New VA Fare Structure

[JohnK]

He really said that? And that's really true?

I think I need to sit down. #whatthehell

The day JohnK starts considering JQ as the fallback option after QF is the day to start worrying. That day is upon us.

VA is a LCC with a wig pretending to be a full service carrier. These changes highlight that point for me. VA clearly don't care about status but I have known about that for a while. I will seriously consider JQ when QF is too expensive. At least on JQ I will be treated exactly the same as VA but with a much cheaper airfare.

 

[straitman]

The day JohnK starts considering JQ as the fallback option after QF is the day to start worrying. That day is upon us.

VA is a LCC with a wig pretending to be a full service carrier. These changes highlight that point for me. VA clearly don't care about status but I have known about that for a while. I will seriously consider JQ when QF is too expensive. At least on JQ I will be treated exactly the same as VA but with a much cheaper airfare.

Can we quote you on that going forward. VA treat you much better than JQ ever will.

I'm happy to fly VA but only fly JQ reluctantly.

 

[Milefest]

I remember last year they removed saver lite due to "customer feedback" which provided a slightly cheaper fare with no baggage. And now they're bringing it back with further restrictions?I'm so confused about their strategy.

 

[straitman]

I remember last year they removed saver lite due to "customer feedback" which provided a slightly cheaper fare with no baggage. And now they're bringing it back with further restrictions?I'm so confused about their strategy.

Their business model obviously has room for that type of fare. The average punter (ie non AFFer) would have no idea about it coming and going.

 

[blackcat20]

Now they're saying status flyers automatically get seated up front without paying: Virgin Australia seat selection fee Platinum Gold frequent flyers - Australian Business Traveller

 

[johnnyfive]

Now they're saying status flyers automatically get seated up front without paying: Virgin Australia seat selection fee Platinum Gold frequent flyers - Australian Business Traveller

"Travellers who wish to nominate a specific seat within that block – such as a window or aisle seat – will still need to pony up the yet-to-be-revealed fee, or wait until 48 hours before the flight to choose their seat for free.The exact number of rows set aside for Platinum and Gold flyer will be done dynamically depending on the route and the airline's past record of frequent flyer bookings."

 

[blackcat20]

"Travellers who wish to nominate a specific seat within that block – such as a window or aisle seat – will still need to pony up the yet-to-be-revealed fee, or wait until 48 hours before the flight to choose their seat for free.The exact number of rows set aside for Platinum and Gold flyer will be done dynamically depending on the route and the airline's past record of frequent flyer bookings."

Which sounds to me like a risk of a middle seat if you dont pay to select a specific one...

 

[straitman]

"Travellers who wish to nominate a specific seat within that block – such as a window or aisle seat – will still need to pony up the yet-to-be-revealed fee, or wait until 48 hours before the flight to choose their seat for free.The exact number of rows set aside for Platinum and Gold flyer will be done dynamically depending on the route and the airline's past record of frequent flyer bookings."

Seems like a variation on a theme to what QF

 

[blackcat20]

Seems like a variation on a theme to what QF

Except QF dont charge for domestic. VA is sounding more and more like JQ...

 

[straitman]

Except QF dont charge for domestic. VA is sounding more and more like JQ...

QF don't charge but everyone jumps in at T-80 anyway.

I have trouble comparing anyone (even TT) to JQ. Whilst hedging that way I still think there is a huge difference between VA and JQ.

 

[blackcat20]

QF don't charge but everyone jumps in at T-80 anyway.

I have trouble comparing anyone (even TT) to JQ. Whilst hedging that way I still think there is a huge difference between VA and JQ.

I meant more like JQ in the charging for all seats, rahter than QFs approach for domestic flights.

 

[JohnK]

Can we quote you on that going forward. VA treat you much better than JQ ever will.

I'm happy to fly VA but only fly JQ reluctantly.

Yes you can. JQ is cheaper than VA and VA treat me like cough. Can I do worse with JQ and paying less?

 

[ozjuice]

This gives me a bit of a dilemma now. I am coming up to an early Maintain Gold level next week and have enough flights booked to be Plat by October. But do i bother or do i pool to my wife for her to have Gold? The benefits of Plat kinda seem lost a bit.

 

[Mattg]

Yes you can. JQ is cheaper than VA and VA treat me like cough. Can I do worse with JQ and paying less?

I do generally agree with you on this point, but there is one thing VA does much better than JQ.

When VA once cancelled my flight, I was put on the next service an hour later.

When JQ once cancelled my flight, I was told I could travel either the night before or on the same day but ~8 hours after I was originally booked. The only other option was a refund, which was useless as buying a new ticket on another airline at such short notice would have cost 4x what I originally paid. This was a BNE-SYD flight.

 

[straitman]

Yes you can.

Good.

JQ is cheaper than VA and VA treat me like cough.

Certainly not my experience.

Can I do worse with JQ and paying less?

That is exactly what a many people have been telling you for years. If you are willing to put up with their cough attitude then they are a viable alternative.

 

[JohnK]

Good.

Certainly not my experience.

That is exactly what a many people have been telling you for years. If you are willing to put up with their cough attitude then they are a viable alternative.

We all have different experiences. JQ was my stubbornness but now need to save money where possible for a worthy cause so bite my tongue and put up with all the cough from JQ. That's not to say I will book any flights with JQ but that I will consider them ahead of VA.

 

[grubbidok]

And don't overlook the 33.3 % reduction in luggage for plats. Not important to some but important if you are in the habit
of lugging your sporting equipment (skis, golf clubs etc ).

+1 was really handy going camping up north once. Not used all the time, but a nice benefit once in a while

 

[UP4014]

Don't forget Virgin is a loss maker, so they need to try something and fast. They obviously think they cannot keep giving things away regardless of status.

As someone who avoids Virgin I can tell you the grass is nice and green from where I sit. :mrgreen: If you support Virgin then support their changes to make a profit, it will mean they stay in business !



Matt

 

[dajop]

Don't forget Virgin is a loss maker, so they need to try something and fast. They obviously think they cannot keep giving things away regardless of status.

If you look around the world, at least outside of Asia, what Virgin is moving to is not very different from most carriers do these days for short haul and domestic flights. Whether it is BA, AF, KL or LH in Europe, or AC in Canada or the big three in US, or NZ domestic/trans tasman, LCC modus operandi seems to be the standard these days for anything other than international medium-long haul, and "special" markets (like NYC-California).

Makes you wonder how long QF will hold out for, but perhaps their strategic deployment of JQ early on has buffered them and successfully segmented the market in a way that has been difficult for other legacy carriers elsewhere.

 

[grubbidok]

I had a generic moan about this on Twitter, and QF replied to it within a few hours saying they don't status match but they might be able to 'make an arrangement that can help out', and asked me to DM my number so they could call me.

I'm assuming it's not much, but QF seem to be actively responding to this announcement a lot more than VA are.

I bet the guys over at QF are loving it!