Business class happy hour [expired August 2012]

[serfty]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

No CNS/MEL offerrred - We have a wedding to go to in October and have some Business C&P bookings which are 'fully refundable' - the $$$ component of those bookings alone is over $200 each way.

So if they had been offered I would have been jumping in.

 

[Cynicor]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

I missed this as I saw Business for $200 and just assumed it would be the east coast only. Did there happen to be any ex PER flights on offer; for only $200 or some other relatively cheap rate?

 

[Saab34]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

I missed this as I saw Business for $200 and just assumed it would be the east coast only. Did there happen to be any ex PER flights on offer; for only $200 or some other relatively cheap rate?

Fares that are posted on page 1 were all that was on offer.

 

[Cynicor]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

Fares that are posted on page 1 were all that was on offer.

Thanks, that's what I thought. Pretty used to being left out so it's not really disappointment any more.

 

[QF WP]

I assume most who indicated they grabbed the bargain wouild have bought a saver fare or not travelled at all indicates it was incremental to what they would get, so again $$ in the door.

I would have bought a Saver fare, so have have more revenue there. Waiting for times to get better then I'll be back buying Flexi and upgrading into that empty J cabin. With 135K points available, I should be in J most flights

 

[MichaelD]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

I'd agree but they opened 5 months of inventory with what appeared to be very few or no restrictions. It's a sign that not all is going to plan IMO.

Qantas International recently had a no-holds-barred Business sale with entire cabins at sale price and lots of destinations/time periods (including school holidays), something I've never seen before from Qantas, so it could just be competition at work.

On the other hand, Virgin J is a comfortable...but typically very lonely...place to travel, even with their incessant discounting of the product which does suggest a problem. Qantas J cabins at the same times are much fuller.

I personally think they shot themselves in the foot early on with the 737-700s and it's going to take a LOT of this sort of discounting to get irritated J customers back.

 

[Moopere]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

On the other hand I have a good mate as a DJ plat who does SYDMEL twice a week and he continues to comment that the J cabin is mainly empty.
Except for PER routes where J is valued and importantly still allowed in Corp Australia have they overestimated the market or is all their advertising just not getting through.
It doesnt seem the business case is delivering.
AS they havent lost any Y cabin seats in the recon for J ,I've pondered if an extra inch or 2 in Y and focus on being the best Y cabin product would have delivered a better result
and saved the increased cost and complexity of an extra cabin and all that goes with it

I think Borghetti let slip the intent of business class on domestic J during his recent interview with the ABC's business weekend show (whats it called?).

He didn't address it specifically, but made mention of a 'halo effect', which to me speaks to the new DJ business class. He takes a whole of business view I think. To have a profitable frequent flyer scheme you need to draw in the points from everywhere, to do that, people have to want to credit your scheme with their FF points and have to want to fly your product. You need to have something special to offer them, not just a 50$ off ticket at the back of the bus.

There are only 8 J seats on the 738, there is probably more wasted floor space (unsold seats) on any given flight in the economy cabin. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the VFF scheme pays for the 8 seats on every single flight, whether they are sold or not (in a whole of business income sense), sure, better to sell them than not, but the very fact they are there at all is likely generating income for them.

The J class domestic cabin, along with all the effort they put in for the corporate/business traveller, like special entries to the lounge at certain ports and other 'status/business' features, are all aimed at a business audience whom mostly flies Y but is aspirational. Corp policy will restrict the vast majority of business flights of less than 4 hours to Y, but those same business customers will hopefully feel that they are being sent away on a full service airline - imagine the collective howls of disapproval if corporate Australia were being forced to fly TT? Perception and choices is extremely important I think.

 

[straitman]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

On the other hand, Virgin J is a comfortable...but typically very lonely...place to travel, even with their incessant discounting of the product which does suggest a problem. Qantas J cabins at the same times are much fuller.

MEL-ASP yesterday we were the only 2 in QF J.

What's my point? I have seen both high and low loads in both DJ and QF J class cabins. My personal experience is about 50:50 but that does seem to be a little different to some others.

I'm just annoyed that I missed out on the sale. :evil: :evil:

 

[smit0847]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

We ended up booking MEL-BNE and MEL-SYD return during this sale.

For me, MEL-SYD is such a short flight that going in J, even if discounted, is a bit of a silly treat for us. It's not necessary, but it will be nice for something different but we won't do it regularly, even with the points and SC earn.

MEL-BNE though, is getting into the smarter, more serious territory and this route immediately sparked my interest. As I will be gold by that stage, with family pooling back to my partner we are looking at some serious SCs and points for minimal outlay (I think we're getting 120 SCs and 10,000 points each). We were smart enough to go during main meal service windows and I think will make a weekend away pretty special.

I am fairly confident Friday at 4pm will quickly become my favourite 2 hours of the week as I don't think we've seen the last of this. I wait to see whether we continue to see 'silly indulgences' like MEL-SYD dangled in front of us, or whether we are offered more serious, smarter (for earn/value etc), longer routes (if they offer direct MEL-CNS in J for even $299 each way I will probably go once a month).

I have great respect for VA offering last fridays fare on ALL direct flights to those destinations rather than the usual JQ/TT sale fares where only a 6am flight is at the sale price!

 

[MadFairlane]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

I was on a flight... Stupid planes...

Missed out completely...

 

[FrankC]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

I booked SYD-AYQ return for long weekend in Jan
V happy with that

But with limited funds, will have to slump it at the backpackers at AYQ

Thinking of doing the Uluru Express
Never been there, anyone got any suggestions?

 

[penegal]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

How often do you go into a bar and some random yells out, "OK folks! For the next hour, all the drinks are on me!"

Bad example...

 

[markis10]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

Bad example...

I am not sure I would call Singo a random, but he does do it on a regular basis, and it must of been popular early last century, there was an attempt in Victoria to make it illegal for a shout:

make it an offence for any person in any licensed premises or club to sell liquor to be drunk on premises, unless the liquor were paid for by the person supplied; and also an offence for any person, other than the person who paid for the drinks to consume them.

28th November 1916!

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

Very annoyed I missed this

 

[clifford]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

MEL-ASP yesterday we were the only 2 in QF J.

:evil: :evil:

Try QF SYD-HBA in J.

Always 100% full IME.

 

[markis10]

Try QF SYD-HBA in J.

Always 100% full IME.

Not in my experience, and quite a few seats available tomorrow!

 

[pythonisman]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

SYD-OOL J class seats look to be $279 presently, looking at early November atm? It's not quite SYD-CNS @ $200, but it's better than the ~$500ish it was the last time I noticed...

Edit: I think it's for the same dates as the $39 saver fares, so I'd expect it has the same booking timeframe. Outside this time looks like $378 is the 'new' rate?

 

[JohnK]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

Very annoyed I missed this

I was lucky I quickly checked AFF before going to the ariport.

I have never paid for business class in Australia but I booked a few flights on this special as I was missing some flights and economy was $133 and $167 for those flights so for a few $$ extra I thought what the hell book a few.

Personally I would much rather pay $39 and $48 and sit in economy but too late now. Not sure how I will use the 4 complimentary either with current specials.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

Wow JohnK

For you to be in business it's a big step

But yes for an extra $50-$70 it's really a no brainer IMO

 

[JohnK]

Re: DJ happy hour - Business Class sale $200 for many destinations

But yes for an extra $50-$70 it's really a no brainer IMO

The difference is not even that much when you factor in the 10% credit when booking from Virgin Mobile website.

As I mentioned my only issue now is how to use the 4 complimentary upgrades on VA before they expire. Flexi is $139 but economy is $39. I cannot justify spending $100 to sit in business class for ~50 minutes. Need to find another option.