VA cancels all NZ flights up until NOV22

[jase05]

Yes maybe they should focus on heavily used tourist trunk routes, like Launceston to Invercargill.

I’m happy with them just to concentrate on ZQN only for now.
Maybe in a year or so the time will be right to add AKL and perhaps CHC but I really don’t think that time is now

 

[lovestotravel]

ZQN is a smart move with a heavy premium tourist presence all year round

4 flights a day MEL-ZQN on some days with JQ, NZ, QF and VA all flying

 

[AIRwin]

Virgin Australia On Sale

Virgin Australia on sale. Check out the latest flight specials on offer. http://specials.virginaustralia.com/

specials.virginaustralia.com

 

[HS-TQE]

VH-YIL is the aircraft operating the 'return' of VA to ZQN.

As for Owner/Operator details for YIL:
'Registered Owner' is "VA Borrower No 2 Pty Ltd" - assuming this is a VA shell company and a bank/financier mortgaged (Formerly Owned) aircraft.
Operator is Virgin Australia International Pty Ltd.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Return flights ADL - MEL - ZQN in J in Jul is about Aud$1900.
QF probably same.
With FB transfers of points its ok.
Still steep(ish), better than transitting SYD airport D - I - D terminals.

 

[AIRwin]

VH-YIL is the aircraft operating the 'return' of VA to ZQN.

YIL from BNE and YIZ from SYD (last minute swap from YIS)

 

[randompunter]

Return flights ADL - MEL - ZQN in J in Jul is about Aud$1900.
QF probably same.
With FB transfers of points its ok.
Still steep(ish), better than transitting SYD airport D - I - D terminals.

Bought a one way J fare ZQN - BNE - TSV for NZD780 in July for early December. Had to brute force the search by mucking with the URL for it to go through without error as wanted a two night stopover in BNE and the multi-trip search was broken.

For comparison, this current sale is about NZD1080 for the same trip although the sale fare may not apply ex-ZQN??

 

[AIRwin]

For comparison, this current sale is about NZD1080 for the same trip although the sale fare may not apply ex-ZQN??

Doesn't look like there is a sale:

Virgin Australia On Sale

Virgin Australia on sale. Check out the latest flight specials on offer. http://specials.virginaustralia.com/

specials.virginaustralia.com

 

[Ade]

VA has no intention to fly to CHC or AKL at this stage.
ZQN will be their only NZ port for some time I’d think

Wish they'd bring back the BNE-DUD route, along with other domestic ports in AU as part of the status run ... was a very good earn during DSC ... someone that I know wanted to reach Gold in one trip and I helped them do this run ... Red to Gold overnight

 

[jase05]

Wish they'd bring back the BNE-DUD route, along with other domestic ports in AU as part of the status run ... was a very good earn during DSC ... someone that I know wanted to reach Gold in one trip and I helped them do this run ... Red to Gold overnight

Whilst it was a good status run, financially I believe DUD was the appropriate name as it ran at a loss.
I just can’t see any other NZ routes returning for some time

 

[antycbr]

Wish they'd bring back the BNE-DUD route, along with other domestic ports in AU as part of the status run ... was a very good earn during DSC ... someone that I know wanted to reach Gold in one trip and I helped them do this run ... Red to Gold overnight

A status run sounds like a way for VA to lose money…

Whilst it was a good status run, financially I believe DUD was the appropriate name as it ran at a loss.
I just can’t see any other NZ routes returning for some time

I think if things are looking good on the Tasman from a profit perspective after six months of ZQN you might see AKL make a return from one port only in AU initially. A lot depends on if discretionary spend falls off a cliff due to the economic situation in AU which might reduce demand for leisure flying meaning that a Tasman operation might become more profitable than more flights to MCY.

I’d argue AKL has a lot of VFR (less discretionary) demand from AU ports.

 

[docjames]

IIRC DUD was quite seasonal (coinciding with Uni times) and quite price-sensitive.

 

[AIRwin]

Media release:

Kia Ora! Virgin Australia returns to Queenstown

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

 

[Ade]

quite price-sensitive.

May be it was, however, last time, pre-CoVID I checked return J from LST/HBA trotting all along the east coast to DUD and return was $1300ish ... getting at least 560SC during DSC ...

 

[HS-TQE]

A status run sounds like a way for VA to lose money…

I think if things are looking good on the Tasman from a profit perspective after six months of ZQN you might see AKL make a return from one port only in AU initially. A lot depends on if discretionary spend falls off a cliff due to the economic situation in AU which might reduce demand for leisure flying meaning that a Tasman operation might become more profitable than more flights to MCY.

I'd say AKL is probably from a Queensland port (BNE or OOL), the UA partnership to a lesser extent may come into play with a limited BNE-AKL timed service from March or April 2023 at the earliest to offer Queenslanders a 'daily' SFO connection on the days that UA doesn't fly SFO-BNE nonstop.

This is taking into consideration UA's BNE-SFO has been 'moderate' at best and not exactly like AC's BNE-YVR service considering both started partially funded under QLD's AAIF, even though AC's service also had some initial funding from the British Columbia tourism body to try to attract Queenslanders to Vancouver/BC.

 

[antycbr]

I'd say AKL is probably from a Queensland port (BNE or OOL), the UA partnership to a lesser extent may come into play with a limited BNE-AKL timed service from March or April 2023 at the earliest to offer Queenslanders a 'daily' SFO connection on the days that UA doesn't fly SFO-BNE nonstop.

This is taking into consideration UA's BNE-SFO has been 'moderate' at best and not exactly like AC's BNE-YVR service considering both started partially funded under QLD's AAIF, even though AC's service also had some initial funding from the British Columbia tourism body to try to attract Queenslanders to Vancouver/BC.

Would a Tasman service be eligible for AAIF?

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

I'd say AKL is probably from a Queensland port (BNE or OOL), the UA partnership to a lesser extent may come into play with a limited BNE-AKL timed service from March or April 2023 at the earliest to offer Queenslanders a 'daily' SFO connection on the days that UA doesn't fly SFO-BNE nonstop.

UA916 is a 1450 departure from AKL, arriving SFO 0705. (note: moves to 1550 as of this weekend)
Air NZ already run an 0810 departure from BNE, arriving AKL 1430, so if VA were going to do something to pair up with UA916 then it would end up mirroring the NZ service.

TBH I'm thinking this would only be a minor consideration in the general scheme of things, and it's going to be based on how much traffic they can get in both directions.

 

[Secco]

Hi, I am flying Business Class to NZ with VA and was wondering if I would have access to any lounges at Melbourne.

Thanks

 

[AIRwin]

Hi, I am flying Business Class to NZ with VA and was wondering if I would have access to any lounges at Melbourne.

VA domestic lounge in T3

 

[Secco]

VA domestic lounge in T3

Thanks for your reply.
So are you suggesting I check in at T2, go to the lounge at T3 and then go back to T2 to go through security.

I take it by your reply, that I don't have access to any lounge in T2.