ACCC Draft Approval given for Virgin Australia alliance with Singapore Airlines

[airtraveladdict]

I wouldnt be surprised to see PE become the new economy for the slightly well-er to do while backpacker class shrinks as a proportion. For people like myself who don't fly very regularly, I'm happy to fork out the extra $$ for a nicer experience on my twice a year sojourns. The joys of saving a few hundred wear off about 4hrs into the flight.

Yeah PE is definately a growing segment in the market, I'm not cashed up or don't work for a company which let me fly business, so PE is the go the get. Dedicated check-in, cabin, lavatory, extra leg room, for 25%-50% extra on an economy airfare. But I would never buy PE fares when they are 100%-150% extra on an economy fare.

Which happened on my Virgin Atlantic LHR-JFK flight, it was $749 return economy or $1700 in PE, so I booked economy and when I got to the airport, VS was asked me if i wanted to move up to PE for 120 pounds, and I took the offer for an 8 hour flight, that works to be around AU$30 an hour.
On the way back Newark-LHR, was offered it again, US$270, so I took it up again -- ended up costing $1,289 -- and the VS PE sale fare is normally around $1100.

On the days that people generally don't like or can't travel, you can score VA's PE/Economy combo ticket to Europe for $2,700 but it is normally $3700-$4200, compared to Qantas PE all the way to Europe for $4600-$5,000. and if you manage to book early on Japan Airline's PE all the way, its around $3,000 from Syd-Narita-European city.

PE will just keep growing since Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines are getting into the market soon.

 

[straitman]

Just a gentle reminder team that the discussion is about 'ACCC Draft Approval given for Virgin Australia alliance with Singapore Airlines' and not about the merits or otherwise of EY. That needs to be in a separate thread if you wish to continue.