Va 737-700??

[Lord_Lenny]

So I have just finished booking the annual Lord & Lady Lenny SYD-MEL Winter reward trip, which is my compensation to her for the work travel I do during the year - we like the cold and the miserable weather...don't judge .

But when I am confirming our flights, I notice something I haven't seen on Virgin Australia for years: it appears we are flying down on a 737-700!!

The flight home is the standard 737-800, but as far as I knew the 700's didn't survive long past the re-brand to Virgin Australia.

Am I chalking this up to a gremlin in VA's (super reliable and not at all frustrating) website or do a couple of them still exist to oddly fly a peak friday night golden triangle route?? Never been on the baby 737 before so if it's true, it might be kinda fun!!

Thanks fellow AFFers

 

[mannej]

No gremlin, still 2 in the fleet

https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/on-board-the-flight/our-fleet/

 

[Lord_Lenny]

Oh cool, hope it sticks then, bring some small variety to my VA travels haha

 

[Mattg]

These aircraft still seem to pop up between MEL and CBR every now and again.

 

[bullerdude]

Will be on one going to Newcastle next week, seems like they are using them on flight where slightly less capacity is required.

 

[Bagpuss]

They mainly fly regional WA and Perth - Darwin in the wet season.
I'm often on them.
They can be found throughout the network though and even know to fly Brisbane - Perth.

Apparently WiFi was recently being fitted onto them recently, unsure if it did happen.

Both are owned by VA, despite talk of them exiting the fleet they well and truly have remained.
With the withdrawal of E-Jets etc I am surprised they havent rebuilt up the 700 fleet.

 

[Boof1]

They mainly fly regional WA and Perth - Darwin in the wet season.
I'm often on them.
They can be found throughout the network though and even know to fly Brisbane - Perth.

Apparently WiFi was recently being fitted onto them recently, unsure if it did happen.

Both are owned by VA, despite talk of them exiting the fleet they well and truly have remained.
With the withdrawal of E-Jets etc I am surprised they havent rebuilt up the 700 fleet.

The 700's operate all throughout the network now, rotated as one in WA and one on the Eastern Seaboard and usually swapped out on the KGI-MEL and vv services.

In terms of VA getting more, it was suggested or rumoured (can't recall which) after the E-Jet withdrawal was announced they would get more but the challenge that VA have is that they have no cash compared to Southwest (WN) who have piles of the stuff and are snapping up every 700 that comes on the market. Good article here about it.

 

[Lord_Lenny]

Interesting stuff, never had any idea they were still around. Not that it's particularly surprising as I'm almost exclusively an East Coast triangle flyer when it comes to Domestic stuff, and even then it's always a SYD-MEL-SYD or SYD-BNE-SYD.

Well let's hope that it sticks and I get a chance to fly the baby boeing

 

[clipped_wings]

We're doing a similar thing Lord Lenny. Rewarding ourselves with a quick trip to Melbourne thanks to DH's complimentary Platinum upgrades. Flying the 737-800 - so no surprise there.

However, I am one of those weirdos that constantly monitors my upcoming flight to see how it fills. (Just a small obsession, so no need to call Security).
But I'm noticing a disturbing trend. How empty the planes are becoming. There's only 2 of us in the J cabin, and 25 others in Y. This just doesn't compute. How can an airline make any money on that manifest? Given this is only one flight of many that commutes to Melbourne every Saturday, I'm mystified at the numbers.

Have an awesome time in Melbourne mate. It's my first trip there so I'm pretty psyched........

 

[Bagpuss]

However, I am one of those weirdos that constantly monitors my upcoming flight to see how it fills. (Just a small obsession, so no need to call Security).
But I'm noticing a disturbing trend. How empty the planes are becoming. There's only 2 of us in the J cabin, and 25 others in Y. This just doesn't compute. How can an airline make any money on that manifest? Given this is only one flight of many that commutes to Melbourne every Saturday, I'm mystified at the numbers.

I'm pretty much the same and hence why I use Tripcase. Though I have noticed that either people book at the last minute or it's travel agent / group bookings where seating is not pre-allocated.
Whilst business may not change too much, the plane will fill to normally at least 70% capacity.

Don't forget, money to be made in the cargo hold too.

 

[mannej]

We're doing a similar thing Lord Lenny. Rewarding ourselves with a quick trip to Melbourne thanks to DH's complimentary Platinum upgrades. Flying the 737-800 - so no surprise there.

However, I am one of those weirdos that constantly monitors my upcoming flight to see how it fills. (Just a small obsession, so no need to call Security).
But I'm noticing a disturbing trend. How empty the planes are becoming. There's only 2 of us in the J cabin, and 25 others in Y. This just doesn't compute. How can an airline make any money on that manifest? Given this is only one flight of many that commutes to Melbourne every Saturday, I'm mystified at the numbers.

Have an awesome time in Melbourne mate. It's my first trip there so I'm pretty psyched........

Just a note that seat map doesn't always indicate the load. Not everyone pre-selects a seat

 

[Lord_Lenny]

We're doing a similar thing Lord Lenny. Rewarding ourselves with a quick trip to Melbourne thanks to DH's complimentary Platinum upgrades. Flying the 737-800 - so no surprise there.

However, I am one of those weirdos that constantly monitors my upcoming flight to see how it fills. (Just a small obsession, so no need to call Security).
But I'm noticing a disturbing trend. How empty the planes are becoming. There's only 2 of us in the J cabin, and 25 others in Y. This just doesn't compute. How can an airline make any money on that manifest? Given this is only one flight of many that commutes to Melbourne every Saturday, I'm mystified at the numbers.

Have an awesome time in Melbourne mate. It's my first trip there so I'm pretty psyched........

I usually limit myself to a bit of FlightRadar24 spying to watch my inbound flight

Pax numbers I find are lower on the weekends, but when I'm flying for work I never seem to have a spare seat next to me anymore!!

I always enjoy Melbourne when not there on business, especially in the winter!! Although we now just tend to pop down for a weekend so Lady_Lenny can visit the gallery for whatever the winter exhibition is, and I can catch up with one of my Groomsmen who lives down there now. Although that damn Tullamarine freeway can go to hell!!