Virgin Business Class late 2020

[cqtiger]

What's forgotten here is that really if you can get a business rewards booking, the number of points currently is marginally more than economy. So with a business rewards ticket during the promo period I think it matches expectations.
I've also noticed that a business saver fare can be cheaper than a freedom fare as well, so again I think that it can represent a better value for money.
Virgin have acknowledged the shortcomings and have announced a relaunch in 2020.
Frequent Flyers on this forum would we well aware of the current shortcomings, so if you are aware you shouldn't be bashing it. However, it is good to show what the current offering is.
Whilst it may not be the offering you expect, to me it looks in line with what you would get domestically in business class in the US depending on the length of the flight.

Agree just booked a reward J flight Bris to Darwin and only 3000 points more than economy.
I am more concerned with keeping my distance from the coughing covid cases crammed into coach.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Only 2 downside is we still have not a fixed date of when their lounges, apart from BNE will reopen.
Plus food on board.
The space on their (VA's) 737 is good though, seeing that its only 2 rows of 4 each for VA3's J service, vs 3 rows of 4 for QF's J service, ie, smaller cabin.
Food considerations, and no lounges, maybe that is still worth it for 3k more points than Y.

 

[Bagpuss]

Only 2 downside is we still have not a fixed date of when their lounges, apart from BNE will reopen.
Plus food on board.
The space on their (VA's) 737 is good though, seeing that its only 2 rows of 4 each for VA3's J service, vs 3 rows of 4 for QF's J service, ie, smaller cabin.
Food considerations, and no lounges, maybe that is still worth it for 3k more points than Y.

Brisbane is already open
Sydney and Melbourne open on the 15th Dec which are the main ones with Gold Coast to follow soon

Thousands flock to Queensland: Virgin Australia opens more lounges as travel demand soars

• Virgin Australia flights from Victoria and New South Wales to Queensland near capacity today • Melbourne and Sydney lounges to open on 15 December, Gold Coast to soon follow

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

I expect an announcement on Perth soon as the borders will be open to all apart from SA.
Adelaide wont open until their borders are mainly re-open.
The rest I would expect early January (speculation not fact)
But the 3 key ones are covered already

 

[jakeseven7]

Adelaide wont open until their borders are mainly re-open.

Their borders are mainly re-open and certainly to the states that represent the vast majority of their air traffic.....

 

[AIRwin]

Adelaide wont open until their borders are mainly re-open.

New lounge not ready yet...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Re: ADL VA lounge, thought it was ready by now.
Ta for the info tho.

 

[oz_mark]

Brisbane is already open
Sydney and Melbourne open on the 15th Dec which are the main ones with Gold Coast to follow soon

Thousands flock to Queensland: Virgin Australia opens more lounges as travel demand soars

• Virgin Australia flights from Victoria and New South Wales to Queensland near capacity today • Melbourne and Sydney lounges to open on 15 December, Gold Coast to soon follow

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

I expect an announcement on Perth soon as the borders will be open to all apart from SA.
Adelaide wont open until their borders are mainly re-open.
The rest I would expect early January (speculation not fact)
But the 3 key ones are covered already

The latest comms from Virgin were that Adelaide, Perth and Gold Coast we're opening early.in the new year.

Ii doi think that the price they are charging for Business at the moment reflects the fact that it is a lesser product than normal.

 

[jase05]

Re: ADL VA lounge, thought it was ready by now.
Ta for the info tho.

Not ready until Feb/March at this stage

 

[Alyopsis]

I'm in VA J tomorrow twice. VA online check-in tells me lounge access is available, yet it's not!

 

[sheepdog]

Don't suppose the food is any better going coast to coast like Melbourne to Perth?

 

[Maccaj73]

First flight with VA since March and I’ve Booked CNS-MEL in J Class on Friday... Lounge has now closed and apparently I’m getting a pre made cold COVID box for the 3.5hrs despite QF doing hot meals... what a nice welcome to VA 2.0 ... not.

 

[jase05]

First flight with VA since March and I’ve Booked CNS-MEL in J Class on Friday... Lounge has now closed and apparently I’m getting a pre made cold COVID box for the 3.5hrs despite QF doing hot meals... what a nice welcome to VA 2.0 ... not.

This has been known for sometime now and anyone booking for travel now should be well aware of these things as they won’t be changing for some time if ever unfortunately.

 

[jakeseven7]

This has been known for sometime now and anyone booking for travel now should be well aware of these things as they won’t be changing for some time if ever unfortunately.

Lets be fair not everyone is a religious AFF reader

It’s hard to imagine but many just book and click without a single care in the world

I imagine there are quite a few normal world people getting a bit of a shock, thinking just because the plane looks the same everything else should be...

 

[henrus]

Lets be fair not everyone is a religious AFF reader

To be very fair it does actually warn you during the booking process :


When clicking on the link the page then shows:



Sure they are putting lipstick on a pig calling the food delicious but at least they say that all business catering is limited to a snack box.

I guess it comes down to people complaining not reading anything and these are probably the same people who expect a cash refund from getaway fare despite having agreed to the conditions of carriage.

 

[AIRwin]

First flight with VA since March and I’ve Booked CNS-MEL in J Class on Friday...

When was the booking made?

 

[sheepdog]

Had a very average trip up to Perth in business. Long long waits for priority check in, then my carry on was weighed at the gate and I had to do the shuffle between my overweight laptop bag, my wifes underweight bag (just had baby stuff) and my pocket for my power adapter.

The Melbourne lounge is a different lounge than normal, much smaller and no windows. Elevator didn't work (had a stroller).

Flight itself was fine except for the snack box which was as the pics. I assume others, like me, are taking advantage of cheap reward upgrades.

 

[AIRwin]

The Melbourne lounge is a different lounge than normal, much smaller and no windows. Elevator didn't work (had a stroller).

Was it The Club instead?

 

[sheepdog]

Was it The Club instead?

I didn't notice the name. Was in same direction as usual but you walk past it to the end and then turn left.

 

[Milefest]

Was it The Club instead?

Lounge eligible pax are being directed to the club lounge instead at MEL while the main lounge undergoes renevations.

 

[AIRwin]

Lounge eligible pax are being directed to the club lounge instead at MEL while the main lounge undergoes renevations.

Hoping I'll still get to check it out on New Year's Eve...