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Virgin Australia Hong Kong Trip Report
Full album link:
http://s1213.photobucket.com/user/Ca...aliaHKGJan2018
Since there has been little detailed reports on the six months old's Virgin Australia flight between Hong Kong and Melbourne, I have decided to share my experiences in Virgin Australia's business class on this roundtrip. Virgin Australia obviously tries very hard to establish itself as a formidable competitor, especially both Cathay Pacific and Qantas offers a decent onboard product in all cabin classes. It is fair to say that Virgin Australia easily beats both CX and QF, in terms of catering, amenities (pajamas included even in day flights on the return segment), and service. In terms of the individual suites, three of them are comparable and have pros and cons, but both three offer individual aisle access and a good suite product. However, Virgin Australia's A330s are definitely showing signs of wear and tear, despite being five years old or less. It is common among this new generation of seats that are easily scratched. Despite of its superior service, the arrival and departure experience in Melbourne was anything but stellar. I was lucky enough that we had to use bus gates for both flights, and it was just utterly disorganized. I don't know if Virgin Australia is a late gamer or has to switch the aircraft use between domestic and international flights, but parking the plane in the domestic pier and then busing passengers to international terminal is a hassle, not to mention they like to cram those buses. When low cost airlines such as Scoot and Air Asia X are using real gates with jetway, it is just a poor impression when full service premium airlines, like Virgin Australia, have to use a bus gate. My other issue is relatively minor, which is more of a cultural issue. All the written Chinese communications, including entertainment system and printed menu, are in simplified Chinese, despite Hong Kong people use traditional Chinese characters. It is clear that Virgin Australia has its eyes on China, but as of now, they are only flying to Hong Kong, and it is only respectful to use the written form of Chinese that Hong Kong people actually read and write. There is still a Hong Kong Airlines' ambassador [basically interpreter] on each flight and I wonder how long that will last, and I guess it depends when Virgin Australia will start using its own Chinese speaking F/As soon.
January 10, 2017
VA 86 Hong Kong to Melbourne Lv1950 Arr0815 Airbus A330-200 VH-XFE "Manly Beach"
Check-in:
Hong Kong Airlines handles all the ground services for Virgin Australia in Hong Kong, but VA has a supervisor here. Airport Express service was offered at counter 16, which was shared with Hong Kong Express. I believe that you can do early check in but if you have to check in a bag, you cannot do check in the night before, only on the day of the flight. At HKG, it uses aisle G. The HX agent was friendly but it was clear that she was not over familiarized with VA's system. In the end, she managed to enter my SQ Krisflyer's number and checked my bags all the way to Auckland with the priority and international transfer label. She gave me an invitation card to use Hong Kong Airlines' Club Autus in the Midfield Concourse, and addressed me by my last name throughout the check-in.
Lounge:
Club Autus was basically the official lounge for most of the airlines operating in the Midfield Concourse, except the Star Alliance carriers, which use the lounges in the main terminal building. I wonder if the Lufthansa group has plan to build its own lounge here at the Midfield Concourse. HX's new Club Autus is really a nice lounge with plenty of seating area and an open view of the apron and the parallel run ways. In terms of food, it is still oriented towards Chinese passengers and I like the theme of Hong Kong local food. As a local, the noodle bar is nice and, in some ways,, the variety and portions are better than Cathay Pacific. However, Cathay Pacific is superior in all other areas, including more international selection, better beverage selection, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and better variety of fresh fruit and salad. Service wise, Hong Kong Airlines' lounge staffs are some of the friendliest people you can find, which is better than CX. The staffs are super helpful and are more approachable. They are more proactive. It is clear that they have more to prove than CX, which is suffering from low morale and more subcontracting.
All HX partners use this lounge too.
Full bar:
Noodle bar:
Food buffet:
Full album link:
http://s1213.photobucket.com/user/Ca...aliaHKGJan2018
Since there has been little detailed reports on the six months old's Virgin Australia flight between Hong Kong and Melbourne, I have decided to share my experiences in Virgin Australia's business class on this roundtrip. Virgin Australia obviously tries very hard to establish itself as a formidable competitor, especially both Cathay Pacific and Qantas offers a decent onboard product in all cabin classes. It is fair to say that Virgin Australia easily beats both CX and QF, in terms of catering, amenities (pajamas included even in day flights on the return segment), and service. In terms of the individual suites, three of them are comparable and have pros and cons, but both three offer individual aisle access and a good suite product. However, Virgin Australia's A330s are definitely showing signs of wear and tear, despite being five years old or less. It is common among this new generation of seats that are easily scratched. Despite of its superior service, the arrival and departure experience in Melbourne was anything but stellar. I was lucky enough that we had to use bus gates for both flights, and it was just utterly disorganized. I don't know if Virgin Australia is a late gamer or has to switch the aircraft use between domestic and international flights, but parking the plane in the domestic pier and then busing passengers to international terminal is a hassle, not to mention they like to cram those buses. When low cost airlines such as Scoot and Air Asia X are using real gates with jetway, it is just a poor impression when full service premium airlines, like Virgin Australia, have to use a bus gate. My other issue is relatively minor, which is more of a cultural issue. All the written Chinese communications, including entertainment system and printed menu, are in simplified Chinese, despite Hong Kong people use traditional Chinese characters. It is clear that Virgin Australia has its eyes on China, but as of now, they are only flying to Hong Kong, and it is only respectful to use the written form of Chinese that Hong Kong people actually read and write. There is still a Hong Kong Airlines' ambassador [basically interpreter] on each flight and I wonder how long that will last, and I guess it depends when Virgin Australia will start using its own Chinese speaking F/As soon.
January 10, 2017
VA 86 Hong Kong to Melbourne Lv1950 Arr0815 Airbus A330-200 VH-XFE "Manly Beach"
Check-in:
Hong Kong Airlines handles all the ground services for Virgin Australia in Hong Kong, but VA has a supervisor here. Airport Express service was offered at counter 16, which was shared with Hong Kong Express. I believe that you can do early check in but if you have to check in a bag, you cannot do check in the night before, only on the day of the flight. At HKG, it uses aisle G. The HX agent was friendly but it was clear that she was not over familiarized with VA's system. In the end, she managed to enter my SQ Krisflyer's number and checked my bags all the way to Auckland with the priority and international transfer label. She gave me an invitation card to use Hong Kong Airlines' Club Autus in the Midfield Concourse, and addressed me by my last name throughout the check-in.
Lounge:
Club Autus was basically the official lounge for most of the airlines operating in the Midfield Concourse, except the Star Alliance carriers, which use the lounges in the main terminal building. I wonder if the Lufthansa group has plan to build its own lounge here at the Midfield Concourse. HX's new Club Autus is really a nice lounge with plenty of seating area and an open view of the apron and the parallel run ways. In terms of food, it is still oriented towards Chinese passengers and I like the theme of Hong Kong local food. As a local, the noodle bar is nice and, in some ways,, the variety and portions are better than Cathay Pacific. However, Cathay Pacific is superior in all other areas, including more international selection, better beverage selection, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and better variety of fresh fruit and salad. Service wise, Hong Kong Airlines' lounge staffs are some of the friendliest people you can find, which is better than CX. The staffs are super helpful and are more approachable. They are more proactive. It is clear that they have more to prove than CX, which is suffering from low morale and more subcontracting.
All HX partners use this lounge too.
Full bar:
Noodle bar:
Food buffet:
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