Tokyo Haneda slot - how will Virgin Operate it?

[jase05]

Any idea what the SC earn is on this route?

CNS-HND should be
Lite 25
Choice 45
Flex 65
Business 140

Interestingly just looking at MEL-CNS-HND and it’s $1160 in J but you can book MEL-SYD-CNS-HND in J for $1175 so an extra 45 SC’s for $15

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

The info on the previous page suggests this flight is daily, not 3x weekly. Unless you’re referring to the adl-cns connection mentioned in some posts?

And while their J fares might be lower than some QF J syd-Mel flights, it’s not a fair comparison to look at the cheapest J with VA on this route with an expensive (almost sold out) fare on qf. Looking at syd-mel, qf J can be had for $1524 (just searching early next year), which is still less than the $2300 for VA on this route quoted up-thread.

Yes, that's it, if I ever wanted to do this odyssey, going up, I would need to go the very long way round via SYD/MEL, or go and pick the 3 times weekly day before, and overnight in CNS, adding a hotel overnight cost.
VA(d) 1505 gets to CNS too late to meet that flight for CNS - HND.
I would put in my VFF # into an NH booking, if I was 100% guaranteed that VFF points and VFF SC will 100% be issued after the flight, I got burned putting my SQ KF # into a VAd booking once, got denied, but that agreement is a codeshare.
Though, with NH's logo not appearing in the list of partners on the VFF website, I don't know, ...
If (once) I have the finances down set, I might just put my Airpoints (AirNZ) FF # into the NH booking.

 

[Revenge]

I would pick VA over JQ for xx_-CNS-TYO just to have the bags checked through. Such a pain on JQ having to pick up your bags at domestic, take them to the international terminal building and checking them back in again.

 

[Saab34]

Has anyone seen the prices to Japan lately? How could this flight not do well? Well until they get widebodies.

 

[exceladdict]

Has anyone seen the prices to Japan lately? How could this flight not do well? Well until they get widebodies.

Given demand, and the low cost to operate, completely agree (even with the widebodies it could be effective as a thin route). Fits well in VA's niche and - dare I say it - hopefully it paves the way for more thin QF routes when the 321s start to arrive (ex PER, ADL?)

 

[SYD]

CNS-HND should be
Lite 25
Choice 45
Flex 65
Business 140

Interestingly just looking at MEL-CNS-HND and it’s $1160 in J but you can book MEL-SYD-CNS-HND in J for $1175 so an extra 45 SC’s for $15

Can you push that to MEL-SYD-BNE-CNS-HND to max your 737 time? At least there’s some lounge time in there.

 

[Albert Hoffman]

Wonder what the Economy X surcharge is?

 

[Harrison_133]

Wonder what the Economy X surcharge is?

$90 AUD

 

[Must...Fly!]

Suspect we might see some good discounts for booking through various OTAs as hype does down and launch gets closer. Will be keeping an eye out for a good sale.

 

[justinbrett]

I would pick VA over JQ for xx_-CNS-TYO just to have the bags checked through. Such a pain on JQ having to pick up your bags at domestic, take them to the international terminal building and checking them back in again.

QFd to JQi bags are connected (and vice versa)

 

[Revenge]

QFd to JQi bags are connected (and vice versa)

Yeah but JQd to JQi aren't

 

[jrfsp]

QFd to JQi bags are connected (and vice versa)

I thought JQd to JQi when on a single ticket too?

From I to D (regardless of airline) recheck will be needed when passing through immigration / customs.

 

[Revenge]

I thought JQd to JQi when on a single ticket too?

I don't know if they sometimes are, but not in my experience on 2 separate occasions (OOL-CNS-NRT and OOL-SYD-AKL).

 

[justinbrett]

Yeah but JQd to JQi aren't

So book QFd...

I thought JQd to JQi when on a single ticket too?

Nothing will connect to/from JQd. Even QF codeshare connecting to QFi. Everything off the aircraft goes to the carousels.

 

[Oxy]

Can you push that to MEL-SYD-BNE-CNS-HND to max your 737 time? At least there’s some lounge time in there.

Yes you can, you can even add a red eye from PER

 

[odysseus]

Lounge access in HND is a decent start

Except I don't believe that is part of it.

The release has this statement: "

• Velocity Frequent Flyer members will earn Points and Status Credits, and Velocity Gold and Platinum members will enjoy additional benefits such as Priority Check-In, Priority Boarding, additional baggage allowance and Priority Baggage when travelling on the new services."

If lounge access was included they would have mentioned it there. Also, no mention of it under business inclusions or anywhere else either. So currently not included, consistent with other international ports.

 

[Saab34]

I don’t think we will see too many sales, price gouging is occurring about 1-2 months out, so I’d expect VA to ‘wait’ until closer out to see what happens.

 

[jpp42]

From I to D (regardless of airline) recheck will be needed when passing through immigration / customs.

The problem with JQ at CNS is if you are connecting I to D, they won't allow you to even re-check-in to the domestic leg until 2 hours before departure, which is the normal rule, but frustrating in this scenario. For example if you arrive on JQ950 out of KIX at 8:30 am and are connecting to JQ15 at 12:30pm, which is sold as one connecting itinerary (KIX-CNS-SYD), you have to hang around with your bags for 2 hours in the lobby of the domestic terminal (even if the Jetstar counters are otherwise open). At least if you could check them in you could pop into town to get breakfast at a beachfront cafe, or something else more interesting than the terminal lobby. When complaining about this in the past I was told it's because Cairns airport doesn't have a large enough bag hold area, but I'm sure that could be arranged if Jetstar would pay for it.

Will be interesting to see if Virgin learns from this or not, given there will be a number of similar itineraries - VA 78 to VA 146 to Sydney has a 4.5 hour stopover at CNS, even longer than JQ's offering from KIX.

I don’t think we will see too many sales, price gouging is occurring about 1-2 months out, so I’d expect VA to ‘wait’ until closer out to see what happens.

I'm not sure what further sales you're expecting, but for dates in Aug '23 I can see Lite fares for $773.50 return right now (from SYD) which is quite competitive - you want it even cheaper??

 

[twinaisle]

The problem with JQ at CNS is if you are connecting I to D, they won't allow you to even re-check-in to the domestic leg until 2 hours before departure, which is the normal rule, but frustrating in this scenario. For example if you arrive on JQ950 out of KIX at 8:30 am and are connecting to JQ15 at 12:30pm, which is sold as one connecting itinerary (KIX-CNS-SYD), you have to hang around with your bags for 2 hours in the lobby of the domestic terminal (even if the Jetstar counters are otherwise open). At least if you could check them in you could pop into town to get breakfast at a beachfront cafe, or something else more interesting than the terminal lobby. When complaining about this in the past I was told it's because Cairns airport doesn't have a large enough bag hold area, but I'm sure that could be arranged if Jetstar would pay for it.

Will be interesting to see if Virgin learns from this or not, given there will be a number of similar itineraries - VA 78 to VA 146 to Sydney has a 4.5 hour stopover at CNS, even longer than JQ's offering from KIX.



I'm not sure what further sales you're expecting, but for dates in Aug '23 I can see Lite fares for $773.50 return right now (from SYD) which is quite competitive - you want it even cheaper??

Probably wanting $400 return or something

 

[TheInsider]

Odd that flights are only bookable originating from AU but not from JP

Not odd really, still highly likely awaiting approval from the Japanese authorities to sell PoS JPN.