VA axes ‘Fly Ahead’ for Gold frequent flyers

[aus_flyer]

From: Virgin Australia axes ‘Fly Ahead’ for Velocity Gold frequent flyers

Virgin Australia’s Velocity Gold frequent flyers will lose access to the airline’s favoured ‘Fly Ahead’ feature come November, which allows travellers to jump on an earlier same-day flight.

What a stupid move to make at the current time. VA is adding NOTHING to their offering for FFs, unlike Qantas (with Points Club benefits).

Just. Plain. Stupid.

 

[henrus]

Article title is very misleading and a bit of click bait.

Gold frequent flyers aren't having fly ahead axed complete but instead it will only be allowed on Flex and Business tickets. Platinum retain the ability to fly ahead on Choice tickets (formally known as Elevate). This is simply about providing more benefits and a greater incentive for those to reach/maintain platinum status.

 

[aus_flyer]

Article title is very misleading and a bit of click bait.

Gold frequent flyers aren't having fly ahead axed complete but instead it will only be allowed on Flex and Business tickets. Platinum retain the ability to fly ahead on Choice tickets (formally known as Elevate). This is simply about providing more benefits and a greater incentive for those to reach/maintain platinum status.

Isn't Fly Ahead on Flex and Business tickets also available to Red, Silver and non-members? In which case the headline is absolutely correct as it's a benefit of the fare rather than the FF status.

 

[jakeseven7]

From: Virgin Australia axes ‘Fly Ahead’ for Velocity Gold frequent flyers

Virgin Australia’s Velocity Gold frequent flyers will lose access to the airline’s favoured ‘Fly Ahead’ feature come November, which allows travellers to jump on an earlier same-day flight.

What a stupid move to make at the current time. VA is adding NOTHING to their offering for FFs, unlike Qantas (with Points Club benefits).

Just. Plain. Stupid.

I wonder though if it will be retained as a ‘discretionary power’ at the airport rather than a published benefit?

 

[henrus]

Isn't Fly Ahead on Flex and Business tickets also available to Red, Silver and non-members?

No, always only Gold/Plat even in business.

 

[Mattg]

The table on the VA website was incorrect earlier today, but has now been updated. This seems to have caused some confusion.

As I understand it, anyone can change a Flex/Business fare prior to departure but a fare difference may apply. With Fly Ahead, no fare difference is charged if a seat is available as far as I understand it.

 

[albatross710]

A new term for me this year is "Biphasic Monetisation" from this HBR article : What Belongs in Your Basic Bundle?

Presumably VA Ver 2 has some modelling which shows that Golds might pay the fare difference to travel earlier while being competitive with the QF Gold offering which I think hasn't included this.

Probably a VC MBA has identified that this was money that was being left on the table

 

[toowongman]

VA2 needs to do anything to get FF up to Platinum I suppose.

In a past life I would book the last flight out of SYD, then wind up my day in the afternoon and ask nicely to go home (BNE or MEL) at about 3pm. Usually wasn't an issue, sometimes the check-in agent would call up someone and ask if they could do a "show-and-go". Good times.

 

[dk4]

...while being competitive with the QF Gold offering which I think hasn't included this.

IMO opinion, the key benefit of GOLD at QF is lounge access, in fact to over 600 of them globally, and domestically almost 350% more lounges than VA. (Fun fact, at SYD, MEL & PER, QF operate almost as many lounges as VA does nationally, at just a single airport!)

IMO VA needs to offer so many more extras to their GOLDS because of VA's poor lounge offer, when speaking competitively to QF.

 

[jakeseven7]

IMO opinion, the key benefit of GOLD at QF is lounge access, in fact to over 600 of them globally, and domestically almost 350% more lounges than VA. (Fun fact, at SYD, MEL & PER, QF operate almost as many lounges as VA does nationally, at just a single airport!)

IMO VA needs to offer so many more extras to their GOLDS because of VA's poor lounge offer, when speaking competitively to QF.

My thoughts - although your comparison is correct, it operates on the assumption that the new VA2 wants to compete with QF like they used to - which it’s been stated many many times that this is not the case anymore.

They are moving more down-market to more of a ‘hybrid / pay for everything that you want custom bundle approach’ and are not targeting the business / corporate / premium flyers that would value the things you talk about as much.

They are trying to grab the middle ground between JQ and QF and perhaps pinch a few budget but not bargain basement leisure travellers from JQ and a sprinkling of the much smaller, much more price conscious business customers from QF and hopefully come out with a model that actually makes some money this time. The spanner in this plan is that Rexy is trying to occupy this space too.

I think we just need to reset our expectations for VA2, for some the new direction will work, for others it won’t, like anything in life I guess.

The trimming of perks to VFF is interesting, but in line with their push to monetise benefits with their new model which has been heavily researched over the last year so hopefully they got their numbers right!

PS I wish they’d join an alliance (jokes… kinda)

 

[MooTime]

My thoughts - although your comparison is correct, it operates on the assumption that the new VA2 wants to compete with QF like they used to - which it’s been stated many many times that this is not the case anymore.

They are moving more down-market to more of a ‘hybrid / pay for everything that you want custom bundle approach’ and are not targeting the business / corporate / premium flyers that would value the things you talk about as much.

They are trying to grab the middle ground between JQ and QF and perhaps pinch a few budget but not bargain basement leisure travellers from JQ and a sprinkling of the smaller, much more price conscious business customers from QF and hopefully come out with a model that actually makes some money this time. The spanner in this plan is that Rexy is trying to occupy this space too.

I think we just need to reset our expectations a little for VA2, for some the new direction will work, for others it won’t, like anything in life I guess.

The trimming of perks to VFF is interesting, but in line with their push to monetise benefits with their new model which has been heavily researched over the last year so hopefully they got their numbers right!

PS I wish they’d join an alliance (jokes… kinda)

I wish to add I believe that's your best post re VA2.
Very fair & accurate IMO.

Not even a dig, half a dig, hidden dig, nothing, ha good stuff.

 

[jakeseven7]

I wish to add I believe that's your best post re VA2.
Very fair & accurate IMO.

Not even a dig, half a dig, hidden dig, nothing, ha good stuff.

I dig at everything and everyone it’s just what I do but thank you Mr Cow

 

[albatross710]

They are trying to grab the middle ground between JQ and QF and perhaps pinch a few budget but not bargain basement leisure travellers from JQ and a sprinkling of the much smaller, much more price conscious business customers from QF and hopefully come out with a model that actually makes some money this time. The spanner in this plan is that Rexy is trying to occupy this space too.

I think Harvard's Michael Porter described the danger of this strategy as being "stuck in the middle". They are offering nothing of value to be priced above JQ and not enough coverage to gain the premium pricing of QF.

This was the original problem with Virgin Blue they were successful by offering few addons allowing them to be cheaper that QF...until along came JQ and made them compete with a similar business offering. VA then tried to go premium and compete head-to-head with QF and we know where that finished.

But it doesn't have to be a long term airline strategy, the VC strategy just needs to work for 2-3 years until they offload it to Emirates. And at the current rate of offers, many have QF Gold for 2 more years anyway.

 

[MooTime]

I think Harvard's Michael Porter described the danger of this strategy as being "stuck in the middle". They are offering nothing of value to be priced above JQ and not enough coverage to gain the premium pricing of QF.

This was the original problem with Virgin Blue they were successful by offering few addons allowing them to be cheaper that QF...until along came JQ and made them compete with a similar business offering. VA then tried to go premium and compete head-to-head with QF and we know where that finished.

But it doesn't have to be a long term airline strategy, the VC strategy just needs to work for 2-3 years until they offload it to Emirates. And at the current rate of offers, many have QF Gold for 2 more years anyway.

So in other words Bain wasting their time, the hybrid model doesn't exist as JQ is superior & we should hang onto our QF Gold for another 2 years & play our part in turning around the billions$$ losses for the roo.... So AJ can get his $25M salary again.

Sorry did you make another point?
Best to stick to the sticks & go for that albatross!

 

[albatross710]

So in other words Bain wasting their time, the hybrid model doesn't exist as JQ is superior & we should hang onto our QF Gold for another 2 years & play our part in turning around the billions$$ losses for the roo.... So AJ can get his $25M salary again.

Sorry did you make another point?

To clarify, the middle market doesn't exist. Bain are not pursuing it. They are pursuing JQ. They will milk their perceived premium while they can but they are not investing in new premium features. Look past the PR and the soothing words. Look to the growing list of LCC 'enhancements'.

They were profitable in this market before and they can do it again. They just haven't put out a PR statement to say they are heading to compete with JQ.

They also have a CEO that can focus on the LCC performance.

The current airline market isn't normal.

 

[MooTime]

To clarify, the middle market doesn't exist. Bain are not pursuing it. They are pursuing JQ. They will milk their perceived premium while they can but they are not investing in new premium features. Look past the PR and the soothing words. Look to the growing list of LCC 'enhancements'.

They were profitable in this market before and they can do it again. They just haven't put out a PR statement to say they are heading to compete with JQ.

They also have a CEO that can focus on the LCC performance.

The current airline market isn't normal.

There is no middle market....ok then!

There're pursuing JQ more so cos they were pre-collapse much closer to full service airline.... So they made some moves towards LCC.

Every angle they are clear middle hybrid model.
Clearly above JQ & clearly below QF.

Middle market doesn't exist you say. Your call not mine!

 

[albatross710]

There is no middle market....ok then!

There're pursuing JQ more so cos they were pre-collapse much closer to full service airline.... So they made some moves towards LCC.

Every angle they are clear middle hybrid model.
Clearly above JQ & clearly below QF.

Middle market doesn't exist you say. Your call not mine!

Ok, I see the misunderstanding. Yes, they are currently pricing themselves as a middle-market supplier. As a business strategy that will not be successful based on Michael Porter's analysis.

This exact same problem was discussed on this Forum when faced by Virgin Blue in 2009 and defended by a virgin rep in this link QANTAS Ad on TV After that time they moved up to unsuccessfully take on QF.

I'll go on record with "my call" that Virgin will not be in this middle market for long and certainly not by the time of the float.

 

[jakeseven7]

This exact same problem was discussed on this Forum when faced by Virgin Blue in 2009 and defended by a virgin rep in this link QANTAS Ad on TV After that time they moved up to unsuccessfully take on QF.

Wow that link is a blast from the past…. and can you even believe it - our resident AFF consultant who predicted VA1’s collapse, forewarned us on AFF it was coming and then worked on the administration of selling the remains of VA to Bain was the very same one who posed the question/strategy of the old Virgin Blue as flawed to the old Virgin rep in 2009 in the first place…. It’s a small small circular world!!! What a history episode!

@pauly7 I know you are somewhat busy but can you predict what’s going to happen in the next 10 years

 

[HS-TQE]

My thoughts - although your comparison is correct, it operates on the assumption that the new VA2 wants to compete with QF like they used to - which it’s been stated many many times that this is not the case anymore.

They are moving more down-market to more of a ‘hybrid / pay for everything that you want custom bundle approach’ and are not targeting the business / corporate / premium flyers that would value the things you talk about as much.

They are trying to grab the middle ground between JQ and QF and perhaps pinch a few budget but not bargain basement leisure travellers from JQ and a sprinkling of the much smaller, much more price conscious business customers from QF and hopefully come out with a model that actually makes some money this time. The spanner in this plan is that Rexy is trying to occupy this space too.

I think we just need to reset our expectations for VA2, for some the new direction will work, for others it won’t, like anything in life I guess.

The trimming of perks to VFF is interesting, but in line with their push to monetise benefits with their new model which has been heavily researched over the last year so hopefully they got their numbers right!

PS I wish they’d join an alliance (jokes… kinda)

Obligatory Alliance Pic

*Obligatory photoshop of Pasting over Former Tigerair Aus with JH's head and VA plane model*

 

[bulldog88]

Is Fly Ahead still available for Gold members travelling in Economy on Velocity award seats ?