Virgin Blue Airpass

[dajop]

Virgin have launched a "no strings" airpass for international travellers visiting Australia.

Interesting, it has "No change fees for extensions or to change your flights", but is only available to "our international Guests visiting Australia", and "Can be purchased in conjunction with any international air ticket or any airline to Australia". I wonder if that means if I do a one-way redemption to Australia, I can use the pass, or even as a "visitor" booking a (nested) return ticket SIN-MEL-SIN whether I can use the pass. What appeals is the flexibility it offers at a reasonable fare level....

 

[Travel Guru]

You may need to show your passport as proof that you're not from AU, so you may be out of luck there.

TG

 

[dajop]

Dragging up an old thread, completely forgot about this, until well, I was googling airpasses for Australia.

To purchase must use non-Aus/NZ credit card, purchase from outside ANZ, have a non-ANZ residential address and certify not a tax-resident. However it is awesome prices.

I now qualify for this - looking at some flights around Xmas, for the three flights I was looking at it was a $100 - or about 30% saving over best DJ fares on those same flights. And baggage is included free of charge

In my searching also recalled the one-world visit Australia New Zealand Airpass cough splutter, with ridiculous pricing (<480 miles is $185 vs DJ for either $69 or $79 and transcon to PER, for example $430 on OW pass vs $179 on DJ).

 

[dajop]

Just an update - I thoroughly recommend this product to anyone visiting from overseas or if people having friends/relatives visiting them from overseas.

Despite my post from nearly 12 months ago, I only recently purchased an airpass for the first time, for travel from MEL-MQL-MEL-LST. The total fare for the three sectors was $237+ CC surcharges, which included luggage. The fare for the first two sectors MEL-MQL-MEL on the days I need to travel, purchased through normal means was $285+CC surcharges + luggage fee. So I saved $50 and still have a MEL-LST up my sleeve if I want to use. With changes free of charge, I have already changed the timing on MEL-LST sector once, and it appears to allow me to change destination as well free of charge.

Great little product, albeit really weird going into change things without having to pay a cent extra. Only downside not eligible for Velocity points, but noticed my BP's shows booking classes that are eligible for Skywards miles - so will have to try that out.

 

[samh004]

Great little product, albeit really weird going into change things without having to pay a cent extra. Only downside not eligible for Velocity points, but noticed my BP's shows booking classes that are eligible for Skywards miles - so will have to try that out.

That’s a shame, especially seeing as cheap fares would make elite status in Velocity all the more harder anyway, so they could be nice and let us earn the puny amount off the fare

 

[dajop]

That’s a shame, especially seeing as cheap fares would make elite status in Velocity all the more harder anyway, so they could be nice and let us earn the puny amount off the fare

Well the logic is O/S residents (other than NZ & SWP) are not eligible to join Velocity (ie you need to have AUS/NZ/SWP address to join) - I had that discussion with Velocity when I tried changing my address to Singapore some time last year. And AUS/NZ residents can't purchase the Airpass therefore earning in theory would not be possible anyway. The booking classes (my two flights were in E & H) do allow earning @ 50% of miles flown in Skywards(EK), Flying Club (VS) & Etihad, which I guess makes sense.