Virgin Australia to lease more 737s

[Must...Fly!]

Are there not enough intra-WA sectors to allow this to happen though, without affecting the rest of the network?

Well, it also offers an opportunity to rotate the airframes.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Well, it also offers an opportunity to rotate the airframes.

True, however I doubt that someone downgraded from J will care much for that.

 

[simmomelb]

Yes, it's not the long-term plan from my understanding as they will all be on FIFO from March.

 

[PERLHR]

VA will be using the 700s on 'random' PER-Queensland flights (BNE, CNS, etc) through to end of March 2023. I'm speculating this will be to get the F100 crews familiarised with this aircraft.

Beyond March. My 800 to Cairns has been made into a 700 and that's late April. Already re arranged my own schedule.

 

[PERLHR]

True, however I doubt that someone downgraded from J will care much for that.

Indeed. Need to keep eye open for aircraft changes. However as I mentioned in a post above VA actually notified me of the change and happily re scheduled me albeit not direct but I'm happy enough with the credits and points etc even if via MEL.

 

[RAM]

Indeed. Need to keep eye open for aircraft changes. However as I mentioned in a post above VA actually notified me of the change and happily re scheduled me albeit not direct but I'm happy enough with the credits and points etc even if via MEL.

So will that mean you gain more sectors flown (for status)?

 

[Carrots]

So will that mean you gain more sectors flown (for status)?

Correct.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I have a J rewards seat, booked with points, for 29/12, in J, ADL - SYD.
Bet that I will on the day prior to check in, find that my flight has been equipment swapped for a 737-8 with J to a 737-7 with no J.

 

[jase05]

I have a J rewards seat, booked with points, for 29/12, in J, ADL - SYD.
Bet that I will on the day prior to check in, find that my flight has been equipment swapped for a 737-8 with J to a 737-7 with no J.

I would very much doubt that.

 

[HS-TQE]

I have a J rewards seat, booked with points, for 29/12, in J, ADL - SYD.
Bet that I will on the day prior to check in, find that my flight has been equipment swapped for a 737-8 with J to a 737-7 with no J.

Highly unlikely. The 737-7 Aircraft won't be coming from Queensland, and very slim but unlikely chance of it coming from a PER-ADL rotation which in that case it'll be a A320.

 

[Saab34]

I can see one is going BNE-MEL-PER tomorrow assuming on Delivery for the new Perth base, however they are sending it over it appears on a downgraded 737-800 flight.

 

[PERLHR]

I have a J rewards seat, booked with points, for 29/12, in J, ADL - SYD.
Bet that I will on the day prior to check in, find that my flight has been equipment swapped for a 737-8 with J to a 737-7 with no J.

Hopefully not...

 

[Harrison_133]

I can see one is going BNE-MEL-PER tomorrow assuming on Delivery for the new Perth base, however they are sending it over it appears on a downgraded 737-800 flight.

700 flying out of PER starts on Monday. KTA & LST get the first runs. They’ll also go to ZNE, PHE, KNX & KGI throughout the week, and 3x weekly flights on PER-BNE also start, operating Tue/Wed/Sat.

 

[PERLHR]

That's good info thanks. What about CNS? They are at least from Feb on the 700 maybe earlier?

 

[Harrison_133]

That's good info thanks. What about CNS? They are at least from Feb on the 700 maybe earlier?

I only looked at next week’s schedules, so can’t offer anything specific with CNS but I’d say it would come as more 700s are added to the Perth base. To start there is 1 line of flying, usually with 2 rotations a day. The destinations vary each day too.

 

[Saab34]

Is the long term plan FIFO only? Or is it a mix say 80/90% FIFO and the rest "thin" or smaller mainline routes?

 

[HS-TQE]

Is the long term plan FIFO only? Or is it a mix say 80/90% FIFO and the rest "thin" or smaller mainline routes?

80/90 FIFO and rest are 'thin' RPT runs as per the current F100/A320 runs.

This includes some 'Thin' transcon routes like LST and CNS on weekends which may be better utilisation than letting them sit in PER all weekend

 

[PERLHR]

And not really surprisingly, but in any event disappointing, the direct Cairns to Perth flight I had booked on points has been canned for May 2023. Not that Virgin has informed me about it...just saw it while.lookung for another booking. Now they route me via BNE on a 700 some 4 hours earlier than I want. As never done this before what can I do? Can I cancel? I had also paid for economy + seats.

 

[AIRwin]

Can I cancel? I had also paid for economy + seats.

Call 136789

 

[randompunter]

Had a BNE - TSV J flight earlier this month downgraded from a 737-800 to an Air North (Alliance?) E190 with no J. Call centre moved me with no fuss to the 737-700 flight a few hours later, luckily one of the ancient ones with J. Seeing the new 700s on CNS routes is a worry, hopefully this is just temporary as discussed above.