Tell me a little bit about Virgin Australia

[Edge]

So my employer has signed a PSA with VA which means I'll be switching all of my domestic work flying over from QF. I did 14 trips last year all over the country to places such as Perth, Darwin, Emerald, Port Macquarie. Because my employer always books discount-Y fares I only ever made PS with QF. However VA have awarded me Gold based on my frequency so that's already a true enhancement.

What can I expect from VA as a Gold Member? I already had a look at the website, so I'm aware of all of the standard stuff. Any little insider tips of getting the most out of the membership? Eg - I noticed that even for domestic trips you have to pay for exit row seats. Is this still the case for SG? Does this change at T-80 or OCI or is it always the case? (I'm tall so I prefer the exit row). Does VA operate the same way as QF whereby more seats open up at T-80?

I have about 400,000 QFF points so I won't be switching my credit cards over to Velocity until I've got enough for 2 x oneworld awards or return J to Europe. How does VA compare to QF with international J-class redemptions (in terms of points cost & availability).

Have already booked in 3 trips in Feb to take advantage of the DSC offer. Thanks in advance for any tips & feedback.. see you in the lounge sometime

 

[moa999]

Definitely the lounge access is a big win for you, although the VA network is not as good for some of your locations.

Row 3 on Virgin (equivalent to Row 4 on Qantas) has quite a lot of legroom thanks to the cutout, although misses out on the IFE in the older planes (albeit this is slowly disappearing).
I think VA seats only open up at checkin time (which is 48hrs). Note also that VA doesn't appear to either have or protect shadows as well as QF.

The big difference on VA is the points earn and burn.
With no minimums and being a $ based system, VA can be very lucrative for last minute flyers, but loses out on forward booked discount Y.
The domestic and international +++ also seems to be less on VA.

For international redemptions, VA struggles because they arent in an alliance so cant offer something like the oneworld awards - just limited to effectively one way points redemptions on partners.

 

[bass_ke]

Enjoy fly ahead, it's always been a winner for me.

Unsure of timings but I've definitely had better luck with seats at t-8 than T-48. Ask for that elusive row 3 seat in the lounge

 

[eastwest101]

moa999 summarized it pretty well.

I would start to dabble in the VA world, although their international reach is not as good as QF and OW you also don't have to contend with the horiffic fuel fines of QF (and some OW) so you may find that redemptions are often easier and sometimes cheaper on VA International and VA's codeshare partners.

The other thing to watch out for is that if you use a corporate non-IBE travel agent to book your VA flights - you will not be able to manage your bookings or select seats online on the VA web site. You will find that Tripcase or an equivalent will be more helpful than the VA web site for managing your bookings. You will also find more options and somtimes more fare infomation on sites such as Expedia than the VA web site. Seat selection may become an exercise in telephoning the call centre or checkin at the airport.

Once you have had a few Flexi meals you may start using the VA lounge as an alternative source of food! Entry to the VA Lounge is a big win as to get into the Qantas Club you would need to make Qantas Gold or buy QC membership (approx $300-$400).

You will be able to use VA Priority Checkin which should be quicker than your QF Silver checkin experiences.

I am not sure if its your status level or the fare that was paid that will affect whether you can select exit row seating online or not, you may have a higher success rate when you arrive at the airport?

You hopefully won't have to worry about being plonked on a JQ/QF Jetstar A320 if VA become your prefered travel provider unless its somewhere not served by VA.

Try for a points upgrade if you are booked on a Flexi Y fare to a business class seat - preferably during a meal service and a MEL-PER transcon A330 if possible. You may have to call to do this, but its a good use of points and at least you can see what VA's business class is actually like.

You will find lots of things that you would think should be possible on the VA and Velocity web sites but in reality will not work. But not like the QF web site is perfect either....

 

[Milboo]

Sometimes shadows pop up when least expected.

I recently flew LAX- SYD in PE on a reward flight. On check in I asked if anyone was seated beside me and was advised that I had a seat block there.

 

[OzEire]

However VA have awarded me Gold based on my frequency so that's already a true enhancement.

How did this occur ? Did you personally apply to VA for a 'status match' or was it something that your employer's PSA provided ? 14 seems like a fairly low number of flights (or was it 28+ segments) for a generous status match, and indeed, they increased your status from QFF Silver to Velocity Gold. I'm just curious how others here, who might be in a similar situation, could take advantage of your trailblazing.

OzEire

 

[bass_ke]

Could it be a pilot gold arrangement?

 

[Edge]

How did this occur ? Did you personally apply to VA for a 'status match' or was it something that your employer's PSA provided ? 14 seems like a fairly low number of flights (or was it 28+ segments) for a generous status match, and indeed, they increased your status from QFF Silver to Velocity Gold. I'm just curious how others here, who might be in a similar situation, could take advantage of your trailblazing.

OzEire

Employer's PSA provided a certain number for my employer to allocate and I was one of the recipients based on frequency. It was 28+ sectors, I travel every 3 weeks or so typically.

Thanks very much for the feedback so far everyone. I will definitely be taking advantage of fly forward!

 

[serfty]

SG can generally preselect from row 7 and further back.

Those exit seats generally have to be paid for, even at OLCI (although sometimes they can be snared gratis at the check in counter or even the lounge).

The sweet seats are row 3 - a WP can snaffle these on booking (so that's something to aspire to).

If you work at it, row 3 seating may become available at OLCI (48 hours) or even at the lounge.

A subscription to KVS or Expert Flyer can be of great assistance in checking seats.

 

[pauly7]

Firstly - commiserations, but sometimes you just have to roll with it!

One thing I'd flag straight away to someone who is used to flying QF and now has to fly VA:

- You only get one chance at online seat selection for check in, once you've done that, changing is a real PITA. So pick when you want to check in carefully, a couple of other posters have said when is a good strategic time.


Anyway good luck - just watch out if you are checking luggage at busy times in Mel and Syd especially, VA still have the old manual check in system and like to save costs by having few staff on to man them... No NGCI to be seen. Luckily you get priory queuing as gold... But just leave some extra time compared to what you would with QF, trust me I've been caught out!

 

[aupirate]

Yes fly forward is a great benefit, used it yesterday bought a cheaper fare for later in the day for safety as wasn't sure of when I would finish. Managed to get to the airport for the earlier flight so home 3 hrs earlier and saved dollars as well. Of course there have to be seats available on the eralier flight.

 

[Shano]

Also you are now eligible for priority boarding - great when travelling HLO to ensure you get OH locker space

 

[clarkkent]

- You only get one chance at online seat selection for check in, once you've done that, changing is a real PITA. So pick when you want to check in carefully, a couple of other posters have said when is a good strategic time.

Actually once online check in opens you can select seats repeatedly without finalizing the check in. As a gold, at booking I usually select in row 7. Then at T-48 I move as far forward as I can (row 4 or 5, depending how busy the flight is). Then at T-24 or later, seats in rows 3 or 4 might open up, so it's good to have kept your options open. You'd probably prefer row 3 to an exit row.

And as others have said, fly ahead is superb, as is family pooling if it suits you, as is the premium entry at SYD.

 

[JohnK]

Virgin is OK but at times I feel they are still behind Qantas in the things I feel are important

- Very limited international network on own aircraft
- Lack of membership in global alliance (not interested in codeshare partners)
- Points earn is slow anless travelling on flexible airfares
- Maturity of FAs (you dont have to agree with me but Virgin FAs lack the professionalism of most Qantas FAs)
- Food options in lounges are not as good as Qantas

I will continue to fly Virgin but Qantas is my first choice.

 

[maninblack]

- Lack of membership in global alliance (not interested in codeshare partners)
- Maturity of FAs (you dont have to agree with me but Virgin FAs lack the professionalism of most Qantas FAs)
- Food options in lounges are not as good as Qantas

I will continue to fly Virgin but Qantas is my first choice.

Funny thing for me is that I now fly quite a bit with QF's OW partners but not often on QF.
QF certainly has some very mature FA's. I sometimes think some of them have died in-flight given the service. VA can seem rather amatuer sometimes though.
I think QF lounge food is generally dreadful and limited. VA do a better job.

I will continue to fly Qantas but Virgin is my first choice.

 

[Ausbt]

Points upgrades to LAX and AUH are great, as is priority boarding, better fit outs on the domestic fleet and much, much better looking staff. It's a younger, fresher airline with a less 'snobby-old-farts' attitude that you sometimes see with Q. I feel VA respond to complaints better (and hell, a mate of mine works for Q's complaints division!).

Negatives may be that climbing to Plat is not that much different from being SG, although row 3 is a winner (rare for me to sit anywhere else). Since you are SG you can look at that two ways though. Enjoy.

 

[Edge]

Thanks for all the useful feedback. First chance I've had to go through it all in detail and reply.

Sounds like some of the wins for me are definitely priority boarding (assuming this is domestic as well as INT?), fly ahead and the lounge access. Seat selection sounds like a science that takes a bit of mastering (but with good results if you're persistent). Family pooling will have some benefit - already have 320 SCs from a trip to DPS last year, but my wife flies QF for work so unfortunately not in a position to take full benefit of it.

Unfortunately my employer will almost always book me on disc-Y fares so sounds like my points earn rates will be relatively low. But if burn rates are better than QF then it may make sense for me to switch my credit card over to velocity sooner rather than later. This is where the majority of my points come from now anyway. Though I only really redeem them for Europe or the US in J - sounds like there may be limited options for these compared with QF? Thanks again for all the replies.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Sounds like some of the wins for me are definitely priority boarding (assuming this is domestic as well as INT?), fly ahead and the lounge access. Seat selection sounds like a science that takes a bit of mastering (but with good results if you're persistent).

Remeber that MEL will soon have priority security too. VA seem OK at bending the rules at times and as an example, I flew into BNE earlier than planned recently and although I had an onward BNE-SYD saver lite fare, I was given fly ahead from the booked 8.00pm to 11.00am despite me having checked luggage (fly ahead is supposed to be for HLO). On top of that, the check-in lady offered me row 4 (as row 3 was taken) or row 14 (the second exit row that allows recline). I chose row 14 and managed a shadow. All in all, a very delightful flight. Sometimes it all works exceptionally well with VA.

 

[Kieran2274]

I feel they [Virgin] are still behind Qantas in the things I feel are important:
- Lack of membership in global alliance (not interested in codeshare partners)
- Points earn is slow anless travelling on flexible airfares
- Maturity of FAs (you dont have to agree with me but Virgin FAs lack the professionalism of most Qantas FAs)
- Food options in lounges are not as good as Qantas

Bit harsh JohnK. Yes, limited VA Int tin, but with SQ, Etihad, VS, AirNZ and Delta (to name a few) reciprocal status (and even AirBerlin - a OW airline - special lounge access that even a P1/CL can't get access to!) VA punches above its weight (benefits exceed *A in my view). Plus better Status points bonus for Silver and Gold on VA tin. And younger FAs generally seems to be a benefit rather than a negative (AA FAs anyone? Lol). I've found food and drink in VA lounge as good as, if not better, than QP.

That all said, I agree QFF useful internationally and for F lounges in MEL & SYD, but most don't really get this (SYD&MEL F lounge) or fly enough overseas to make the most of it. Generally, VA have a good FF scheme IMHO.

 

[Kieran2274]

Sounds like some of the wins for me are definitely priority boarding (assuming this is domestic as well as INT?), fly ahead and the lounge access. Seat selection sounds like a science that takes a bit of mastering (but with good results if you're persistent). Family pooling will have some benefit - already have 320 SCs from a trip to DPS last year, but my wife flies QF for work so unfortunately not in a position to take full benefit of it.

Yes, Priority Boarding apples to Domestic (and priority screening at some airports) and Lounge Access (including Premium Entry from Kerb to airside at selected airports) is the best. Seat selection can't be micro-managed via web but between phone (no 30 min+ waits) and OLCI you'll be fine. Plus you're less likely to be seat shifted on VA (QF tend to do this occasionally), so the seat you select is most often the one you do sit in.

Burn opportunities are very good on VA, if VA has seats spare you can often snag one even at short notice. Enjoy!