VA BFOD is false economising

[penegal]

To answer the title of the post rather than the content, I think BFOD can be a false economy for other reasons also:

- lack of [higher] negotiated discounts / rebates on carrier of choice
- increased cost for staff food & bev (claimed or as a personal expense) as they may not have lounge access
- reduction in status benefits which can help the company (e.g. increased baggage, priority waitlisting, priority during irropps, etc)
- staff morale

 

[Mattg]

Does this only work if you are being put on the exact same flight? For example, I was flying back to TSV from Sydney on Monday, and I was booked on a flight that stopped in Brisbane. If I had arrived before the DIRECT flight from Sydney to Townsville, can I request to fly ahead on that?

Thanks!!

That would officially be against the Fly Ahead T&Cs.

 

[Pleb Status]

Since instituting a personal BFOD policy over the past 18 months, I have personally saved thousands of dollars.

I am very happy with my personal BFOD policy, even though that has meant the QF share of my travel budget has almost dropped to zero (and even those QF flights could have been undertaken on VA cheaper but they were booked as instant upgrades were available).

So BFOD really depends on who is paying the bills.

 

[penegal]

BFOD also depends how qualified the policy is. I think BFOD between QF and VA is different than BFOD between all carriers (e.g. JQ or TT)

 

[Pleb Status]

BFOD also depends how qualified the policy is. I think BFOD between QF and VA is different than BFOD between all carriers (e.g. JQ or TT)

I agree. My personal BFOD policy places small weightings on various airlines to equalise products and services. I may give QF a few dollars leeway over VA in Y (depending on the route), but even then QF have yet to win in a fair fight against VA.

However, JQ/3K at the half the price (including all the extras like meals etc) of QF/SQ up to SIN cannot be ignored......

I think that most are pricing 'loyalty' far too high in their calculations of perceived value.

 

[JohnK]

Another disappointing experience flying VAd this week, on a flight booked for me on the BFOD basis. VA really has everyone totally fooled re BFOD. There's usually about $20 fare difference, but the service difference between VA and QF is light years apart.

I don't even bother monitoring VA airfares anymore.

I book most of my flights during Qantas specials but if for some reason there are no specials on the date I want to travel then I check VA. Booked a few $95 and $99 Qantas flights last night for July, September and November. I am sure Virgin were cheaper but I don't care enough to book them.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Sounds to me some of you are really booking BVOD (best value of the day). Nothing to do with price!

 

[eastwest101]

Whether you are buying the fares yourself or an employer is paying the fares I think we need to dig deeper into what is the definition of "Best", its not as simple as the cheapest fare as timing quite often comes into it.

For instance - what are the consequences of your flight being late/delayed by 1hr vs 4hours vs the next day? If the flights are work related, you can bet that the employer is very interested in getting the passesngers to their destination as per the published schedule!

 

[Pleb Status]

BFOD policy in action.

Just booked a VA dom/int fare (which includes a couple of SQ codeshare flights) which was AUD1146.57 cheaper than what QF wanted for the same itinerary (both are at bottom of the flexi level fares, not sale fares, so an apples to apples comparsion).

The VA/SQ flights are far better timed, operate with better aircraft and have better T&C. Even the double FF point deal which QF have going could not bridge that cost gap.