[munitalP]

Yep, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Virgin Blue is FERAL in every respect and I won't back down from my statement.

QANTAS for all it's bad points have far better service than Virgin Blue easily.

I make a point of not flying the FERAL one, but on ocassion I have no choice, for example ROK to BNE - 737 (or Embraier) vs Crash 8, no choice, most times I need to fly out of Tassie (can always get there on QF but always seem to return on JQ or DJ) and last Friday, MEL to Newcastle, last minute flight.

Heres the FERAL approach, I'm on flexi fare with BLUE ZONE seating (thats pay extra for exit rows). I get to MEL 55 mins before departure - I have no luggage, check in through priority line (where's the at the gate check in?)

I go to gate 13. I particually asked the eye candy who issued the BP which gate and which direction... Down the stairs and turn left.

Sat there for ages - no sign of flight, I ask at the counter, 5 minutes past boarding and I get told its way over the other side, the gates been changed and I better run if I want to make the flight! OK - maybe I didn't hear it called as being changed - the BP has written on it the gate number so I know I'm not wrong...

Through security for the second time and hightail it down to the end gate - I'm sweating and they are calling me by name now...

I get on the 737 with glares from the attendants, I wander down to the exit rows and what do you know, they are full. I look at my BP again, this time looking at seat allocation to notice it's 18D issued.

After takeoff, I called a FA and explained the Blue Zone arrangement. After quite a number of excuses all of which were BS (the best being that my seat was reallocated as they thought I was a no show - I rebutted by pointing out that my BP was issued 50 mins before departure, how could I be a no show?) I was given a card to fill out and send to FERAL Blue.

I also pointed out that all of the PE seats were vacant, upgrade me and I would take it as bluezone - couldn't do that, send in the card and FERAL Blue might issue a refund for the blue zone.... hmmm

Again, FERAL Blue shows it's true colours and is no better than a vacation airline aimed at holiday makers who don't care what kind of service they get. There is even less chance I will fly FB from now...



Mr!

[Sunstar320]

I had my first Virgin Blue flight yesterday, and never again...Left 55mins late, nearly missed my connecting JQ flight, old plane!, crew rude. Nightmare....A group of 20 also missed their connecting flight to Rocky, so their was heaps of arguing and screaming at the end.

However, have an E170 flight in two-weeks, so they will kepp getting my service on EJet Runs if they improve.

[PlutekPlutek]

Is there any way to check what routes they are flying the Embraer's on ? Unlike in QF where you click on the flight number and the equipment is shown, I can't see such an option in Virgin Blue. I'd happily fly with them knowing I'd be flying on an Embraer, but I can't see where I can check it. Otherwise I'm sticking to QF.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by PlutekPlutek

Is there any way to check what routes they are flying the Embraer's on ?

Try the timetable. Aircraft type is listed (although, I believe they don't differentiate between a 73G and 73H)
Virgin Blue > Timetables

There are certain routes that the planes are on, but off-hand don't recall which ones.

[Sunstar320]

Originally Posted by Mal

Try the timetable. Aircraft type is listed (although, I believe they don't differentiate between a 73G and 73H)
Virgin Blue > Timetables

There are certain routes that the planes are on, but off-hand don't recall which ones.

Embraer Hot Spots are Canberra, Regionals(ABX,PQQ...) and Northen QLD locations. Usually on the routes JQ do well on, that DJ dont, you will find a Ejet for DJ.

But 95% of all those flights out of Canberra for DJ are EJets!

[DJ737]

Hi there

dj.innosked.com will get you the schedules without the eye candy Virgin Blue E-Timetable although the aircraft types are subject to change, but does show the different e-jets (E70 or E90) although not the 737's.

Cheers
DJ737

[MelUser]

I won't fly with them for the reasons you say.

I suspect that the crew are young, inexperienced and have very little discretion.

I also don't think that DJ training places much emphasis on passenger comfort - it is all about that fake/false smiling and "fun" and stupid jokes made over the PA system.

[Arthur Hodgson]

Originally Posted by MelUser

I won't fly with them for the reasons you say.

I suspect that the crew are young, inexperienced and have very little discretion.

They have the discretion to be civil and courteous, they just choose to not to be.

It's just DJ's (lack of) training and HR principles that lets their 18 year old's get away with it. A good smack on the a*se wouldn't go amiss.

A really poor quality organisation, which, hopefully, with the financial crisis, will go belly up.

[oz_mark]

Originally Posted by Arthur Hodgson

A really poor quality organisation, which, hopefully, with the financial crisis, will go belly up.

While in a lot of respects they have a way to go, heaven help us if they do go belly up.

[Sunstar320]

Originally Posted by oz_mark

While in a lot of respects they have a way to go, heaven help us if they do go belly up.

If they did go belly-up, Im sure old JQ would up those prices of theirs. However, surely TT would be a new significant player.

Anyway, Its not going to Happen, would Branson would ever let such a well-known assett of his go completly under??? Certianly not good for the Virgin name...