Virgin to remove bagfree fares from Domestic Routes

[rsellens]

I can see it from Virgin's POV. By getting rid of the saver lite fares, it does streamline their fare offers - in addition to the uplift in revenue (based on the presumption that the saver fares remain constant). I disagree that they are still a LCC, they transitioned away to be MCC or FCC when John Borghetti came aboard. That also was a natural progresion to capture mote value from the Australian market and away from competing with Tiger and Jetstar; to taking on QF head-on. If we want them there for the longhaul (pun intended) to maintain price competitiveness from QF, then they need to achieve savings as well as revenue increases.

Virgin does not need to compete with Tiger. They own it and it is their LCC. They are transitioning to be similar to Qantas and Junkstar.

 

[TomVexille]

In my opinion Virgin isn't a LCC anymore.

Never said that they are. It's not me that you have to convince of that fact though.

 

[Muriel]

just spotted this industry release..I wonder if their T class fare will go down to the old S level or is this an effective $10-15 fare increase at the bottom end of their tariff.Time will tell
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[TD]Effective 17 March 2015, Virgin Australia will commence a Fare Class re-alignment across our Domestic and Trans-Tasman markets, removing the Saver Lite brand from all markets except Trans-Tasman. All fares will now include complimentary luggage across the network. This change has been made as a result of strong customer feedback and streamlines the airline's product offering.
We are retaining a single booking class on Trans-Tasman sectors as bagless to maintain parity with our Trans-Tasman partner Air New Zealand. All ticketed Saver Lite fares remain valid.
As part of this re-alignment, please see below a summary of these changes.
Domestic Fare Class Changes
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[TD]'S' class Saver Lite fare brand is being removed from the Domestic fare structure[/TD]
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This is a good move. What the "lite" fare did, was to encourage many passengers to buy that fare BUT cram everything but the kitchen sink into their oversize carry on bags. Ive often watched passengers struggle to lift their carry on bag up to the overhead rack only to find that they don't fit - OR they have to get the crew to juggle things around to squeeze the bags in. Having said that, its not only the passengers who buy a "lite" fare who create the problem. Its something we should all be aware of and maybe ALL airlines should strictly enforce the 7kg carry on bag rule: including the extra plastic bags many passengers are carrying as well as their official carry on luggage.

 

[bullerdude]

From VA's point of view this was probably a simple change to streamline their fare structure similar to Qantas along with a minor increase in Revenue, whilst allowing them to keep the Saver fare consistently priced just below QF's red e-deal fares.

The majority of people purchasing tickets aren't likely to notice/care or will get over it quickly.

 

[Cecil]

Sceptical? Virgin has delivered over many years and always seem to get it right. The alternative carriers, including their own Tiger, do not offer much competition.

Can't remember the last time I checked a bag domestically, but got to be a good thing for overhead overcrowding.

 

[stekmer]

The 'change is not in line with Virgins status as a low cost carrier' - things seem to be changing with some other low cost carriers in other countries also having a luggage allowance included for domestic and short haul international flights - eg Nok and Lion airlines (Thailand and Indonesia/Malaysia).
Perhaps Virgin are just playing catch up?

 

[Liz Sier]

I just booked Mel-Adl for July with a Lite Saver for $99 while the Saver was $115. I don't need check in except for long haul flights, so I resent that I will now have to pay more when March 17 comes around. Seems to me that the change is just price gouging. If they truly are trying to reduce cramming of overhead lockers, then they should do what Tiger now does, weigh absolutely everything you are taking on board and send you back to pay check in fees if you are over the limit! Tiger might just get my business from now on.

 

[Duffa]

Count me in!
I always travel domestically with checked luggage. In fact I can think of only once in past 20 years when I took hand luggage only. I just don't fly for business.
But its a win for me only. I can see other's concern that the lowest fares will go up

 

[JohnK]

I do feel sorry for the last pax who board with proper sized hand luggage who can't find any space nearby their seat in row 8 and the FA comes to assist, finding the only spare space above row 25.

I don't quite understand this move. It is silly. Makes no sense.

And seriously why do Virgin FA's put their bulky carryon above row 3-4?

Removing the HLO fares and tightening down on oversized carry on should assist. To be fair to Virgin, they are the ones who do check the cabin baggage for weight more often.

Do you think that will be the case? I think people will continue to push the boundaries.

Qantas airfares include luggage and you still get people with a full size rollabord + laptop bag and the ladies with a handbag and sometimes shopping bags.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

To be fair to Virgin, they are the ones who do check the cabin baggage for weight more often.

I cannot recall ever seeing VA check cabin baggage. To take it one step further, I cannot recall ever being on a VA plane where blatantly obvious cabin baggage fails that are allowed through without a second blink, is not the norm!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Virgin does not need to compete with Tiger. They own it and it is their LCC. They are transitioning to be similar to Qantas and Junkstar.

You need to re-read that post. VA did not always own TT and the reference to it was past tense.

 

[alexczarn]

I cannot recall ever seeing VA check cabin baggage. To take it one step further, I cannot recall ever being on a VA plane where blatantly obvious cabin baggage fails that are allowed through without a second blink, is not the norm!

I have never seen a baggage check in all my flying.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I have never seen a baggage check in all my flying.

I have...once. Coincidentally it was on VA in AKL, but was not VA who checked, it was the security dragon weighing all hand luggage prior to customs clearance.

 

[cdp88]

One positive that may come from this, depending on your perspective, is that for people who have their airline choices made for them under restrictive employer policies (eg public service) it may increase your chances of flying qantas. If you prefer Qantas, as I do, this could be a good thing.

For my work travel I am obliged to choose virgin nearly every time even though I would prefer to fly qantas so I can visit the QP. If this initiative reduces or removes the fare difference my chances of flying Qantas are increased.

For work I don't check in luggage as flights are generally down and back in one day. I usually have only a small briefcase which goes under the seat in front so I am not affected by other passengers' questionable use of carry on entitlements.

 

[nonscenic]

I cannot recall ever seeing VA check cabin baggage. To take it one step further, I cannot recall ever being on a VA plane where blatantly obvious cabin baggage fails are allowed through without a second blink!

Most of my domestic flying has been on QF where no one ever seems to question oversized or over heavy cabin baggage (I do admit to once collecting my wife and self's duty free allowance of plonk on arrival at SYD, stuffing it in my cabin baggage and having no questions asked on my QF flight to MEL, presumably because it wasn't obviously oversized). On the times I have used VA I have seen them use the scales at the boarding gate on occasion.

Quote JohnK "And seriously why do Virgin FA's put their bulky carryon above row 3-4?"
I had wandered too why VA store blankets and pillows in their overhead lockers when the 737s or Embraers are on 1 to 2 hour flights and expect space to be at a premium. Similarly rows 1 and 2 on a JQ flight are never a good choice of seat.

People will still push the boundaries until the airlines become more strict on cabin luggage, but I'm sure that VA and QF are still trying to keep some form of brand separation from JQ and TG, now that their food service is getting worse.

 

[dk4]

Anyone who has been on a peak hour Qantas (nee)Cityflyer B737 route, knows that offering fares inclusive of checked baggage has no impact on reducing overheads crowding. Qantas has even taken to tagging small bags at the gate, to indicate they need to go under the seat not in the locker, as well as making several announcements during boarding about being a full flight and the lack of overhead space!

It is my conclusion, that many posters in this thread simply do not fly frequently, if they think that VA offering all fares with included checked bags will impact carry-on levels in the slightest. This move is SOLELY about raising ticket prices, and revenue.

Delivering checked bags to the conveyor belt before the passengers arrive there, is the only thing IMO that will impact the situation. (And in the case of Virgin, more efficient bag drop processes as well, with no queues. tap-press-drop-press-go!)

And don't get me started on weighing the bloody bag, in terms of space - it's about volume only, and how many bags can physically fit into the lockers. Whether the identical 115cm bag weighs 7kg or 15kg, it takes up the same amount of overhead space!

As for the problems in the front rows, it is simply the worst on many QF B737s, where not only are row 1's overhead bins locked and inaccessible, so too are the port side at row 3!

 

[QF WP]

Virgin does not need to compete with Tiger. They own it and it is their LCC. They are transitioning to be similar to Qantas and Junkstar.

My comment was in a historical context - at the time that JB came aboard Virgin. Indeed, they are the owners now of Tiger, which competes directly with JQ - which leaves Virgin the opportunity to meet QF head on without the LCC distractions. Certainly that competition has been great for us, the travelling public, as it keeps fares keener.

 

[Clivem]

And seriously why do Virgin FA's put their bulky carryon above row 3-4?

Hear, Hear ......to that one ...... poor form on their part indeed.

 

[pearler47]

Overhead lockers are becoming unuseable for people boarding late. Airlines should enforce size and weight limits. This move by VA may help in that direction.

 

[Muriel]

Can see this really got you dk. Problem with carry on luggage is that many passengers carry on OVERSIZED bags which are seldom if ever checked. Plus lots of plastic ones as well. Don't agree with you that whether a bag weighs this amount or that, it takes up the same amount of space. It depends on HOW MUCH people squeeze in to a bag, thereby puffing it out until its almost bursting at the seams - and what size the bag is. Try it at home and you'll see what I mean. We've travelled the world - several times, and find that its not as likely to happen in America where staff are much more vigilant about carry on bag SIZE and Weight.