Tokyo Haneda slot - How will Virgin Operate it? [CNS-HND flights ceased Feb '25]

[Harrison_133]

Looks like the MAX is broken in Japan since Saturday.

And it’s about to operate tonight’s VA78. Only HND-CNS yesterday, and CNS-HND today were cancelled.

 

[sudoer]

For anyone interested, Japanese travel vlogger Onoda is currently premiering a video of VA78 HND-CNS in economy on the 737-8.

His reviews are usually very in-depth and YouTube auto-captioning does a reasonable job of translation.

 

[henrus]

For anyone interested, Japanese travel vlogger Onoda is currently premiering a video of VA78 HND-CNS in economy on the 737-8.

Some interesting things I noticed

- Firstly the vlogger has a VA flight booked in a T fare on VA stock, I was under the impression that booking out of Japan required going via ANA?
- At the gate it's impressive most of the staff are in VA uniform and there appears to be one Australian to oversee the operation?
- On board there was a Japanese crew member doing the greeting and the safety video also plays in Japanese (which is a good thing).
- They kept the lights off the whole flight!

 

[HS-TQE]

He also mentions he didn't buy anything and went without buying a meal for the red-eye and shows him having a coffee in the morning. Also mentions that their LCC rival in Jetstar on the similar route (CNS-NRT) at least has the pre-book meals in Economy option. Something VA Int'l Short Haul Economy currently doesn't offer (yet, apparently).

 

[sudoer]

- Firstly the vlogger has a VA flight booked in a T fare on VA stock, I was under the impression that booking out of Japan required going via ANA?

No, I think the only limitation is that it's not possible to book via the VA website. Various OTAs are selling ex-HND tickets on the VA flight number.

The message shown when you try to book on the VA website is poorly worded, but I think it is possible to book direct with VA over the phone:

Departing from Haneda?​

Book your trip online with ANA, All Nippon Airways, over the phone, or speak with your travel agent.

 

[stm1sydney]

Yeah, but Jetstar does not offer lie-flat beds in Economy like VA does! (Apropos of @HS-TQE comment.)

 

[MooTime]

Yeah, but Jetstar does not offer lie-flat beds in Economy like VA does! (Apropos of @HS-TQE comment.)

just be sure to bring some sort of mattress topper, few bumps otherwise.

 

[jrfsp]

Yeah, but Jetstar does not offer lie-flat beds in Economy like VA does! (Apropos of @HS-TQE comment.)

Wouldnt be so sure....i had a row to myself to and from Japan on JQ recently.

 

[Saab34]

there appears to be one Australian to oversee the operation?

I noted this when I flew the first week of HKG operations also, at least two baggage crew Aussie and two ground staff also. Seemed to be an engineer also on the ground, not sure if just for initial ops.

Do Bali flights have any Aussie based VA staff on the ground?

 

[Harrison_133]

Do Bali flights have any Aussie based VA staff on the ground?

Don’t think so. Ground staff on my last trip were all outsourced and wearing the JAS uniform. One guy who appeared to be the station manager was in a VA uniform, but he was definitely a local.

 

[Saab34]

Interesting. Considering how big the VA Bali network is now, thought they would base an airport manager from AU there. They can be a very valuable person especially when problems arise, having a direct line with senior management or those who can pull some levers can be helpful at certain moments.

 

[Harrison_133]

Interesting. Considering how big the VA Bali network is now, thought they would base an airport manager from AU there. They can be a very valuable person especially when problems arise, having a direct line with senior management or those who can pull some levers can be helpful at certain moments.

I guess the difference is VA have been operating to Bali for over a decade, so local staff would probably have enough experience with VA operations by now. I recall seeing a post when Virgin resumed Samoa operations. All staff were local contractors in Oceania Aviation uniform.

They probably send some Aussie staff over to new ports VA haven’t operated to previously to oversee things until the locals become familiar with operations. I wonder how long the Aussies in HKG stuck around for?

On the topic of Tokyo, HND-CNS has been pretty consistent over the last 10 days with numbers hitting the 130s and 140s. CNS-HND is starting to pick up too. I’d hazard a guess that Japanese point of sale is higher than first thought.

 

[justinbrett]

Interesting. Considering how big the VA Bali network is now, thought they would base an airport manager from AU there. They can be a very valuable person especially when problems arise, having a direct line with senior management or those who can pull some levers can be helpful at certain moments.

Usually station/airport managers are local to country, but employed by the airline (though no reason it couldn't be contracted as well).

Ie, when QF has an airport manager in the US, they don't send someone from Australia - they employ an American.

Otherwise the airline has to sponsor the visa and it's not a specialised skill that would warrant one.

 

[HS-TQE]

I guess the difference is VA have been operating to Bali for over a decade, so local staff would probably have enough experience with VA operations by now. I recall seeing a post when Virgin resumed Samoa operations. All staff were local contractors in Oceania Aviation uniform.

They probably send some Aussie staff over to new ports VA haven’t operated to previously to oversee things until the locals become familiar with operations. I wonder how long the Aussies in HKG stuck around for?

On the topic of Tokyo, HND-CNS has been pretty consistent over the last 10 days with numbers hitting the 130s and 140s. CNS-HND is starting to pick up too. I’d hazard a guess that Japanese point of sale is higher than first thought.

Assuming most of the POS on the Tokyo end is from NH, I would have to wonder how many are from Tourism companies on the Japanese end, considering the Queensland Government AAIF funding for this route also specifically aiming at North Queensland tourism.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Assuming most of the POS on the Tokyo end is from NH, I would have to wonder how many are from Tourism companies on the Japanese end, considering the Queensland Government AAIF funding for this route also specifically aiming at North Queensland tourism.

I'm sure they'd be offering good deals for package tours etc

 

[Happy Dude]

Just back from Japan via VA HND-CNS-MEL. Reward tickets for 4 pax (2 adults 2 children 12yo and 10yo) in whY.

I'm WP and selected row 4. Row 3 seats recline and no barrier between J and Y, meaning row 3 had a lot of leg room.

No lounge at HND or CNS. Plane was full and seemingly everyone was priority. No meals/drinks onboard, except tea, coffee and water. IFE as provided was comparatively poor by our recent experiences.

Those with connections had bags tagged and checked through, which caused handlers at CNS to send them to domestic. This only became apparent when a pax located bags at domestic using airtags. Seemed to only affect J and Econ-x pax as that was who was left standing around the conveyor. An hour's wait to get them back whilst ABF warned us all that a lot of rules would be broken if we didn't take our bags through international customs. As we didn't really have a say in things up to this point we weren't sure to whom they were referring.

I won't be rushing to get this flight again and I can't see why anyone would bother. Nothing in it for elites and the stop in lounge-less CNS (not even a PP option!!) is a PITA.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Except that its the cheapest way (J/Y) for a VFF member to get up to Japan, with VAi, and earning the most SC within VFF with eligible sectors, etc, if paying rev fare.
For the service, its LCC indeed by the looks of it, cheap cheap LCC.
If award/reward booking, more points needed probably, but service wise, yes, NH or SQ is better.

 

[bcworld]

An hour's wait to get them back whilst ABF warned us all that a lot of rules would be broken if we didn't take our bags through international customs. As we didn't really have a say in things up to this point we weren't sure to whom they were referring.

So how did they end up being returned to the international bag reclaim? Passengers reported to baggage services?

 

[Happy Dude]

So how did they end up being returned to the international bag reclaim? Passengers reported to baggage services?

Yeah pretty much. The airtags couple went and found a VA ground crew person, after we waited for about 30mins and no priority bags had come out. The bags were then sent back to intl and put out on the conveyor.

Also add that there were "computer system issues" at check-in which meant that check-in took ages - I reckon more than 20 mins just for my family. The plane boarded and left a bit late but I think arrived a bit early. There was a young Aussie guy that appeared to be in charge at check-in.

 

[Happy Dude]

Except that its the cheapest way (J/Y) for a VFF member to get up to Japan, with VAi, and earning the most SC within VFF with eligible sectors, etc, if paying rev fare.
For the service, its LCC indeed by the looks of it, cheap cheap LCC.
If award/reward booking, more points needed probably, but service wise, yes, NH or SQ is better.

If revenue fare, then it'd have to be seriously cheaper than the alternatives AND I'd have to be desperate for the SCs/sectors.