VA714 (Perth > Adelaide) VARA a320

[Bagpuss]

Decided to book a flight from Perth over to Sydney and noticed the flight is operated by one of the VARA a320 aircraft over the weekend.

It's obviously down to better use of aircraft / fleet reduction.

 

[Jet L]

I'm confused is it PER-ADL or PER-SYD

 

[Jet L]

Also what date did you book the travel for

 

[Bagpuss]

I'm confused is it PER-ADL or PER-SYD

Perth -> Adelaide.

They want Business class Perth -> Sydney which the a320's don't have.

Looking at the utilisation of the a320's and it's very low. This would be trying to get some use out of them whilst they are under lease no doubt.

 

[Bagpuss]

Also what date did you book the travel for

23rd December, always lock in Xmas flights asap plus had a voucher which needed to be used. Though it looks like the a320 is operating this on Saturdays before mid-year.

 

[Jet L]

Personally I'd be happy to be put on a A320 its somewhat of a rare event to be on a Virgin A320 rather than a B737

 

[Bagpuss]

Personally I'd be happy to be put on a A320 as there are only two and its somewhat of a rare event to be on a Virgin A320

Yup, I've been on the entire fleet, except these. Only aircraft I don't think I ever got onto was the E170.

I was lucky enough be on one of the last F50 flights, though it was the last VA revenue flight for the aircraft I was on and ATC gave clearance to conduct a flyover Perth.

Though I never flew on VH-VBY whilst it was in the Virgin Blue 50th aircraft colours which is something I always wanted to do ... Saw it heaps of times though. So when I get on it these days (was on it within the last week) I still call it #VASadplane ... For such a decorated aircraft to be what it is now, even with no wifi I find so sad. (E190's which are exiting the fleet had wifi installed, why they haven't put on the two 737-7's is crazy.

I still wouldn't be surprised if the F100's start doing some flying outside of WA as part of fleet utilisation.

 

[Jet L]

When I was younger (under 10) I think I went on the blue Virgin Blue plane twice (at least once) leaving SYD, oh how I wish I was collecting Velocity points back then

 

[samas]

Interestingly the flight schedules indicated VARA doing VA714 and turning around to VA719 back to Perth but still list the equipment as 73H...

I've flown on the A320 a number of times between PER and KTA, PHE, KGI and often the first few/several rows have all seats taken, including middles, and the middle seats have been vacant for most of the seats further back. I usually go 12C or 12D.

As someone that also does PER-ADL regularly I'll have to watch for equipment type as I prefer Row 3 on the 73H over any row on the a320. Perhaps on PER-ADL where there are less WP/SG compared to WA regional row 1 won't be so full

 

[docjames]

That far out there'd be a fair chance of an equipment swap (and the A320 is a "placeholder").

 

[Pleb Status]

I flew on this aircraft during the old XR days and it had the odd ABC/EFG seat assignments (no D).

Have they now gone back to the conventional ABC/DEF?

 

[Bagpuss]

According to the seat map it's ABC/DEF.

Also having a quick look, it seems this new setup starts on Saturday 22nd April onwards

 

[Wunala Dreaming]

Though I never flew on VH-VBY whilst it was in the Virgin Blue 50th aircraft colours which is something I always wanted to do ... Saw it heaps of times though. So when I get on it these days (was on it within the last week) I still call it #VASadplane ... For such a decorated aircraft to be what it is now, even with no wifi I find so sad. (E190's which are exiting the fleet had wifi installed, why they haven't put on the two 737-7's is crazy.

The 737-700s VH-VBY and VH-VBZ are having the BoardConnect IFE system installed this month.

 

[Bagpuss]

Looks like the F100's are also having a crack at the PER - ADL routing ... https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vh-fnj

 

[samas]

I was booked on VA722 on Saturday 23rd December PER-ADL - chose that flight as it was a B738. A couple of weeks ago flight got cancelled and I'm now on the morning A320 departure instead. Did have a few options that Amex gave me (free flight), including the day before or day later or connection via SYD on the same day as well.

PER-ADL is my most frequent route - really not liking the lotto of F100/A320 ending up on this route. I guess it's roulette with a lot of routes now, like the transcon in the other threads.

 

[Bagpuss]

I was booked on VA722 on Saturday 23rd December PER-ADL - chose that flight as it was a B738. A couple of weeks ago flight got cancelled and I'm now on the morning A320 departure instead. Did have a few options that Amex gave me (free flight), including the day before or day later or connection via SYD on the same day as well.

PER-ADL is my most frequent route - really not liking the lotto of F100/A320 ending up on this route. I guess it's roulette with a lot of routes now, like the transcon in the other threads.

Looks like you are on the same flight as me (VA714). VA714 has now changed from a A320 to a F100. Hoping my January flights stays as the A320 so I can experience the A320.

 

[Pleb Status]

Looks like you are on the same flight as me (VA714). VA714 has now changed from a A320 to a F100. Hoping my January flights stays as the A320 so I can experience the A320.

I certainly would not be going out of my way to fly on the VARA A320. From memory, the legroom on the F100 is pretty good (unless they have been reconfigured since the XR days).

 

[Bagpuss]

I certainly would not be going out of my way to fly on the VARA A320. From memory, the legroom on the F100 is pretty good (unless they have been reconfigured since the XR days).

Leg room on the F100 is really good, I fly them a fair bit and dont mind them. I wouldn't be surprised if they re-config a few and put in business and use them to fly PER > Darwin and Adelaide. They could be used East coast too. With business class the seat pitch would still be good, they just need to install wifi on them.

 

[Daver6]

Agreed on the F100 legroom. Recently experienced them on the PER - BME and return sectors. Fantastic legroom. Would seek them out over a 737. Only downside is no IFE at all. A sacrifice I'd be more than willing to make.

Also the lavatories are rather spacious too.

 

[samas]

Looks like you are on the same flight as me (VA714). VA714 has now changed from a A320 to a F100. Hoping my January flights stays as the A320 so I can experience the A320.

I've added a reminder to my calendar to look out for you in the Perth lounge prior to departure