Virgin Blue announces flights to Bali

[oz_mark]

Was told today that the VB aircraft operating the DPS services are all 737 800's

VH VOQ Peta Pan
VH VOX Missy Mainlander
VH VUM Brindabella Blue
VH VUN Madelaide

I believe these are all running around in Pacific Blue livery, as they would need to be.

 

[straitman]

Good time to be setting up flights to Bali with the new travel warning for the next few weeks. :shock:

 

[ANstar]

Flights must be doing ok ...

they have also today announced non stop Bali flights from Sydney & Melbourne also.

 

[Yada Yada]

Flights must be doing ok ...

they have also today announced non stop Bali flights from Sydney & Melbourne also.

Excellent news! Thanks for the info.

Harking back to earlier posts in this thread from last year by others, I can't see the problem with flying on a 737 for medium length sectors. I've done plenty in the past, e.g. JFK-LAX, YYZ-LAX, and OGG-LAX in a 757 which is much the same.

 

[pauly7]

I believe these are all running around in Pacific Blue livery, as they would need to be.

Wonder where/what they have been pulled off...? Trans Tasman?

 

[stuartfaz]

Wonder where/what they have been pulled off...? Trans Tasman?

A few of these planes ran domestic routes in the Pac Blue livery. I know I've been in VH-VUM a few times on MEL-CBR.

 

[pauly7]

A few of these planes ran domestic routes in the Pac Blue livery. I know I've been in VH-VUM a few times on MEL-CBR.

Are you sure? Crazydave denied Pac Blue was doing any domestic routes about a month ago when asked....

 

[stuartfaz]

Are you sure? Crazydave denied Pac Blue was doing any domestic routes about a month ago when asked....

Yep, positive it was in Pac Blue colours.

There's a TR on it somewhere here, I believe.

 

[ishkaban]

Yep, positive it was in Pac Blue colours.

There's a TR on it somewhere here, I believe.

i guess when they not doing the bali runs, they are keeping busy doing the domestic sectors

 

[jakeseven7]

good news, to have more competition on the route, but probably wouldn't want to sit in a dj 737 for that amount of time (nor a jq a320 either btw)...

 

[crazydave98]

Are you sure? Crazydave denied Pac Blue was doing any domestic routes about a month ago when asked....

PB does not operate any domestic Australian routes. If you look closely you will see the PB-liveried aircraft operating within Australia have VH registration. In fact even 2 of our E-jets (we only operate that type domestically at present) have PB livery. However any international flights are operated by PB. The reason for having PB-liveried aircraft operating domestically is to give us flexibility to shift aircraft around the network since we cannot operate Virgin branded aircraft outside of Australia.

 

[Sandra0908]

Hey everyone!

Did anybody fly from Sydney to Bali with Virgin Blue and can tell me how the flight, service etc. was???

Usually I would never consider flying 'low-cost' overseas but in this case the flights are really cheap and I want to make use of it.

However, my concern is that Virgin Blue is using for such 'a long' flight (6:35h) a 737-800. I would imagine its a nightmare sitting a long time on a small plane :shock:

Would appreciate some feedback if anyone flew this route as I cannot find any information and flying experiences on the net. Seems like no one is using this service

Thanks a lot

 

[MrGreg]

I've never flown from SYD, but I have from MEL.

If you've flown virgin before, expect pretty much the same service on an international flight. Same plane, and service. The Service is generally good. I must say that 6 hours on a small plane, with uncomfortable seats and not much leg room isn't the best idea, but you get what you pay for.

 

[clifford]

I flew from SIN to ICN on a 77W in Y on SQ last week, and it was cramped and uncomfortable too!

And try sitting at the back of a United 747 for 14 hours and then tell me it's not worse than a 6 hour DJ flight.

Y class is cramped and claustrophobic no matter what airline if the plane is full.

I also flew HNL-SYD in Y on JQ last week and it was great. The difference was that I had an empty seat next to me, thus having both an aisle and window seat. Otherwise it would have been terrible...

 

[chrisb]

we cannot operate Virgin branded aircraft outside of Australia.

I assume that's just a (commercial) licensing issue. Would a flight overseas actually be cancelled or delayed if there were aircraft issues and one with the right paint job couldn't be found?

 

[Saab34]

Due to Weight Limititations and other possible issues, they dont send a full load of 737's across to Bali. Flights are capped, depending on weather closer to date they might increase seats for those last minute buyers.

I have heard from two people that have flown this route and have had around 120 pax each way. So essentially the middle seat is vacant.

 

[Sandra0908]

Hi guys,

thanks @ all for your quick replys I am still uncertain if I should book this flight or not

@MrGreg
Yes I have flown Virgin a few times, once overseas to Fiji as well.
I know ... 6,5 hours on this plane..:-| The only good thing about this flight is that it flys out in the morning from CBR - SYD - DPS for 459 AUD one way. And its a direct flight! Its not about the leg room, I am not very tall and big :mrgreen: so thats fine!

@Sunstar320
I talked to a friend last week, telling him about this virgin blue flight operating with a 737-800. He said that the Boeing can only make the flight if less than 150 people are on board.
I mean, isn't that a bit risky setting weight limitations and then might break it because there is a high demand??

Does anyone know anyway how well Virgin is doing on this route? I cannot imagine that many people fly with VB to Bali.

My other two options are:
flying with Singapore Airlines from SYD-SIN (in the morning) then with Air Asia to Bali, although its almost $ 300 Dollar more.. dont know if this is really worth.. or..
´
With Jetstar just 65 Dollars more than Virgin but the plane arrives late in Bali @ 9 pm.. which means I am loosing out on 1 day of travel :-|

What do you guys think???

 

[Saab34]

When are you wanting to go? What dates or time frame?

 

[Sandra0908]

Would like to fly Sun, 17th January late at night (after 7 pm) or Mon, 18th January in the morning.

I have to be back in Australia 4th of Feb. I already book the return flight with Air Asia X from KUL-MEL for 228 AUD.

 

[docjames]

I'd just take Virgin direct. Why pay more, to go a longer way?

Let the airline worry about how full the plane is! Sounds like there's a reasonable chance the plane wont be 100% full.