Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

[Misha]

Morning All,

I have been somewhat absent these past few days so this may have been long covered - but I only noticed it myself - is this new?

I went online to book a MEL-SYD flight for first week of June and have noticed that there are only three fare types available - Saver, Flexi and Premium. The Go and Blue fare options are no longer available. (There used to be five right?)

The flexi (which is very reasonably priced) states it includes priority check-in, complimentary Live to Air (Premium refers to it as In-flight entertainment) and also food & drinks package included; with only Saver having food available by purchase option.

Has this been in place since the relaunch and I only noticed it now? (Wouldn't surprise me)

I also like the new look of the fare selection page.... Any thoughts?

If this is old news - please feel free to close this thread.

Cheers,

 

[DJ 1D]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

Definitely new to me! Also looks like the prices have come down considerably. I normally fly OOL - SYD all the time and the PE fare is much lower than it used to be.

Looks like a completely new pricing structure - fantastic!

 

[ishkaban]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

change happened overnight and went live this morning.

Guests previously booked on a BLUE SAVER or GO fare will be under the new SAVER fare.
This is a pay as you go fare for f&b.

Guests previously booked on a CORPORATE PLUS or FLEXIBLE fare will be under the new FLEXI fare.(Y,B,N,M)

A set f&b offering is provided complimentary as well as FOXTEL, where fitted.
Any additional f&b options over and above the set food offering, will need to be purchased off the retail cart. As well as pay per view movies.

Guests previously booked on a PREMIUM fare will recieve the same benefits as previously. (O,W,J,H)

All flights that were previously $4.90 for Foxtel, will now be complimentary for ALL guests for those sectors.

 

[Misha]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

Exactly what I thought - and it doesn't appear to be a 'happy hour' fare or anything. I went for the Flexi (and often for Friday evening flights you pay more for Blue fares than what this one costs) and am looking forward to seeing the difference and the food & beverage package. Maybe a lunch box a la Qantas?

What with Gold Velocity memberships getting you lounge access and premium entry, this is an absolute bargain

Nice one Virgin...

Back to reply to Ishkaban: you beat my posting.. that's great. Was that info through a formal release, or are you in the know? I really like th changes we are starting to see at VA!

 

[DJ 1D]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

Interesting - Looks like the SYD-OOL PE fare came down by $135, while the SYD-MEL only about $50.

Makes sense and good news for us GC "commuters"!

 

[LiamR]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

This is interesting, I like the new changes. Dare I say it seems very inline with VX over in USA? Y, MCS and F?

On the OOL-SYD route, the cost of PE is nearly $200 cheaper. Although I can get most of the features from my Gold status on a cheap ticket. Its still great. I wonder if J will be priced the same?

Oh, I always feel sorry for the crew when airlines give free food to some pax, and not to others. It means a lot of complaints/explaining/carrying a manifest and checking weather each pax gets food or not. Then again.... its their job.

 

[Misha]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

Liam,

You are right - they really are hard done by. I often think that I hate having two flights in a day - and there they are doing naught but flying all day long - serving pax up and down the aisle!

Since the OOL fares have gone down so - maybe time to think about an AFF gathering on the Gold Coast?

Since I was right and was first to post - does this mean I have just achieved my first AFF scoop?

I feel like I just popped my frequent flyer forum cherry

 

[LiamR]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

You are right - they really are hard done by. I often think that I hate having two flights in a day - and there they are doing naught but flying all day long - serving pax up and down the aisle!

Since the OOL fares have gone down so - maybe time to think about an AFF gathering on the Gold Coast?

You know they can only work a maximum of four flights a day? Usually 2-3... so don't feel too sorry for them!

Oh god no, OOL is not the place for an AFF gathering? The only good place to take people here is Q1's restraunts. I don't think anyone is keen for an AFF day out to Dreamworld/Seaworld/other worlds...

It dosen't suprise me OOL-SYD routes in PE have dropped, I usually get seated in PE, and can only once recall having someone onboard who actuly purchased PE. Maybe its just me?

 

[777]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

At first glance i like this a lot.

By reducing the prices of the flexi and premium offerings it's a very good way of getting people who value such things (including me) to shell out a few $$ more for a ticket. Also brings the airline into the realm of being a full service carrier for passengers who want that.

In the past the gap between the Go Fare/ Saver fare and the full service offering and was too great to get people to pay for it while not offering enough to make it worthwhile. Now the gap is narrower and the benefit is greater i suspect a lot more people will take it up.

I think i can also see how the FF program miles will be allocated when they revamp it. (50%, 100%, 150% of miles maybe?).

 

[samh004]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

Just checked a flight I’ve been eyeing up, Saver moved from $279 to $299 unfortunately, but higher fares look like they got a better deal with Flexible $619 and Corporate Plus $719 dropping to $459 and Premium dropping from $849 to $745.

Virgin Australia are sure to win with this pricing!

Oh god no, OOL is not the place for an AFF gathering? The only good place to take people here is Q1's restraunts. I don't think anyone is keen for an AFF day out to Dreamworld/Seaworld/other worlds…

The issue with a gathering here was previously a lack of premium hotels, though now the Hilton has opened that could change things, but also a lack of Qantas flying here.

I think it was an option in the last poll for the next gathering, but CBR won, with HBA in second and I think ZQN in third, so OOL is a long way off the yearly gathering list, and if you’d like some drinks sometimes, I take the train every month to BNE without much hassle, anyone else could do the same

 

[777]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

More info on the new fare types. Here's the link:

Virgin Australia's fare types and classes | Virgin Australia

 

[yohy?!]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

Looks like the end of expensive connecting fares too - bring on the velocity relaunch with points/credits by km/mile instead of $

 

[MH_fan]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

I'm liking the new changes. Fares look to be a bit cheaper overall. I'm very curious now about the Velocity changes that will go alongside these fare structure changes.

 

[turtlemichael]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

Lest this thread look too much like a DJ love-in, the fares at the bottom are certainly not "down", at least the ones I have looked at.

I booked a bottom dweller CNS-SYD-CNS fare a few days ago and that is now $60 more. Maybe I found a sales fare. But the lowest fare, on the days I booked, is now substantially higher than the equivalent on QF which of course does include a meal and baggage unlike the DJ flights. Tread carefully before you leap in

 

[777]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

Now, VA needs to do one other thing to win my dream airline makeover bonus points. I need them to introduce on demand upgrades to empty business seats - either by cash, points, (or you can comp me).

I think i can convince my various employers to shell for a flexi fare but probably not for a premium/ business one. I think the Virgin America system of cheap, fixed price upgrades at T-6hours is a good one - assuming that complimentary upgrades for gold/ plats are not going to happen any time soon.

 

[yohy?!]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

Velocity Redemptions have updated to the new fare classes also - redemptions in Premium appear to have decreased substantially over the previous sky-high PE rates, eg SYD-ADL 21,800+$17 in Premium

 

[777]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

Lest this thread look too much like a DJ love-in, the fares at the bottom are certainly not "down", at least the ones I have looked at.

I booked a bottom dweller CNS-SYD-CNS fare a few days ago and that is now $60 more. Maybe I found a sales fare. But the lowest fare, on the days I booked, is now substantially higher than the equivalent on QF which of course does include a meal and baggage unlike the DJ flights. Tread carefully before you leap in

The problem is that it's hard to compare apples and apples on sales fares. They may have gone up a little although they had a massive sale with the relaunch that included a lot of cheaper tickets and may have just expired (i'm really not sure). But as a general point you're right to compare the bottom tier fares against the offers of other carriers.

 

[777]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

Velocity Redemptions have updated to the new fare classes also - redemptions in Premium appear to have decreased substantially over the previous sky-high PE rates, eg SYD-ADL 21,800+$17 in Premium

Just checked a few examples. It appears that premium redemptions (including SYD-PER business class) are a straight double of economy redemptions. Much better than before.

 

[DJ 1D]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

Since I was right and was first to post - does this mean I have just achieved my first AFF scoop?

I feel like I just popped my frequent flyer forum cherry

Not only that, but it appears you've beaten our friendly neighbourhood AFF VA reps to the punch!

 

[AdMEL]

re: Virgin Australia Website & Fare Structure Revamp

Now, VA needs to do one other thing to win my dream airline makeover bonus points. I need them to introduce on demand upgrades to empty business seats - either by cash, points, (or you can comp me).

I think i can convince my various employers to shell for a flexi fare but probably not for a premium/ business one. I think the Virgin America system of cheap, fixed price upgrades at T-6hours is a good one - assuming that complimentary upgrades for gold/ plats are not going to happen any time soon.

It looks like they are introducing (or possibly already had) something similar to your wish. I was just looking at the new fare rules and saw this:

PREMIUM ECONOMY TASTER UPGRADES: if you purchased an upgrade, the fare rules of your original booking class will apply to changes, cancellation, refund or credit of your upgraded flight. The upgrade fee is non-refundable. Changes and cancellations to Premium Economy Taster Upgrade bookings must be made through the GCC, Business Service Centre, or Velocity Member Contact Centre between 3 hours and 45 minutes prior to flight departure. Please note that the Velocity Membership Contact Centre operates between 8:00am and 8:00pm AEST Monday to Friday. Bookings, changes and cancellations for Taster Upgrade redeemed with Velocity Points cannot be made for flights departing before 9:00am or after 11:00pm AEST weekdays or for any weekend flight departure.