Virgin Australia Passenger Reviews and Virgin Australia Customer Trip Reports

Flying from Hobart to Melbourne to Bali and back. First flight to Bali was in the middle of the day with lots of lively action, families on holiday, bored children, hungry, thirsty people. The queue for the toilets in economy was continuously horrendous with all the drama of people passing the food trolley, the business class toilet was quiet and empty. There was no entertainment and I heard crew give three different explanations for this to three different disappointed families. There was no vegetarian food left and I was in the 6th row! There were no cheese and biscuits. Staff were continuously explaining, apologising and making excuses. Bali to Melbourne at 10pm was quiet and uneventful, but I arrived in Melbourne at 5.30am expecting my connecting flight to Hobart to board at 9.30 am and I ended up spending 12 hours in the airport. There was one excuse after another for the delays, we were moved to three different boarding gates and given numerous departure times throughout the day. It was a terrible ordeal for families with babies and small children. At last I was getting on the a plane but half way down the aero bridge a staff member came running after me to tell me I was on the wrong plane. They said my plane had been cancelled in the morning (first I'd heard of it) and I was to go to another gate lounge and wait another half hour to board another plane! Again more apologies and reasons given that didn't make any sense, the whole day seemed like a shambles with staff not knowing what was happening and passengers the worse for it. There was not one offer of a drink or some food for those families I saw who were having a really tough day.

On a 2 hop return trip, Adelaide - Hobart, there had been already been 2 delayed takeoffs. On the last hop from Hobart, Melbourne - Adelaide, although the plane was a connecting flight, at least ten passengers who had arrived to board with the other passengers, had been deleted from the boarding list, presumably because it had been assumed they would delay the plane by five minutes, and told to wait four hours for another scheduled flight, then another hour due to weather.

HBA to MEL return. Overall a satisfactory experience but watch out for the inconsistency in baggage charges. On the outward journey was not charged for a ski boot bag going in the checked baggage but on the return journey was stung with $40 dollar fee.

Sydney to Denpasar, Bali, on 737-800 business class. Flight leaves from main international terminal in Sydney. Walking to our gate, I could see it was the smallest plane on the tarmac alongside its bigger brothers - the 747-400's, and airbuses. At check in, it was clarified for me that this is in essence a premium economy seat sold as a business class seat, although my well-used travel agent informed me it is business class (another point to be made for inexperienced travel agents who do not travel). The configuration in business is 2 seats, 2 sides, 2 rows. The was pretty much new, so clean as a whistle. You are divided between economy by a divider only, and a rope. The seats are moderately wider than economy and only barely recline, so do not expect even an angled seat, although sufficient for only a 6 hour afternoon flight. Still have to return on the overnight leg, so will see if I feel as generous about my thoughts when I am unable to recline on a red eye flight. On board entertainment is delivered via a portable Samsung IPad device with enough selection to keep you entertained for the trip, nothing compared to other international carriers, but sufficient and decent quality. The earphones could probably be more noise reducing. Overall as long as you understand this is not the usual size or type of business class, you will do ok. My suggestion is, buy yourself a budget economy class ticket and sit in row 3 in economy on this plane, there was far more legroom there than in business. Just bring your own entertainment as there is none at all in economy!

Four of us were on flight DJ4197 to Bali and had the misfortune to be seated at the rear of the plane which had 180 people using two toilets. People sat on us to allow cabin staff passed to carry out their service as much as possible with so many people waiting in the walkway also the smell made it impossible to even think of eating, hopefully Virqin begin to understand paying customers needs on a long trip. Luckily on the return we had three toilets so was a bit better as we knew to get seats up the front.

Would avoid using this airline if it weren't for the reasonable fare and the schedules. Flew from MEL to AKL last Friday and, as on two previous occasions, the check-in fiasco just becomes a total joke and a waste of everyone's time. Only two trained for check-in staff for three flights leaving within an hour to Auckland, Nandi and Denpasar while three others phaffed around people managing; handing out departure cards and generally dragging passengers from the queue when it became clear they would not make their flights otherwise. When a group of 18 Chinese visitors had visa problems at their check in counter the remainder of the queue stood motionless for a whole 20 minutes.

SYD-MEL return on a new 737-800 with the Boeing sky interior. Nothing special on this journey due to the high winds in the area and of course the severe turbulence associated with it. The crew informed us there would be no meals served due to this. Trip was a very bumpy one, the crew handled it well and kept us all informed. The aircraft itself was nice, just no IFE at all.

ADL-MEL Return. Brand new B737-800 on the way there, very nice mood lighting system, comfortable leather seats, on the negative side no more entertainment system on new aircraft and they ran out of a lot of things from the menu (catering issues). On the way back older B737-800, new leather seats but still with TV screens in them (foxtel was complimentary), free tea, coffee and water. Staff were friendly and efficient on both flights. Overall the feel of the airline has greatly changed from a budget carrier to an airline that matches and in many ways supersedes Qantas.

PER-SYD return. Travelled on the older A330 to Sydney, then on a new A330 to Perth. Two different cabins, the older cabin is still very good for a domestic product. However the IFE is dated and needs changing. Meals are amazing, service excellent and the Virgin crew seem to want to have you on board, unlike the competition who expect you to fly with them. Return journey in new cabin was amazing, the best domestic business class product in this country, hands down. Everything from their lounges, to their product in the air is very good. Great job Virgin Australia.

I'm currently in line at Perth waiting to fly to Christmas Island. Already been in line for over half an hour and the line hasn't moved at all. Two people working at the desk! To make it worse, one is only serving priority and the other is serving priority before the regular passengers. This is ridiculous.

Perth-Melbourne in new A330 Business Class. Used points to upgrade from Flexi fare and was amazed. Seated in Row 4 next to the window and the "pod" seating was very comfortable. Dedicated Business class crew offered sparkling wine or fruit juice and handed out menus and also gave advice on how the seats and the entertainment system worked. After take-off a pre-dinner drink was offered and then the meal service started. It was terrific and felt like a full service international flight. Great selection of movies and overall a terrific flight.

If you experience any problems submitting comments on the above link, please use our general   Feedback Page