VA to begin SYD-HKG daily

[AviatorInsight]

Currently on a (perfectly timed for us) MEL-HKG-MEL - will be spewing if there are changes as it will really muck us around.

Any idea which days of the week ex-MEL will be dropped?

I guess we will end up via SYD if the day changes.

Sorry. Via SYD on Wednesday.

 

[andyhui01]

I didn't realise MEL would be back to overnight both ways. That's good news. Being VA, it won't stick for long though once more slots appear. No one wants their aircraft to sit all day at such an expensive airport to park a plane.

 

[docjames]

Any idea of start date? I couldnt see it anywhere other than "mid year".

Also the HKG-MEL departure has moved forward about 3 hrs.

 

[CPMaverick]

Any idea of start date? I couldnt see it anywhere other than "mid year".

Also the HKG-MEL departure has moved forward about 3 hrs.

I need to know this as well. I have June MEL-HKG flights that will be affected by this.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

It would be great if in the long run there were alternating daytime/overnight options for HKG-SYD/MEL such that you had the option in either direction, at worst having to add a domestic hop one but not both ways via SYD/MEL!

 

[Must...Fly!]

It would be great if in the long run there were alternating daytime/overnight options for HKG-SYD/MEL such that you had the option in either direction, at worst having to add a domestic hop one but not both ways via SYD/MEL!

If they're serious about breaking the QF/CX monopoly, I will say that for once, VA have made a good strategic decision.

 

[Leccy]

I'm glad it looks like VA has decided to be serious with regards to Hong Kong. If you look at the route map that they put up when they announced their Hong Kong Airlines partnership they should have a really great network, not just China but Japan as well. However, has anyone tried to book one of these flights? I can't get one up on VA or HX websites, nor can I get ITA Matrix to give me a fare (which might just be my inexperience).

https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/airline-partners/hong-kong-airlines/#network

 

[CPMaverick]

Thanks for posting that. Saipan is an interesting one.

 

[AIRwin]

SYD-HKG flights begin 2 July 2018 and are now on sale:
Cheap flights to Hong Kong (HKG) from $549* | Virgin Australia

 

[Rj_louise]

Just checked our HKG/MEL flight in August and looks like we have been moved to go via SYD. I was fairly confident that our waitlisted upgrade would come to fruition, not so sure now.

 

[AIRwin]

I just noticed that flights have all been renumbered - VA68/69 (MEL) and VA82/83 (SYD)

 

[CPMaverick]

I just noticed that flights have all been renumbered - VA68/69 (MEL) and VA82/83 (SYD)

Starting when?

My flights in June are still MEL-HKG and still VA86/87.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

You're right! They're now numbered as VA 82/83 from SYD. Originally they were VA 88/89... which sounded much more appealing for the market?

 

[AIRwin]

Starting when?

2 July

 

[CPMaverick]

Thanks. Looks like I just missed it, thankfully. My booking was part of a bigger itinerary, a schedule change would have really ruffled things.

 

[docjames]

Yep just missed for June outbound travel. Phew, really wanted the daytime flight ex-Mel

Overnight return essentially unchanged on July return

Phew.

 

[thompo]

I've been all excited about this planning a long weekend in HKG in Feb with my other half, been scrimping and saving points. However J Reward availability is (unsurprisingly) terrible - 1 seat here or there on a Tuesday. So much for my grand plan of flying home Sun night and going straight to work!

Would it be worth calling to ask if they have any?

 

[odysseus]

I've been all excited about this planning a long weekend in HKG in Feb with my other half, been scrimping and saving points. However J Reward availability is (unsurprisingly) terrible - 1 seat here or there on a Tuesday. So much for my grand plan of flying home Sun night and going straight to work!

Would it be worth calling to ask if they have any?

I doubt it. I asked before just about how they were released rather than anything specific, and was told they couldn't offer anything as it was purely up to Virgin.

 

[thompo]

I'm having a lucky year with reward flights!

Less than a week after Family Pooling got enough for 2 of us one way in J (120k) 2x seats became available on the overnight back from HKG to SYD in Feb which is what we wanted, so we jumped.

Now climbing back up the mountain to another 120k (currently ~55k) for the day flight over.