Virgin cutting SYD-CHC flights?

[Mattg]

Did I miss an announcement about Virgin cutting back Sydney-Christchurch flights?

I'm looking at flights from Sydney to Christchurch and it seems that VA doesn't have any direct flights during May or June (except 1 May). The route is then running just 3x weekly (Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) from 1 July.

 

[Saab34]

It’s only a matter of time before Tiger picks up half the Tasman flights.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Haven't heard or read an annoucement of this.

 

[henrus]

I'm looking at flights from Sydney to Christchurch and it seems that VA doesn't have any direct flights during May or June (except 1 May). The route is then running just 3x weekly (Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) from 1 July.

I suspect it's worse than this...

Google flights is showing the last non stop on 1 May then no flights until 26 September then 3 flights per week (M, W, Th) until 16/12/19 then 4 flights per week (M, Tu, W, Th) until 30/1/20 then back to 3 flights for the rest of the published schedule.

 

[Rangalad]

Amadeus also shows 1 May as the last direct flight.
From 02 May options displayed are via MEL or BNE.

 

[AIRwin]

Found this for 2018 but nothing for 2019:

https://www.virginaustralia.com/cs/groups/internetcontent/@wc/documents/webcontent/~edisp/comm-syd-chc-2018.pdf

 

[AIRwin]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/112726405/virgin-australia-reduces-transtasman-services-out-of-auckland-and-chirstchurch

 

[pauly7]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/112726405/virgin-australia-reduces-transtasman-services-out-of-auckland-and-chirstchurch

Not surprising they are cutting services, NZ was feeding a lot of VA flights TT and also domestically.

Just look at the departure boards in the QF terminals now - chockers with NZ (and EK and MU code) almost every single flight has a NZ code on it these days.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

I've booked SYD-CHC in late September for a family holiday.

VA has emailed me syaing my flights have changed, we've now been moved to SYD-BRI then BRI-CHC at approximately the same time as the original booking. VFF service couldn't tell me why but I took this thread as my source!

It's a bit of a pain but tolerable, as I booked it in the double points offer period and now we should get 4 x double SYD-BRI worth of SCs that we weren't getting before.

 

[Bagpuss]

It's a bit of a pain but tolerable, as I booked it in the double points offer period and now we should get 4 x double SYD-BRI worth of SCs that we weren't getting before.

You maybe right, but ..... per VIRGIN AUSTRALIA Travel with Virgin Australia and set your Velocity Points flying.
"Domestic flights flown as part of a Trans-Tasman or International Short Haul journey earn at the same rate as domestic standalone journeys. "
This means you would earn 5 points for $1 spent on the cost of this sector (SYD >BNE).
As you have been re-routed the system may not have any costs associated to it, so you wont get any extra points.
The good news is, worst case you would get the Status Credits for it.
It would be interesting, though I'm sure if this has happened to anyone before they maybe able to confirm or not.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

Points don't worry me, they're a dime a dozen, it's the SCs I'm looking at. I booked this trip in a double SCs period, so could be a good score, 4 people at double SCs with an extra leg.

 

[AIRwin]

It is now JQ which will be ceasing services between SYD and CHC:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12246312

 

[21510702]

I had been on the JQ SYD to CHC service before. It was quite full, but the landing time at 00:50 was not fun