Changes to check-in times coming?

[Harrison_133]

A small pick up, but are changes to VA check-in times coming?

The itinerary for a booking I made today explicitly states that check-in and bag drop closes 40 minutes before departure (this is new):


Comparing to an itinerary sent just 10 days ago, it just recommends dropping off bags 45 minutes before departure:


And the website still says that check-in closes 30 minutes before:


I might be reading too much into this, but given this slight alteration has occurred within the last 10 days or so, it would suggest to me that VA will soon be updating their check-in times.

Thoughts?

 

[henrus]

Wouldn't surprise me if they change to 40 mins, Bonza do it and VA is just another LCC with a handful of lounges right .

Personally I think they should make it more time... Controversial but often those travelling with luggage domestically are those who travel less frequently so saying it closes just 40 minutes prior is asking for trouble (particularly when the old email said 45 mins).

Whilst they're at it could they please define their international check in times. For domestic flights they clearly state 30 mins (or at least for now) but the international flights for about 10+ years has said:

"We recommend you are checked in with bags dropped at least 90 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time."

The whole language behind this does my head in. Is 90 mins a recommendation or the limit? Truth is no one knows and it seems the airports just make it up on the day depending on how many clouds are in the sky. At some international ports I've seen them close hard on 90 mins whilst others have stayed open until 30 mins prior then almost immediately started boarding - there is zero consistency to their madness.

 

[HS-TQE]

Wouldn't surprise me if they change to 40 mins, Bonza do it and VA is just another LCC with a handful of lounges right .

A glorified LCC.. sorry, a "Value Carrier" with a small 8 seater Recliner J cabin attached at the front of the Low Cost Y cabin.

 

[Saab34]

They once called it a ‘new world carrier’ or some bs didn’t they?

As an investor, you are either a low cost outfit or full service, nothing else, don’t try the funny word game on us investors. Anything in between, or funny words one tries to use, you won’t be getting my cash.

Virgin is a low cost carrier.

 

[HS-TQE]

They once called it a ‘new world carrier’ or some bs didn’t they?

As an investor, you are either a low cost outfit or full service, nothing else, don’t try the funny word game on us investors. Anything in between, or funny words one tries to use, you won’t be getting my cash.

Virgin is a low cost carrier.

Don't forgot "low cost" is divided into two now. LCC and ULCC.

Jetstar, Southwest and Virgin would be in the former, whilst the defunct Tigerair, Ryanair (UK/Ireland) and Spirit in the USA are in the ULCC category.

 

[RooFlyer]

Virgin is a low cost carrier.

Which is a compliment for them. Low cost, but for that, very good service, in the main. I mean, look where the expensive legacy carrier (s) are now, and the problems you still get.

A while ago, someone said that Virgin are just as likely to give you a coughpy experience as Qantas. To which I replied, yes, but its a cheap coughpy experience, not an expensive one

 

[ben95]

Virgin is a low cost carrier.

That’s the direction the industry is moving towards one way or another. Whether you make a separate brand to do it or introduce slimmed down product (VA Lite/UA Basic Economy) it’s just a technical difference.

The US big 3 and EU carriers have been operating like this for the past 20 years in their domestic networks (no free checked bag, no meals onboard, recliner or Euro style J etc). In that regards, most domestic flights in western countries are already operated by low cost carriers. Perhaps VA is even late to the party in that regards.

 

[HS-TQE]

Euro Legacies has also largely been operating the same "Value Carrier" model on the intra-Europe services as VA and Batik Air, just with Euro J (middle seat blocked), whereas VA and Batik at least offers domestic J recliners (and Batik offers 3rd party lounge access whereas VA offers no lounge past immigration on their own operated international services).

However, the Euro Legacies also have to compete with ULCCs such as Ryanair and Wizzair, whereas VA and Batik largely compete with other LCCs and to a lesser extent legacies with a Hybrid model (i.e NZ's seat to suit on ZQN services and Pacific Island services).

The US3 at least offers some hot food on their "Value Carrier" models for purchase in Y, although also limited to longer routes only (otherwise it's just snacks).

 

[Nick C.]

A glorified LCC.. sorry, a "Value Carrier" with a small 8 seater Recliner J cabin attached at the front of the Low Cost Y cabin.

...with better food in J than its main competitor.

 

[jase05]

Euro Legacies has also largely been operating the same "Value Carrier" model on the intra-Europe services as VA and Batik Air, just with Euro J (middle seat blocked),

Unless you fly with SAS and they don’t block the middle seat, only allocate you second tier boarding and then on most flights serve some sort of lame snack to J customers

 

[Scarlett]

@Harrison_133 is your flight to the Aus offshore territories from PER? I seem to recall there was an earlier check in closure due to notionally being an international flight.

 

[Harrison_133]

@Harrison_133 is your flight to the Aus offshore territories from PER? I seem to recall there was an earlier check in closure due to notionally being an international flight.

No, this was for a MEL-LST itinerary.

 

[kallinch]

So friend in VA has checked on this it’s very likely just email template typo and website times are correct - no changes