We'd never want to suggest that people in the advertising industry have too much time on their hands, but we were tipped off by some insiders that there are some humorous anomalies visible in the new Virgin Australia ad if you watch carefully.
For example, Virgin Australia girl is pictured being picked up in a swank Jaguar ... at the Qantas arrivals area. Did she fly in on Qantas perhaps?
Further evidence of the model passenger's bare-faced treachery: is she walking past a baggage collection carousel which shows Qantas flight number "QF 422: Perth" on the screen?
That's what we thought, too, although at closer examination it could be QP (Air Kenya) or OP (Olympic Air)... but it's definitely not DJ, the old V Australia's VA code or even Virgin Atlantic's VS.
Then there's the guy talking on his phone in the plane, something that Qantas allows before take-off and after landing, but Virgin Blue never has -- "until you're well inside the terminal". hasn't until recently. UPDATE: Several readers pointed out that Virgin changed its policy on this a year ago. Thanks for the pick-up guys.
(Our insiders admit this hypothesis doesn't stand up particularly well to scrutiny though, as the plane fuselage is clearly pictured on the ground, split in half.)
You can watch the full TV ad for yourself here. And forget our tongue-in-cheek nitpicking: it's a brilliantly snappy, punchy and energetic teaser for what's to come.
15 Apr 2011
Total posts 580
Another one - no red rings on the engine cowlings in the shot where they're all walking across the tarmac... the virgin girl is there though...
05 May 2011
Total posts 1
Actually, Virgin have allowed mobile phone use up until the last door is closed, and once the plane touches down, provided you make use of the areo bridge for over a year and a half now ;)
05 May 2011
Total posts 17
This article is probably, single handedly, the most rediculous, waste of bandwith article out there. Who's not to say that there was no where else that they were allowed to pull up at that particular terminal to film this thing? And the fact that shes walking through the terminal with the "supposed" QF flight listing behind, who is meant to look like just a regular passenger passing through. And not to mention the whole thing about QF being the only airline who allows the use of mobile phones on board, what a load of croc! Virgin Australia have been allowing this for a while now. I know for a fact.. Ive flown Virgin too!
06 May 2011
Total posts 1
Gee Dan, one would think that an Editor would have all their facts right before you went and published an article. As others have mentioned, Virgin Australia have had the ability to use their mobiles up until the last door is closed on departure and when the aircraft turns off the runway on landing, and yes, this has been in effect for more than a year and a half. Perhaps you need to fly Virgin Australia a little more to ensure the accuracy of your articles in future. :-)
Qantas
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 177
Thanks for the pickup Shaun, and consider me rightfully shamed ;-)
Yes, I'll certainly be flying more with Virgin Australia after their launch this week! I never really warmed to the Virgin Blue brand, with the compulsory joking around at the start of every flight ("groan... heard that joke 30 times before") , but I feel very comfortable with the full service offering of Virgin Australia!
04 May 2011
Total posts 1
Actually the car is parked outside the Virgin Arrivals T2, the sign, if not obstructed by the car would show an arrow for Qantas Arrivals further along to T3. How do I know? I walk that route nearly every day to work ;)
Also I happened to be walking past during the filming of that particular sequence!
Not familiar with that terminal, certainly not T2, very positive it is not T3 or Melbourne. Some of the ad was filmed in China?
Obviously the footage of the A330 in the hangar was before the final livery was decided.
The gentleman in the car, is actually the Captain getting off the buggy holding the same brown leather folder. All about staff and how they have help direct the game change program. A nice refreshing ad.
15 Apr 2011
Total posts 580
re the terminal the walking section if filmed in - must be Melbourne... QF422 is a MEL-PER service, departs at 10am...
10 Mar 2011
Total posts 526
Well isn't T2 also used by Qantas (flights 1600 and above)? So why wouldn't Qantas have a sign there... doesn't mean it's the Qantas terminal.
Having said that... It is a little silly of Virgin to allow a Qantas logo to be visible in the background. One would think they would be ensuring that all signage is Virgin.
06 May 2011
Total posts 1
Just a quick note to clarify the two letter flight designator codes for V Australia & Virgin Atlantic.
V Australia is VA
Virgin Atlantic is VS
:)
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 May 2011
Total posts 35
One for the editor:
V Australia's code is VA
Virgin Atlantic's code is VS
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2561
Thanks for the VA/VS pickup - silly error but after Wednesday I think we were all V'd out, so we beg understanding for the small mistakes and forgiveness for anything bigger. :)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Sep 2012
Total posts 236
Also, Olympic Air have never used the IATA code OP. I can see the author sourced this info from a great but hardly reliable airline blog (airliners.net). Further research would have revealed that OP is the IATA designator for Chalks Ocean Airways based in Florida (ceased operations in 2007).
Aus BT are a great site which I visit daily but please be more careful with your research (and spelling) which are sometimes less than accurate or correct.
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