VA to HKG from Jul 5 2017, ex MEL

[Pleb Status]

The odd flight times are most likely slot driven.

It could be a good opportunity to get maintenance done whilst on the ground in HKG. It would appear that alot of the US carriers use the opportunity as I have seen numerous US aircraft sitting in the HAECO hangers when I have passed through HKG during the day.

 

[vitagen]

I don't think this will last , well probably longer than the Per-Auh route, I'm surprised that VA will approach this half-coughed. It's hard to take them seriously and if they want to compete with QF/CX they need to rethink their their execution strategy. I wouldn't have bothered releasing this route.... if I lived in Melb I'd go CX. I like Virgin and want them to succeed but they seem to have an endless supply of bullets except they keep shooting them selves in the foot

 

[travelislife]

Madness!

Text

 

[777]

Depends how much HNA are willing to throw at it.

 

[Saab34]

It's probably more a starting point, no doubt they would want daily flights from SYD/BNE/MEL but they clearly only have access to unattractive token slots currently, not to mention restricted number of seats they can operate.

I'd still like to know how Jetstar Hong Kong expected to get of the ground with such tight access to any sort of slots.

Agree with the above, the other two have money to kill this off pretty quick. Virgin can't really afford to be playing fare wars anymore.

 

[pangwen]

Re: [Wrong] Sydney to Hong Kong VA80 & VA82

Any chance of a short run to mainland China during the day?

No rights to mainland from hkg iirc.

 

[yohy?!]

It's probably more a starting point, no doubt they would want daily flights from SYD/BNE/MEL but they clearly only have access to unattractive token slots currently, not to mention restricted number of seats they can operate.

I'd still like to know how Jetstar Hong Kong expected to get of the ground with such tight access to any sort of slots.

Agree with the above, the other two have money to kill this off pretty quick. Virgin can't really afford to be playing fare wars anymore.

Plenty of cough back of clock slots available which hk express has used effectively whilst jqhk was held back

 

[andyhui01]

HK would still have slots for a really early arrival but I guess that also means you either need 2 frames for HKG or depart mid morning which doesn't make much sense for incoming connections

On the thread about flights showing up on Google, I think at one point it was showing a mid morning MEL-HKG and red eye HKG-MEL which would have been perfect compromise. lets hope that is what they end up with in the future.

 

[browski]

MEL-HKG
VA89 0035/0815 Tue, Thu, Sat
VA87 1025/1805 Mon
VA87 0940/1720 Wed


HKG-MEL
VA86 1950/0820 (+1) Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat

0035/0815


Great route, great result. Obviously one would only fly from MEL on Mon or Wed.
Returning flight are all OK.

Mon and Wed flights seem to connect OK with both the Virgin Atlantic and BA flights to LHR

 

[jazza1971]

And a new bunch of released J reward seats

 

[gwilli1]

VA's HKG fares are starting to appear. Looks like lead in approx return fares. Y- Elevate (J- Biz Saver)

ex MEL - $750 ($3460)
ex SYD/BNE - $785 ($3490)

Rewards seats -
ex MEL- 59500+$75 or 71800
ex SYD - 71500 + 95.19 or 86200

Data could still be loading , can't find any reward seats ex BNE.

 

[Moopere]

Had a quick look at pricing ex PER on a couple of days in July ... might be some interesting status run opportunities for those who don't mind long loooong flights <$450 one way including the PER-MEL leg which seems to be getting thrown in essentially 'free'.

Will be interesting to see J upgrade / rewards pricing levels when they get loaded up.

 

[Saab34]

Can anyone see reward flights?

I can only see Any Seat?

 

[Oxy]

I can see them through Delta in the month of July but that's it.

Can anyone see reward flights?

I can only see Any Seat?

 

[gwilli1]

It appears they have been taken out , after initially loading them last night . Only showing any seat rewards from the searches i have done this morning

Can anyone see reward flights?

I can only see Any Seat?

 

[hummel]

It appears they have been taken out , after initially loading them last night . Only showing any seat rewards from the searches i have done this morning

Care to tell us the cost of a reward seat when they were loaded?

 

[Dannyism]

Yeah I was having a look over Xmas and new years. No reward seats available at the moment but I will keep looking.

 

[gwilli1]

Care to tell us the cost of a reward seat when they were loaded?

It was in my post above , and i was only looking at business rewards

J Rewards seats -
ex MEL- 59500+$75 or 71800
ex SYD - 71500 + 95.19 or 86200

 

[Saab34]

Looks like they are still playing with it.

Any Seat for Economy was 34400+Tax this morning, now its 44400+Tax

General Reward promo should be 27800+Tax

 

[melb78]

I don't think this will last , well probably longer than the Per-Auh route, I'm surprised that VA will approach this half-coughed. It's hard to take them seriously and if they want to compete with QF/CX they need to rethink their their execution strategy. I wouldn't have bothered releasing this route.... if I lived in Melb I'd go CX. I like Virgin and want them to succeed but they seem to have an endless supply of bullets except they keep shooting them selves in the foot

I am hoping this will gradually build to more flight as i am hoping they will lease more aircarft from there new shere holders.??