BNE-LAX-JFK return on VA J

[IainF]

Just booked our annual trip to USA at Xmas with VA in J for a wonderfully cheap price of $5700 all in each.
Actual routing is BNE-SYD-LAX stop, LAX-JFK stop, JFK-LAX stop, LAX-BNE.

We were pre -allocated the wonderful row 5 on the VA legs and are doing the internal legs on Virgin America J (F).

As the VA website cannot cope with international multicity/stop overs, I spent about 45 mins on the phone sorting this out and the lady on the other end was very helpful. She listened to my requests for exact flight numbers & offered changes when she could see we would save money.
She also did not charge the assisted booking fee.

The only down side that i can see at the moment is lounge access in LAX, but I am to live with that for the price.
As a comparison, QF wanted $6900 (sale price) and Air NZ $$6100.

We have booked the Doubletree suites in Times Square on HHonours points for 4 nights over New Years eve, saving us $700 a NIGHT !
In LAX we have stayed at the London Hotel in West Hollywood previously and I am pretty sure we will stay there again.
I have never flown Virgin America, but by all reports, they seem better than the legacy carriers.

On our return to the West coast, we are using Virgin America to hop up to San Francisco for 5 days to meet with some friends in Nappa Valley.

This trip will put our combined Velocity Status credit balance at least 6500 for the year for the two of us.

 

[lobo76]

How many SCs does the trip yield per person?
At 6500 I wonder if you'll get invited to The Club when it opens

 

[smit0847]

So is there a question in this thread or is it just a statement of travel plans?

Virgin America is TERRIFIC. It's like Virgin Australia but even better and what I wish VA had become. Wait till you see what they've done with their IFE.

 

[IainF]

More a comment on the price....
I have paid upwards of $16,000 for a J flight to JFK previously on QF.
This time we have two people going in J for less than $12,000.
That's a damn good deal, especially at the peak xmas period.
I am looking forward to Virgin America, but the lounge situation pisses me off.

 

[Carlous Moochous]

I am looking forward to Virgin America, but the lounge situation pisses me off.

Virgin America is excellent! I'd like VA to copy them a little more!

 

[DJSYD81]

Sounds like a wonderful trip!

Virgin America are ok but I would definitely rate Virgin Australia higher overall. Just my personal opinion.

Personally, I found the Virgin America ground handling and staff extremely rude, their flight staff are ok but nowhere near as good as DJ/VA. Service is important to me and IMO VA just do it better for me. Plus they have domestic lounges and status recognition.

In saying that I found the Virgin America planes are nicer in J/F. The seat is better than DJ. The IFE is obviously better too and pretty cool. I generally find the A320 roomier than the 737.

The lounge thing is a pain for VX though but can't you use the Club House in JFK? (Thought i read it somewhere) The LAX lounge situation sucks though.

Great price and you will have a great trip overall!

 

[dkmajm]

...just wanted say

Doubletree @ Times Square is freaking awesome!!!!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Just booked our annual trip to USA at Xmas with VA in J for a wonderfully cheap price of $5700 all in each.
Actual routing is BNE-SYD-LAX stop, LAX-JFK stop, JFK-LAX stop, LAX-BNE.

I'll ask the silly question........Is that $5700 for all sectors mentioned?

 

[IainF]

Yep. $5700 inc taxes per person for 2 of us for all those legs.
Its a great price and one not to be missed.
Added benefit of 440scs each which we are pooling to give MiLaw
Velocity plat.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Yep. $5700 inc taxes per person for 2 of us for all those legs.
Its a great price and one not to be missed.
Added benefit of 440scs each which we are pooling to give MiLaw
Velocity plat.

When I was looking at Christmas BNE-LAX-BNE, the very cheapest was about $2k or so. Makes your J/F sectors look pretty attractive.

 

[MandM]

When I was looking at Christmas BNE-LAX-BNE, the very cheapest was about $2k or so. Makes your J/F sectors look pretty attractive.

MEL-LAX-MEL $3250 return around Christmas Y, $4880 return Y+ or J. Thanks for the heads up