SYD-CBR direct flights in Feb for $48

[rwatts]

Is this where I confess to ADL>MEL>CBR>MEL>ADL usng D fares on Easter Saturday for the heck of it, booking the night before ?
(Oh, and to push me over PS - which I realised did bugger-all for me so I then had to strive for SG).

Richard.

 

[serfty]

Only issue is that you will need to contact QFF to get all your earned SC's and points.

They have an inbuilt block in the software that prevents automatic credit for more than one eligible flight on the same sector on the same day.

 

[JohnK]

I'm thinking about a SYD-CBR-SYD-CBR-SYD-CBR-SYD in one day....

Anyone dare me?

Go for it. I would have gone with you but I do not have the money and I have more than enough SCs to retain QF Platinum again until May 2009.

Although I may do a few overnight trips on DJ for the experience. Not long to go before the sale ends....

 

[oz_mark]

Who would want to fly SYD-CBR-SYD a few times a day; that sounds like a stupid idea.

Thats almost as bad as flying between Sydney and Brisbane for a few hours, whoever would do something like that.

Isn't cheaper to stay home and save the money.

Dif'rent strokes....

 

[crazydave98]

I am pleased there is finally some decent competition on the SYD-CBR route,....
Booked two trips on QF, one in April for the ANZAC Day long weekend and one in August for the Bank Holiday long weekend. Shaping up to be a decent travel year.

Sometimes I just don't get you guys. You say "isn't it great that we finally have some competition" but then fly with the same airline that's been fleecing you and your companies for years. Virgin Blue flew to Mt Isa after the mining companies said the fares where too high, then they stuck with Qantas when we entered the market and guess what? We pulled out and the fares went right back up. I'm sure everyone has their valid reasons for not flying Virgin Blue. This isn't meant to be a whinge or threat, but understand the effect that individual short term choices have on long term market structure and what you end up paying.
cheers
CrazyDave98

 

[serfty]

"... cake and eat it too ..." is a normal human desire.

• Competition keeps the costs down
• Let's still fly QF to earn those QFF points/SC's and leave the competing airlines' flights to others.
• Insufficient people fly with the competing airline
• Competition ceases
• Prices go back up!

Maybe with the Loyalty Program in place DJ may be more successful on this.

 

[Yada Yada]

Sometimes I just don't get you guys. You say "isn't it great that we finally have some competition" but then fly with the same airline that's been fleecing you and your companies for years. Virgin Blue flew to Mt Isa after the mining companies said the fares where too high, then they stuck with Qantas when we entered the market and guess what? We pulled out and the fares went right back up. I'm sure everyone has their valid reasons for not flying Virgin Blue. This isn't meant to be a whinge or threat, but understand the effect that individual short term choices have on long term market structure and what you end up paying.

This is one of the many reasons I fly Virgin Blue! I've earned a reputation here from a few as some kind of fake overblown barracker because of my praise of the airline but as I've said in many other posts, I still remember being fleeced over many years by QF/TN and AN and am so thankful for VB's continuing fair approach ticket pricing and for giving us a real choice.

I still remember the excitement of my first flight when Virgin Blue began service out of the Express terminal in SYD. The feeling among many pax that there was finally a real competitor in the market has stayed with me, and I will continue to support them. A similar feel was generated when Compass entered the market and I watched as both QF an AN killed them off in the most predatory of fashions. They haven't been able to do that with VB and the travelling public are the winners.

 

[pauly7]

Sometimes I just don't get you guys. You say "isn't it great that we finally have some competition" but then fly with the same airline that's been fleecing you and your companies for years. Virgin Blue flew to Mt Isa after the mining companies said the fares where too high, then they stuck with Qantas when we entered the market and guess what? We pulled out and the fares went right back up. I'm sure everyone has their valid reasons for not flying Virgin Blue. This isn't meant to be a whinge or threat, but understand the effect that individual short term choices have on long term market structure and what you end up paying.
cheers
CrazyDave98

Dave, you should take comfort in the fact that people on here are just the ultra frequent flyers / aviation nuts / frequent business travellers being represented - which is certainly not representative of the population en masse and leisure/casual travellers that fly on Virgin and are more responsive to price / less frills

 

[ethernet]

Dont visit Canberra Airport -or you wil pay.
Taxi hassles (if they turn up), and lack of public transport make this place a no-go zone.

Canberra Airport , is completey stuffed, unless you are getting a commonwealth car or a renta car out. Sure there is a pathetic shuttle
Airliner Shuttle A2 Timetable but not for earlybird commuter hours - given checkin means another hour wasted. Then we have a mini traffic jam in the mornings.

Qantas uses a limo mini-bus to ferry their peoples in/out - the situation really is that bad. There is a C'wth mini-bus too, but it is restrictive as who can use it.

I'd like to see the airlines put on a Tiger or Virgin bus for their pax, to ease the pain for the times where there is no public transport, and when Taxis are scarce. $49 or $69 is chickenfeed, as the taxi is $40 plus for starters.

Because of the lounge, 99.9% of pubic serpents will fly QF. Cost is not the issue - logistics is. For this reason, Many are taking Murrays Bus ($15) to Sydney -as 45 mins to airport travel + 1 Hour checkin + 45 mins flight+ 30 minutes to exit airport (3 hours Vs 4 hours express),

 

[crazydave98]

Dave, you should take comfort in the fact that people on here are just the ultra frequent flyers / aviation nuts / frequent business travellers being represented - which is certainly not representative of the population en masse and leisure/casual travellers that fly on Virgin and are more responsive to price / less frills

Thanks Pauly, I do, and you are right in that this group is not your average flyer. What disheartens me though is that I think there is a very large proportion of more garden variety business flyers who still think the same way and will still stick with Qantas even when we offer lower prices. We obviously need to do our bit to remove barriers to trialling Virgin Blue, as our research shows consistently that (more average flyers than this august group) are usually pleasantly surprised and will fly us again. The comments gleaned from this group help shape initiatives such as lounges, tier status and partner airlines.
cheers
CrazaDave98

 

[stryker]

Thanks Pauly, I do, and you are right in that this group is not your average flyer. What disheartens me though is that I think there is a very large proportion of more garden variety business flyers who still think the same way and will still stick with Qantas even when we offer lower prices. We obviously need to do our bit to remove barriers to trialling Virgin Blue, as our research shows consistently that (more average flyers than this august group) are usually pleasantly surprised and will fly us again. The comments gleaned from this group help shape initiatives such as lounges, tier status and partner airlines.
cheers
CrazaDave98

Dave, I think I've said this before. Business flyers don't want to have to pay for everything on board (the LCC model) and the DJ staff need to get away from the Southwest airlines model of treating everyone as if they were going on holiday (and have an IQ of 70).

Until you do this I don't think you'll make much inroads into the business travel sector (price is not the only factor).

But you aleady know this. Time for Brett Godfrey to set up his own LCC? (but wait...).

 

[Yada Yada]

Dave, I think I've said this before. Business flyers don't want to have to pay for everything on board (the LCC model) and the DJ staff need to get away from the Southwest airlines model of treating everyone as if they were going on holiday (and have an IQ of 70).

Until you do this I don't think you'll make much inroads into the business travel sector (price is not the only factor).

But you aleady know this. Time for Brett Godfrey to set up his own LCC? (but wait...).

I don't know... I like "free" things but really, the on-board offerings in Y on QF are really not that great. I am a regular business flyer and have no problem at all with paying for a snack on board if I want it. But most times I've had my fill in the QP/VLounge before getting on the flight so I only want a bottle of water on-board.

 

[oz_mark]

I don't know... I like "free" things but really, the on-board offerings in Y on QF are really not that great. I am a regular business flyer and have no problem at all with paying for a snack on board if I want it. But most times I've had my fill in the QP/VLounge before getting on the flight so I only want a bottle of water on-board.

Many business people don't like having their hands in their pockets buying stuff like water etc. One less expense you need to claim (if you can be bothered)

 

[straitman]

Many business people don't like having their hands in their pockets buying stuff like water etc. One less expense you need to claim (if you can be bothered)

oz_mark,

My thoughts exactly. When flying for business it is so much simpler, when you work for a company like mine to just have the one outlay rather than multiple smaller amounts on the expense claim.

 

[JohnK]

I have booked 2 SYD-CBR returns, mini weekend trips, for February and March for a grand total of $204!

It would be interesting to see how DJ compares to QF and whether my opinion of DJ changes at all. The things I will be looking at are check-in, boarding and baggage retrieval. Yes I will have checked baggage, I despise carry-on, for such a short trip. No point in worrying about in-flight service, as there isn't any, but I may just purchase something to eat for comparison purposes.

My only concern is whether I am able to get an aisle seat. It is almost guaranteed with QF but totally unknown with DJ....

 

[Yada Yada]

I have booked 2 SYD-CBR returns, mini weekend trips, for February and March for a grand total of $204!

It would be interesting to see how DJ compares to QF and whether my opinion of DJ changes at all. The things I will be looking at are check-in, boarding and baggage retrieval. Yes I will have checked baggage, I despise carry-on, for such a short trip. No point in worrying about in-flight service, as there isn't any, but I may just purchase something to eat for comparison purposes.

My only concern is whether I am able to get an aisle seat. It is almost guaranteed with QF but totally unknown with DJ....

John,

Virgin Blue now have priority check-in lines for pax with status but as you don't have status with them, a comparison with QF won't be very even. You can do OLCI and then use the bag drop if you wish.

Given that SYD-CBR is a new service for VB and QF are countering with low fares, I doubt that they will be busy flights, so you'll probably not have any trouble getting an aisle seat. Just ask at check-in.

I think you will like the Embraer.

 

[JohnK]

Virgin Blue now have priority check-in lines for pax with status but as you don't have status with them

Not worried about check-in lines but rather the check-in experience whether this be OLCI, quick check or counter check-in.

 

[Yada Yada]

Not worried about check-in lines but rather the check-in experience whether this be OLCI, quick check or counter check-in.

Check-in staff are very friendly and happy to try to seat you wherever you want if there are plenty of available seats at that time. You can even ask for Blue Zone if they have seats empty although there are no over-wing exits on the E-170 anyway, so try this when you take a flight on their 737's.

OLCI works well - you should receive an email reminding you to check-in 24 hours before the flight with a direct link. You'll find a lot more seats available to select than you do on most QF flights although on the lower fare, the front 9 rows may not be available to you.

I know you like to keep BP's so if you intend to do so with Virgin flights, the quick-check machines provide the nicest looking BP. The one you get at the check-in desk is akin to a Woolies supermarket docket and the one you print at home is just A4 paper.

 

[crazydave98]

It would be interesting to see how DJ compares to QF and whether my opinion of DJ changes at all.

I sincerely hope so and thank you for giving us a go - look forward to seeing a trip report whether public or via PM.

The things I will be looking at are check-in, boarding and baggage retrieval. No point in worrying about in-flight service, as there isn't any,...

I'm curious about what you think constitutes "in-flight service"? In my books handing out inedible "food" (and not giving any menu option) doesn't consitute service. IFE has nothing to do with service (and again I hardly think canned news and sitcom reruns count compared to the choice of 24 channels - although neither QF Dash8s or E170 on SYD-CBR have either anyway). So what is left as a differentiator?

cheers

CrazyDave98
PS - when was the last time you travelled on Virgin Blue (not including Pacific Blue)?

 

[openseat]

It is pretty rare that I have to fly this leg, but I would like to try out the Embraer.
On the other issue being disucussed about business on Virgin, we have a fairly strict best fare policy, but finally we have been allowed to sign up for The Lounge. I must admit I have no problems using Virgin since the flights around SE Australia aren't really that long. I just have one wish, that during OLCI one could access seats further forward that row 11. How about it Crazydave?
As for inflight entertainment, well I bring my own in the form of a book or listen to music on my phone. Just occassionally on QF I'll look at the radio listings to see if anything is worthwhile, but the last five trips have had very dodgy sound problems (not headset - as I requested a change - but rather the plugs in the seat seemed to be the problem).