Tokyo Haneda slot - how will Virgin Operate it?

[Inlander]

Looks like VA has won a Brisbane - Haneda slot effective 29/3/20

 

[CPMaverick]

Great news Virgin Australia shares spoils with Qantas in The Haneda Games

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Without VA buying a new planes for that Japan route, it would mean that the A330 would have to come from somewhere, so less A330 planes on the trans Au flights BNE/MEL/SYD to PER/vv.
Good for the tie in with ANA NH though, being able to earn VFF points and SC or SQ KF miles via *A flight with SQ KF FF#.
Also good for avoiding the US with its questionings before flight at the gate, so its Au - Japan (NRT/HDN) - Canada.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

My final wordings on this, its sad to say though, I can see the Ansett ghost coming back, where they (Ansett) at that time in the late 1990s got very ambitious, flying everywhere, and in the end, went kaput.
Hopefully VA know what they are doing, and won't make the same mistakes as AN(sett).

 

[klm597]

Very good news for this VA Gold Brisbanite

I hope this endeavour and the ANA tie-up prove more successful than Hong Kong. Now all I need is for Virgin Atlantic to re-launch their Tokyo route and I'll be one very happy camper (dreaming I know).

 

[21510702]

The A330 would most certainly be coming from MEL/SYD to HKG route rather than reducing the domestic transcontential frequency. It is a win for VA, win for passengers (more competition lower price, better ANA connection), win for Brisbane and actually win for Perth because you can now have A330 from Perth to Brisbane.

 

[Stealthflyer]

Terrific news. I’ve been wanting to visit Naoshima art island for a long time. This might be the final push I need.

 

[bullerdude]

Great news - will be good to have another alternative to get to Japan to hits the slopes - and one where velocity points can be more easily redeemed.

 

[Saab34]

It’s only one aircraft and there is multiple that sit overnight at some domestic ports between 10pm-Morning.

They will just sweat the A330 assets harder.

There is no point one of the dropping Mel or Syd to HKG. They need to exit the entire market completely if they are going to do that. Having one token frequency is embarrassing compared to the 3/4 daily that Cathay operate out of one city alone!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Just had a look for Apr school holidays, and the VA booking system still puts potential flyers/flyers via SQ and SIN.

 

[CPMaverick]

There is no point one of the dropping Mel or Syd to HKG. They need to exit the entire market completely if they are going to do that. Having one token frequency is embarrassing compared to the 3/4 daily that Cathay operate out of one city alone!

It's not embarrassing to drop a route if it is losing money. With the issues in HKG they'd have ample reason to do it.

Is the 'one token frequency' to HND going to be a joke too?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Just had a look for Apr school holidays, and the VA booking system still puts potential flyers/flyers via SQ and SIN.

Because nothing has been finalised yet.

 

[oliver_adl]

This is really good for Aussies who are not in Sydney or Melbourne as well - for example from Adelaide transferring in Brisbane if a loyal VA user is highly preferable now and basically makes this connection the best into Japan (probably a bit faster than via Singapore or anywhere in Asia). Dom-Int transit in Sydney is terrible and Melbourne's basically the wrong direction.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Am also waiting to see about the NH (ANA) agreement to see how it progresses.
As far as to the earning of points and SC side, (not considering points utilisation), once the NH and VAi agreements are in place, its actually better to fly ADL - PER early afternoon to connect to the night NH flight to NRT, arr into NRT at 8.45am, or even ADL - SYD afternoon flight, SYD - HND arr 5.15am, rather than going as far as BNE.
As far as the ease of using VFF points for awards, then, yes, it would pay to go to BNE to NRT, without having to transfer VFF points at a loss to KF, then utilise these KF points on ANA to Japan.

 

[CPMaverick]

This is really good for Aussies who are not in Sydney or Melbourne as well - for example from Adelaide transferring in Brisbane if a loyal VA user is highly preferable now and basically makes this connection the best into Japan (probably a bit faster than via Singapore or anywhere in Asia). Dom-Int transit in Sydney is terrible and Melbourne's basically the wrong direction.

If you think D-I-D connections in SYD are bad, not sure how you can sing the praises of BNE, it's just as bad IMO. But I do agree it's a great choice from ADL and even MEL, especially with VA metal all the way and HND being the preferable Tokyo airport.

 

[oliver_adl]

If you think D-I-D connections in SYD are bad, not sure how you can sing the praises of BNE, it's just as bad IMO. But I do agree it's a great choice from ADL and even MEL, especially with VA metal all the way and HND being the preferable Tokyo airport.

Haven't tried the transfer in Brisbane so certainly not singing praises. Appreciate they are separate terminals also but can't really imagine it being as bad as in Sydney?

 

[CPMaverick]

If I had to pick which is worse, I'd say SYD, but they are pretty similar experiences. Unfortunately.

 

[oliver_adl]

Wow, that's quite a benchmark.

Oh well at least Brisbane is a bit more affordable and less hectic if turning any transfer into an overnight stay so they have that going for them.

In any case as a regular VA flyer I'd rather go via Brisbane with them the whole way up if visiting Tokyo than go via Singapore. Likely cheaper and the VA A330 business class is more spacious than SQ offering... SQ lounges are overly busy these days as well where VA have I understand a new international lounge in BNE.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Am also waiting to see about the NH (ANA) agreement to see how it progresses.
As far as to the earning of points and SC side, (not considering points utilisation), once the NH and VAi agreements are in place, its actually better to fly ADL - PER early afternoon to connect to the night NH flight to NRT, arr into NRT at 8.45am, or even ADL - SYD afternoon flight, SYD - HND arr 5.15am, rather than going as far as BNE.
As far as the ease of using VFF points for awards, then, yes, it would pay to go to BNE to NRT, without having to transfer VFF points at a loss to KF, then utilise these KF points on ANA to Japan.

Indeed correct, if terminal changes etc are important to you, then via Perth would be a very good option.

 

[Stealthflyer]

This is really good for Aussies who are not in Sydney or Melbourne as well - for example from Adelaide transferring in Brisbane if a loyal VA user is highly preferable now and basically makes this connection the best into Japan (probably a bit faster than via Singapore or anywhere in Asia). Dom-Int transit in Sydney is terrible and Melbourne's basically the wrong direction.

Melbourne is still the best for me. I loathe Melbourne’s domestic terminal but the easy transfer between terminals and the frequency of flights will always make it preferable to other airports. There are two direct flights a day from Hobart to Brisbane, so it’s not too bad, but there is a risk that I’d be forced to accept a longer than desired transit (or a second transit). Plus the Brisbane dom-int transfer is only mildly less frustrating and risky than Sydney.