Virgin Australia & Velocity Price increases from July 1

[AdMEL]

I've noticed that from July 1, both Virgin Australia and Velocity are putting up their prices and, in the case of Virgin Australia, sometimes by substantial amounts!

Anyone else noticed this?

One example of this is MEL-PER or PER-MEL Flexi fares, which start from $299 until June 30, then increase to $399 on July 1. So, not only do the points required to upgrade to J double on July 1, but the cash price increases by 33%! Very annoying! It seems that Virgin are significantly devaluing Velocity points at every opportunity!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I've noticed that from July 1, both Virgin Australia and Velocity are putting up their prices and, in the case of Virgin Australia, sometimes by substantial amounts!

Anyone else noticed this?

One example of this is MEL-PER or PER-MEL Flexi fares, which start from $299 until June 30, then increase to $399 on July 1. So, not only do the points required to upgrade to J double on July 1, but the cash price increases by 33%! Very annoying! It seems that Virgin are significantly devaluing Velocity points at every opportunity!

Why am I not surprised?

This has been their game plan for months now and it shows no sign of let-up..................:evil:

(PS......the usual "carbon-tax" excuse will be rolled out, in fact same excuse as I've been hearing for months now......eh markis10 )

 

[markis10]

(PS......the usual "carbon-tax" excuse will be rolled out, in fact same excuse as I've been hearing for months now......eh markis10 )

It was for the price increases flagged a few months back, but not to the magnitude described here!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

but not to the magnitude described here!

I agree with that one!

At least when the Libs brought in the GST, they also made sure (to the best of their ability) no price gouging went on. Pity Labour didn't take a leaf from that book!

 

[oz_mark]

I've noticed that from July 1, both Virgin Australia and Velocity are putting up their prices and, in the case of Virgin Australia, sometimes by substantial amounts!

In the case of Velocity, they aren't really putting their prices up - it's just a promotion is schedule to end.

As for Virgin's prices, it maybe a route specific thing. I've only had a quick look, but some of the east coast sectors look much the same as before.

 

[Justchecking]

PER legs coinciding with A330's taking over the route from the 737s?

 

[Mogul]

I've noticed that from July 1, both Virgin Australia and Velocity are putting up their prices and, in the case of Virgin Australia, sometimes by substantial amounts!

Anyone else noticed this?

One example of this is MEL-PER or PER-MEL Flexi fares, which start from $299 until June 30, then increase to $399 on July 1. So, not only do the points required to upgrade to J double on July 1, but the cash price increases by 33%! Very annoying! It seems that Virgin are significantly devaluing Velocity points at every opportunity!

School holidays start then, that would be my guess.

 

[777]

Looking at SYD-MEL:

Cheapest non-happy hour/sale fare has gone from 103.50 to 105
Cheapest Flexi has gone from 207.50 to 209.

Seems in line with what was announced re: Carbon tax and much the same as i was paying to offset pre carbon tax.

 

[mella2007]

Same routes I normally take are either the same or up by a few dollars. School holidays prices always increase especially the mid year ones when all the States are out of line with their school holidays by around a week

 

[Fruitcake]

Looking at the transcons, though, there are enormous price increases from 1 July.

For example SYD-PER, cheapest saver on 28 June is $154, from 1 July cheapest saver is $195. Flexis jump from $299 to $399.

Similar patterns are seen on MEL-PER, as the OP pointed out.

But BNE-PER, flights after 1 July after often cheaper than 28 June, or no more than $10 more expensive.


Either they've made a mistake on SYD-PER and MEL-PER fares when updating the schedule with the A330s, or transcons are becoming very, very popular in the second half of the year.

 

[lovestotravel]

There are quite a few big price rises on the MEL-OOL route as well

Of course, there are some cheap flights $88 with sale fares etc, but as a while prices have jumped up by quite a bit $40-$150ish

These are for dates in June all the way to December.... Only changed a few days ago

 

[Comoman]

That is a rather large jump in the flexi fare. Even on the few 737 services left Per-Syd

Edit to add: a quick look at Qantas shows the same thing.

 

[Sojourner]

I've noticed this many months out actually (from at least February) - that the flexi fare prices for the SYD-PER route started at $299, and then from 1 July it starts at $399 for a flexi fare. I was hoping they'd change it given all the news about both airlines flooding the market with seats, but I'm still waiting unfortunately.

If they do adjust the prices, to reflect the extra supply of seats coming, my guess is that it won't be done until July.

 

[vitagen]

Maybe their flexi fares are to match QF flexi fares that were 399 now 407?

 

[pshepvic]

Oh well, at least points earned on DJ domestic flights are based on the dollar value. That means (as a platinum) I would now get 3990 points on a flexi SYD-PER instead of 2990 points. I value those points at somewhere between 4-7 cents each (as I use my points towards J and F class travel) which means the net change in price is an increase of around $30-60. Add to that the additional 150 points I get on my credit card for the booking, and that takes the net increase down to somewhere in the range of $20.50-$54.

When Qantas increases their price I don't get any extra points. And I still get the coughpy "priority" boarding, rude ground staff, and ancient cabin crew!

 

[lovestotravel]

Oh well, at least points earned on DJ domestic flights are based on the dollar value. That means (as a platinum) I would now get 3990 points on a flexi SYD-PER instead of 2990 points. I value those points at somewhere between 4-7 cents each (as I use my points towards J and F class travel) which means the net change in price is an increase of around $30-60. Add to that the additional 150 points I get on my credit card for the booking, and that takes the net increase down to somewhere in the range of $20.50-$54.

When Qantas increases their price I don't get any extra points. And I still get the coughpy "priority" boarding, rude ground staff, and ancient cabin crew!

SShhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, they may "enhance" the points earning structure...

 

[moa999]

I actually think DJs points structure is a smart way to attract higher yields.
For the points hungry, last minute traveller (ie the ones paying the more expensive fares), DJ is a much better choice than QF on earn only.

Pity they just dont have the seats. Had a meeting run over and was no chance to make my 5pm BNE-SYD yesterday. Next flight with any availability 9pm.
Ended up on the 5.55pm QF flight at a cheaper price... go figure.
Lost ~3000 DJ pts to earn 1000 on QF

Given the flight distance of PER versus the triangle routes, I think the previous prices were unsustainbale.

 

[Moopere]

I don't know if the previous pricing was unsustainable ... perhaps. How many Flexi tickets do you reckon would be sold in an otherwise full Y cabin? I struggle to see why anyone would bother to buy one instead of a Saver except in a few corner case examples.

Savers at random dates later in the year are hovering around $200 each way, which is unbelievably cheap in my view. Under 400$ return PER-MEL ... goodness me. With Flexi's at $399 each way why would you buy one? Except as a step up to J. And the thought occurs that the continuous points and money fiddle we see with Flexi and J tickets is Virgin still trying to come to grips with their premium pricing model.

 

[Bofter]

...With Flexi's at $399 each way why would you buy one? Except as a step up to J...

That and the extra status credits - except that at $399 I'm not planning to buy them, but at $299 I have paid the extra above saver on a few fligths

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It was for the price increases flagged a few months back, but not to the magnitude described here!

While in MEL, I read a bit in The Age (Sun. Age I believe) that gave a full page to the carbon tax using a pie graph. It stated domestic air travel was exempt from the carbon tax.