Comments for Michael Harrison's Blog

Comment on Virgin’s New Barrier to Business by Adam Rudy

Adam Rudy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:55:06 +0000

In recent years I have been flying Virgin on 8 out of 10 flights. I made the decision to go on the cheapest flight at the most convenient time (which seems to mostly be Virgin) and as I was loyal to Qantas for years and felt their Frequent Flyer programme was a trap that didn’t deliver the rewards. Why are people so obsessed by their Qantas FF miles when they are so hard to use? People’s loyalty seems greater than the rewards given, it’s a great marketing tool for Qantas. I don’t understant why more businesses don’t make their staff travel on the cheapest flight (including the Government). I think the best thing the new Virgin CEO has done is put new seats on the aircraft which are much more comfortable than the old ones. I also like the fact they seem to have free Foxtel on some flights.

Comment on Virgin’s New Barrier to Business by Michael Harrison

Michael Harrison — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:23:04 +0000

Thanks for the excellent comments. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Generally the rule is “be first or be different”.

Comment on Virgin’s New Barrier to Business by Colin Pearce

Colin Pearce — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:03:30 +0000

Would not be a discussion if they put in more toilets. As usual marketers, managers and engineers always ask the wrong question.

Comment on Virgin’s New Barrier to Business by John Prossor

John Prossor — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:23:48 +0000

As a Qantas frequent flyer, I have not taken enough notice of Virgin’s “aggressive marketing” to consider flying with them. I am not offended by the Qantas curtain (which, as you say, can be swept aside) but I would be offended by the barrier shown in your photo. I hope it is merely an experiment by Virgin.

I think Virgin needs to decide whether it is a discount airline or a “me too” airline.

Comment on Virgin’s New Barrier to Business by Ian Berry

Ian Berry — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:10:51 +0000

I think you are right Michael as you usually are!
My view is ever since the new ceo (ex qantas) took over, virgin has become more like the old qantas who I gave up flying with particularly internationally long ago
and interestingly for me as a fairly frequent virgin customer they havent asked me my thoughts and seems havent asked the other 100 in the plane either so what or who influenced their decision? For me it a bit like the commonwealth bank – ‘determined to be different’ and then not be

Comment on QR codes by Kirsty Wilson

Kirsty Wilson — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:15:20 +0000

That is a great idea Marc. I guess you just need to stop and have that quiet, creative ‘thinking’ time and you could probably come up with lots of great uses for QR Codes.

Comment on QR codes by Michael Harrison

Michael Harrison — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:53:08 +0000

Thanks Marc, great idea.

Comment on QR codes by Marc Fabris

Marc Fabris — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:08:44 +0000

Thanks Michael – it does seem that QR codes are only now starting to catch on in Australia.
We now have QR codes on the back of our business cards that link through to our LinkedIn profiles.
I think also of value is using them to automatically produce text messages – for example, a trade stand flyer or a direct mail flyer might have a QR code to a dedicated number with the text prepopultated “I’m interested, pleae contact me with more information” so only a single press of ’send’ is needed from the prospective customer for the SMS message (SMS messages always contain the recipient’s mobile number).

Comment on How One Broken Promise Can Cost You Your Credibility by Michael Harrison

Michael Harrison — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:53:06 +0000

Good point Ian. The right thing to do would be to call the Greens bluff so people who voted for her would vote for her again at the next election.

Comment on How One Broken Promise Can Cost You Your Credibility by Ian Fry

Ian Fry — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:15:24 +0000

The loss of credibility is significant, and may prove politically fatal.
But it also raises questions of Australia’s level of numeracy.

I remember back when Bob Hawke was PM, there was a story about the right wing of the ALP in NSW planning to cause trouble at the ALP Convention.
Bob Hawke: “I’ll tell you something about them: the b******s can’t count!”

In discussing the reversal by Julia Gillard, not one commentator has mentioned the term “Minority Government”.

So here is the question for the Blog Readers:
As CEO, you have set a policy. You have made that public.
A shift in shareholding now forces you to take the opposite approach.
Do you..
a) resign
b) ignore the shareholders
c) reverse your previous announcement so that you still retain control of all the rest of the agenda.