Rex to fly between Australian capital cities

aikman said:
$50 upgrades to J would be great content for travel blogs and a bargain for frequent travellers but I don't think it's a good longer term strategy for the business. Whoever is buying full price J seats now will just switch to the upgrade process to save money. Overall revenue will fall.
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The point is that almost nobody is paying for the J seats! On many flights they are all or mostly being filled by free upgrades.

If you could get $75 per seat instead of $0, that's potentially $600 in extra revenue per flight.
 
Melburnian1 said:
A quick look at the website for a Tuesday flight 2.5 weeks away shows a typical economy fare of A$89 single (one way) that I assume is the cheapest on offer for ZL MEL to SYD. Today, the evening 2000 hours northbound has an A$89 Y fare available, but some other future days are as much as A$269.01 or (tomorrow) A$159.01. The extra cent is odd.

J seems stuck at A$299, again far cheaper than QFd.
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They put their fares up last night!! Previously $79, now $89!
 
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Sydney to Brisbane they have more flights vs Jetstar on some days so will see how that pans out.

In other news it appears they have pulled OOL flights back to one flight a day from both cities. Seems like they are not targeting the holiday market anymore, all about the triangle.
 
Saab34 said:
In other news it appears they have pulled OOL flights back to one flight a day from both cities. Seems like they are not targeting the holiday market anymore, all about the triangle.
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One per day will still help keep VA/QF (and to an extent JQ) honest, however the triangle is where the money's at.
 
Saab34 said:
Sydney to Brisbane they have more flights vs Jetstar on some days so will see how that pans out.

In other news it appears they have pulled OOL flights back to one flight a day from both cities. Seems like they are not targeting the holiday market anymore, all about the triangle.
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DL partnership may have something to do with that….
 
Looks like it’ll be VH-MFM and was originally Jet Airways, then Vistara. 12J156Y config.


flightaware.com

2-WTFL Flight Tracking and History 26-May-2022 (MEL / YMML-DRW / YPDN) - FlightAware

Track 2-WTFL flight from Melbourne Tullamarine to Darwin Int'l / RAAF
flightaware.com flightaware.com

VH-MFM REX Airlines Boeing 737-800

Boeing 737-800 with registration VH-MFM (ex VT-JTA, 2-BTTB, VT-TGF, 5W-TFL, 2-WTFL) airframe details and operator history including first flight and delivery dates, seat configurations, engines, fleet numbers and names
www.planespotters.net www.planespotters.net
 
Business seems to be picking up for REX! Inbound from MEL to SYD this morning had a solid load, return back was around 80%. Only four upgrades at the gate. One spare seat in business… I wonder if the person had actually paid and they gave him a spare seat?

Loading bags at SYD they had only one cart, which was loaded and the. they returned to the terminal to pick up a second load. On arrival in MEL one cart of luggage came out, followed by a 15 minute wait for the second load. Perhaps they’re not used to full baggage yet? (taking two carts would have made it a lot quicker rather than having to go back for a second batch)
 
MEL_Traveller said:
Anyways… I have to say I was really impressed by Rex. I guess part of it is the low loads, but they were really good! Check-in in MEL was a breeze, staff standing by who proactively came to help with the kiosks and took the bag label to attach it for you. Explained how bag drop worked. Security at T4 was a empty, lots of space to sit once inside. Some comfy couches overlooking the airfield.

Boarding… priority was enforced. We left early! Friendly staff, all smiles. Came across as professional.

Snack - delicious soy and corn chips - and choice of tea or coffee. Wine and soft drinks available for purchase, these are cashless… although the website says ‘cash only’.

Landed 25 mins early. luggage out in 5 minutes.

Unbeatable fares.
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So actually sounds like a more premium experience than VA2 economy - you get a snack in Rex Y?
 
MEL_Traveller said:
Loading bags at SYD they had only one cart, which was loaded and the. they returned to the terminal to pick up a second load. On arrival in MEL one cart of luggage came out, followed by a 15 minute wait for the second load. Perhaps they’re not used to full baggage yet? (taking two carts would have made it a lot quicker rather than having to go back for a second batch)
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They have similar issues with the tug. Only 1 for the 737s in Sydney. I flew them on SYD-MEL a few weeks ago, and we sat at the gate with the doors closed for over 35 minutes while it was used to push the Brisbane flight.
jakeseven7 said:
So actually sounds like a more premium experience than VA2 economy - you get a snack in Rex Y?
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Depends if you classed the VA1 snacks as premium. On Rex it’s the same glorified biscuits or soy crisps as your “snack.”
 
MEL_Traveller said:
Business seems to be picking up for REX! Inbound from MEL to SYD this morning had a solid load, return back was around 80%. Only four upgrades at the gate. One spare seat in business… I wonder if the person had actually paid and they gave him a spare seat?
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It would appear signing deals with online travel companies etc has helped. I guess previously, it was book only on the Rex website.

It will be interesting to see how they go getting bigger. You don’t money from 6 jets no matter how much you are charging, need a few dozen to get some scale. They will struggle getting to those numbers without targeting a whole bunch of leisure routes, which appears to be a weak spot.

The other 3 also have a whole pile of new aircraft starting to arrive very soon, question will be can Rex keep up? Virgin look set to add 30 aircraft to the 737 fleet over the next 2-3 years. Not retirements either, growth.

Oh, and while these four battle it out, we have Bonza on the side trying to make a living.
 
docjames said:
DL partnership may have something to do with that….
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Also with VA replacing EY codeshares with QR (per recent IATA application to Italy destinations) would suggest the declining VA/EY partnership may potentially not be sticking around for much longer. There's another potential partner for REX.

Most of REX business model is largely based on Virgin's "seconds" (737s and the recent partner pickup), I'm sure another ex-VA major partner for REX's proposed FF program would not be a bad pickup for them.
 
Harrison_133 said:
They have similar issues with the tug. Only 1 for the 737s in Sydney. I flew them on SYD-MEL a few weeks ago, and we sat at the gate with the doors closed for over 35 minutes while it was used to push the Brisbane flight.

Depends if you classed the VA1 snacks as premium. On Rex it’s the same glorified biscuits or soy crisps as your “snack.”
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Been reports of the famous finger Sandwiches from VA 1.0 on some REX flights. It's basically a copy of VA 1.0's complimentary snack (Finger Sandwiches, Biscuits, etc) for Y passengers on most REXJet flights.

Keeping to the Virgin's "seconds" theme (Aircraft, Partners, Y Service largely based on VA 1.0's disposals), at least pre ex-Samoa/ex-Jet 738 deliveries.
 
As a now frequent flyer on Rex I have to report they’re not so good at sticking to their schedules… two out of the last three flights left early!! :D

Got approached by the gate agent as I walked up to the waiting area today… ‘are you on the flight to Sydney?’

‘yes, I am!’

‘and what seat are you in?’

‘Row three…’

‘oh, you already have a great seat, I was going to offer you an exit’

Two other pax got called forward for upgrades. (I thought today was going to be the day!)

Inflight wifi and entertainment. Not too shabby.
 
Saab34 said:
No time to check loads recently, how are they looking?
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Last couple of flights have been reasonably busy on the MEL-SYD sectors and vv. Business class always full. Rextra legroom generally 2/3rds full with middles blocked. Rest of cabin anywhere between 50 and 80%.

It was mentioned above that Rex has entered i to some agreement allowing third parties (TAs) to sell their services now? So that migh explain why loads are really up.
 
docjames said:
Looks like it’ll be VH-MFM and was originally Jet Airways, then Vistara. 12J156Y config.


flightaware.com

2-WTFL Flight Tracking and History 26-May-2022 (MEL / YMML-DRW / YPDN) - FlightAware

Track 2-WTFL flight from Melbourne Tullamarine to Darwin Int'l / RAAF
flightaware.com flightaware.com

VH-MFM REX Airlines Boeing 737-800

Boeing 737-800 with registration VH-MFM (ex VT-JTA, 2-BTTB, VT-TGF, 5W-TFL, 2-WTFL) airframe details and operator history including first flight and delivery dates, seat configurations, engines, fleet numbers and names
www.planespotters.net www.planespotters.net
Click to expand...
Announcing the arrival:

Delivery routing: MTL-DWC-KUL-DRW-BNE

The media release contained a link to pictures of the aircraft’s arrival into Brisbane:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com
But the link didn't work for me...
 
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