Virgin business class Bali flights rip-off

[Gold Member]

Indeed. QF are back to providing pillows and blankets on their transcons if I recall correctly? I know prices can vary between the two but quite often not that significantly. Was checking VA flight from PER to MEL out in Jan 24. They want 1850 dollars one way in biz! Choice is 275 dollars!

Not denying the absurd pricing, but a Platinum upgrade from Flex or 10K points upgrade is the way to go here (assuming underlying biz reward availability).

 

[PERLHR]

Not sure where the 10K points upgrade comes from? Based upon my choice fare and as Platinum they want 30K per sector. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[simmomelb]

Not sure where the 10K points upgrade comes from? Based upon my choice fare and as Platinum they want 30K per sector. Am I doing something wrong?

9,900 points with a Flex fare.
Choice is 30k
More info here: Flight Upgrades

 

[simmomelb]

Was checking VA flight from PER to MEL out in Jan 24. They want 1850 dollars one way in biz! Choice is 275 dollars!

With VA, 23 out of the 31 days in Jan have flights at $1311 PER to MEL with discount code FWR30 in J, or $1455 without the discount code.

With QF 31 out of the 31 days in Jan have flights at $1726 in J.

That's a saving of $415 each way on most days of the month or $830 for a return.

4 of those daily flights with QF are on a 737 and 4 on the A330.
You'd want to make sure you're on the A330 if you want to pay that premium (for the lie-flat seating in J).
In essence, VA is considerably cheaper for J, but it might be worthwhile/justifiable for some travellers on Qantas with the A330 lie-flat flights (not so much with the 737 flights).

 

[Bagpuss]

Indeed. QF are back to providing pillows and blankets on their transcons if I recall correctly? I know prices can vary between the two but quite often not that significantly. Was checking VA flight from PER to MEL out in Jan 24. They want 1850 dollars one way in biz! Choice is 275 dollars!

I've said it before, I'll say it again. as a plat you're much better off in economy x than business unless you can get a reward seat.

 

[Gold Member]

In essence, VA is considerably cheaper for J, but it might be worthwhile/justifiable for some travellers on Qantas with the A330 lie-flat flights (not so much with the 737 flights).

Assuming Qantas don't pull the "SwitchaRoo" from the A330 to 737.

 

[HS-TQE]

Assuming don't pull the "SwitchaRoo" on the A330 to 737.

The QF A330s are also Summer Seasonal (NW seasonal) on the route ex SYD anyway and ends just as kids go back to school and students head back to TAFE/Vocational College in February
MEL remains a QF 737 over summer.

 

[ols]

I love Bali- I can be as bogan or as boganaire as my heart desires

In Lombok years ago I was asked by a bunch of locals "Papa, are you really rich"
I said "in Lombok I'm Donald Trump, in Australia I'm Donald Duck"

 

[Harthagan]

That's a saving of $415 each way on most days of the month or $830 for a return.

4 of those daily flights with QF are on a 737 and 4 on the A330.
You'd want to make sure you're on the A330 if you want to pay that premium (for the lie-flat seating in J).
In essence, VA is considerably cheaper for J, but it might be worthwhile/justifiable for some travellers on Qantas with the A330 lie-flat flights (not so much with the 737 flights).

It's only a savings of $270 unless you are comparing using a discount code with Virgin (on the cheapest days) vs paying full price with Qantas.

Also it's no comparison if flying on the A330 with Qantas. The hard product is worlds apart. If flying in a 737 with Qantas then the hard product is comparable but then there are other considerations.

Many people would happily pay more just to say they are flying with Qantas and also earning/maintaining status with Qantas. And the more budget/LCC Virgin becomes the more this factor will be amplified.

 

[simmomelb]

It's only a savings of $270 unless you are comparing using a discount code with Virgin (on the cheapest days) vs paying full price with Qantas.

Why would you not use it on either? Qantas doesn't have any discount codes on flights to WA right now, unless you have something to share? If so, please share and I'll consider the A330 for my next flight to Perth, if the price is right

Also it's no comparison if flying on the A330 with Qantas.

The comparison was pointed out - Lie-flat with QF on 4 or the 8 flights and the additional costs involved.

If flying in a 737 with Qantas then the hard product is comparable but then there are other considerations.

Status/points etc? Of course, the same applies to both VA and QF here, sticky (loyal) customers are more likely to pay more and/or stick with one airline even if the product is similar and/or better.

Many people would happily pay more just to say they are flying with Qantas and also earning/maintaining status with Qantas.

On the same hand, you could also say 'many' would not be happy to pay more, it's all just hypothetical.

 

[Harthagan]

Why would you not use it on either? Qantas doesn't have any discount codes on flights to WA right now, unless you have something to share? If so, please share and I'll consider the A330 for my next flight to Perth, if the price is right

Yes but you are cherry picking the cheapest dates (in January) for Virgin while using a discount code against just going on Qantas website and booking any date (in January) without a code.

Most customers wouldn't even know that any discount codes exist, and many people are not flexible with the dates they have to fly in/out. I just think the comparison should be apples to apples.

Status/points etc? Of course, the same applies to both VA and QF here, sticky (loyal) customers are more likely to pay more & stick with the airline even if the product is the similar.

You are missing my point. As virgin heads more and more towards being a budget LCC the status with them becomes less and less attractive. If you took 100 people off the street and offered them a free platinum membership to either Qantas or Virgin I'm confident the overwhelming majority would choose Qantas.

On the same hand, you could also say 'many' would not be happy to pay more, it's all just hypothetical.

True, although again I feel like you are deliberately missing my point.

I know many many people who happily pay extra to fly with Qantas simply for the fact they think it's a superior brand/company, regardless of what product/service they actually get. I can't say I know anyone for whom the opposite is true.

Its just ingrained in their brains that Qantas is premium and Virgin is budget. They feel good about flying with Qantas, they feel good about telling their friends and family they fly Qantas.

 

[simmomelb]

It's not cherry-picking, 23 out of the 31 days in January are at the lowest price, that's the majority of the month, that is factual.
31 out of the 31 days in January are at the higher price (same price every day) for QF, not one day matches the pricing of VA even on the 737, with or without discount codes on QF or VA.
Not sure you understand the meaning of "cherry picking" if that is your definition.

I'll let it rest, happy to agree to disagree and let this thread get back on topic (bus to Bali).

 

[Gold Member]

It’s just ingrained in their brains that Qantas is premium and Virgin is budget. They feel good about flying with Qantas, they feel good about telling their friends and family they fly Qantas.

That’s certainly not been my experience nor for the vast majority of the Australian public in recent times.

No one is disputing Qantas is marketed very successfully as premium, however the reality of their hard and soft product is far from it. Qantas is a Premium brand with premium pricing, but overall a sub-premium offering.

Virgin is mid market. Jetstar is Budget.

 

[SilverFlamingo]

Yes but you are cherry picking the cheapest dates (in January) for Virgin while using a discount code against just going on Qantas website and booking any date (in January) without a code.

Most customers wouldn't even know that any discount codes exist, and many people are not flexible with the dates they have to fly in/out. I just think the comparison should be apples to apples.



You are missing my point. As virgin heads more and more towards being a budget LCC the status with them becomes less and less attractive. If you took 100 people off the street and offered them a free platinum membership to either Qantas or Virgin I'm confident the overwhelming majority would choose Qantas.

True, although again I feel like you are deliberately missing my point.

I know many many people who happily pay extra to fly with Qantas simply for the fact they think it's a superior brand/company, regardless of what product/service they actually get. I can't say I know anyone for whom the opposite is true.

Its just ingrained in their brains that Qantas is premium and Virgin is budget. They feel good about flying with Qantas, they feel good about telling their friends and family they fly Qantas.

<redacted>

There’s an essay I read a couple years ago about how the Qantas marketing has really sucked in the working and middle class Australian market.

As above, they charge premium more often than not (this isn’t cherry picking). The product just doesn’t add up these days.

 

[Harthagan]

There’s an essay I read a couple years ago about how the Qantas marketing has really sucked in the working and middle class Australian market.

As above, they charge premium more often than not (this isn’t cherry picking). The product just doesn’t add up these days.

If anything I'm a fan of Virgin's domestic J product, not so much the current international offering (which this thread was initially about)

I don't buy into the whole argument that lounge access is only worth $50 and an amenity kit is only worth $20 blah blah blah. The overall experience is sub-par currently and not worth the $$$ even if it's cheaper than Qantas.

It's like someone saying you can buy a meal at the airport for $25 so the meal you are served in business class on a flight is only worth $25... but that's not how it works.

 

[PERLHR]

If anything I'm a fan of Virgin's domestic J product, not so much the current international offering (which this thread was initially about)

I don't buy into the whole argument that lounge access is only worth $50 and an amenity kit is only worth $20 blah blah blah. The overall experience is sub-par currently and not worth the $$$ even if it's cheaper than Qantas.

It's like someone saying you can buy a meal at the airport for $25 so the meal you are served in business class on a flight is only worth $25... but that's not how it works.

I think I agree, not that I have flown VA internationally, but the perception of what I will receive on an international sector at the airport and on board sways me towards other carriers (not Qantas necessarily) for such a sector. I think VA J Class domestically is really good. However I think also like many airlines when you compare a domestic sector with an international one then you expect something a bit different in terms of food and maybe blankets and pillows etc, but then it's Australia so what I can't still get my head around (I'm British so bear with me) is that quite often the domestic sector can be longer than the international sector....so tha blows that out if the water! Oh aviation is confusing.....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Agree. I reckon JQ business probably beats out VA. If of course you get a 787 on JQ!

The JQ 787 is an example of uplifting international operations with something extra.

 

[Harthagan]

Agree. I reckon JQ business probably beats out VA. If of course you get a 787 on JQ!

The JQ 787 is an example of uplifting international operations with something extra.

Ditto for travelling in Y (international) as you still get access to first lounge if platinum.

 

[stm1sydney]

I don't buy into the whole argument that lounge access is only worth $50 and an amenity kit is only worth $20 blah blah blah. The overall experience is sub-par currently and not worth the $$$ even if it's cheaper than Qantas.

I reckon if I was saving $1000 flying VA versus QF 737 to Bali, I'd be delighted with the overall experience including the $50 I spent on getting sloshed in a paid lounge.

 

[Jfaith]

I’ll let you guys know after my flight on Friday! I’m booked on a reward seat