VS Drop SYD - Exit Australia

[Joshua]

Re: Virgin Atlantic no longer fly to Sydney

They may offer something by the sounds of their email (who knows, maybe a VA transfer or something) but at this stage I'd expect nothing. I've only transferred enough during the bonuses for a potential 'next trip'. There network is still good (particularly for availability) in and out of LHR so sounds like a good excuse to travel a bit further to me

 

[Isochronous]

Re: Virgin Atlantic no longer fly to Sydney

Can't VS miles be redeemed on VA flights?

 

[a330j]

Re: Virgin Atlantic no longer fly to Sydney

Booked VS Syd-Hkg-Syd in P+ about 2 weeks ago. Return a couple of days before they exit. Points applied to VA.

Can't see VA taking up a HK run if VS can't make money on it.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Virgin Atlantic no longer fly to Sydney

Can't VS miles be redeemed on VA flights?

You can... it appears it's basically the VA mileage numbers, except in VS currency:

Virgin Australia | Virgin Atlantic

Not sure if the list is not comprehensive or that represents the only flights on VA that can be redeemed with VS miles.

 

[A_traveller]

Virgin Atlantic withdrawing from SYD-HKG by May

Just received an email from VS to advise that they are withdrawing from the Aus market. i have an award J flight in September, but on ringing them today, they transferred me to CX for the SYD-HKG leg.

A good result.

Wonder whether they will establish a code-share for future redemptions on this leg? I have a lot invested in Flying Club!

 

[DisarmDoors]

Virgin atlantic leaving australia

Wondering what the community's thoughts are on Virgin Atlantic's decision to leave our fair shores.

As someone who played a part in the airline's Australian arrival, I'm somewhat glum about it.

Can't help but feel that things just got a whole lot less interesting for the punter.

Anyways, understand the economics of it, but a real shame nonetheless.

A few photos from my time there: 2004 - 2009

http://on.fb.me/1b8rkVS

Happy travels!

 

[Plodder]

Re: Virgin atlantic leaving australia

Disappointing but unsurprising. The number of European airlines flying to Australia have been dwindling for years, I think BA with their one daily service to Sydney is the only one left.

What makes it a bit more disappointing is that it wasn't that long ago that Branson was talking up being the first airline to fly non-stop London to Australia.

 

[browski]

Re: Virgin atlantic leaving australia

If VA can fly Perth-coughet on a 737, could they also reach HKG with a PER-HKG 737 service?

 

[markis10]

Re: Virgin atlantic leaving australia

If VA can fly Perth-coughet on a 737, could they also reach HKG with a PER-HKG 737 service?

Doubt it would work, ex DRW is a definite yes, QF did it this time last year with a 738.

 

[agentgerko]

This has been coming a long time. Its leaves BA as the only euro carrier bringing their own metal into Oz and I can't see that lasting too much longer either. BA will pull out of SYD and eventually QF will probably pull out of LHR.
Judging by the email received from a mate yesterday who had just been downgraded at SYD from Business to Premium due to Virgin overbooking, that's one person who will not be sad to see them go. He only flies Business, or First if the carrier still has it, so not at all a happy chappy.

 

[anat0l]

Judging by the email received from a mate yesterday who had just been downgraded at SYD from Business to Premium due to Virgin overbooking, that's one person who will not be sad to see them go.

They oversold Business and then they want to downgrade him and that's it? No alternative carrier, no accommodation for next day, no call for other volunteers, no compensation?

If what you say is true, that's worse than poor.

On the other hand, they sold out Business, so what's this about not being profitable...... (joking - we know there are many factors at play here...)

 

[oldbold]

Re: Virgin Atlantic no longer fly to Sydney

You can... it appears it's basically the VA mileage numbers, except in VS currency:

Virgin Australia | Virgin Atlantic

Not sure if the list is not comprehensive or that represents the only flights on VA that can be redeemed with VS miles.

I have used VFC points (some earned on other carriers) for VA domestic flights to and from Hobart, but I did like the 346 used on the Sydney-Hong Kong route. and will be sad to see VS go. Even the economy seats are almost bearable!

 

[agentgerko]

No doubt he'll get some kind of refund on his return to Oz but from prior experience the airlines always manage to calculate the refund at a much lower amount than the passenger.

 

[edman]

Re: VS axes SYD-HKG

Was just about to book a xmas trip to HK when the news came through, so have brought it forward to the end of April. Will be extremely disappointed to see them go, I've flown with them half a dozen times on this route and always enjoyed their upper class product. The return flight is on the 5th of May, be interesting to see if there is any fanfare for the last flight into SYD.

 

[UP4014]

Re: VS axes SYD-HKG

Was just about to book a xmas trip to HK when the news came through, so have brought it forward to the end of April. Will be extremely disappointed to see them go, I've flown with them half a dozen times on this route and always enjoyed their upper class product. The return flight is on the 5th of May, be interesting to see if there is any fanfare for the last flight into SYD.

Yes, the alternative being you can now use Etihad to Europe :shock:

 

[docjames]

No doubt he'll get some kind of refund on his return to Oz but from prior experience the airlines always manage to calculate the refund at a much lower amount than the passenger.

Surprised he didn't call other airlines to Aus to see what was available least minute then cancel the VS flight…..

 

[JohnK]

Re: Virgin Atlantic no longer fly to Sydney

I have used VFC points (some earned on other carriers) for VA domestic flights to and from Hobart, but I did like the 346 used on the Sydney-Hong Kong route. and will be sad to see VS go. Even the economy seats are almost bearable!

Yes it is a shame.

Business class was quite OK considering how easy it was to earn points. Premium economy I did not like if not seated in bulkhead. Economy I did not try for obvious reasons.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: Virgin Atlantic no longer fly to Sydney

Hi johnk,
With VS leaving the syd to hkg vv route which airline would you be using after may 2014 for this route?

 

[JohnK]

Re: Virgin Atlantic no longer fly to Sydney

With VS leaving the syd to hkg vv route which airline would you be using after may 2014 for this route?

As you know my destination was always BKK and VS was a cheap way of getting there.via HKG.

And VS was 40,000 miles in business but SQ is not far behind with only 46,750 miles in business. So that will be my alternative for now but Hilton stays and car hire are not as attractive as VS.

 

[Coops1]

Re: Virgin Atlantic no longer fly to Sydney

Very sad to see that route go. For those flying out of of Hobart, the Hobart-Sydney domestic connection was basically free. Fares last year were down to $750 return HBA-SYD-HKG-SYD-HBA. For us Taswegians, we don't see that price ex HBA.