VA's Uncompetitive Prices For (Public & School Holiday) Leisure Travel

[lovestotravel]

re: VA's Uncompetitive Prices For (public & school holiday) Leisure Travel

I completely disagree. I'm easily finding cheaper fares around holiday times. Booked last week $125 versus $303 on qantas - same route, same departure time. I can buy a damn side better meal with DJ for $178 and still be in front.

It is invalid to make such comments as in the OP if only looking at a single route, same as my experience on my one route doesn't make them cheaper. If your not comparing across the whole network there is absolutely no way to claim they are failing in their rebranding.

It is invalid to make such comments, as in the post above, if only looking at a single route, where you manged to find one fare cheaper on VA than QF

 

[medhead]

It is invalid to make such comments, as in the post above, if only looking at a single route, where you manged to find one fare cheaper on VA than QF

Yes that's exactly what I wrote. I'm really not sure what you think it adds to repeat my words back at me.

BTW if you read a few more posts in the thread you'll see that I already mentioned the fares that I found. It was just one fare. It was all of July and August, DJ were at least $63 (that was one fare) and mostly $88 cheaper and at the extreme, right smack bag in the holidays as per the OP, $178 cheaper.

Frankly, as long as some people keep pulling out BS rants about one route, on one day and expect to be taken seriously I continue to put in my experience over many days that says the exact opposite.


Sent from the Throne

 

[Deleted member 29185]

re: VA's Uncompetitive Prices For (public & school holiday) Leisure Travel

I completely disagree. I'm easily finding cheaper fares around holiday times. Booked last week $125 versus $303 on qantas - same route, same departure time. I can buy a damn side better meal with DJ for $178 and still be in front.

It is invalid to make such comments as in the OP if only looking at a single route, same as my experience on my one route doesn't make them cheaper. If your not comparing across the whole network there is absolutely no way to claim they are failing in their rebranding.

Now I dare say I'll raise the Medhead ire here a little (which I do hesitantly) but that post of yours Medhead is the invalid comment......not the OP. Have another read of the it (I've copied it below for you). Two questions were asked and an example given as reasoning behind the questions. The only comment made was about the luggage as it relates to the OP only (not a broad generalised statement) and a wee bit about the Foxtel loss (which if I recall correctly, you too have bemoaned). You can't completely disagree as the only things for you to disagree about is how the luggage entitlement affects the OP (which I'm assuming you actually don't know) and the Foxtel (which you have previously conceded)! However I do note you answered the questions.....No to the first and No to the second. Isn't that the end of it? Trying to berate people (including me) for having a different experience to you is not helpful. Have you ever stopped to think that perhaps no one wants to holiday to the destination you fly (Adelaide isn't it....or is that someone else I'm thinking about)? Or perhaps the holidays are different dates at your dsetination (I've no idea on that one)?

For the record, my experiences are across many routes at various times. That affects me. I personally, couldn't give a rats backside about whole network........just the part that affects me! Further for the record, I'm looking forward to holidaying where you live, as I now know I can expect cheap as chips air fares during holiday times!

Hi All

Is it just me or have you noticed VA's prices are not competitive for leisure travel around school and public holidays?

E.g. need to go to BNE around VIC queens B'day w/e, did MEL to BNE on 8/6/12 returning 11/6/12

VA comes back w $455 flying out fri evening and coming back monday afternoon, thats without a meal and baggage!

The competition comes in at $434 for same times w a meal and baggage.

I dont need baggage and would get it for free anyway but seems odd to me that they are more expensive but offering less!

The foxtel, if it is even a plane that has it, would have to be damn good!!

Anyone else run into a similar situation recently?

 

[straitman]

I have changed the thread title slightly to represent what the OPs post.

Having said that the thread has drifted a little to where people are, appropriately, explaining their own experiences.

 

[straitman]

Hi All

Is it just me or have you noticed VA's prices are not competitive for leisure travel around school and public holidays?

E.g. need to go to BNE around VIC queens B'day w/e, did MEL to BNE on 8/6/12 returning 11/6/12

VA comes back w $455 flying out fri evening and coming back monday afternoon, thats without a meal and baggage!

The competition comes in at $434 for same times w a meal and baggage.

I dont need baggage and would get it for free anyway but seems odd to me that they are more expensive but offering less!

The foxtel, if it is even a plane that has it, would have to be damn good!!

Anyone else run into a similar situation recently?

For the Queens birthday weekend in June, I have to answer NO and NO.

MEL-AKL DJ $219 / QF $286
AKL-MEL DJ $NZ149 / QF $NZ272

We get free baggage on both, use iPads for IFE and eat in the lounge.

 

[oz_mark]

For the Queens Birthday long weekend, I am travelling one way on Qantas, and returning on Virgin. Says something about the relativities of prices when I booked! (On the return journey, both carriers were insane, just that Virgin was less insane!)

For ozFest, I am flying to Canberra on Qantas, returning on Virgin. At least this time, neither was nuts, but I went with the cheaper options.

For the March long weekend, I went to Perth on Virgin, and returned on Qantas.

For me, mixing and matching carriers works out better!

 

[Meggsy]

Hi All

Is it just me or have you noticed VA's prices are not competitive for leisure travel around school and public holidays?

Anyone else run into a similar situation recently?

My response would be No and Sometimes dependent on routes and times. My recent experience I had an urgent need to fly BNE - SYD last Saturday night and return Sunday afternoon, same day booking. Price was cheaper with QF down and DJ back. I have just booked flights BNE - ROK for Tuesday and return Friday this week. Did not realise it was Beef week in Rocky. Prices on QF are all around $700 each way and DJ about $350, Nothing but full flexis available. I know the OP refers to leisure travel but I think it is a bit of a lottery these days as to who is cheaper and it all comes down to routes, events that may be on at destination, time of booking, etc. I also booked some return flights to attend a friends birthday in Mackay in 2 weeks time. I booked these with DJ 3 weeks ago for BNE - MKY Saturday morning return Sunday night for $59 each way. No chance I could get those prices on a Monday or Friday on the same route booking that close. I believe that all things being equal the DJ saver fare is cheaper than red e fares on the same routes but red e fares tend to be more available.