Pricing - Data point VA vrs QF

[Deleted member 29185]

So with the recent declared end of the turf wars, I just thought I might post up a search I did today for a January rtn flight BNE-GLT.

What makes things more stark, is that at least with QF a pax has the chance of a 717 but with VA, it's pretty much guaranteed you'll have the ultimate insult of flying in a pig trough.

As a wrap up from my perspective....

AM - QF offer 6 to VAs 2.......QF most suited is $115, VA $156
PM - QF offer 5 to VAs 3.......QF most suited is $115, VA $156

The only redeeming feature for VA is fly ahead may be beneficial in the PM (if you wish to fly in squalor).

I wonder why they are slowly but decisively losing my business?

BNE-GLT



GLT-BNE

 

[samh004]

While Fly Ahead is a useful published feature on VA, it's sometimes also possible on QF, although unpublished.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

While Fly Ahead is a useful published feature on VA, it's sometimes also possible on QF, although unpublished.

I'm only just coming up to silver with QF and so far have not needed fly ahead with them, but to invoke this "unpublished" possible benefit with QF, does one just ask nicely for it?

 

[markis10]

I'm only just coming up to silver with QF and so far have not needed fly ahead with them, but to invoke this "unpublished" possible benefit with QF, does one just ask nicely for it?

There is no discretion given to the agent to say yes, if flow forward is in place QF will be happy to move people to an earlier flight and their access will allow it. If Flow forward is not in place, only a select few agents will be able to and they need to justify the change.

 

[yohy?!]

Perhaps VA feel they can now price a premium over QF and people will just cop it without comparing ala jetstar.....an incredible turnaround around in the market if it works for them.

Unfortunately I'm stuck with BFOD

 

[eastwest101]

Just a quick OT question swanning_it - that screen shot you posted - is that from ITA Matrix, or some other web site? Just curious. Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Just a quick OT question swanning_it - that screen shot you posted - is that from ITA Matrix, or some other web site? Just curious. Thanks.

Webjet. I use them regularly to compare prices, then use the airline site to purchase.

 

[anat0l]

Mind, this is just one, rather specialised, market, and one which the long time incumbent - QF - should have quite some tilt on. And for QF's sake, you'd hope they are filling up all of those flights! Those B717s and Q400s definitely don't run for free. I'm not sure which aircraft you're referring to as the pig trough, but with ATR72s and E90s (possibly the latter, not sure if they have those flying into GLT), I thought the predominant opinion is that people didn't mind these aircraft at all.

Are the prices like that all the time? That's a big difference between the two players. My memory of purchasing fares to and from GLT (a very long time ago!) would indicate that the QF Red e-Deals are about ballpark price (especially outside of a sale, could have easily risen by now), so unless it's still a case of QF slicing itself to try and edge the competition.....

I would imagine that the OOL market should show positive indicators all the way for VA (discard JQ), assuming that the majority of those who live in OOL have very little desire to go to BNE to take flights unless forced to. PER and CBR would also be a very interesting market to compare, especially across all fare types.

"Fly Ahead" in QF (not called that at all, really) is more popular during peak travel or morning travel times when the seat allocation amongst consecutive flights are consolidated. Status helps a little bit but it is not guaranteed, as is understood almost all the time, and the underlying word on the street is that it is almost impossible to get it now unless the airline is really doing flow forwarding.

My impression that VA offering this "benefit" to Golds and Platinums is that it gives some form of "freedom" and "guarantee", i.e. you can confidently ask for it and it will be granted, pending seat availability. The recent tightening of this benefit in that there must be a seat in the same selling class (or lower) - IMO - would have very little effect, especially if the request is coming from a Platinum. One boon in this sense is booking, say, the flights towards the end of the day - which can usually sell cheaper - then using Fly Ahead at the airport to shift to a more preferable flight (or a choice from a set of flights).

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Mind, this is just one, rather specialised, market,

True, but I'm seeing this more and more, which is why I labelled the thread a "pricing data point". Maybe if we all add data points we might answer some of your questions, but to be honest, I'm lazy..........I don't try to read too much into it. I'm a bit like the sloth on Iceage, he sees a twig and eats it, I see a cheap fare and buy it. Really, now we know JBs "game change" plan is fully implemented, we can start comparing. Personally, I see lot's of VA problems that even my platinum handcuffs aren't obscuring. But as I said, I'm lazy. VA need to make decisions easy for me or I'll jump ship (preferably whilst it's still on the ground).

 

[anat0l]

True, but I'm seeing this more and more, which is why I labelled the thread a "pricing data point". Maybe if we all add data points we might answer some of your questions, but to be honest, I'm lazy..........I don't try to read too much into it. I'm a bit like the sloth on Iceage, he sees a twig and eats it, I see a cheap fare and buy it. Really, now we know JBs "game change" plan is fully implemented, we can start comparing. Personally, I see lot's of VA problems that even my platinum handcuffs aren't obscuring. But as I said, I'm lazy. VA need to make decisions easy for me or I'll jump ship (preferably whilst it's still on the ground).

Understood. It wasn't having a go at you, but I guess giving some other perspectives. In this neck of the woods, it becomes easy to pick up on a point and just run to the hills with it without considering the more widespread effects or ramifications.

It's interesting how people are saying that they can see problems in VA as a Platinum - and not just little tingling things, but rather big issues. It was and still is a good sport to do the same thing as a QF Platinum (with some additional flak attack possible because QF also operates Jetstar and an international operation).

I'm not sure if most people will really just BFOD unless it means that either (a) they can't fly enough in one camp to get enough status to bother with, (b) they fly so much that having decent (or top tier) status in both camps is a given, or (c) forced by some external policy, e.g. corporate. For those in the middle - and that's many of us - to retain our own status and give some "creature comforts" compared to having no (or too low) status, we'll often compromise on our own perceived frugality and accept the fares that fit our status profile better, with a shift to the other camp usually only happening when one is pushed to the wall too much (however this manifests itself).

Anyway, didn't mean to do it but this kind of discussion starts to veer the topic off. Interestingly, I think I remember when VA started its game change plan, notwithstanding all the hubbub about breaking the dominant incumbent QF domestic market, there were plenty such comparisons done with, not surprisingly, great value towards VA.

 

[eastwest101]

Not that I do it very often - but here is a sort of typical city pair with true 4 way competition.

 

[777]

Not sure what it proves except that at some times of the day Qantas is cheaper than Virgin.

Back of the envelops says Virgin's pricing on the route on average is cheaper than Qantas but at the times you specifically want to travel Qantas is cheaper. So... book qantas but i don't think it extrapolates out into much.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

i don't think it extrapolates out into much.

If your response is referencing my OP, then it does extrapolate out to quite a bit because the fares I'm pricing is a regular run which means QF beat them every time and the margin is 26% cheaper in QFs favour. It's also not meant to prove anything, as I said, it's a pricing point for reference, that's all! I posted because many people in the past have argued that they don't see QF beating VA prices. I've argued I'm seeing it more and more. Take from it as little or as much as you wish, it matters not to me!