Trying the NEW Virgin Australia | Business Class on the 737-8 Max | Melbourne to Tokyo

[@MsGregjohnson]

Bro, I legit clicked on this thinking - here we go another youtuber flying around telling us about the same business class as usual, but your insight into the financials and reasons for all the stuff behind the lines is genuinely incredible. It really has kept me engaged, pacing and the whole lot is bang on.

[@TheBanDitMemer]

I've binge-watched this content for 5 hours straight, and it never gets old! I love how you talk about the airlines specifically and their financial situations. I could fly this route in September but instead chose Qantas QF79&80 on an a330. Am I the only one who thinks 10,000 km is a lot of distance to fly directly on an a330? Keep cranking out the videos bro. We're on this grind together 💪💪💪

[@FlightFormula]

Cheers mate, let’s gooo!!!

[@PranavGarg-uo4fs]

The effort is clearly visible in your videos. W channel

[@FlightFormula]

Cheers!

[@Fraudemusic]

Wow! Throughly impressed with your channel. Finally a fresh take on the travel genre, you have a very distinct style which I’ve never seen before. Splashes of creative and hilarious comedy plus the educational backstory on virgin made this video flow incredibly well. Keep it up, bound to blow up in no time!

[@ads998]

I have to say, your content is top tier Simon. It goes so far beyond the sort of reviews we see from other content creators which focus solely on the soft and hard product. The Background detail, operating environment, and market context stuff is all so insightful and delivered in such an informed and engaging way. It really is a breath of fresh air and as I've said elsewhere, your channel is just way undersubscribed given the quality of the content you produce 👌

[@stevenphan682]

Great review, love the commercial acumen and analysis. The history and economics behind VA is essential in understanding why this route and VA (still) exists and how they’ll fare. Their customer service is impressive given all the above. Keep up the good work, look forward to more reviews and a podcast in v2.0 !! ..

[@crockerbd]

Love your videos. Another similar example is in Canada where Air Canada flies a 737-Max 8 from Halifax to London daily across the Atlantic. Almost 7 hour flight.

[@FlightFormula]

May or may not have to try that one…

[@jamesbracy2368]

Have to say, for someone outside the airline industry you definitely did your research into the background and history and quite frankly nailed it. Such a refreshing change of pace from other reviews. Informative and well made 👍🏻

[@rustysurfer25]

Over the last few years, I've ended up watching a lot of AV flight/seat reviews, most of which are usually somewhere between mildly interesting to painfully ignorant or irritating beyond words. Yours is by far the most entertaining and interesting! Don't think I've ever watched a review where I've learnt something about an airline, laughed at some memes and also enjoyed the actual review portion of the content. Keep it up!!!

[@nikolazec858]

I just came across your channel and I have to say that this is one of the best business class review I’ve watched in a long time. I really liked that part where you explained how the whole Virgin Australia was founded and the whole financial background. Keep up good work, your channel is soo undervalued 😊

[@ozzy1280]

Man I just came across your channel and your videos are so well made. Super informative and I love the deep dives around the history and economics of airlines.

[@FlightFormula]

Thank you!

[@Revilok08]

Dude I’ve watched your videos from fairly early on and it’s so good to see you improve. I’ve wanted to see a video on the VA -8 business class on the Tokyo route for a while now do I’m so happy that you have made the video!!! It’s definitely an interesting one as I’m sure many people would prefer to fly direct, but any thing to keep the crucial airport slot is good!

[@FlightFormula]

🫶🫶

[@louissauquet]

I'm loving these weekly videos and especially the airline storytelling that's included. Watching these reviews is becoming my regular entertainment. Thanks for this and especially the little snippets of humour and memes.

[@FlightFormula]

Cheers Louis! I’ll try my best to get them out weekly!

[@encryptededdy]

You can also often get JAL / ANA Premium Economy for a similar price, and benefit from Lounge Access, a direct flight (assuming you're coming from SYD/MEL/PER), and a similar or more comfortable seat on a widebody aircraft.

[@PremiumYouTube-zi3qj]

Definitely NOT from Perth. Very expensive

[@FlightFormula]

Yeah very true about premium eco!

[@Monkeymahenmiester]

​@@PremiumKZbin-zi3qjwe don't care about perth

[@gerrydick3621]

ANA business class in the 787 Sydney to Tokyo is really good!

[@PremiumYouTube-zi3qj]

@@Monkeymahenmiester go away

[@CabinCrewChat]

A huge of fan your channel and your Aussie humour, Simon! As always, love your brutally honest review of our airline 😂 you deserve so many more subs for the exceptional quality of videos you produce. Manifesting 100k subs for you by the end of 2024 🎉

[@FlightFormula]

Hahaha cheers mate!! 🫶🫶

[@pointyend-secrets]

What a fantastic insight! Gee i miss those A330s and 777s! The A330 "The Business" was my first lie-flat and thats how i fell in love with it! Flying from East to West at least once a Month was so much nicer pre-covid when as a Platinum member I almost had guaranteed upgrades every time, actually opting for the red-eye more often than not! I hope one day they get to a point where they can re-launch a wide-body fleet, but I'm not holding my breath!

[@FlightFormula]

Opting for the red eye is crazyyy!! But yes, it would be good to see them get back to flying widebodies!

[@keisuke5468]

Awesome video as always! ❤🙌 Nat Geo 757 surprised me too 😂 never knew it existed

[@FlightFormula]

Yeah, it was a bit random ay!?

[@Sporty12boy]

I think the keeping of the Haneda slot is hoping that they get back into a position to get a widebody plane into the fleet! Have a standard narrow body of the 737 and I can imagine a widebody like the 787 keeping the fleet lean and consistent unlike previously with both the 330 and 777

[@birdywins]

Loving the videos mate. The financial virgin aus history was particularly interesting.

[@FlightFormula]

Glad you liked it, I wasn’t super sure on putting all the financial/history stuff in!

[@mrwezbo]

Really like the informational format compared to the flat flight review, keep it up! Might see you at Melbourne airport someday and say hi.

[@FlightFormula]

Please do!

[@stanleywey]

11:32 that Sofia Vergara moment killed me - sub earned

[@takeoffnow937]

Mate, another great video once again. Congrats from Perth!!🎉🎉

[@kpuppy1000]

Great video mate, platinum velocity member here who was about to book flight to Tokyo with them.. probably won’t Virgin IMO are the best airline domestically - can’t comprehend how expensive Qantas domestic flights are

[@sbor90]

I'm the same. I feel like Economy X row 3 is probably the sweet spot given there's no divider

[@YoyoZee]

Defo book with Singapore or ANA to Tokyo, pre much all platinum benefits will carry over

[@sbor90]

@@YoyoZee no reciprocal lounge access on NH even for Plats. And VA doesn't get access to NH J awards until they've been snapped up by *A FFs. It's a rubbish partnership for VA elites except for the ability to earn SC.

[@YoyoZee]

@@sbor90 ah my mistake with NH. Singapore defo has the benefits tho so that's something aha

[@FlightFormula]

100% try to do direct imo

[@keaton_m]

G-yo-za. Great video tho, I am always a fan of the usb power and aircraft noise testing

[@icon_ic]

Not Sofia making a Boeing cameo -- love (also the jet max pun) Well done

[@Noname-iz9uo]

Your causal and fun style reminds me of Paul from Car Expert!

[@FlightFormula]

Ahh yeah Paul’s cool! Thanks!

[@joeywhite1463]

As always another great video.

[@FlightFormula]

Thanks!

[@thomasharmathy7393]

Great video. As someone who flew on the 737-700 last July on Virgin in economy I can confirm it wasn't the best time. I only did it as I had some flight credit with them from COVID. Got me too and from Japan but worth looking into other options if you have the choice. I was partially glad that they cancelled on the day our flights from MEL-CNS-HND as it meant I got to fly on ANA's 787 out of Sydney. Was a much nicer flight over.

[@FlightFormula]

Ahh you got lucky with the ANA swap!

[@adambahouche366]

Ive sat on a 737-800 for 5 hours to bali and back to adl on virgin aus and it was pretty decent and got business class on my way back.

[@FlightFormula]

Lucky you!

[@Qacc6]

Hottest flight reviewer with the most refreshing editing?

[@PranavGarg-uo4fs]

Definitely better than Josh Cahill, Sam Chui and Non-Stop Dan

[@PeterH-be1xe]

💯! He has very pretty eyes.

[@CJ-xl3dh]

8:48 Simon you're a young lad not doing hard work. How come you got callouses in the palms? Otherwise, good videos as always 👍

[@FlightFormula]

interesting that you just presume that I'm not doing hard work

[@CJ-xl3dh]

@@FlightFormula Sorry Simon ;I didn't mean it in a bad way. I know what you do preparing content is intensive work; but I guess (and for my part I add wrongly) we can sometimes see the videos and just wrongly conclude you live perfect;'made' lives. Again ;wrongly, one can become so convinced by what we see of content creators on TV that it appears almost 'favourably/successfully absolute' and that you don't have it hard or have graft like the average person . Again, my genuine apologies to you for the misconstrusion on my part, and well done for; both, making the content AND making it look easy whilst off screen surviving just like the rest of us..

[@johnk6657]

The clip from Sofia Vergara's home tour was perfection. Also all the facts were really spot on, esp re Alan Joyce (he was kind of a demon). You could do a whole video on Virgin vs Qantas, Virgin getting flatbed to Perth, QF then being forced to put the 747s on the route, etc etc. Great review, would prob stick to Jetstar's 787s if wanting a cheaper option to HND but it's not bad if able to secure a low fare.

[@FlightFormula]

Yeah, I kinda love going in depth on the backstories and facts but also don’t want to overload the video with them! Might eventually start a second channel dedicated to just that sort of stuff one day!

[@andrewverinchuk1694]

Thank you for an unbiased VA review. I remember flying a 2.5 hours flight with VA in business, it was super cold and they could not find a blanket for me. By the way, I am surprised there are no some new modern and stylish airlines in Australia, it would be hit comparing with similar and boring VA and Rex

[@FlightFormula]

Yeah, Australia doesn’t have a very exciting aviation industry really!

[@jonassty]

Your voice is so soothing. 😌

[@madeibn]

*cries in brisbane* this is one of three options to get to Japan. We have virgin connection in cairns or nonstop Jetstar or Qantas. Really need ANA & JAL nonstop out of bne.

[@an1shr]

Really enjoying these videos and the little Virgin history lesson was super insightful!

[@FlightFormula]

Cheers!

[@kc3302]

How's that Cairns international terminal? 🤣 3 cafes now, that's impressive! 18 months ago there was 1 cafe which closed before the flight departed. Then we had to deplane and sit locked in the desolate terminal for over 4 hours due to an aircraft issue... Excellent video, I learnt a lot.

[@FlightFormula]

That would’ve sucked!

[@richardcaldwell9160]

Great review, excellent humour - I thoroughly enjoyed your 25 minutes

[@FlightFormula]

Glad you enjoyed it!!!

[@Finnairpilotyt]

Great video! I love how you put effort on these videos. So entertaining

[@FlightFormula]

Thanks so much!

[@gman83090]

There is actually a lounge at the international terminal at CNS it's called the coral reef lounge

[@brian402]

I flew on Virgin Australia from New Zealand to Brisbane , Australia., earned about 1500 airports only to loose them because Virgin pulled out of their Christchurch to Aussie route. A 737-700 was a bit cramped in economy but the food was ok, no IFE though., enjoyed your awesome flight review✈👍

[@tld8102]

NGL... I think I'd might consider transiting through a less busy terminal like Cairns rather something chaotic like Sydney.

[@kc3302]

Do it once then you'll never do it again! Cairns domestic is very busy, then you do the 10 min walk to the international terminal which is like a ghost town.

[@Dreamer10888]

Sydney is an international city

[@sbor90]

Walking what feels like 1km across that concrete carpark during a far north QLD summer to get to the international terminal... Yeah nah

[@tld8102]

@@sbor90 Never thought of it like that. I forgot about the humidity. I had in mind like that Sydney to New York flight with a stop in Auckland rather than LAX. Auckland was way less stressful

[@FlightFormula]

I’ll take the bus in Sydney over the stinking hot walk any day… Cairns is definitely pretty though!

[@gerrydick3621]

Singapore Airlines business class in the B737Max has full flathead seats, excellent large screen entertainment system with new release movies, excellent meals…on its Caurns Singapore service. ( recently replaced with A350….but the Max business were same standard as the A350 seat)

[@fdanieln8759]

I just discovered your channel the other day and I'm loving your video and content so far. You've won a subscribe from me and will be watching your other reviews!!

[@jamesmartinDXB]

You didn’t tell me you were friends with Sofia Vergara. Another great video, Simon. X

[@FlightFormula]

Hahaha, cheers mate!

[@bigfoot22au]

Nice review bro. Easy and direct to the point. Just curious with the toilets, how much room do they have in Virgin. What's your height bro? They looked smaller than Qantas.

[@FlightFormula]

Cheers mate! I reckon they are the same as Qantas 737, albeit pretty tight though!

[@MagdielCorpuz]

What camera do you use on your luggage it’s sick 🔥

[@shaunminehan]

GHEE-OR-ZAH. Nice work again mate - keep it up 👍💪

[@FlightFormula]

Thanks, will do!

[@rod_at_adelaide5766]

Great video, I'm surprised they don't lease an A 330 or a B 787 more seats and proper international seating you would think more profit too!

[@FlightFormula]

Yeah, fair point!

[@JJ-vy2rh]

Great video, i would hate to fly in economy all that way. I believe Cairns has a lounge now

[@ISB021]

kind of wish they would just join star alliance and just complete the Asian pacific network. They could then focus on the Australian market and build on the local nextwork and let the big players like singapore airlines worry about the international flights

[@FlightFormula]

Yeah, fair point.

[@sbor90]

Not sure how happy EY would be with them joining *A, especially after the QR tie-up

[@RTransportGuy]

Joining an Alliance costs money, and Bain doesn't see a "return on investment" for spending the money on applying/joining otherwise Bain would've applied by now. If the Qatar Airways rumour of buying a stake eventuates in a trade sale (alongside the IPO) you can expect Qatar to leave Virgin Australia out of Alliances for the foreseeable future. Considering they're Oneworld

[@ISB021]

Yeah true. Just logically for Star Alliance Australia seems to be a bit of a black spot for domestic connections. Qantas code share with Air NZ also complicates it as well. Don't know but it was something I wished they had done ages ago. The other option is for possibly an affiliate level agreement without all the heavy strings (there are still some strings attached like lounge access, systems etc but they will still have freedom to grow). If they can focus on the domestic market and possibly the NZ, Pacific and Bali , they could do really well. I really hope they can get back into the market and offer that viable alternative

[@rais1953]

I suppose it's the best they can do while they're stuck with one type of narrow body aircraft. You got something less than Air AsiaX's Premium Flatbed option which they modestly refrain from calling Business Class.

[@readerr0r]

Rip to this route, Virgin’s HND-CNS leg is being dropped in Feb 25

[@jordanalexander4331]

In my opinion, virgin was a great international carrier, there main problem was that they didn’t join star alliance and didn’t distribute there international route network to more profitable destinations.

[@linghsu8635]

my family are thinking to go to Bali from Brisbane, but friends all suggested us not taking 737-8 Max due to the safety issues and concerns in the past several years with this same type of plane. We are concerned that airline may not disclose the real issue of 737-8 Max. At least two major airlines have warned pilots that if a bird hits one of the engines on a Boeing 737 Max, the passenger cabin could become filled with smoke, the issue was not made widely public . This was on news recently and looks very scary to us.

[@timdalton3989]

Another👌vid with great insights to where VA has been in the skies and the boardroom 👍

[@FlightFormula]

Glad you think so!

[@celia5893]

I've just booked Cairns > Haneda (economy) for June. I was excited when Virgin announced their route to Haneda but after seeing this I'm not as excited haha. Would you recommend upgrading to business class? Will I hate Virgin economy as much as Jetstar economy (which I have done many times). I flew Jetstar business class last year for the first time and thought they were great... I just don't like the fact they go to Narita which is so far from Tokyo.

[@cameronbrown5615]

Don't you get free WiFi on virgin with business class?

[@JesseCasserly757]

We’ve got mirrors galore though!

[@benjaminlloyd-lewis1185]

Did you buy your DJI Action Camera from Qantas Marketplace?

[@FlightFormula]

Hahaha nah, they are always the most expensive place to buy from 🙃

[@randomguygamingandstuff]

bro i sat where he was on flight radar looking at the a350s and stuff landing

[@Coolwow437]

Flightformula question for you! For virgin to complete with qantas company I work for what do they need to do 😂 order a330 a220

[@fyshi6226]

Unlikely they'd get A330s again as they were the only aircraft they never made a profit with

[@skandavasuki-ue3pb]

I love your videos they are so detailed and funny

[@FlightFormula]

Cheers!

[@Electrotract]

Great review mate. Similar length on a 737-Max8 , is Perth to Auckland and Nadi- Honolulu via Kiribati ( Start in Bne)

[@FlightFormula]

That’s a long day jeeeez

[@johnc9658]

VB was about to file for bankruptcy but got wind of Ansett doing the same. How things might have been different. I did the same trip in Business in November. Didn’t enjoy it. Pretty much agree with all you said & I booked it for essentially Premium Economy. At $2500 return, it was the cheapest I could find at the time. I think the crew did a sterling job, considering the product they had to work with, but those seats were the killer for me. Too hard. Domestic seats for International just doesn’t work.

[@nicolerichards5769]

So where do the crew rest on the flight in a narrow body

[@FlightFormula]

Good question

[@sbor90]

Every flight has three seats blocked in the back row of economy

[@sweetpotaatoo]

Great review!! What video equipments do you use for recording your videos?

[@mavenglobal]

No surprise on what's been stripped back as Bain Virgin's owner want to flog it for mega $$ soon so Qantas be loving this for a while

[@avianlook]

Although the badboy is probably fine, flying a Max just feels iffy considering all the "things" it's been through. Solid video!

[@FlightFormula]

Yeah. Understandable!

[@christianbayerstein5243]

Honestly, I would have preferred the Global 7500 13:40

[@FlightFormula]

Pretty sure that was a mining company jet!

[@ozzyay9720]

Ex VA employee here. VA initially had A330-200s and the B777s not exactly sure where the A330s went but I do know that the B777s went to QR. Now the reason why VA got rid of their widebodies is because after they were bought out by Bain, they had to assess the cost of operating and maintaining them and both VA and Bain agreed they're not financially feasible. With VA restructuring their business operations both post corona and post admin, their main focus was flying the 737-700s and 800s domestically and internationally. The Max 8s and Max 10s will slowly replace the 700s, have the 700s replace the A320s at VARA. Their belief that max8 and 10s will save them lots of money on operating them than the 700 and 800s. The Haneda thing, it was a common question that was constantly raised to Jayne at the town Hall. In the lead up to the laugh, she was very coy about it. So the thing is, the Haneda route for VA is actually unprofitable for them and what's even more odd is that they have a codeshare agreement with ANA which as you mentioned flies direct to Haneda. Before I got made redundant, they might consider widebodies again if they re-introduce long haul flights on the proviso that it is efficient and cheaper to run.

[@RTransportGuy]

Tokyo-Haneda iirc started due to the Queensland Government and Cairns Airport offering generous private and taxpayer funded subsidies, without said subsidies, I'd suspect Bain would've let the Haneda slot lapse back to the IASC authority (for retendering) in March 2023.

[@andreasplus]

Good video..was always wondering why VA is flying this route...thanks!

[@FlightFormula]

Glad it was helpful!

[@maxwellgear848]

Love the vids!

[@FlightFormula]

Cheers mate!

[@MrBibi86]

*Qantas should change its slogan from "Spirit of Australia" to "So You Had No Other Choice"*

[@brigittelehmann9749]

great flight thank you for sharing greetings from the netherlands

[@YoyoZee]

I am a Gold Vekociry member and find domestically Virgin is awesome, much easier to get higher status. However would not fly with them internationally other than maybe NZ. Would much rather fly with a partner like Etihad, Qatar or Singapore internationally.

[@FlightFormula]

Yeah exactly!

[@ShemerRhoue]

what camera are using

[@FlightFormula]

Bunch of cameras, 360 camera for the walking shots

[@ShemerRhoue]

@@FlightFormula i like it. Its like someone's filming you when you're walking with your luggage

[@crystalgyle2067]

Points plus pay is very expensive vs qantas one with 8 flight to Philippines. But looks disappointing considering the business class standard for an international flight should be a lying down seat. This is more like a premium economy more than anything.

[@Fish29077]

Hopefully they can invest in a better aircraft for this flight in the near future. Great video

[@FlightFormula]

Flights been cancelled lol

[@manha61]

I think VA is in the process of building up a widebody fleet...

[@FlightFormula]

Nope!

[@jamestsung7180]

With 7 hours flight, business class can’t let you lie down? That’s a real big no no no for me

[@rudraganesh]

That’s premium economy at business class prices

[@benjaminlloyd-lewis1185]

I sprinted home from work early to get here

[@FlightFormula]

Hahahaha 🫶🫶🫶

[@kierannelson2581]

I've always thought tgey should advertise these seats as premium economy so that it isnt compared to the business other airlines are flying between Japan and Australia.

[@SomeoneAndSomthing]

EVERYONE australia airports are very easy to get into buttttt. if you get caught with anything bad which will happen if you will so you will stay their for atleast a day or smth like that

[@torinsuriarachi700]

They should bring back the a330s and Boeing 777s

[@RTransportGuy]

A330s have all been returned to lessors and 777s have been sold via mortgagers with Qatar grabbing 3 of them. 1 other 777 has gone to the scrappers.

[@FlightFormula]

At least the 330s!

[@JisooTurtleRabbitt]

At the moment virgin are refurbishing the seats on the older planes and also buying new 737-8s and using them for flights without the inflight entertainment system fitted yet, it’s embarrassing to have to PA to passengers to download stuff before take off

[@bend386]

I disagree it’s a net negative at all. They can fly it with a Fokker with 10 stops in between and carry 0 passenger (exaggeration but you get the point) but as long as the slot doesn’t fall into the the hands of Qantas it’s all worth it. We don’t know when or if more Australian slots at haneda will be made available, and if Qantas group is to get 100% of the haneda slot for the foreseeable future you can guarantee they are going to price gouge Australian consumers like never before.

[@FlightFormula]

Well there were 4 slots released pre Covid, 1 each to JAL, ANA, Qantas and Virgin so it was never going to be 100% to Qantas. This just sounds like Qantas hate, they definitely deserve some hate but this isn’t a topic to be hating on them for imo LOL. That fact we can all fly to Japan fairly cheaply with Jetstar is quite positive really.

[@blake_johnson]

The awkwardness is so real without a divider - flew Virgin business to Perth. I felt like such a scammer sipping a pre-departure wine while everyone else watches you.

[@FlightFormula]

hahahaha

[@paulbr68]

what's ya bag dude?

[@FlightFormula]

Crumpler!

[@Nae395]

Virgin business class is wonderful.

[@FlightFormula]

This guy hasn’t tried any other airlines

[@siwi666]

you are too kind.

[@FlightFormula]

🫶

[@_curtisy45]

They should at least improve the business class product for an over 5 hours flight

[@dantanfly]

nice vid - great insight into the flight, especially being on a 737 for 7+ hours! yikes lol

[@FlightFormula]

Hahaha I know right😅

[@PWC67]

Wouldn’t waste my money flying a 737 for anything over 4 hours. Short Haul aircraft should stay short haul. Let’s just see how long it lasts. And yes I am a FF with VA.

[@FlightFormula]

Fair call!

[@IlIlIlIlIlIlIlIl-v9h]

“I sound like such a wanker” welcome to airline review YouTubing 😂😂

[@kenzen-ul4qo]

If it’s a long haul flight, and you can’t lie flat, it ain’t business class

[@FlightFormula]

Kinda agree tbh

[@offtopic5307]

The problem is VA is still in COVID (cost cutting) mode. Their food offerings never changes after being pared right back during COVID. So they continue to hide behind the cost cutting and just say it's for health and safety reasons. That's been their business model for the past 3 years, and is why they have decayed into the hot mess they are today.

[@Ausshops]

I prefer the old Virgin Business class layout, the rope would stop economy class passengers using the toilet at the front.

[@siwi666]

wow, free chips!

[@FlightFormula]

Yum 😋