Is it my imagination?

[airtraveladdict]

Is it just me or the 777 plane has been temporarily removed from the Sydney-Abu Dhabi route during the month of March and most of April 2012.

I'm trying to book a 3x Premium Economy tickets on Virgin Australia International to Paris in March next year but I noticed the 777 is not on that route for the whole month, and its not because its fully booked, because I did an economy class search and the VA plane is nowhere to be seen for the whole month. Its all codeshare Etihad.

However the VA 777 it is on the MEL/SYD/BRIS-LAX route.

So the only option is to fly Qantas PE but I won't be able to earn SC and maintain my gold status with velocity. Or fly economy on Etihad (the horror) because I can't afford 3x J tickets lol. Or fly Melbourne-LAX on VA and then LAX-London with Virgin Atlantic and take the train to paris....meh

Is Virgin Australia re-painting the fleet, thats why the VA 777 metal is out of action for March - mid April 2012? It seems from April 17 onwards, I can book the 777 again.

 

[Lowjhg]

You can try taking SQ via SIN to CDG, in that way you can earn SC for velocity too!

 

[777]

I believe the 777's are all going in for interior makeovers in the first bit of next year.

 

[Noob]

New interiors and repainting

 

[airtraveladdict]

Ahh okay, that's what i suspected but i wasnt sure and I thought it was odd that I could not find a VA metal on the timetable.

New interiors?? i thought the fleet was quite new. Hmm whilst they are refitting and re-painting, maybe they can install wi-fi onboard as well ^^

 

[ojm]

Are they just changing the branding from VAustralia to Virgin Australia? Could we expect any other changes?

Flying my first time in PE to Dublin next year, looking forward to something that isn't standard Y!

 

[The Rok]

Are they just changing the branding from VAustralia to Virgin Australia? Could we expect any other changes?

Flying my first time in PE to Dublin next year, looking forward to something that isn't standard Y!

It will only be PE as far as AUH, then Y from AUH to DUB with Etihad as Etihad do not offer a PE service.

If you have status with DJ, either Gold or Platinum I can assure you that EY have a very nice and spanking new Pearl Business Lounge in Dublin.

 

[ojm]

It will only be PE as far as AUH, then Y from AUH to DUB with Etihad as Etihad do not offer a PE service.

If you have status with DJ, either Gold or Platinum I can assure you that EY have a very nice and spanking new Pearl Business Lounge in Dublin.

Aware that it's PE to AUH only..but for $200 more than Qantas Y, can't go wrong!

Will only be silver when I fly, so no lounge access! Will be gold after the flights to Dublin - first time I will reach gold too.

 

[Jack Melon]

All the 777's will be heading over to Abu Dhabi from February onwards for a full maintenance overhaul, repaint into the Virgin Australia livery and an interior refurbished to a new product. When they are out of service, Virgin's partner Etihad will cover those flights with their own 777's and A340's.

Jack

 

[medhead]

If looking for status to maintain velocity gold, I would suggest looking very closely at the status earn on Etihad. As best I can make out, all flights earn as full Y not discount.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[jsd]

All the 777's will be heading over to Abu Dhabi from February onwards for a full maintenance overhaul, repaint into the Virgin Australia livery and an interior refurbished to a new product. When they are out of service, Virgin's partner Etihad will cover those flights with their own 777's and A340's.

Jack

The first 777 overhaul/refit/repaint will actually be done in Singapore... as you have been told before

Sorry Jack, that isn't quite right, while the first full repaint and cabin fit-out will happen in the first half of the 2012, it will be done in Singapore.

 

[nlagalle]

All the 777's will be heading over to Abu Dhabi from February onwards for a full maintenance overhaul, repaint into the Virgin Australia livery and an interior refurbished to a new product. When they are out of service, Virgin's partner Etihad will cover those flights with their own 777's and A340's.

Jack

Why aren't we getting upset that VA are sending AC overseas for maintenance?

 

[arraitch]

Why aren't we getting upset that VA are sending AC overseas for maintenance?

It's a fair question, but has there ever been a VA marketing campaign that milked nationalistic sentiment in such a thorough going way as Qantas' advertising campaign - I Still Call Australia Home? Is VA a smaller target and do their actions also appear less hypocritical?

 

[airtraveladdict]

So do we know what the new cabin for the international fleet going to look like?

 

[Noob]

Why aren't we getting upset that VA are sending AC overseas for maintenance?

As much as it would be better for it to be done in Australia, I would not have thought a fleet of five 777s would be enough to sustain their own maintenance facility? - Singapore Airlines has 65 777s, therefore having their own 777 facility makes sense.

 

[nlagalle]

As much as it would be better for it to be done in Australia, I would not have thought a fleet of five 777s would be enough to sustain their own maintenance facility? - Singapore Airlines has 65 777s, therefore having their own 777 facility makes sense.

You are very much correct, much like QF with their A380's too (as an example)

 

[mannej]

Why aren't we getting upset that VA are sending AC overseas for maintenance?

Not wanting to start another topic, but I love the irony of Tony Sheldon sacking a fair percentage of his staff just recently...

 

[flycop]

Why hasn't Virgin Australia released any info on this refit?

Most airlines are keen to promote any new product that is being installed on their aircraft...

Particularly when there is a significant impact on their operations... (i.e. Etihad having to cover all their flights)

All very interesting.

 

[medhead]

The first 777 overhaul/refit/repaint will actually be done in Singapore... as you have been told before

Thanks. I was going to mention that but couldn't be bothered checking the facts.

Jack please post correct information.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[markis10]

As much as it would be better for it to be done in Australia, I would not have thought a fleet of five 777s would be enough to sustain their own maintenance facility? - Singapore Airlines has 65 777s, therefore having their own 777 facility makes sense.

The contract with SQ was signed in 08 and lasts 5 years, by which time the Sydney base will be ready.