VS Drop SYD - Exit Australia

[Isochronous]

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.

That should often be the case with QF too.

 

[suey]

Re: Virgin Atlantic no longer fly to Sydney

As a regular flyer on the SYD-HKG route, I do think this is a shame, I have flown a few times and while it was nothing special in Y (is anything), the extra 20 pounds for the extra legroom seats almost always got me a full row to myself so I could lie down, if not at least a spare seat next to me, even on very full flights, so a more comfortable way to travel Y. I guess it will be back to Cathay with uncomfortable seats or QF or the VA via SIN options.

However, I always felt cranky about paying hundreds of dollars more to fly on a VA number than a VS flight number (booking through VS), but if I booked through VS, you get totally skunked on SC's and points. In most instances where I have tried to book SYD-HKG in the last 12 months, it has been cheaper to go via SIN (though you lose the advantage of a direct flight, but earn extra SC's and points). I often bypassed the VS flight to save $$.

I hope VA do take up the route.

I will miss the clubhouse lounge a lot though, I love those coughtails!

 

[edman]

I wonder if the announcement has dented demand for the remaining flights. I had booked 4 upper class tix HKG-SYD leaving 5th May, so it should have been the last flight in to Australia. Got a text saying it needed to be rebooked, then they offered me Qantas or Cathay Pacific on the 4th when presumably they would still be flying in.

Ended up on Qantas for 1/2 hr after the original flight I had booked and on the same day, but it was an interesting conversation with the CSR.

 

[Fruitcake]

I had booked 4 upper class tix HKG-SYD leaving 5th May, so it should have been the last flight in to Australia.

The last flight ex-Australia is 5 May, and the aircraft for that service departs HKG on 4 May:
Important information about our Hong Kong - Sydney service | Virgin Atlantic

Last Sydney / Hong Kong Flights:

It is proposed that the last flight from Sydney to Hong Kong, will be on 05 May 2014 and Hong Kong to Sydney, on the 04 May 2014. Customers can be confident booking flights up to that date.

 

[Pukka]

I wonder if the announcement has dented demand for the remaining flights. I had booked 4 upper class tix HKG-SYD leaving 5th May, so it should have been the last flight in to Australia. Got a text saying it needed to be rebooked, then they offered me Qantas or Cathay Pacific on the 4th when presumably they would still be flying in.

Ended up on Qantas for 1/2 hr after the original flight I had booked and on the same day, but it was an interesting conversation with the CSR.

I don't think the Upper Class product is up to scratch now so you're probably better off although I think I would have preferred Cathay.. I know that the main reason to fly business is the bed but I think Virgin have downgraded the whole experience, the food is now average and the IFE is terrible it's better in economy with Cathay

 

[civinod]

Totally agree with Pukka.

The points for upper class were at an attractive rate but the product really was showing its age.

Food was very ordinary. Bacon sandwich with brown or tomato sauce for breakfast really sums it up.

Never really liked the cabin layout (herringbone) felt like I was in a production line.

anyway it was cheap but obviously the Branson persona couldn't fool everyone.

Not really going to miss it but it does show that 2 stop routes are a big problem for most airlines.

Bring on the non stop planes to Europe. Maybe that will change the game in a big way.

Lets hope.

 

[moa999]

Agree the seats were average but the remainder of the aircraft fit out and bar address was awesome.
Food was so so but then predominate competitor is BA.
And it's a darn nice out station lounge in HKG.

Plus PE was a great way to earn VA SCs

 

[Himeno]

Bring on the non stop planes to Europe. Maybe that will change the game in a big way.

Wouldn't a non stop Europe>Australia flight still be 18ish hours? At best, the airline would save a few hours and a stopover in the middle east or asia.

 

[Robbi]

Wouldn't a non stop Europe>Australia flight still be 18ish hours? At best, the airline would save a few hours and a stopover in the middle east or asia.

You save the time and fuel normally lost descending into and climbing out of the stopover, you save the time disembarking and reembarking passengers and the cleanup costs, you save airport costs and government taxes associated with the airport.

You save passengers the aggravation of getting off and on again, the irritation of going through security more times (twice in DXB for some unknown reason) and ticket pricing could fall or service be improved.

 

[pangwen]

You save the time and fuel normally lost descending into and climbing out of the stopover, you save the time disembarking and reembarking passengers and the cleanup costs, you save airport costs and government taxes associated with the airport.

You save passengers the aggravation of getting off and on again, the irritation of going through security more times (twice in DXB for some unknown reason) and ticket pricing could fall or service be improved.

I thought I read somewhere that for such long distances, the fuel requirement for a direct OZ-EU flight would exceed the sum of the fuel requirements for OZ-Intermediate location-EU. It had something to do with more fuel being required due to the weight of all of the fuel being carried for such a long distance.

 

[The Rok]

Upper Class is very dated now, but when it was released 10 or so years ago it was really a market changer. Especially the bar.

Also, the BIGGEST attraction for me was never the flight but the Drive Through Check In in the car. Collected at airport hotel, and 10 minutes later I'm in the lounge...

I don't think the Upper Class product is up to scratch now so you're probably better off although I think I would have preferred Cathay.. I know that the main reason to fly business is the bed but I think Virgin have downgraded the whole experience, the food is now average and the IFE is terrible it's better in economy with Cathay

 

[anat0l]

Upper Class is very dated now, but when it was released 10 or so years ago it was really a market changer. Especially the bar.

Also, the BIGGEST attraction for me was never the flight but the Drive Through Check In in the car. Collected at airport hotel, and 10 minutes later I'm in the lounge...

There is the new Upper Class now, but it maintains the same herringbone configuration. Not exactly my cup of tea, though still better than Economy.

I don't know if the food has improved. The quality of the presentation seems to have dramatically improved. The bar does look more attractive, though suffice to say I found it of limited practical appeal unless you are travelling with someone else, or a good company, and preferably during a flight where sleep is not the top priority.

As you allude to, the VS service at LHR T3 is excellent; something pretty much unmatched at London Heathrow by any other airline. As is their Clubhouses (though again dubious about the food and Lanson).

 

[JohnK]

You can also redeem syd-kul return on MH in J for 80000 VS miles. Not sure if that is better value or transferring to HH...

Can someone confirm the partner airline tables are return miles required?

SQ is 85,000 miles to SIN
NZ is 80,000 miles to HKG/SIN? but would need to get to AKL
MH is 80,000 miles to KUL but I am not keen on MH at the moment

I hear availability is quite poor and could require multiple calls to make a booking. If dates are not flexible then that could be an issue.

I have ~66,000 VS miles and trying to see if it is worth bumping them up to 85,000 miles.

 

[k3nnis]

I think they are return miles. Also I don't think you can fly J or F on SQ.

 

[JohnK]

I think they are return miles. Also I don't think you can fly J or F on SQ.

You can on the A330? BNE-SIN would do me fine.

 

[anat0l]

You can on the A330? BNE-SIN would do me fine.

I wonder if VS can "see" SQ availability greater than 14 days before departure unlike most of SQ's Star Alliance partners (and possibly also VA - not sure if VA can see beyond 14 days)?

 

[k3nnis]

Yes you are right.

 

[JohnK]

I wonder if VS can "see" SQ availability greater than 14 days before departure unlike most of SQ's Star Alliance partners (and possibly also VA - not sure if VA can see beyond 14 days)?

I don't know. I read a few threads on Flyertalk and it would appear booking partner awards is like extracting teeth.

I may give them a call next week as I am almost ready to book November trip.

 

[dajop]

I wonder if VS can "see" SQ availability greater than 14 days before departure unlike most of SQ's Star Alliance partners (and possibly also VA - not sure if VA can see beyond 14 days)?

I've struggled to even find economy availability using VS points on SQ, even when it was wide open on Krisflyer, ANA, lifemiles and United (before they blocked SQ online).

 

[n7of9]

Got an email today from Flying Club..."thanks for your loyalty...you can still earn and spend", etc

After waiting to see what choices we will have to use our FC miles beyond May 2014, all they are essentially offering is a 2,000 mile discount flying VA SYD-MEL/BNE

They have a double SC offer on VA, but only if you aren't already a Velocity member

But hey, it's not all bad, they did after all thank me for my loyalty...