VA Flexi Fare's

[Intra]

Just wanted to see what everyone else thought of the Flexi fares avaiable with Virgin Australia. I've read various discussion notes in different topics about them, but after doing a (quick) search, besides an out-dated topic dating back to the DJ days 2 years ago, nothing as central per-see (Just like we have with our never-ending discussion on VA J Product...

One of my grips about the Flexi's is the ever increasing cost, slowly but surely as time goes by. Just noted my $499 Flexi BNEPER has jumped to $519. For what exactly, beside profit taking, is anyones guess (Better Food Offering... If only...). I'm lucky that I live on the Southside of Brisbane, so can slash my Flexi/SC Run Cost by flying out of OOL if I want to , or better yet, fly into MCY and use my GoCard's Free Trips on the Weekends after the Weekly Work Commute if the need be with events back-to-back in SYD & MCY, which may be the case for me in the near future.
Having said that too, while the food with Flexi's aren't anything to write home about, it'll become irrelevant anyway when VA finally get around to having food served on all flights.... sometime in the near future... Its a slow WIP, like most things are (Take the website for example... Or the VA Lounge Renovations/Expansion...)

9 times out of 10 I have my Flexi upgraded to J; Even if I wasn't, I usually get at least one of my fares Flexi to be able to change my schedule as need be - Thank Goodness for Fly Ahead as a Gold though, else I would be stuffed again with a nice change fee with my upcoming BNEMKY trip in a few weeks time ($125~ Return, cheaper than The Orange Cancer even with TRA01, plus all Gold benefits, and I was laughing)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Just wanted to see what everyone else thought of the Flexi fares avaiable with Virgin Australia.

Flexis seem to be suffering a devaluation. Increased price, little reason to use them....even the 241's have vapourised with a flexi!.

For some, flexis + J upgrade are a HUGE bargain (if you prefer to fly J and you don't want J SCs). For me, pretty much the ONLY reason I'd fly a flexi is if.... a) some other fool paid for it; or b) I was desperate to fly and it was the cheapest fare bucket left.

I can honestly say I see absolutely ZERO benefit in a flexi.

EDIT....even my latest search for the cheap double SC runs saw either W or -Y coming in better value than a flexi.....

 

[notzac]

The only reason I'll buy one is to use an upgrade certificate - and even then it's a bit of an ask, given how much prices have risen (as a percentage).

 

[AdMEL]

As others have mentioned, the only value I see in a Flexi is to upgrade to J, in my case, using points. And generally speaking only transcon, but the value has been eroded significantly by the increasing cost of Flexi's. Just over a year ago, Flexi MEL-PER was $299, exactly 1 year ago, I think it was $319. Last I checked, it was $479 or $499. At that price, it isn't significantly less than J on sale, which is occasionally $699.

 

[drewbles]

As others have mentioned, the only value I see in a Flexi is to upgrade to J, in my case, using points. And generally speaking only transcon, but the value has been eroded significantly by the increasing cost of Flexi's. Just over a year ago, Flexi MEL-PER was $299, exactly 1 year ago, I think it was $319. Last I checked, it was $479 or $499. At that price, it isn't significantly less than J on sale, which is occasionally $699.

MEL-PER went from $299 to $349 to $399 to $449 to now $499. It's been a very very steady rise (every few months basically).

QF are a few dollars more for 'flexi saver' but 'full flex' on QF is $1199 (and J Saver is $1299, so you can see why QF do it that way).

I only buy flexis 4 times a year for my 4 upgrades, but from $600 return to $1000 is a steep rise, no matter how good the trans con J service is (and considering I can get NZ-US in Premium Economy for not much more than double that and it's 28-30 hours of travel vs 7 1/2, even though it's only Y+).

 

[AdMEL]

MEL-PER went from $299 to $349 to $399 to $449 to now $499. It's been a very very steady rise (every few months basically).

My recollection is that they went from $299 to $319 to $329 to $349 to $379 to $399 to $449 to $479 to $499, in the space of a little over a year!

I paid $319 on 8/11/12 for a flight on boxing day 2012.

 

[samas]

I have noticed it as well. I still have two platinum upgrades to use in the next 5 months. Work only ever buy saver fares these days (flexi only if saver sold out). They have calculated subatantial savings by forfeiting a saver fare and buying a new ticket if circumstances change as the significant majority of travel goes as planned.

In the past I have called up after work booked a saver and paid to upgrade to flexi to upgrade to J, but even that has become unjustifiable at some of the price differences.

I have also noticed savers creep up as well but not to the level of inflation the flexis have been. Given the price increase now as well I think it ludicrous they still slog you change fees on flexis.

 

[Bofter]

I have noticed the MEL-PER flexi price rises also. The 4x upgrades was a major benefit of platinum when flexi fares were at the lower levels, but now feels little different to the amount you need to pay to bid a cash upgrade from saver. That pretty much leaves early selection of the front row seats as they only platinum perk over gold that I find really useful (extra points etc are good but more incremental).

 

[Boris spatsky]

Agreed. One of my comp upgrades will go to waste this year as my employer has recently changed to cheapest fare of the day, and the price difference to upgrade to flexi myself on most routes is cost prohibitive (or at least not value for money).

 

[muppet]

I have noticed the MEL-PER flexi price rises also. The 4x upgrades was a major benefit of platinum when flexi fares were at the lower levels, but now feels little different to the amount you need to pay to bid a cash upgrade from saver. That pretty much leaves early selection of the front row seats as they only platinum perk over gold that I find really useful (extra points etc are good but more incremental).

Bofter, totally understand that people have different income levels and value propositions; but if you can't make a confirmed 'flat' bed for 4 hours for $500 work, you're in the wrong business. It's about the same space as 5 economy seats i reckon.

Cash upgrades are only last minute arrangements. Plat upgrades are confirmed when you book. Massive difference, particularly if travelling with a +1.

QF did away with upgrade credits and decent seats transcontinental and charge the same as VA.

NB i'm done with VA after using my plat upgrades due to its incompetence during disruptions. But this is my view on its product.

 

[Bofter]

Bofter, totally understand that people have different income levels and value propositions; but if you can't make a confirmed 'flat' bed for 4 hours for $500 work, you're in the wrong business. It's about the same space as 5 economy seats i reckon.

At an absolute price it is good value, it is as a relative proposition that I struggle to make it work for me.

I am fortunate enough to have sufficient forewarning of my travels that most of my MEL-PER and vv fares have been costing around $180. For that I get (as a plat) generally a bulkhead aisle seat, along with all the priority (security + boarding) and lounge access. I am not a small person (very wide shoulders in particular), but for four hours* this is comfortable enough. I also find that I can get more work done (if I need to) in economy as the meal service in business is lovely, but takes a large part of the flight. This also means that my flat bed is in bed mode for very little part of the flight. All up I find it hard to justify that additional $320 so that I can use a complimentary upgrade. At $100-150 perhaps, but the flight isn't long enough. Now all these calculations are personal, and no doubt my circumstance is different to others' in that I am close to self employed, so that $320 comes directly from my pocket (less adjustments for tax).

Now sometimes I can't get fares for $180, even with fantastic forward planning. In those cases however I have found that often as not, award seats are available in business. For the way I value Velocity points and for having sufficent status credits to re-qualify, it works out better, particularly during 15% specials. So for me, a $299 flexi fare was sufficiently tempting (even when I had to pay for points upgrades), a $399 flexi fare was borderline and a $499 flexi fare will rarely work for me, particularly without TRA01 to bring it down a little.

At $180 I realise I am only paying 6.7 cents per km to fly on VA and that might not really be contributing to their bottom line. Still, if they thought they could get away with sale fares of $299 or $399 for MEL-PER then i am sure they would, in which case the $499 flexi starts to become attractive again. If Virgin find enough takers for the $499 flexis, great for them and great for me too if this gets average yield up enough that they can sustain sub $200 sale fares even at times I need to travel.

*four hours happens to be below my economy discomfort threshold, particularly if in a good seat - 14 hour flights are a different matter

 

[anat0l]

MEL-PER went from $299 to $349 to $399 to $449 to now $499. It's been a very very steady rise (every few months basically).

QF are a few dollars more for 'flexi saver' but 'full flex' on QF is $1199 (and J Saver is $1299, so you can see why QF do it that way).

I only buy flexis 4 times a year for my 4 upgrades, but from $600 return to $1000 is a steep rise, no matter how good the trans con J service is (and considering I can get NZ-US in Premium Economy for not much more than double that and it's 28-30 hours of travel vs 7 1/2, even though it's only Y+).

They probably know you're coming back anyway, seeing as the alternative is Economy (even though, yes, now you can get free food on such services in the main cabin...), so you'll probably pay up.

 

[drewbles]

They probably know you're coming back anyway, seeing as the alternative is Economy (even though, yes, now you can get free food on such services in the main cabin...), so you'll probably pay up.

For the foreseeable future, with the exception of PER trips, all my domestic travel will be on QF. All my European travel will be on CX, and trans-pac will depend on price.

At $1k return, it's a lot of cash to shell out for a return trip though. QF will end up winning with a comfort seat next to me (I like to have an empty seat next to me) and has the added bonus of increasing my SC balance. I will likely investigate this option moving forwards though, and my 4 upgrades will go to waste (if I even re-qualify after 2014).

I need to hedge my bets still.

 

[Kieran2274]

I only buy flexis 4 times a year for my 4 upgrades, but from $600 return to $1000 is a steep rise, no matter how good the trans con J service is (and considering I can get NZ-US in Premium Economy for not much more than double that and it's 28-30 hours of travel vs 7 1/2, even though it's only Y+).

Yes, its ironic that you can often even fly J (or Y+) internationally at a better price than you pay for J domestically in Australia. Like you, I only buy flexi Y to use Platinum upgrade, otherwise it's points or paid J (and usually points only makes sense during points discount promotions)

 

[drewbles]

Yes, its ironic that you can often even fly J (or Y+) internationally at a better price than you pay for J domestically in Australia. Like you, I only buy flexi Y to use Platinum upgrade, otherwise it's points or paid J (and usually points only makes sense during points discount promotions)

If the $699 J promos come back at any stage, i'll be booking them. $1200 return in J (with the SC's to go with it) is a far better value proposition for me.

 

[AdMEL]

For the foreseeable future, with the exception of PER trips, all my domestic travel will be on QF. All my European travel will be on CX, and trans-pac will depend on price.

At $1k return, it's a lot of cash to shell out for a return trip though. QF will end up winning with a comfort seat next to me (I like to have an empty seat next to me) and has the added bonus of increasing my SC balance. I will likely investigate this option moving forwards though, and my 4 upgrades will go to waste (if I even re-qualify after 2014).

I need to hedge my bets still.

What happened with VA to make you say/do this?

 

[drewbles]

What happened with VA to make you say/do this?

Very long story

 

[AdMEL]

Very long story

Care to share? Whilst there are no character limits, maybe a brief version?

 

[jakeseven7]

The good side effect of VA consistently jacking up the flexi fares with no benefits back to customers is that my company is now looking at moving back to QF.... where I guess we would end up on the semi-flex or what ever they are called these days!

(The food on the flex fare is total cough and not worth the 5 cents it costs to make)

 

[drewbles]

Care to share? Whilst there are no character limits, maybe a brief version?

No, sorry. It's not really a public story