Virgin CBR-SYD flights restarting

[wendlle]

If they can do a cheap but cheerful - first flight of the day, last flight back home pattern to Sydney, and even Melbourne, then I would a take a serious look at it for our business travel. I'm quite jealous of the Jetstar deals that the rest of Australia get to access - if REX can fill that void, I would be grateful.

I think they would also pick up some of the leisure market to Canberra, where people want to travel here on the weekends for the blockbuster events at the National Museum and Gallery. Qantas have priced themselves right out of that market.

Yes that’s what we want to do, we like to fly up for events in Sydney and can’t with Qantas pricing.

 

[wendlle]

I've just noticed that Canberra to Sydney flights are included in todays Happy Hour Sale.
I really want to book tickets but I'm so worried it will be cancelled again.
What do you think the chances are they will actually be flying these flights?

 

[Mattg]

I've just noticed that Canberra to Sydney flights are included in todays Happy Hour Sale.
I really want to book tickets but I'm so worried it will be cancelled again.
What do you think the chances are they will actually be flying these flights?

Well they've at least removed the ATRs from the schedule for the dates covered by the Happy Hour sale. But personally I wouldn't book with VA on SYD-CBR for now - still too risky until they actually start operating flights again on that route.

 

[wendlle]

Well they've at least removed the ATRs from the schedule for the dates covered by the Happy Hour sale. But personally I wouldn't book with VA on SYD-CBR for now - still too risky until they actually start operating flights again on that route.

hmmm, it's tough because I want to book tickets to the Frozen Musical but can only go if I get a good price on flights, $99 isn't too bad but If they get cancelled i'm not paying QF prices again and i'll be stuck with tickets for the theatre that I can't use.

 

[kookaburra75]

hmmm, it's tough because I want to book tickets to the Frozen Musical but can only go if I get a good price on flights, $99 isn't too bad but If they get cancelled i'm not paying QF prices again and i'll be stuck with tickets for the theatre that I can't use.

There's always Murray's. I've used them a few times when an extra hour of travel time didn't matter, and saved myself $100

 

[Mattg]

There's always Murray's. I've used them a few times when an extra hour of travel time didn't matter, and saved myself $100

Yep. There’s also NSW TrainLink - I took the train from Sydney to Canberra yesterday and it was fine (and about $33). Although, I do realise some people don’t have time to sit on a train (or bus) for 3-4 hours.

 

[kookaburra75]

Yep. There’s also NSW TrainLink - I took the train from Sydney to Canberra yesterday and it was fine (and about $33). Although, I do realise some people don’t have time to sit on a train (or bus) for 3-4 hours.

Depending where you live in Canberra and your destination in Sydney, the difference isn't that much. If you add up the time to get to the airport, wait time before the flight, the flight time, getting off the other end, picking up luggage and then onto your destination, it's not much different to taking the bus.

 

[wendlle]

I’m not in Canberra I live 3 hours from Canberra and refuse to drive into Sydney.
mom terrified of it so much easier for us to drive from the coast to Canberra and fly. It saves my sanity.

 

[kookaburra75]

I’m not in Canberra I live 3 hours from Canberra and refuse to drive into Sydney.
mom terrified of it so much easier for us to drive from the coast to Canberra and fly. It saves my sanity.

That's understandable - driving in Sydney is always a chore, not so much for all the other cars, it's just the time it takes to get anywhere. One way around that I've used in the past, was to drive as far as Campbelltown, park at the station and take the train from there. It means your driving in Sydney is very limited, and you can get into the city reasonably quickly.

 

[wendlle]

I’ve often thought of that but am scared to leave my car at a train station for a period of time.

 

[Saab34]

Looks like the 737-700s are running these flights

 

[jase05]

Looks like the 737-700s are running these flights

Only 2 flights per day on weekdays but it’s a start. $399 in J is hopefully an enticing option for some. Not sure how successful it will be but VA need to fly that route and if the timing suits personally the 737’s would be much better than other aircraft that fly the route

 

[AIRwin]

Not sure how successful it will be but VA need to fly that route and if the timing suits personally the 737’s would be much better than other aircraft that fly the route

Not when/if QQ takes over?

 

[AIRwin]

Looks like there is a delay in the resumption of flights until July...

 

[Mattg]

Looks like there is a delay in the resumption of flights until July...

Honestly, I'm not convinced we'll ever see Virgin back on the route.

Rex might even beat them to it, at this stage.

 

[wendlle]

Looks like there is a delay in the resumption of flights until July...

Wow, once again I needed a flight CBR-SYD in May, guess I won't be flying Virgin.
It's making it very hard to keep my status as it is my main route
Will be using Rex from Moruya to Sydney instead, wish they had some sort of partnership so at least I could get some points out of my Rex flights.

 

[Mattg]

Honestly, I'm not convinced we'll ever see Virgin back on the route.

Rex might even beat them to it, at this stage.

Sure enough, Rex has beaten VA to it...

Rex launches Sydney-Canberra Saab 340 flights [now axed]

https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/rex-to-challenge-fare-gouging-qantas-with-sydney-canberra-flights-20210324-p57di7.html Canberra-Sydney on the Saab next. Starting at $99. Depending on one's point of view this might be considered predatory

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Looking at Virgin's current schedule, the SYD-CBR route is not due to restart until 26 July and they've still got ATRs scheduled on the route. Clearly that's not going to happen.

 

[trisreed]

Looking at Virgin's current schedule, the SYD-CBR route is not due to restart until 26 July and they've still got ATRs scheduled on the route. Clearly that's not going to happen.

With no turboprops (and barely any in QQ's fleet) it will be interesting to see what their approach will be - surely any jet in either QQ of VA's fleet will be too big for a frequent service.

As someone who has previously taken the 7:05AM service a fair few times from SYD to CBR for both business and pleasure I guess I will have to look 'to the country'.

 

[AIRwin]

As someone who has previously taken the 7:05AM service a fair few times from SYD to CBR for both business and pleasure I guess I will have to look 'to the country'.

That's (dis?)heart-ening...

 

[SeaWolf]

With no turboprops (and barely any in QQ's fleet) it will be interesting to see what their approach will be

Huh, for some reason I thought that QQ had a lot more Fokker 50s than it actually does and was sure that would be their workhorse on this route.
If they did start operating SYD-CBR with exclusively jets that would actually be a huge attraction for me. I'm quite tall and genuinely detest flying on the cramped turboprop planes.