's been here a while now and actions speak louder than words. Haven't seen much action! Although at least he does communicate more than the phantom Borghetti, albeit the Comms are the usual PR/HR propaganda.
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No idea got it in one. Actions, not words. We don't need another messiah. We'll be paying for the last one for years yet. Just get on and do shit, that's all......

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Given the appalling standards of the US domestic Airline industry, I don't see how this golden boy who cut his teeth in the US industry, will improve things at Virgin, particularly for the staff!
US airlines have some of the lowest paid staff in Aviation!

US airlines have some of the lowest paid staff in Aviation!
Have a look at the LCC B737 operator called South West. While you are doing that look up what a house costs over there and what the average worker gets paid.
Let the new guy (if he is the one) have a go. Whilst its easy to paint them all with the same brush the only way forward is to have an open mind to new ideas/enthusiasm whilst keeping lessons from the past in the back pocket.
I have flown on several US airlines. Appalling would be a complement.
We can argue about the standards of airlines here in Australia but our saving grace is that we haven't reached the pathetic US level of customer service yet. Out airlines aren't getting the cops to drag bloodied people off overbooked planes. If anything it's JB who needs to hired in the US to teach them a lesson.
We can argue about the standards of airlines here in Australia but our saving grace is that we haven't reached the pathetic US level of customer service yet. Out airlines aren't getting the cops to drag bloodied people off overbooked planes. If anything it's JB who needs to hired in the US to teach them a lesson.
I have flown on several US airlines. Appalling would be a complement.
We can argue about the standards of airlines here in Australia but our saving grace is that we haven't reached the pathetic US level of customer service yet. Out airlines aren't getting the cops to drag bloodied people off overbooked planes. If anything it's JB who needs to hired in the US to teach them a lesson.
We can argue about the standards of airlines here in Australia but our saving grace is that we haven't reached the pathetic US level of customer service yet. Out airlines aren't getting the cops to drag bloodied people off overbooked planes. If anything it's JB who needs to hired in the US to teach them a lesson.
The only US carrier I've flown on was Southwest and they were fine for what I paid... Oh, I forgot and PSA in 1974 and they were fantastic for the era until deregulation and they got gobbled up by US.
The more troubling thing lately is this Parliamentary Inquiry where some **** is talking about allowing cabotage to all international operators. Seriously, the worst most moronic idea I've heard... even the bastion of unbridled capitalism the USA restricts entry to its domestic aviation market. But, leave it to us to be stupid enough to allow anyone to fly here domestically without a CASA issued AOC.
Porter, I fly within USA at least 2 times per year, and with the exception of Virgin America, Jet Blue and Souhtwest, for the rest, as another poster commented, maybe appalling is a complement!
However it's not just the Airlines, the whole thing is a nightmare most of the tine, old over crowded terminals, huge ques at security, and then with the big 3, you can get to fly on some very old aeroplanes as well!
So my point is just because this guy did well in America, that in my opinion is nothing to get excited about for Virgin Australia staff!
I have enjoyed my flights with Virgin, and wish the staff well!
However it's not just the Airlines, the whole thing is a nightmare most of the tine, old over crowded terminals, huge ques at security, and then with the big 3, you can get to fly on some very old aeroplanes as well!
So my point is just because this guy did well in America, that in my opinion is nothing to get excited about for Virgin Australia staff!
I have enjoyed my flights with Virgin, and wish the staff well!
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I have flown on several US airlines. Appalling would be a complement.
We can argue about the standards of airlines here in Australia but our saving grace is that we haven't reached the pathetic US level of customer service yet. Out airlines aren't getting the cops to drag bloodied people off overbooked planes. If anything it's JB who needs to hired in the US to teach them a lesson.
We can argue about the standards of airlines here in Australia but our saving grace is that we haven't reached the pathetic US level of customer service yet. Out airlines aren't getting the cops to drag bloodied people off overbooked planes. If anything it's JB who needs to hired in the US to teach them a lesson.
First of all - if it was indicative of the current standard in customer service in the USA, it wouldn't have attracted the headlines and hype that it did.
Second - this was a case of a passenger disobeying a lawful instruction from aircrew after boarding, and the dude is no hero! This wasn't a tank bearing down on him at Tiananmen Square, he stubbornly refused to do as he was instructed and hence law enforcement officers were called in to physically remove him from the aircraft


There - rant over

US airlines have some of the lowest paid staff in Aviation!
Yet again the forum seems to be morphing into a passenger rumour network.
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I have flown on several US airlines. Appalling would be a complement
Porter, I fly within USA at least 2 times per year, and with the exception of Virgin America, Jet Blue and Souhtwest, for the rest, as another poster commented, maybe appalling is a complement!

Flying in the States is a far better experience than the thievery practiced here.
Mate - that last comment of yours has to be in the running for the most unqualified, ignorant comment placed on a public forum I have seen in a long time.
First of all - if it was indicative of the current standard in customer service in the USA, it wouldn't have attracted the headlines and hype that it did.
Second - this was a case of a passenger disobeying a lawful instruction from aircrew after boarding, and the dude is no hero! This wasn't a tank bearing down on him at Tiananmen Square, he stubbornly refused to do as he was instructed and hence law enforcement officers were called in to physically remove him from the aircraft In a sane world populated by rational human beings he would be vilified and paraded before the courts, but in our Social Media driven discourse, he is held up as a victim Sadly the CEO of United was to gutless to stand up and defend his crew, and instead rolled over in a pathetic attempt to appease "public opinion". He should be ashamed of himself.
First of all - if it was indicative of the current standard in customer service in the USA, it wouldn't have attracted the headlines and hype that it did.
Second - this was a case of a passenger disobeying a lawful instruction from aircrew after boarding, and the dude is no hero! This wasn't a tank bearing down on him at Tiananmen Square, he stubbornly refused to do as he was instructed and hence law enforcement officers were called in to physically remove him from the aircraft In a sane world populated by rational human beings he would be vilified and paraded before the courts, but in our Social Media driven discourse, he is held up as a victim Sadly the CEO of United was to gutless to stand up and defend his crew, and instead rolled over in a pathetic attempt to appease "public opinion". He should be ashamed of himself.
The only complaint I have is the battle for overhead locker space
That will change in the US for the max operators that choose it.

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If you had been reading the thread on the UA incident you would know that the instruction from the aircrew was NOT lawful in this case. The passenger was also wrong to resist when dragged off the flight. But two wrongs don't make a right.