New VA Fare Structure

[Roflco]

Do QF status match by any chance? Would be good to jump straight into QF WP or SG at least for immediate lounge access

 

[Mattg]

Do QF status match by any chance? Would be good to jump straight into QF WP or SG at least for immediate lounge access

I don't think Qantas do status matches, but they do offer status challenges. Might be worth looking into if you're thinking about jumping ship.

 

[Mattg]

I had a bit of a laugh at this SMH article - they're making it sound as though Virgin is doing us all a favour by introducing cheaper fares!

Virgin introduces cut-price business fares

 

[TomVexille]

I don't think Qantas do status matches, but they do offer status challenges. Might be worth looking into if you're thinking about jumping ship.

They have in the past to specific targeted groups, but I agree that a challenge is probably the best option in this case.

 

[medhead]

So where the Y fares have an "X" against lounge access, but available for gold and platinum - does anyone think they will stop selling lounge passes? What about the 2 silver passes - still usable?

Do QF status match by any chance? Would be good to jump straight into QF WP or SG at least for immediate lounge access

Qantas seem to be particularly unwilling to status match with VA.

 

[Sojourner]

Virgin already sell one-time lounge access for $65.

Anyone that pays that price will be sorely dissapointed.

 

[JohnK]

Keep going to QF everyone.

Surely the aim of the passenger is to be able to fly to their destination in a safe and timely manner. The aim of the airline is to facilitate this in a way which also provides a return to shareholders.

All airlines seem to be cutting back on their bennies to bring their costs under control. I see VA as being no different in this regard.

LOL. This time last year everyone was moving away from QF. It would appear VA has done much better.

As a status passenger I expect to be able to choose my seat at time of booking (and update this seat as often as I choose), have some sort of status bonus to differentiate from those who don't fly regularly, include extra luggage allowance, allow the occassional change of flights, lounge access etc.

Take those benefits away and there is no incentive to fly VA. They are no different to Jetstar or Tiger.

In my opinion VA currently provides an overpriced LCC service and with these changes my decision to move away from VA earlier feels justified.

 

[PlutekPlutek]

Anyone that pays that price will be sorely dissapointed.

You're better off spending that money at an airport cafe or bar. No way in the world will the food or booze you consume in the lounge equate to $65.
As a plat, I once guested two random people in. They were part of a group of three people, one of them was on J, the other two in Y. They were asking them to pay 2x $65 for entry, as I was walking in. They weren't going to pay, so I just said "These people are my guests, and they are coming in with me"
Paid lounge access is a rip off. I travel a lot for work, mostly with VA, and have mostly been confining myself to their lounge, but more recently will happily dish out $10-$20 on a meal in an airport restaurant, especially that work is paying for it. Will get something other than a ham and cheese toast, which is just about the max you can get in the VA lounge anyway.

 

[PlutekPlutek]

In my opinion VA currently provides an overpriced LCC service and with these changes my decision to move away from VA earlier feels justified.

And an inconsistent one at that. Depending if you're flying on the east cost, transcon, or up and down WA, what you get on board is different. I've been asked to pay for a coke flying VA PER-KTA, but its free PER-SYD, and up an down the east coast last time I flew.
They're becoming a bit of a joke really. What started as trying to imitate QF, is now turning into an AirBerlin of Australia. Trying to be too many things to too many people, no clear strategy, inconsistent, website is shambles compared to QF - trying to get a reward ticket on anything other than VA is a PITA.

 

[anat0l]

I had a bit of a laugh at this SMH article - they're making it sound as though Virgin is doing us all a favour by introducing cheaper fares!

Virgin introduces cut-price business fares

I think it's more interesting how the article paints a much more positive view of the new fare structure than we see it.

If VA's aim is to grab more business customers, offering a cheaper Business fare compared to now might do it; if the Business Saver inherits the current Business Class price point and the new Business (Flexible) is more expensive, that won't do it.

Overall, the general business market that VA is looking to wrest away from QF are not so centred highly around some of the perks that are being lost / changed, so some of these changes are likely immaterial. Plenty of workers in such environments don't care about the seat they get on the plane (as long as it is one, preferably not a middle); some of them don't even put their VFF numbers on their bookings, so the points go to forfeit. The attitudes are changing but there's still a fairly large "indifferent" contingent.

 

[Milefest]

Anyone that pays that price will be sorely dissapointed.

Could probably justify it if I had long layover and needed a shower/powerpoint. But it's also limited to no more than 2 hours before your flight.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I loved this comment from 'Dean' on the AusBT article, gold !!
"
So let me get this straght. As a Velocity Platinum member:

• If I want to choose a seat, I'll probably have to pay for it.
• If I want something to drink other than the "tea, (instant) coffee, juice or water", I'll still have to pay for it, even though I'm Platinum, even if it's just a Diet Coke and even if I bought a flexible fare, unless I fly within a three hour period on five of the seven days of the week.
• If I want something to eat beyond the measly little snack they provide, I'll have to buy it, again, even if I've already paid $100s more for a flexible fare.
• If I want to watch something on the flight, I'll still need to bring my own screen to watch it on.

This is better than flying with Tiger or Jetstar, how??Seriously Virgin, you have a long way to go before you stop being a low cost carrier!"

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Oddly enough they haven't replied to my tweet:

 

[Princess Fiona]

Oddly enough they haven't replied to my tweet:

View attachment 76609

I can't for the life of me think why

 

[grubbidok]

I'm VA WP and wife is VA SG. Fly Ahead and Row 3 are the USPs - take them away and what's the point of WP compared to QF?

I use Fly Ahead prob 20x a year. I book last flight not to rort system but due to fact I can't predict when my work will end (it's task-based, not time-based). Happy to sit in the lounge and work on the computer (it's what I'd do when I get home anyway) quaffing 4x the fare difference in food and beverage if this is removed. May even use my invites to bring others waiting at the gates to the party.

What kind of brain-fart business school is VA recruited from that is telling VA management the key to financial success is <redacted> off your most regular customers?

 

[Milefest]

I use Fly Ahead prob 20x a year. I book last flight not to rort system but due to fact I can't predict when my work will end (it's task-based, not time-based).

In the same boat. I don't like using the word rort because it's a service I pay for and expect in the hundreds of flights a year I've had to fly. Many of the fares being more expensive than QF, but I've maintained my loyalty. If they remove this service I'm going to drop to silver and get lounge access because that will provide many of the same benefits as Gold and Platinum (domestically) as sad as it sounds.

 

[danielt25]

I fly between Cairns and Brisbane on a weekly basis.
As my Friday afternoon work schedule is unpredictable, I use fly ahead when leaving Cairns Friday evening quite a lot. Sometimes I am not able to use fly ahead as the 430pm flight is booked out. As a backup I also book a Qantas J fares (using business direct) as that is fully refundable (in addition to my usual virgin saver fare - $80 cancellation fee if cancelled before midnight), and I personally prefer the qantas J product (over virgin j product) (although the Cairns Qantas lounge is always busy and the qantas J cabin is often completely full). Now that virgin won't allow 100% refunds (with their new changes)(to travel bank) of flexi fares, I won't feel so bad spending the $550 each week for a paid j seat! And look forward to platinum with Qantas

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm going the glass half full option. For me, I've been buying VA overpriced flexi's to keep plat as I like the option of row 3. Now it seems row 3 will be a "pay for sit" option so I can actually drop back to the cheapest fare and not worry about platinum any more. I can probably still have row 3 and be cheaper than what I currently pay......at VA's expense.

As others have pointed out (CruiserElite I'm looking at you)........the "no status" option is real and becoming more attractive by the day. VA....you've missed the plot (or are miles in front......time will tell)!

Remember all.........custom is a commodity. Either they want your business or they don't. You can't really whine when they try it on...........but you can let them know in no uncertain terms that you're not playing their silly game! Choice is ours!

 

[Mattg]

Can we expect Virgin to blame "external market factors beyond our control" when they make a loss next year?

 

[anat0l]

I use Fly Ahead prob 20x a year. I book last flight not to rort system but due to fact I can't predict when my work will end (it's task-based, not time-based).

Do you fly the cheapest fares or flexible ones?

I always wondered if one would purchase cheap fares and fly ahead or flexible ones that might be easier to change.

The main thing is that Fly Ahead isn't really going away, but I'm guessing that you pay the cheapest fares so it will be.

What kind of brain-fart business school is VA recruited from that is telling VA management the key to financial success is <redacted> off your most regular customers?

I'd postulate that not all of those "regular customers" (or the kinds that VA want to win over from QF) are "literate" enough to realise any effect on their flying with this new fare structure.

I'm going the glass half full option. For me, I've been buying VA overpriced flexi's to keep plat as I like the option of row 3. Now it seems row 3 will be a "pay for sit" option so I can actually drop back to the cheapest fare and not worry about platinum any more. I can probably still have row 3 and be cheaper than what I currently pay......at VA's expense.

You could still continue paying your overpriced Flexis and will have access to row 3, since seat selection is supposed to be included in your fare (cf. the cheapest ones).

But you do raise a good point; that is, would paying the cheapest fare and adding the seat selection fee on top be cheaper than buying a more flexible fare.

One problem is that if you need to change your flight or Fly Ahead, it will be more expensive on the cheapest fare (or impossible if you want to Fly Ahead). Even if you do change it, your seat selection which you paid for won't be refunded (presumably) if you end up changing to a higher fare family.

Can we expect Virgin to blame "external market factors beyond our control" when they make a loss next year?

I can't remember VA / JB saying that. Did they say that? Seems ingenious and a more AJ thing to say.

Besides, they have done lots of "business transformations" (kind of what QF did a few years ago that - along with aircraft value write downs - put them squarely in the big red for a couple of years) and their losses have been apparently attributable to that. If I'm not mistaken, operationally speaking they are actually healthy, with the exception of the international division but apparently after The Business is fully rolled out that will all change.

If anyone at VA thinks that these changes are going to put the company's financial outlook towards the red end, it certainly isn't resonating a single iota and definitely not from the main man (read: airline business God) himself.


Footnote: I'm not pro-VA here, but I do like weaving out what would be the "defence" of VA.