Does Virgin Australia actually fly anywhere in Asia?

[JohnK]

Yes I know it may sound like a silly question but I am intrigued.

I struggle with the Virgin Australia website and I have tried searching for award flights for SYD-BKK/HKG/SIN without success. I am guessing these are with partners SQ and VS which is not really what I want.

Which then leaves LAX as a possible destination. I tried for some random dates in February 2013 without success again.

Too difficult for me. Do I have any hope of using the few points that I have been able to save to go where I want to go?

 

[oz_mark]

There's a lovely 737 flight between Perth and coughet. A few Bali flights.

The rest in Asia would be with SQ (or possibly BNE-SIN on Etihad?)

 

[Saab34]

BNE/MEL/SYD/PER-DPS
PER-HKT

Thats it unfortunate, and all in the 738

 

[JohnK]

There's a lovely 737 flight between Perth and coughet. A few Bali flights.

Yes I saw that one.

So they do not have any real flights into Asia?

And just to clarify I need 94,400 points + $780 for a return award seat SYD-LAX? It could be a long time before I get anywhere near 94,400 points!

 

[k3nnis]

I think for myself the international long haul burn rates are not very good on DJ compared to domestic...

 

[medhead]

I found about 43000 points plus about $100 ADL-xPER-HKT (coughet?) today in J.

Eithad does do BNE-SIN 3 times a week I believe.

Edit: Do they still do SYD-AUH?

 

[Blue Chameleon]

Edit: Do they still do SYD-AUH?

Yep.

By chance, I was searching for flights to AUH early next year for a trip, and decided to check VA.

They fly direct SYD-AUH with 773(ER)'s.

 

[browski]

VAustralia metal actually fly from KUL-AUH once-a-week.............but you can't actually book the flight on the Virgin Australia website...........which is a bit unusual.

 

[moa999]

Virgin has a limited number of 773s. They use for LAX and AUH.
Apart from DPS and maybe CGK the 738s are limited by range.

 

[777]

VAustralia metal actually fly from KUL-AUH once-a-week.............but you can't actually book the flight on the Virgin Australia website...........which is a bit unusual.

It's a wet lease, operated on behalf of Etihad. You can book it through Etihad.

 

[Tuddy]

Virgin seriously needs greater Asian penetration. Whether this means flights to SIN from secondary Australian ports (on a 738 which has greater range than a MI 320) such as CNS, TSV, BME etc. or even to somewhere in China (PVG is quite the success story for airlines QF and NZ...) or India (beat AI to the punch with direct flights?) Even direct SYD-HND maybe?

 

[Bolthead]

VAustralia metal actually fly from KUL-AUH once-a-week.............but you can't actually book the flight on the Virgin Australia website...........which is a bit unusual.

Coming back form AUH the other week and our flight attendant mentioned that he is often on this flight from KUL/AUH however it is a leasing agreement they have with EY.

 

[Jousams]

Virgin seriously needs greater Asian penetration. Whether this means flights to SIN from secondary Australian ports (on a 738 which has greater range than a MI 320) such as CNS, TSV, BME etc. or even to somewhere in China (PVG is quite the success story for airlines QF and NZ...) or India (beat AI to the punch with direct flights?) Even direct SYD-HND maybe?

Agreed!

The most realistic option in my opinion is compliment the silk air SIN-DRW and fly it the days silk don't.

I would also LIKE 3 x weekly BNE/SYD/MEL/PER - HKG see VS stop HKG - SYD and transfer aust traffic to these flights. Surely there would be enough local traffic in hong kong along with say 150 VS connecting passengers a day to do this. It would benefit vs customers by not having to transit through SYD to get to other aust destinations. Lounge facilities already set up in HKG. And realistically would VS be making money out of a flight where load factors between HKG & SYD aren't that great...


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[Jousams]

Agreed!

The most realistic option in my opinion is compliment the silk air SIN-DRW and fly it the days silk don't.

I would also LIKE 3 x weekly BNE/SYD/MEL/PER - HKG see VS stop HKG - SYD and transfer aust traffic to these flights. Surely there would be enough local traffic in hong kong along with say 150 VS connecting passengers a day to do this. It would benefit vs customers by not having to transit through SYD to get to other aust destinations. Lounge facilities already set up in HKG. And realistically would VS be making money out of a flight where load factors between HKG & SYD aren't that great...



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And hey, an alliance with dragonair wouldn't be completely inconceivable after j* starts up there...

Yes I am aware I cannot use this damn app properly!

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[Tuddy]

And hey, an alliance with dragonair wouldn't be completely inconceivable after j* starts up there...

Yes I am aware I cannot use this damn app properly!

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Err...yes it would be. KA=CX=OneWorld=No possibility of an alliance. HKG is possible, but unlikely from all those destinations. VS has said that they're on the SYD route for the long-term and that they're happy with loads on SYD services. HKG is an over saturated market out of Australia. When one considers that out of SYD there are 5x CX, 2x QF and 1x VS per day, it shows that there is a lot of capacity - a lot of people connecting on to other places too. In my mind, making friends with CZ or MU or CA is more likely and flying to that airline's home port.

 

[Jousams]

Err...yes it would be. KA=CX=OneWorld=No possibility of an alliance.

is frequently tossed about that CX relationships with OW members, particularly QF is quite frosty
Plus, emirates is partnering with qantas who is in oneworld who qatar is widely rumored to be joining.
Qatar-AA/BA-Qantas-emirates?

If j* HK works out what benefit with QF be to Cathay and vice versa?
So would a KA-VA code share be that far fetched?

But yes, my statement was a long shot.
More directed at highlighting the frosty relationship listed above.

Also VA did have those HKG slots when they first got the 777s. And HKG is an important destination that I would consider central to chasing after business customers and their velocity base probably could support, (Atleast a few flights.)



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[yohy?!]

VA has been on-again-off-again about sending their own metal to Asia for the last couple of years (they were burnt by the Fiji and coughet 777 experiments).

Once more 330s arrive and they can find the markets to make them work, I'm sure they'll consider it. I would like to see them on SYD-HKG in place of VS also but this seems unlikely given the high competition on the route from QF and CX.

SIN also unlikely with the SQ tie-up, I would put my best guesses towards BKK, KUL, PVG or PEK - they could connect with Etihad potentially for extra pax in some cases

 

[eastwest101]

SIN also unlikely with the SQ tie-up, I would put my best guesses towards BKK, KUL, PVG or PEK - they could connect with Etihad potentially for extra pax in some cases

I think that is a fair guess as well.

 

[Jamesl]

At the moment, the thought process is that VS will drop HKG-SYD, VA will pick it up and VS code share. This will be one of the first services. As previously said, when more A332s arrive then VA will stick it to QF.

Bare in mind also the A332 has a much greater range then the A333 too...

 

[k3nnis]

Where did you get the information about VS may cease flying their own metal for SYD-HKG vv?

At the moment, the thought process is that VS will drop HKG-SYD, VA will pick it up and VS code share. This will be one of the first services. As previously said, when more A332s arrive then VA will stick it to QF.

Bare in mind also the A332 has a much greater range then the A333 too...