Aircraft change - no business (PER - CNS)

[i0sam0i]

I'd booked 3x business class seats from PER - CNS for travel end of January (2x rewards 1x revenue) and have just been notified of an aircraft change so that there is no business class. Website and booking is still showing 737-700 and seat selection is still biz.
What aircraft would the substitute be?
Also, concerned we don't get much of a refund as business was cheaper than flexi fares.

 

[AIRwin]

Wonder if it's the all Economy 737-700?

 

[Mattg]

Ouch.

Yes, it does look like VA is using an all-Y 737-700 on that route now on some days.

Can you ask to be rebooked in business class via Brisbane?

 

[AIRwin]

Can you ask to be rebooked in business class via Brisbane?

I was recently helping a friend search for PER-CNS flights and the best connection on some days is via SYD or MEL...

 

[HS-TQE]

I'd booked 3x business class seats from PER - CNS for travel end of January (2x rewards 1x revenue) and have just been notified of an aircraft change so that there is no business class. Website and booking is still showing 737-700 and seat selection is still biz.
What aircraft would the substitute be?
Also, concerned we don't get much of a refund as business was cheaper than flexi fares.

Looks like you got one of the upcoming PER based 737-700s, which are the F100 replacements. The all-Y aircraft operate RPT services on thin routes inbetween FIFO charters.

Personally I think we could expect more all-Y 73Gs running around the intra-WA, intra-Queensland and thin interstate routes out of WA (PER-LST/HBA) and Queensland (BNE-LST) where J demand would be minimal to non-existent with VA's 'value-orientated (tm)' carrier approach.

EconomyX I would assume would still be provided on the all-Y 73G aircraft, like they do with the F100s and A320s.

 

[i0sam0i]

Ouch.

Yes, it does look like VA is using an all-Y 737-700 on that route now on some days.

Can you ask to be rebooked in business class via Brisbane?

That's what I'm thinking. Also have to balance travel with little miss 3.5yr old of 4.5 vs 9hrs...
I'm not so concerned about the points seat downgrade as that's easier to sort out (may even just go full cash for the seats.

Post automatically merged: Sep 23, 2022

Looks like you got one of the upcoming PER based 737-700s, which are the F100 replacements. The all-Y aircraft operate RPT services on thin routes inbetween FIFO charters.

Personally I think we could expect more all-Y 73Gs running around the intra-WA, intra-Queensland and thin interstate routes out of WA (PER-LST/HBA) and Queensland (BNE-LST) where J demand would be minimal to non-existent with VA's 'value-orientated (tm)' carrier approach.

EconomyX I would assume would still be provided on the all-Y 73G aircraft, like they do with the F100s and A320s.

I found it interesting that our direct flights CNS - PER a fortnight earlier have not changed as I thought that it would be the same PER based aircraft so must depend on the week?

 

[Mattg]

I found it interesting that our direct flights CNS - PER a fortnight earlier have not changed as I thought that it would be the same PER based aircraft so must depend on the week?

The route is showing as a 737-800 (with business seats) on some days, and a 737-700 with Y only on other days in January 2023. It seems fairly random.

 

[jrfsp]

That's what I'm thinking. Also have to balance travel with little miss 3.5yr old of 4.5 vs 9hrs...
I'm not so concerned about the points seat downgrade as that's easier to sort out (may even just go full cash for the seats.

Post automatically merged: Sep 23, 2022

I found it interesting that our direct flights CNS - PER a fortnight earlier have not changed as I thought that it would be the same PER based aircraft so must depend on the week?

Was it a weekend flight that changed? Typically the down days for FIFO when aircraft can be used elsewhere

 

[ozstamps]

And don't plan on anything staying the same if you change it.

Virgin just emailed me this week of many hours each way changes of SYD-CNS-SYD for next month.

Pain in the neck for rental car bookings, as it takes me into another 24 hour zone, and messes up other things panned around what we had booked.

With SYD-CNS there are near no other choices to work around these messes.

 

[Mattg]

Was it a weekend flight that changed? Typically the down days for FIFO when aircraft can be used elsewhere

I think most/all of the PER-CNS flights are on weekends.

 

[i0sam0i]

Was it a weekend flight that changed? Typically the down days for FIFO when aircraft can be used elsewhere

Only direct flights are Saturdays. Morning from Perth afternoon back.

 

[i0sam0i]

Called up virgin after the velocity team had finished for the day. So plan is to call back tomorrow to cancel the return legs and then purchase choice fares so all on the same booking.

 

[Mattg]

Did you get a resolution @i0sam0i?

 

[i0sam0i]

Did you get a resolution @i0sam0i?

Yes - virgin call centre staff member was exceptional. She had to do a fair bit of rebooking and changes, offered to call back once she had progressed a few things and did. Then followed up with another phone call to confirm i had received all the new itineraries.
End result is business (2x points and 1x cash) to PER and economy return (3x cash with discount code applied).

 

[PERLHR]

I'll need to watch this. Have Perth to Cairns booked in May in Biz and it's showing still (well before outage) as 737 8. 5 hours direct is quite a substantial flight to be "downgraded" and to start trying to get refunded. Also someone earlier said that A320 regional has economy. X. I beg to differ. I saw my Perth to Hobart flights had aircraft swap (I noticed and called Virgin) and had to tell them the difference between a 320 and a 737!! The only x seats were the over wing emergency seats. All forward cabin seats on the 320 are standard economy. Begining to learn that one need to constantly watch aircraft changes and routes.