VA's Audience Demographic

[Mattg]

I self fund all my travel so I certainly won’t be paying the Qantas premium. I used to fly JQ a lot and don’t particularly mind the lack of amenities, but I do hate their IRROPS handling. While it’s a reality of air travel there’s too many times I had the spend the night at an airport hotel and take leave from work the next day because the next available flight is not available until the mid day the next day and I wasn’t in a position to fork out 500+ dollar for a same day ticket on QF/VA on whatever’s available the last minute.

So 3 years ago I switch my flying to VA. Costs me a bit more but since then those kind of disruption has never happened to me again (fingers crossed). With the amount of flights I take I quickly made plat and have been enjoying fly ahead and also the few times I had my flight cancelled even on busy period the system has always managed to put me on the next on due to priority handling for status holders so that’s a big win. Economy X and free WiFi is nice, so was the 4x upgrade which I feel like makes it enough to justify the additional cost compared to flying JQ

There was a point where I stopped flying JQ for about 5 years, specifically because I got sick of being screwed over by their poor IRROPs handling.

I eventually gave JQ another go, but never if I'm in a hurry to get to my destination.

 

[Saab34]

I use JQ for some of the more unique flight that the others don’t, like AVV, OOL-CNS, those sort of routes they have to themselves. On the occasion ie last minute when fares are pricey and there is a big difference, I will fly them.

Jetstar are terrible on MEL-SYD and SYD-BNE for cancellations. They are often A321 so you can get pushed to flights many hours later as they try and Re accomodate larger volumes on other flights. LCCs typically need higher load factors so trying to get another MEL-SYD on a Friday or Sunday was troublesome, they tried to push me to the next day.

I have found Virgin easier with disruptions. When I had a OOL-MEL cancellation I asked if they could simply put me via Sydney or Adelaide which they did no questions asked. Same route with Jetstar, same cancellation, wouldn’t connect me and didn’t really go out of there way to get me to the destination.

 

[Poss]

A frequent single leisure traveller who has never had the privilege of someone else paying for my flights . I was a loyal VA flyer, taking advantage of VA platinum perks when available..I had many a great holiday chasing those extra SC for the next status tier.

My holiday always started in the lounge at the airport. As the lounges were withdrawn from some of my regular destinations, the perceived value changed but I remained loyal.

Then the change to the FFP on balance looked less promising and less achievable moving forward.

VA are clearly after the business travelling market. I was told by a VA employee that a self funded leisure leisure traveller only made up 10% of their market in 2020. I don't think much has changed... except the loyalty from that share of their market..

 

[Human]

VA are clearly after the business travelling market

And why not?

I know that there can be good reasons for business travellers to fly Qantas -- more routes, greater frequencies, and more lounges (which managers in particular might feel they're entitled to).

But companies have a duty to keep profits up and keep costs down ... so why not fly VA if the costs are lower and the routing and timing is available?

As an aside, I'm often bemused at the way public servants fly Qantas even when VA is cheaper. Sometimes it's justifiable ... but at other times it does seem like a waste of taxpayers' money. There's a bit of a discussion of the issue towards the end of this article.

 

[AuSammy]

And why not?

I know that there can be good reasons for business travellers to fly Qantas -- more routes, greater frequencies, and more lounges (which managers in particular might feel they're entitled to).

But companies have a duty to keep profits up and keep costs down ... so why not fly VA if the costs are lower and the routing and timing is available?

As an aside, I'm often bemused at the way public servants fly Qantas even when VA is cheaper. Sometimes it's justifiable ... but at other times it does seem like a waste of taxpayers' money. There's a bit of a discussion of the issue towards the end of this article.

Over the years I have heard from several sources that fed gov employees travel is on contracts with QF that offer significant discounts and the comparison of VA and QF retail prices is irrelevant. I have no evidence of that, however, if it is true then some of the assumptions about extra costs to taxpayers may actually be unfounded.

Maybe an AFFer has more factual information on that rather than my third hand heresay?

 

[HS-TQE]

My personal view is whilst VA has publicly exited the corporate market post administration, they are still open to any corporate companies approaching them personally to save some $$ on travel expenses. Most of VA's business market target post-administration are likely to be small businesses and/or startups with very minimal (if any) corporate contracts.

 

[Human]

Over the years I have heard from several sources that fed gov employees travel is on contracts with QF that offer significant discounts and the comparison of VA and QF retail prices is irrelevant.

Interesting.

If that's the case, of course, one would think that VA would offer contracts with even greater discounts!

Interestingly, the AFF article that I linked to in my post above states that "most government travel is booked in a flexible fare category – usually “B” class for Qantas Economy flights – at an agreed corporate rate".

So that would indicate that there are indeed special rates/contracts involved.

 

[Saab34]

Any word on the AFL contract? That ended in December and have not seen much in the way of renewal yet.

It was out for tender last year and QF was chasing it according to some reporters.

Expecting to hear to won that contract in the coming weeks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I self fund all my travel so I certainly won’t be paying the Qantas premium. I used to fly JQ a lot and don’t particularly mind the lack of amenities, but I do hate their IRROPS handling. While it’s a reality of air travel there’s too many times I had the spend the night at an airport hotel and take leave from work the next day because the next available flight is not available until the mid day the next day and I wasn’t in a position to fork out 500+ dollar for a same day ticket on QF/VA on whatever’s available the last minute.

So 3 years ago I switch my flying to VA. Costs me a bit more but since then those kind of disruption has never happened to me again (fingers crossed). With the amount of flights I take I quickly made plat and have been enjoying fly ahead and also the few times I had my flight cancelled even on busy period the system has always managed to put me on the next on due to priority handling for status holders so that’s a big win. Economy X and free WiFi is nice, so was the 4x upgrade which I feel like makes it enough to justify the additional cost compared to flying JQ

Conversely, even as a top tier because the J cabin is so small IRROPS is still hugely problematic. They just don’t have the seats to move people to the next flight. And they won’t displace successful ‘upgrade me’ bids/pax in the event of IRROPS.

The other annoying thing is that even if they have seat, they won’t load you if they have started boarding. Several times I’ve had a flight cancelled, later flights not available, but one leaving in 20-25 mins did have seats. ‘Computer says no’ (HLO)

 

[Harrison_133]

The other annoying thing is that even if they have seat, they won’t load you if they have started boarding. Several times I’ve had a flight cancelled, later flights not available, but one leaving in 20-25 mins did have seats. ‘Computer says no’ (HLO)

It can be done. Depends which lounge dragon you get.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It can be done. Depends which lounge dragon you get.

Hmmm… interesting. Although I only ever tried at the gate!

They were very clear… once boarding has started, no more pax