Virgin - what they need to do
I'm currently hanging around in the wasteland known as LAX (terminal 3, which manages to be even more desolate than the Tom Bradley terminal) waiting for a flight to San Francisco. Thanks to some amazing pricing, I decided to fly over on Virgin, rather than Qantas. Virgin, here are a few things you guys really need to sort out if you're going to seriously cut into the other airlines.
Actually, I'll delay that for a second - first, I'll run through what was good!
- First will have to be the service. While I normally fly Qantas, it's usually a force of habit thing for domestic flights, and a lack of routes out of Melbourne for international. While I know some people who will disagree with me, I cannot fault the service I have received from Virgin Blue. On every flight they have always been friendly and attentive from check-in through to the flight, and on the ground at the other end.
- On-time performance has never (until now!) been an issue, and my current delay is weather related, so what can you do? My Virgin Blue flight left Melbourne on time, and my V Australia flight pushed back a minute or two early.
- The planes themselves always seem to be in reasonable condition. The domestic leg on a 737 was pleasant enough. The international sector on a new 777 was great, and the entertainment system really is top notch.
So, where's the issue?
Well, it's the little things, around the edges:
- Virgin Blue can't check me in for the V Australia or Virgin America flights; I had to recheck in both Brisbane and Los Angeles.
- Lounge access. While Virgin Blue has the major domestic airports covered, it's really lacking on the international side. Then when you get to the US, you're stuffed because there are no reciprocal agreements to cover being on a Virgin America flight (if I was on V Australia, I could use the Alaskan Airlines lounge). Right now I'm just hanging out at the gate. Yes, I'm a snob, but that comes with spending a lot of time on planes.
- Virgin America - sort out your frequent flyer program! I can't believe I don't earn Velocity points. I do on Virgin Atlantic.
Of course, if they are really serious they need to increase their destinations from other Australian capitals. I'm not going to make a habit of flying via Sydney or Brisbane when I could just jump on a Qantas flight and go direct. What I'd do is ditch the Virgin Atlantic flight from Hong Kong to Sydney, and replace it with V Australia from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. You have to get off the plane in HKG anyway, so if you're travelling through to London you just jump on the Atlantic flight. I know, they are all operated as separate companies, and they all want to maintain their revenue streams. I'm just saying...
Overall, like I said, it's only little things. But the little things can add up to a lot, especially when you're travelling a lot for work. Given my flight has just been pushed back another 30 minutes I'm really missing the lounge right now!
