VA suspends MEL LAX to support increased BNE services

[anat0l]

Re: Virgin Australia - Daily BNE/LAX from October 2014, MEL/LAX suspended

Aren't VA acquiring some new top line equipment soon-ish? 787s or the like?

 

[mannej]

Re: Virgin Australia - Daily BNE/LAX from October 2014, MEL/LAX suspended

Aren't VA acquiring some new top line equipment soon-ish? 787s or the like?

I don't think there is anything published as such.

 

[TomVexille]

Re: Virgin Australia - Daily BNE/LAX from October 2014, MEL/LAX suspended

Aren't VA acquiring some new top line equipment soon-ish? 787s or the like?

Not that I'm aware of. But I haven't been paying the most attention...

 

[Bolthead]

Still confused as lax to mel on va still to operate 3 days per week. What will they do with those 777's in mel? Or is the other shoe to drop later? I have talked to dl as my award flight to mel from lax to operate next march. Been advised everything ok as after stay in mel flying va to syd, staying there than flying syd to lax. Been advised everything ok as after stay in mel flying va to syd, staying there than flying syd to lax.

Welcome to AFF...

Let me help you:
Still confused as lax to mel on va still to operate 3 days per week.
No, as of October 26th all flights from MEL-LAX and LAX-MEL will stop.

What will they do with those 777's in mel?
Send them to Brisbane.

Or is the other shoe to drop later?
I don't think there is a a hidden agenda.

I have talked to dl as my award flight to mel from lax to operate next march.
I would contact them again and if necessary direct them to this announcement.Virgin Australia Announces Changes to Los Angeles Services, with Daily Brisbane Flights | Virgin Australia

Been advised everything ok as after stay in mel flying va to syd, staying there than flying syd to lax.
This will mean an extra flight from SYD-MEL so I would also check on that.

I hope that has helped you. I would continue to followup with Delta....

 

[pauly7]

Re: Virgin Australia - Daily BNE/LAX from October 2014, MEL/LAX suspended

Angle from AFR (intro only below)

Virgin Australia will abandon its Melbourne-Los Angeles flights as rival United Airlines enters the latter route in October.

Virgin had provided a three-weekly service between Melbourne and Los Angeles and a four-weekly service between Brisbane and Los Angeles on a Boeing 777-300ER, but now the Brisbane route will go daily from October 26.

United Airlines begins its direct, six-weekly Melbourne-Los Angeles flights on a new 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on October 28, ending its previous tag flight from Melbourne to Sydney that allowed Melbourne customers to then catch flights from Sydney to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

There was widespread speculation in the travel industry that Virgin would make this change after United in February announced its plans to enter the Melbourne-Los Angeles route.

Qantas Airways, which offers a daily A380 service from Melbourne to Los Angeles, has not shirked from United’s challenge. It will add a 747 service on top of its A380 service on some days in the peak Christmas/New Year period.

Full article :

http://m.afr.com/p/business/companies/virgin_to_fly_brisbane_to_los_angeles_cGuRdpuWgPhwvoE8z97MgP

 

[bullerdude]

Re: Virgin Australia - Daily BNE/LAX from October 2014, MEL/LAX suspended

So now reward seats from Melbourne to Los Angeles become slightly more expensive...

The points stay the same but the tax $ increase from around ~$40 for the old direct flights to ~$110 for the connecting flights.

Not a major problem but a little annoying.

 

[sydstar]

Is there enough demand out of BNE for both a daily 777 and 747? I would have thought this is a fairly heavy leisure route when compared to MEL?

QF must be pleased with MEL. Now just UA, and the 787 product doesn't look like it comes close to the 380 (at least in Y and Y+). Give me QF (or VA) any day!

 

[Luko]

This is a major disappointment to me. I fly to LA from MEL 1-2 times a year with the family (inc 5mth old and 5yo old) and the last thing I want to do is stop in Brisbane and either do the mad dash to the connecting flight or wait around for X hours. If I was flying by myself I wouldn't care so much. Looks like its back to Qantas. Never flown United but might give them a look in when they get their new planes. I was looking at flying in November too so im glad I hadnt booked yet.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Well I'm outraged - main reason I EVER supported VA was their direct MEL-LAX service - whilst their seats were pretty ordinary the lively fun VA experience I enjoyed - oh and the bar. But if VA going to treat MEL residents as second class citizens then I intend to treat VA as second class airline.

We have VA booked LAX-MEL on Sept 23 - Cruiserette has never experienced their J product but I just know she will really enjoy it. Bye bye VA - I will not be transiting through either SYD or BNE.

And I will definitely try UA at some time - I think. Flew them MEL-LAX coupla times - never found it outstanding but it wasn't too bad either. Hopefully there new hard product will be a big improvement - time will tell I guess.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Re: Virgin Australia - Daily BNE/LAX from October 2014, MEL/LAX suspended

Edit: Oh poop. Now I have to google how to get from Bris domestic to International. Melb was so easy.

I believe VA in MEL give you a ticket to use the air train. If they can't/don't give you one ask the VA transfer desk on arrival in BNE at the domestic terminal.

If you take the orange Tbus it will cost you $5 pp as it's only free for pax booked on a QF flight nbr ex BNE Intl.

 

[serfty]

Re: Virgin Australia - Daily BNE/LAX from October 2014, MEL/LAX suspended

Changes made and not too bad except for a nice 1:15pm departure from MEL is now 8:00am.

 

[Luko]

United also wants to charge $100US for a second bag which almost negates any price saving over qantas

 

[Luko]

I believe VA in MEL give you a ticket to use the air train. If they can't/don't give you one ask the VA transfer desk on arrival in BNE at the domestic terminal.

If you take the orange Tbus it will cost you $5 pp as it's only free for pax booked on a QF flight nbr ex BNE Intl.

Yep this is correct, when you get off at Brisbane you go to the VA transfer desk and they give you a voucher and you jump on board. I only had an hour between flights so was in a mad rush to make that train! Made it though. After doing stops in Brisbane and Sydney was it that I realised how lucky we are to have both intl and dom terminals together.

 

[anat0l]

Yep this is correct, when you get off at Brisbane you go to the VA transfer desk and they give you a voucher and you jump on board. I only had an hour between flights so was in a mad rush to make that train! Made it though. After doing stops in Brisbane and Sydney was it that I realised how lucky we are to have both intl and dom terminals together.

I don't see why VA couldn't cut the same deal as QF so negating the need for a voucher.

They do this at SYD as well, for the Intl->Dom bus service, and given it's a service just for VA is still rather bizarre why you still need to hold a chit for the bus.

I guess for MEL flyers, I wonder which of BNE or SYD makes a better connection. This change also subtly affects ADL and HBA customers, and maybe CBR ones to a lesser degree.

 

[serfty]

I don't see why VA couldn't cut the same deal as QF so negating the need for a voucher.

They do this at SYD as well, for the Intl->Dom bus service, and given it's a service just for VA is still rather bizarre why you still need to hold a chit for the bus.

I guess for MEL flyers, I wonder which of BNE or SYD makes a better connection. This change also subtly affects ADL and HBA customers, and maybe CBR ones to a lesser degree.

When I checked in at MEL earlier this year for a connection to an international flight from SYD, the BP folder had a tear off voucher toi give to the bus driver.

The bus at SYD was not dedicated to VA - it is the T-Bus and after being collected downstairs at gate 45 it went landside at T2 and T3 to pick up those paying $5.50 to connect to T1.

FWIW, the BNE connections lose a little less time (origin to destination) than via SYD.

I now have to catch a flight at 8am on new years day rather than a far more comfortable 1:15pm - being an award I have little choice.

 

[Clivem]

Yep this is correct, when you get off at Brisbane you go to the VA transfer desk and they give you a voucher and you jump on board. I only had an hour between flights so was in a mad rush to make that train! Made it though. After doing stops in Brisbane and Sydney was it that I realised how lucky we are to have both intl and dom terminals together.

'Mad rush' is going to be the right term fairly often I'd think for anyone from MEL going to LAX on VA via BNE who do not elect to 'over-night' in BNE.
On current time tables the first MEL -BNE flight, VA303, departs MEL at 06:00 and gets into BNE @ 08:10 all things going perfectly ......them allow time for de-plane (satellite-gate) ...get from the DOM to INT terminal ....encounter the odd bottle neck along the way and it could be a little tight.
But with the VA7 777 service usually starting to board just a tad after 09:30 for a 10:15 push back there is not a whole lot of wiggle room to play with. Throw in a bit of fog .... a bit of morning congestion with holds into BNE or any other delay and I'd think there will be a few punters missing their connections with such a tight spacing.
No thanks.

 

[jetlagger]

Just also consider that you could also reluctantly sample the most underwhelming & often crowded NZ lounge flying VA from BNE.. :shock:

 

[anat0l]

Just also consider that you could also reluctantly sample the most underwhelming & often crowded NZ lounge flying VA from BNE.. :shock:

I thought that place was given a face lift?

People don't seem awfully enamoured with the other KCs in SYD or MEL, although they are bigger, possibly better food and the SYD one has a massive renovation job on the cards for it.

 

[jetlagger]

I thought that place was given a face lift?

People don't seem awfully enamoured with the other KCs in SYD or MEL, although they are bigger, possibly better food and the SYD one has a massive renovation job on the cards for it.

It is still c1995 as is the QF lounge. :evil:

 

[serfty]

Just also consider that you could also reluctantly sample the most underwhelming & often crowded NZ lounge flying VA from BNE.. :shock:

Wot?

Compared to the oft crowded (admittedly not at noon) MEL NZ lounge or the thoroughly overrated SYD NZ lounge - (at both of which I retreat to the Business area for some serenity)?

It'll be much the same I presume.

(FWIW, the catering in the NZ lounges has deteriorated immensely over the last three years - Fare thee well Airpoints - it was fun while it lasted, or at least for the first couple of years ...)