Wine-appreciation, grooming and body language classes are to be served up to Virgin Australia cabin staff.

The decision to give etiquette lessons to flight attendants of the company formerly known as Virgin Blue has been taken in an attempt to win business customers from struggling rival Qantas.

Among the raft of changes reported in Australia's Daily Telegraph is a plan to scrap the traditional Aussie greeting of "mate" to passengers.

Staff will only be allowed to use the term to address frequent flyer passengers who have given their consent in the airline's database.

Virgin Australia's group executive of brand and customer experience, Mark Hassell, has also decided to smarten up the airline's Melbourne Airport lounge, replacing the pool table with baristas and a buffet.

Hassell said: "We are not creating clones and we are not creating straightjackets for people.

"We want to retain of the spirit that exists within Virgin service style and service behavior but put it in a context that is equally relevant for business-purpose and corporate travelers."

However the changes don't appear to have gone down well with all staff.

One unidentified crew member said: "They want us to get away from that 'sex' look that's been attached to the company."

Last year Elle Macpherson rocked the runway with some then-Virgin Blue flight attendants to debut the airline's sis-inspired uniforms.

The move follows a decision earlier this year to give flight attendants whispering lessons to have a "calming effect" for Upper Class passengers.

"It is incredibly important that all Virgin Atlantic's cabin crew have their skills honed in order to provide the most comfortable experience possible for our passengers," Richard Fitzgerald, Virgin Atlantic's whispering coach, said at the time.