Virgin Australia flights to Doha now on sale

[SCM]

If you’re talking about cash fares (not using points) then you won’t be able to buy a ticket from Madrid (or any port originating outside of Australia for that matter) as Virgin don’t have the rights to sell tickets to Australia only flights from Australia.

I see thanks, and that's extra bad, so basically we're limited to one-way flights originating from AU only...

 

[Jusrus]

I see thanks, and that's extra bad, so basically we're limited to one-way flights originating from AU only...

Looks like you can buy return ex Australia.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 7:45 PM

The majority of these flights will be sold via the QR site. Virgin’s site is terrible. Options are limited, prices are higher. I don’t think they went into this expecting everyone to book via VA. It’s all being made out like it’s Virgin, but it’s not. These are really just extra QR flights.

Understand, but also presume these flights would count as Virgin marketed for status credit purposes - so if the increase was only slight I would consider it to retain platinum, but I'm not gonna at these prices

 

[justinbrett]

If you’re talking about cash fares (not using points) then you won’t be able to buy a ticket from Madrid (or any port originating outside of Australia for that matter) as Virgin don’t have the rights to sell tickets to Australia only flights from Australia.

Why is that? That wouldn’t be a ISAC thing. I’ve never heard of a QF route (including codeshares) that can only be sold ex-AU.

Is this a QR imposed restriction?

 

[SCM]

Just some examples I found just now for J ex SYD return with qsuites (so the new flights)

MAD 15/16 - 23 April
QR website - $11,572
VA website $13,595
SQ for comparison - $10,256
EY for comparison - $10,328

AMS 15/16 - 23 April
QR website - $9,951
VA website - $13,037
SQ for comparison - $10,294
EY for comparison - $8,885

I also fly ex CGK sometimes, and in previous times I've always noticed QR around $500 - $1000 more expensive than EY. These are not some cherry-picked examples either, I've been doing a lot of comparisons, and the VA website is generally always much more expensive than QR (which in itself is always more expensive than any competitor).

Now it seems like VA has a significant premium on the exact same flights as QR does - and now with the new spend-based rule where you need to spend the majority of the money on VA-marketed flights, it seems like this is being done on purpose to fleece customers flying international.

This is not real competition, and given VA has a complete lack of competitive international flights, even through this wet lease, I just don't see how I can remain a VA customer.

 

[Jusrus]

Just some examples I found just now for J ex SYD return with qsuites (so the new flights)

MAD 15/16 - 23 April
QR website - $11,572
VA website $13,595
SQ for comparison - $10,256
EY for comparison - $10,328

AMS 15/16 - 23 April
QR website - $9,951
VA website - $13,037
SQ for comparison - $10,294
EY for comparison - $8,885

I also fly ex CGK sometimes, and in previous times I've always noticed QR around $500 - $1000 more expensive than EY. These are not some cherry-picked examples either, I've been doing a lot of comparisons, and the VA website is generally always much more expensive than QR (which in itself is always more expensive than any competitor).

Now it seems like VA has a significant premium on the exact same flights as QR does - and now with the new spend-based rule where you need to spend the majority of the money on VA-marketed flights, it seems like this is being done on purpose to fleece customers flying international.

This is not real competition, and given VA has a complete lack of competitive international flights, even through this wet lease, I just don't see how I can remain a VA customer.

100% agree with all of the above.

 

[henrus]

Why is that? That wouldn’t be a ISAC thing. I’ve never heard of a QF route (including codeshares) that can only be sold ex-AU.

It's an approval thing (ACCC) regarding selling the codeshare flights. If VA wanted to sell ex another country they'd need to confirm that their codeshare agreement meets the foreign laws and also update existing ACCC approvals with many of their existing ACCC approvals are based around selling to an Australian point of sale. I have no doubt they could do it but the expensive limited benefit it provides probably isn't worth it. Qantas on the other hand puts in a lot more effort from that legal perspective but I guess they have a more recognisable global brand.

 

[justinbrett]

It's an approval thing (ACCC) regarding selling the codeshare flights. If VA wanted to sell ex another country they'd need to confirm that their codeshare agreement meets the foreign laws and also update existing ACCC approvals with many of their existing ACCC approvals are based around selling to an Australian point of sale. I have no doubt they could do it but the expensive limited benefit it provides probably isn't worth it. Qantas on the other hand puts in a lot more effort from that legal perspective but I guess they have a more recognisable global brand.

ACCC has no jurisdiction regarding fares sold to international customers (ie originating at foreign ports).

 

[henrus]

ACCC has no jurisdiction regarding fares sold to international customers (ie originating at foreign ports).

Yes but the ACCC equivalents in the foreign countries may be relevant/want a say, ACCC does still have a say when VA submits their application saying only selling from an AU point of sale like the recent VA*NZ one compared to the much older ones like VA*EY which mentioned overseas points of sale.

 

[justinbrett]

Yes but the ACCC equivalents in the foreign countries may be relevant/want a say, ACCC does still have a say when VA submits their application saying only selling from an AU point of sale like the recent VA*NZ one compared to the much older ones like VA*EY which mentioned overseas points of sale.

Yes so ACCC isn't a factor.

The question is why VA didn't ask - they'd almost certainly get approved from the foreign bodies. Is it a QR thing? I understand why the NZ deal doesn't let them sell ex-NZ.

At very least VA should be asking for ex-UK approval. Now that VA are "operating" to DOH and thus the lions share of the route, they are quite disadvantaged if they can't sell two ways.

 

[jase05]

Just some examples I found just now for J ex SYD return with qsuites (so the new flights)

MAD 15/16 - 23 April
QR website - $11,572
VA website $13,595
SQ for comparison - $10,256
EY for comparison - $10,328

AMS 15/16 - 23 April
QR website - $9,951
VA website - $13,037
SQ for comparison - $10,294
EY for comparison - $8,885

I also fly ex CGK sometimes, and in previous times I've always noticed QR around $500 - $1000 more expensive than EY. These are not some cherry-picked examples either, I've been doing a lot of comparisons, and the VA website is generally always much more expensive than QR (which in itself is always more expensive than any competitor).

Now it seems like VA has a significant premium on the exact same flights as QR does - and now with the new spend-based rule where you need to spend the majority of the money on VA-marketed flights, it seems like this is being done on purpose to fleece customers flying international.

This is not real competition, and given VA has a complete lack of competitive international flights, even through this wet lease, I just don't see how I can remain a VA customer.

QR are usually more expensive because they offer a far superior product to most of their competitors and people are happy to pay for that.
The VA pricing is ridiculous though and no way I would pay an extra couple of thousand just to get a few extra status credits. I’ll just book the QR flights

 

[SCM]

QR are usually more expensive because they offer a far superior product to most of their competitors and people are happy to pay for that.
The VA pricing is ridiculous though and no way I would pay an extra couple of thousand just to get a few extra status credits. I’ll just book the QR flights

Don't really agree with that outside of qsuites - and only a minority of their aircraft have qsuites, meanwhile other airlines are catching up anyway. Not paying an extra $1-2k for a flimsy door but that's just me.

 

[jase05]

Don't really agree with that outside of qsuites - and only a minority of their aircraft have qsuites, meanwhile other airlines are catching up anyway. Not paying an extra $1-2k for a flimsy door but that's just me.

About half their wide body fleet has QSuites now and thankfully It has been a rarity that I’ve had one subbed out. To and from Australia you are pretty much guaranteed QSuites if you avoid the A380’s. Personally though I do also think the overall package is superior over the majority of their competitors and although some have caught up you just know that QR will try to stay ahead of the rest and changes are on their way.