Virgin Australia to lease more 737s

[lovestotravel]

While helping a friend search some flights in December 2022 and January 2023, I noticed that the all Economy 737-700 is scheduled to operate one of the daily rotations between BNE and PER on certain days...

Total madness!

 

[HS-TQE]

Familiarisation for some PER crews I'm guessing as well, as the 73G fleet slowly builds up.

 

[Saab34]

I would expect a whole heap of Perth services as Fokker crews exit sim training.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Total madness!

Only solution would be to buy econX booking without having to phone up, or to phone up and buy a comfort seat booking.

 

[AIRwin]

737-700 ex PH-BGR of KLM has now been re-registered as VH-NBV.

737-700 ex PH-BGT of KLM has now been re-registered as VH-NJV

 

[simmomelb]

So, not having bus class will be a thing for all new aircraft for VA?
I'd like to know if the max will have J.
Not sure about others, but if they are trying to target the business market, and they are based on their marketing, not having J won't cut it for a lot of FF's.

 

[HS-TQE]

So, not having bus class will be a thing for all new aircraft for VA?
I'd like to know if the max will have J.

Only for the 737-700 fleet coming from KLM. They eventually will replace the Fokker 100's at VARA in Perth.

The MAX-8 will have the regular 8J and rest economy as it's been reported before that VA intends to (evenutally) use them on short-haul international services.

Not sure about others, but if they are trying to target the business market, and they are based on their marketing, not having J won't cut it for a lot of FF's.

As stated in another thread, VA 1.0 had all-Y aircraft (both the Queensland-based Alliance F100 wet-leases and VARA's A320s and F100s) operating all-Y services in that era. All those aircraft types regularly operated RPT services on thin routes where J demand is minimal to non-existent.

The F100s and A320s are primarily FIFO with some revenue scheduled services inbetween, the 737-700s will eventually take over the F100s as more are delivered.

The status quo for those services aren't likely to change at this stage.

 

[jase05]

Any idea what the plans are going forward for ADL-BNE with the F100’s and ADL-PER A320’s?
Would definitely force me to choose QF for those routes if the status quo is maintained

 

[bigal]

fly last week mel-syd on the newer 737-800 with slim line seats and as always I sit in seat8A but these new layouts means this seat is windowless. The return trip on the original 737-800 gave me a window in 8A as per usual. something to watch out for in the future.

 

[corrocoat]

yes, I flew BNE to ADL on 737 700 and they have NO Wifi or onboard entertainment & NO free snacks for a 2hr 45min flight. The crew said these were for FIFO Great for Bain not for customers, but will Bain care? I think NOT!

 

[simmomelb]

yes, I flew BNE to ADL on 737 700 and they have NO Wifi or onboard entertainment & NO free snacks for a 2hr 45min flight. The crew said these were for FIFO Great for Bain not for customers, but will Bain care? I think NOT!

They are for FIFO and no FIFO planes have ever had these extras, same as Qantas FIFO services, which are scaled back.
Hopefully you won't see the 737-700 on mainline routes for long once they get additional aircraft.
I believe this is temporary for some flights on certain routes (hopefully).

 

[michael65]

I would be pissed if I lost Business Class. But I must say this has happened to me with Qantas out of Hobart to Melbourne in Feb 2023. We originally booked on a 2pm flight as we fly to Christchurch the next morning. This was then canned and then put on a 12 noon flight which was then canned and we were put on a 1020 flight which is a Business Class free 717. I am not impressed but the alternative is a 6am flight (need to spend a whole day in Melbourne and my wife hates the 6am flight) or a very late flight to Melbourne. At this stage we have decided to suck it up and see what amount of small compensation Qantas will give us

 

[The Flying Brick]

Watch out if you are booking VA 781 BNE-CNS.

It swaps in and out of J seats depending on the day of the week from Feb onwards in 2023

 

[AIRwin]

It swaps in and out of J seats depending on the day of the week from Feb onwards in 2024

2023 or 2024?

 

[The Flying Brick]

2023 or 2024?

Sorry for the typo it’s 2023

 

[Saab34]

yes, I flew BNE to ADL on 737 700 and they have NO Wifi or onboard entertainment & NO free snacks for a 2hr 45min flight. The crew said these were for FIFO Great for Bain not for customers, but will Bain care? I think NOT!

Do they even offer a BOB service?

Sounds on par with a JQ flight.

 

[MarkD]

fly last week mel-syd on the newer 737-800 with slim line seats and as always I sit in seat8A but these new layouts means this seat is windowless. The return trip on the original 737-800 gave me a window in 8A as per usual. something to watch out for in the future.

Think you will most, if not all 738 have no window in this seat.

 

[AIRwin]

Think you will most, if not all 738 have no window in this seat.

It's usually 9A?

 

[PERLHR]

Just checked my Virgin booking to Cairns from Perth in April 23. Still shows us happily in biz Row 1 but I fear change for this over 5 hour flight! Will not be happy. Already had a 737 change to regional 320 to Hobart from Perth. As per usual, VA don't inform and you need to talk to them and explain the difference between a 737 and a 320!!

 

[ian_baker58]

Classic airline attitude - stuff the customer!