Have We Just Endured A Fare Hike?

[Deleted member 29185]

Have I missed a thread on this? I just noticed the regular saver fare OOL-SYD has increased from $75 to $79 (just over 5%). Has anybody else noticed this on their routes? (OOL-MEL seems unchanged).

 

[Standby]

Have I missed a thread on this? I just noticed the regular saver fare OOL-SYD has increased from $75 to $79 (just over 5%). Has anybody else noticed this on their routes? (OOL-MEL seems unchanged).

The entry levels on a number have markets have risen lately. SYDBNE and SYDMEL were increased to $99 from $95 a week or so ago
The gap between QF leadins have shrunk to under$20 in some instances from the 25-30 they were
Also QF historically do trade announcements in advance of increases(which quickly get seen by posters here), VA dont do the same they just slip the increases in(and to be fair decreases in)

 

[Pushka]

I posted on the Qantas thread that we had noticed the fares from Adelaide-Melbourne had increased from around an average $400 return, to now $700+ It was put down to the time of the year and I hope that is the case.

 

[Justinf]

Price rise on DJ has been most noticeable IMO.
I want to book a reward flight toLAX soon, but need another 2000 points and have been trying to book something as a day trip anytime over the next two months to get the points balance up and it's nigh on impossible without forking over at least $250 for a MEL-ADL, MEL-CBR, MEL-SYD at a decent time of day. Forget about MEL-HBA or even MEL-LCN.

 

[MarkD]

Price rise on DJ has been most noticeable IMO.
I want to book a reward flight toLAX soon, but need another 2000 points and have been trying to book something as a day trip anytime over the next two months to get the points balance up and it's nigh on impossible without forking over at least $250 for a MEL-ADL, MEL-CBR, MEL-SYD at a decent time of day. Forget about MEL-HBA or even MEL-LCN.

You would need to spend over that anyway to get the 2000 pts, if you are relying on flights for the points.. 5 pts per $$$$ and then the bonus depending on your Status

 

[Justinf]

You would need to spend over that anyway to get the 2000 pts, if you are relying on flights for the points.. 5 pts per $$$$ and then the bonus depending on your Status

$114 each way would get me the points i need, which close enough to $250 anyway. Gold status.
I worded it badly though and that was my fault. While searching i did notice that a basic fare to adl cbr syd for less than $200 return was impossile between the hours of 9am and 4pm even n weekends in Dec and Jan something that i always found easy to do in the past.

 

[stomplad]

Price rise on DJ has been most noticeable IMO.
I want to book a reward flight toLAX soon, but need another 2000 points and have been trying to book something as a day trip anytime over the next two months to get the points balance up and it's nigh on impossible without forking over at least $250 for a MEL-ADL, MEL-CBR, MEL-SYD at a decent time of day. Forget about MEL-HBA or even MEL-LCN.

Yep I agree, without exception DJ has been equal or more than QF on every search and booking I have done in recent months. It use to be the other way round.

 

[coyote25]

Yep I agree, without exception DJ has been equal or more than QF on every search and booking I have done in recent months. It use to be the other way round.

Using best fare of the day last 4 return flights (Mel-BRI, Mel-Syd & Mel-CBR) have been with QF. I put it down to heaps of status matches plus QF problems equaling lots of VA bookings.

Will be interesting to see if this stays as the new norm.

 

[MarkD]

Agree 100% qf have had well over half my flights lately because I am tight and pay as little as possible

 

[LiamR]

Have I missed a thread on this? I just noticed the regular saver fare OOL-SYD has increased from $75 to $79 (just over 5%). Has anybody else noticed this on their routes? (OOL-MEL seems unchanged).

I've noticed this too. OOL/SYD has increased slightly. I haven't yet noticed prices go up on OOL/MEL. I saw a sale for that route of $79 a week or two ago.

 

[MarkD]

I've noticed this too. OOL/SYD has increased slightly. I haven't yet noticed prices go up on OOL/MEL. I saw a sale for that route of $79 a week or two ago.

Indeed, and during the double SC promotion.

 

[Justinf]

Agree 100% qf have had well over half my flights lately because I am tight and pay as little as possible

You may say that in jest, but it is very true.
My money is my money. I don't part with it lightly. If i think i am not getting value for it, i won't par with it. Therefore my 2000 point run will be on hold until i get value for it.

 

[MarkD]

Yes it is true, and there are many here in the same boat, reality is, we only really need to retain dj gold if most travel is inter capital, which i will have achieved next week anyway, need I say more?
Shame really because to me dj is my preferred carrier, however, every $$$ I give them over qf is a $$$ I don't have, so it's a no brainer really, especially if its substantial $$$$
Basic rule for me is to compare, and I will go up to around $10 more to fly dj, which to me is a fair price for a coffee and toast in the lounge plus priority boarding ( obviously I would prefer the lesser catering on offer on dj to be less $$$) Anything over that and qf get my business. I won't use jq due to a really bad experience back in the 717 days, long ago I know, but I don't forget !!

 

[Mogul]

Coast to Coast prices have doubled over the last couple of months.

Saver fares are now $450 to $500 each way.

:evil::evil::evil::evil::evil::evil:

 

[markis10]

Coast to Coast prices have doubled over the last couple of months.

Saver fares are now $450 to $500 each way.

:evil::evil::evil::evil::evil::evil:

Just supply and demand, less seats, higher costs, still $198 each way in September next year

 

[smit0847]

Did people think that VA implementing all these new initiatives, services, benefits would mean a decrease in prices??

 

[MarkD]

I think you are missing the point, the base saver fare has no inclusions any different to the old cheap cough virgin fare. You are still required to pay for luggage, food, water and almost everything else. That is a LCC, however the fares have risen to a level where qf is constantly cheaper, yet they are not LCC even if their offering is meager, you will still get free luggage allowance and, unbelievable I know, some food water for free. The virgin that small business owners use, is a totally different virgin to that which has evolved of late, we need to watch our pennies, and we feel it when increases happen, which is a fact of life, however, when the product remains the same, we take the best value. I know with status, you do get extras, but most people would not fly the 500sc ( 50 flights syd-Bne ) pa to reach that, so that's irrelevant to this thread

 

[Justchecking]

I think you are missing the point,

Not so sure he is actually. The name of the game for DJ these days is yield, across all fare classes. Hence the lounge, the pretty seat covers and all the rest. I guess theyve made a business decision that the $10 difference price sensitive market is something they are willing to sacrifice in order to get the fare payers for whom an extra $15 makes no difference as long as they get lounge access. The saver fare price will be drive by forwrd bookings, and if those are strong they may have no need to cut their yield any further. Maybe QF is more price competitive these days because of a lessening of their forward bookings.

When demand is high businesses become price insensitive, its the same old corporate game. And while QF may be more competitive this month things could change the next. But by all means go where you get the best bang for your buck.

 

[smit0847]

I think you are missing the point, the base saver fare has no inclusions any different to the old cheap cough virgin fare. You are still required to pay for luggage, food, water and almost everything else. That is a LCC, however the fares have risen to a level where qf is constantly cheaper, yet they are not LCC even if their offering is meager, you will still get free luggage allowance and, unbelievable I know, some food water for free. The virgin that small business owners use, is a totally different virgin to that which has evolved of late, we need to watch our pennies, and we feel it when increases happen, which is a fact of life, however, when the product remains the same, we take the best value. I know with status, you do get extras, but most people would not fly the 500sc ( 50 flights syd-Bne ) pa to reach that, so that's irrelevant to this thread

I agree nothing but the price of the saver fare will increase. I'm saying that VA need to increase revenue to pay for all these new things (that largely benefit others) and fully expect a 10 - 20% fare increase across all tickets.

 

[MarkD]

Yep, so small business does not really matter any more. QF couldn't give a rats either, so I guess loyalty, or lack of it, is a two way street. Business is business, so they say, where I can, I will use Virgin, because I prefer them, but the hard product is still inferior IMO to what QF offer (DJ staff are 1000% better though, which makes me choose them in preference if I can)

Oh, and if you are lucky and quick you can still get good fares, My wife, 3 kids and myself got return tickets BNE-MEL, next week for $850 all up BNE-MEL-BNE for 5 seats. Just reserved seats, and reserved ROW 3 --- Will see what we get!!!

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Hmm re-reading that last bit I guess I have just blown my own argument out of the water.... Excuse me, I am a moron