Aussie World Travel Blog

VIP Very 1st Passenger on VAustalia 001...After flying high on the Vaustralia Launch, Phil gives Golden a "lift" up the rocks overlooking Sydney Harbour!

Phil is Aussie born & bred and I am a Missouri girl.  We share a great passion for people & travel, and pretty much spend our days exploring new ways to build into those passions.   We love helping people achieve their potential &  (re)discover their dreams and purpose in life.  We also love traveling the world, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.  We especially love it when we can combine the two, helping  people experience the world as they turn dreams into reality.

We’re so excited about our latest trip to Australia that we just have to tell you about it.  First, we got 48 hours’ notice from DUA that two (yes, two!) seats had our names on them for Vaustralia’s inaugural flight from LA to Sydney.  In true Aussie fashion, Phil picked himself up off the floor and decided to seize the day!  48 hours later we were on our way to LAX, filled with anticipation and smugness for having been lucky enough to live this spontaneous lifestyle where we could just pack and go.  For those of you who are passionate about travel, you know what I’m talking about.

The anticipation was exceeded only by the experience… We were greeted by “The New Crew in Town” who made us feel a part of the family from the beginning, and the check-in crew made their way down to the gate in time to see us off with smiles and waves just like they were sending off their Mom and Dad.   (Yes most of The New Crew in Town are young enough to be our children!)   When we arrived in Sydney, another New Crew in Town was at the gate to meet us.  Incredible, we thought.  Obviously this was special treatment for the historic Inaugural Flight.  But we were wrong, because when we returned a week later, we received exactly the same treatment.  We were blown away when the young lass who checked us in at LAX walked up to us at the LAX baggage claim a week later and said, “G’day Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy.  How was your flight?”  It’s true, mate, fair dinkum.

Both flights were outstanding!  Seated comfortably in Premium Economy (truly equivalent to business or first class on most domestic airlines), we were offered a glass of “bubbly” while waiting for take-off.   Now you all know how routine the pre-flight safety instructions can be; not so on Virgin!  You’ll have to see the cartoon video to appreciate it and all the crazy characters, including Sir Richard Branson himself.  Once in flight, the true blue Aussie crew offered us choices of fine Australian wine and cuisine for dinner.  Then we propped our feet up on the foot rests, laid back in our luxurious leather seats, popped on our headsets (these are to die for) and selected from the smorgasbord of new release movies and entertainment.  (Even the children had their special channels and games on their own personal touch-screen monitors.)  A couple of great movies and a few hours’ sleep later, we were awakened by the aroma of coffee and a delicious hot breakfast…

What was our return flight like?  Just ditto all the above then add in that we are now feeling a part of the Virgin family….and we were dressed in style as on the inaugural flight we received a smashing Virgin wardrobe (hats, t-shirts, singlets).

We have always been intrigued by the Virgin brand, and had opportunity to experience them in their early days.  The thing that impresses most is they have come so far and incorporated total sophistication into their products, yet still they remain competitive; and to experience Virgin service is to be embraced by the camaraderie and sense of fun that is the Virgin trademark.  (Speaking of product sophistication, camaraderie, competitive pricing, and lots of fun…we just want to say how thrilled we are to be partnering with DUA Travel!  This is an innovative team of empowered staff, a credit to their visionary leader Kirk Demeter.)

Hope our travelogue has made you dream a little.  But don’t just dream about it… Pack your bags and join us in the great Dreamtime Down Under!