VA to HKG from Jul 5 2017, ex MEL

[Isochronous]

Who else is looking forward to the launch of this route, and where do we think it will first start flying from in Australia?

My bet is MEL - CX flights are constantly full. Much easier to get a seat to SYD right now.

 

[LadyC]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

This would be great, especially if their product was like 'the business'. A non one world offering to HKG direct would be a big win. MEL please!

 

[dajop]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

Will surely by SYD if anything. VA don't do international from MEL now, except Trans Tasman.

 

[casanovawa]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

Many businesses in Oz seem to struggle finding cities outside of Sydney...

 

[Fiches Mouser]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

Too little, too late.

Having been VA WP for the last few years and going to extraordinary lengths to fly SQ (often quite painfully – such as the SIN-PER redeye) I've had enough. I'm moving to CX for a number of reasons, but having connection options into Asia is one of them. I want to fly the airline I have status with, but with VA it just hasn't been good enough.

That said, if this route launched a month ago I might be singing a different tune. This has been VA's missing link for a while and with the A330 J seat it's hugely compelling.

If nothing else it should help add much-needed competition on the Aus-HKG routes where fares can get pretty high, particularly in J.

 

[quokka77]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

I'm thinking SYD is the most likely, followed by BNE. These are the 2 main hubs for VA. MEL seems unlikely but might ultimately depends on what Hainan wanted.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

Oh boy, am I looking forward to this!

Last week I flew SYD-PER on an A330 in J, followed (idiotically) by the PER-SIN red-eye in Y (I get what you mean by "painfully", mrsmart), then on to HKG. Put up with all the typical VA-SQ experiences of seat selection failure and not even being able to get an onward boarding pass printed... just to do it on a VA itinerary!

I was considering dumping Velocity entirely given the latest EY reward charge debacle, but if I could hang on to my points and use them for A330 J direct to HKG, then I might be happy to stick around! I'd even transit via MEL or BNE for it.

Wonder what lounge they'd use in HKG?

 

[Ausbt]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

I love the idea of doing a SYD-HKG-CTS for easy access to Hokkiado skiing. Could be comparable time to SYD-NRT-CTS but with benefits for VA flyers, I'm hoping. Bring it on, please!

 

[Limewood]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

I use the HKG/BNE on CX in J its mostly a "daylight flight" allows some lounge hopping as it departs about 1pm gets into BNE (usually early) about 11pm.

 

[Mattg]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

I expect it may be BNE, but SYD is also likely. As it stands, there are 6 flights a day between SYD and HKG. There are currently 2 direct flights a day between BNE and HKG. Of course, VA could direct connecting traffic from pretty much anywhere through either city.

 

[NZflygirl]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

So, given they only have 5? 777's are they going to pull the A330's off the domestic routes and put them into Asia leaving mostly only the 737s for domestic?
That would stink for using the platinum upgrades largely only on the 737s

 

[Ausbt]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

A330s should be given to longest routes first, so HKG, HKT & DPS then PER in that order. Certainly the thought of taking a 737 to HKT is none-too-appealing, unless the cost of J is only marginally more expensive.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

Bring it on!! Very much looking forward to it. Syd makes sense given how much constantly full capacity there is. CX seems to fill 70 flights a week and Qantas has light loads on many of its 20 or so flights.
Shows the competition is cx and not QF

 

[HeavyElectricity]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

An update today:

Virgin secures traffic rights for Hong Kong, Beijing
Virgin secures traffic rights for Hong Kong, Beijing | Australian Aviation


I have to say, selfishly (being PER-based), that I don't consider the HKG flights good news. In the last few years PER has already lost VA flights to Bali, Thailand, Esperance, Learmonth with nothing being added. Loosing the A330 on the transcontinental flights would be a real blow too.

 

[Pleb Status]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

An update today:

Virgin secures traffic rights for Hong Kong, Beijing
Virgin secures traffic rights for Hong Kong, Beijing | Australian Aviation


I have to say, selfishly (being PER-based), that I don't consider the HKG flights good news. In the last few years PER has already lost VA flights to Bali, Thailand, Esperance, Learmonth with nothing being added. Loosing the A330 on the transcontinental flights would be a real blow too.

I agree that any talk of reassigning VA A330 aircraft is all bad for PER customers as the chances of them being assigned to PER international routes is minimal.

 

[cssaus]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

I wonder if the planned SYD-HKG route will offer the opportunity to fly SYD-HKG-LHR with the HKG-LHR sector on Virgin Atlantic?

I miss the VS arrivals lounge at LHR, something that's not offered when flying on EY & SQ.

 

[Bagpuss]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

I wonder if the planned SYD-HKG route will offer the opportunity to fly SYD-HKG-LHR with the HKG-LHR sector on Virgin Atlantic?

I miss the VS arrivals lounge at LHR, something that's not offered when flying on EY & SQ.

Kind of what I am expecting.

Though being Virgin, I wouldn't be surprised if it's BNE - HKG - LHR

Also, me being Perth based I would like to see PER - HKG - LHR, but I dont see that one covered. From a Virgin perspective we have Singapore and Etihad as partner airlines.

 

[smit0847]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

I still can't belive SQ are letting VA take their pax by allowing them to fly direct between HKG and Australia

 

[dajop]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

I still can't belive SQ are letting VA take their pax by allowing them to fly direct between HKG and Australia

SQ only hold 20% of VA. Who knows maybe there aren't that many pax that take SQ to HKG, with the plethora of CX/QF services. Indeed strategically it may make a lot of sense - weaken CX's business on the route and provide opportunities to regular HKG travellers to move away from QFF (or oneworld) handcuffs.

In any event they're not going to take all of their passengers. Ex-MEL, the time difference is not great (via SIN vs SYD) and the transfer at SIN is usually much easier.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

As someone who currently flies SYD-SIN-HKG on SQ but really wish I could just fly SYD-HKG (and previously did so on VS), I think this is a smart move by them. If VA don't fly that route, sooner or later I'm going to baulk and just fly on CX or even QF instead. I suspect they'd be taking sales off their competitors at least as much as they'd be cannibalising themselves.