Aircraft Downgrade

[Kev66]

Booked a Perth - Sydney trip a couple of months ago - fully flexible economy with the hope of upgrading using Platinum upgrades or points, only to discover today when I was checking on the upgrade availability that the Syd to Perth aircraft has been changed since booking and is all economy, no business class. Anyone know if this a recent introduction on a long haul route?

 

[henrus]

This is not new on Virgin (or Qantas) and there is not much you can do, at the end of the day the operating aircraft can be swapped whenever the airline wants - VA have this in their T&Cs.

One option you have is to try calling Virgin and asking for a 737-800 flight but they may not budge or request the fare difference from you.

 

[luckypierre]

Booked a Perth - Sydney trip a couple of months ago - fully flexible economy with the hope of upgrading using Platinum upgrades or points, only to discover today when I was checking on the upgrade availability that the Syd to Perth aircraft has been changed since booking and is all economy, no business class. Anyone know if this a recent introduction on a long haul route?

If the choice fare on for the flight is reasonably priced could also cancel fully flex fare for a travel credit and rebook the choice fare

 

[Forg]

Which Perth to Sydney flights don’t have at least the 3-ish rows of domestic-spec Business seats?

 

[henrus]

Which Perth to Sydney flights don’t have at least the 3-ish rows of domestic-spec Business seats?

OP was talking about using platinum upgrades so I assume this is a Virgin Australia flight. VA only has two rows of business class but also a fleet of 737-700s that are all economy.

 

[Kev66]

Which Perth to Sydney flights don’t have at least the 3-ish rows of domestic-spec Business seats?

It is the 8.15pm out of Sydney

 

[Forg]

It is the 8.15pm out of Sydney

VA as per @henrus I assume?

 

[AIRwin]

It is the 8.15pm out of Sydney

October 8?

 

[henrus]

VA as per @henrus I assume?

VA is 8:15pm so I'd say it's safe to assume VA569

 

[Kev66]

Yes that’s the one

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

During V1/VA1.5 days, (pre voluntary admin, during which/where they nearly went bankrupt), they had the wide body, and their 737s were all the -800 variety, with a J cabin.
Now, they are really a LCC, but won't admit it.
Not only on the OP's flight, but also all flights or the majority of flights from CBR - SYD, are now with Link airlines, no J cabin, but they dare to charge a J fare, if you are flying further out from SYD, ie, CBR - SYD - PER, even tho the CBR - SYD has no J, they will still charge you as if there was a J cabin.
OP, as you didn't book J, and now that they have changed to plane to all Y, you don't have a choice of getting a J seat on that flight.
EconX might be an option, either row 1 or row 13/14 over wing exit row.
In a way, lucky you bought a flexY, so can get a refund and go via MEL, if you cancel and rebook.

 

[Bagpuss]

During V1/VA1.5 days, (pre voluntary admin, during which/where they nearly went bankrupt), they had the wide body, and their 737s were all the -800 variety, with a J cabin.
Now, they are really a LCC, but won't admit it.

But they are putting the J class into the non -700's, so I'm lost on your point.


Virgin Australia Boeing 737 seat capacity once cabin refresh is complete:

• Boeing 737-800 and 737-8 aircraft (31 rows, 8 Business Class seats, 174 Economy seats)
• Boeing 737-700 aircraft (23 rows, 8 Business Class seats, 126 Economy seats). This includes the introduction of a Business Class cabin on 7 existing Boeing 737-700 aircraft which are currently fitted with Economy seating only.

Virgin Australia unveils cabin of the future and $110 million fleet-wide aircraft upgrade

Thousands of Virgin Australia team members and their families will welcome the airline’s first Boeing 737-8 aircraft at its Brisbane Hangar today.

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Ah. so, they are fitting J onto their 737-700 too, ooo, didn't know that.
But back to Kev66's post, its a pity he didn't buy J, then he would have got something to claim on.
But he bought a Y tix, and then turns out the plane got swapped to a no J 737-700, (un retrofitted as yet).

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

But they are putting the J class into the non -700's, so I'm lost on your point.

It will be interesting to see what timeframe they have for those -700 J conversions, considering they were for the FIFO market and replacing the F100s.

 

[oz_mark]

It will be interesting to see what timeframe they have for those -700 J conversions, considering they were for the FIFO market and replacing the F100s.

The whole cabin refresh project is expected to take 2 years. Don't know where the -700s fit in all that.