First Global Airline

http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/b ... al-airline

Interesting claim from SRB that 'you can fly anywhere in the world' with Virgin.

Ok...I'd like to fly, with a Virgin branded airline, to Paris...from Sydney. Can I do it?...no...didn't think so.

Well done Richard, another case of foot-in-mouth disease.

How do I get from LHR to BKK ?

Could always swim

Iceland or Moscow anyone?

Now, how do I get there again...

Iceland or Moscow anyone?

Now, how do I get there again...

I might give VS a ring to determine that very fact

When V Australia launched, he claimed he was the first Airline to travel around the world. Someone obviously neglected to tell him about ANZ.

That'd be fun wouldn't it! or maybe just childish:D

I can see SRB's basic point - that he's building a network, but to say you can fly to anywhere in the world is just taking too many liberties.

I wonder how many people are taken in by this stuff....and to what purpose.

That'd be fun wouldn't it! or maybe just childish:D

I can see SRB's basic point - that he's building a network, but to say you can fly to anywhere in the world is just taking too many liberties.

I wonder how many people are taken in by this stuff....and to what purpose.

I often do wonder about if any thought is given to people like ourselves who will pick apart his regular pronoucements for the glaringly obvious holes, half-truths and exaggurations.

Perhaps his press office need a little training with regards to the integrity of the statements they issue.

South America?

I just looked at the route planner on the Virgin Australia site. It has obviously yet to understand the whole global airline thing -- it suggested a route of LHR-AKL via AUH (on Virgin Australia and Etihad), and SYD-BKK via LAX :0 on Virgin Australia and DL! :0

What this about a combined FF program?

This is laughable. The idea that Virgin airlines can compete with other alliances in terms of global reach is a nonsense.

Even more comical that you can't even fly virgin to many of the destinations VH offer...

Oops, bet there's a few heads in hands at the marketing dept...

Very much for my own amusement, I have just rung up FC Gold to enquire about this 'Fly anywhere in the world' lark they are peddling at the moment.

Me; 'Yes, Ive just noticed on your Facebook page about how Virgin now can fly me anywhere in the world'
FC Gold person; (after the standard read-off-this-sheet greeting) 'Yes, that's right, we are a truly global airline now that we work with VX and VA' (swallowed the corporate pill I see)
Me; 'Thats great, good to hear. Right, I'd like to go from London to Los Angeles in Upper'
FC person; (rather chirpy) 'Lovely, is that a return?'
Me; 'Oh no, I'd then like to go Upper class to Bejing, and back to London from there'
FC person; (decidedly less chirpy) 'Im sorry sir, but Virgin don't fly to those destinations'
Me; (sounding hurt) 'Oh, but didn't you just say Virgin now can fly me anywhere?'
....Silence.
(after a time)
FC Person; 'We can, but only to the destinations on our route map'
Me; 'So not everywhere?'
Person; 'No, I'm afraid not'

Well done. Thanks. For. That.

Very much for my own amusement, I have just rung up FC Gold to enquire about this 'Fly anywhere in the world' lark they are peddling at the moment.

Me; 'Yes, Ive just noticed on your Facebook page about how Virgin now can fly me anywhere in the world'
FC Gold person; (after the standard read-off-this-sheet greeting) 'Yes, that's right, we are a truly global airline now that we work with VX and VA' (swallowed the corporate pill I see)
Me; 'Thats great, good to hear. Right, I'd like to go from London to Los Angeles in Upper'
FC person; (rather chirpy) 'Lovely, is that a return?'
Me; 'Oh no, I'd then like to go Upper class to Bejing, and back to London from there'
FC person; (decidedly less chirpy) 'Im sorry sir, but Virgin don't fly to those destinations'
Me; (sounding hurt) 'Oh, but didn't you just say Virgin now can fly me anywhere?'
....Silence.
(after a time)
FC Person; 'We can, but only to the destinations on our route map'
Me; 'So not everywhere?'
Person; 'No, I'm afraid not'

Well done. Thanks. For. That.

Sorry - I don't see the point?

And no one on this forum has taken the corporate line and peddled a view they perhaps as indviduals they take with a pinch of salt?

ASWinters744 - Funny! Nice one. ^)

pjh - Eh? ?|

ASWinters744 - Funny! Nice one. ^)

pjh - Eh? ?|

Next time there's a complaint on here about accessing a Flying Club agent bear in mind the line may be taken by someone exercising their right to amusement.

it suggested a route of LHR-AKL via AUH (on Virgin Australia and Etihad), and SYD-BKK via LAX on Virgin Australia and DL

Not sure what the issue with LHR-AKL via AUH is - VA has a codeshare with EY but not with VS. They also codeshare with NZ across the Tasman but not other NZ routes. So that is a logical routing from VA. From a FF perspective Velocity members earn more status points flying with EY than VS.

BKK appears to not be available as a bookable destination on the VA Australian website. Despite it showing on the route map

Very strange.

Not sure what the issue with LHR-AKL via AUH is

The press release that sparked this thread says "You can now travel around the world on a Virgin plane." If they are serious about flying on Virgin planes, then LHR-SYD on VS and then SYD-AKL on DJ would be a more sensible route than the Etihad codeshare.

PJH...I don't really see what your problem is; and I don't believe I have said that anyone on this forum has swallowed the corporate pill - I was referring the FC Gold agent I spoke to.

My issue with VS is that, once again, thier corporate PR doesn't match up with the reality of the operation. They can't state that 'you can fly anywhere in the world' when, at a cursory glance, they serve (as a group) less than 40% of it.

Agreed about the PR - but really all thats really being spruiked is the tie up with the FF schemes isn't it?

VA's link with VS gives them one route out of Australia serving two destinations directly. Their tie up with Etihad opens up many more routes out of more Australian gateways. If VA wants more business they are going to offer routes via their website which carry their flight number (even if its a codeshare) rather than on a VS flight.

But I guess the VS website doesn't offer VA flights either - try searching SYD-LAX on the VS australian site - with VS all the way via LHR.

They are ultimately different airlines.

Very much for my own amusement, I have just rung up FC Gold to enquire about this 'Fly anywhere in the world' lark they are peddling at the moment....

Sorry - I don't see the point?

I absolutely see the point. It is just the sort of thing I would do to point out they were 100% incorrect. That agent may think more carefully about what they tell paying customers next time.

Some people clearly have a lot of time on their hands.

Some people clearly have a lot of time on their hands.

Not really, but I was stuck in traffic and was interested to hear thier response

was stuck in traffic

After what you said in the other thread, I hope you weren't queueing for fuel!

was stuck in traffic

After what you said in the other thread, I hope you weren't queueing for fuel!

No, standard M25 Heathrow rubbish