Fly Ahead with Virgin Australia - Discussion, Hacks & Experiences

[henrus]

To my knowledge reward fares were previously included in this clause 8.6

Nope, using the way back machine over the last 3-4 years they've not once mentioned reward seats.

Wayback Machine

web.archive.org

 

[ben95]

It’s not mentioned anywhere on the forum it seems so I thought I’d ask:

is it possible to phone and get confirmed on a golden triangle flight up to 2 hours before, then head the the airport and request to be bumped up even more? Seems like there is no restriction to how far ahead you can request in person at the airport nor were there restrictions on how many times can one request to be move up.

 

[Harrison_133]

It’s not mentioned anywhere on the forum it seems so I thought I’d ask:

is it possible to phone and get confirmed on a golden triangle flight up to 2 hours before, then head the the airport and request to be bumped up even more? Seems like there is no restriction to how far ahead you can request in person at the airport nor were there restrictions on how many times can one request to be move up.

I've phoned up a number of times and managed to move to a flight well over the 2 hour mark, no questions asked. But to answer your question about flying ahead even earlier once at the airport, yes this is possible too.

 

[FishFood]

Used the fly ahead benefit to great success recently, being moved from an 8 PM SYD - PER to a 6 PM SYD to PER. I did think it was interesting the contact centre agent advised me not to fly ahead at the airport, maybe people have been trying to double dip.

Despite being 2 days since, the SCs haven't posted yet. Anyone had any dramas with this? Will they appear eventually?

 

[Human]

Used the fly ahead benefit to great success recently, being moved from an 8 PM SYD - PER to a 6 PM SYD to PER. I did think it was interesting the contact centre agent advised me not to fly ahead at the airport, maybe people have been trying to double dip.

Despite being 2 days since, the SCs haven't posted yet. Anyone had any dramas with this? Will they appear eventually?

From my experience the SCs will appear eventually. Usually they come through within hours but sometimes they take days. I think the maximum for me has been 7 days but I’ve never had to put in a “missing SC” application.

 

[HBAhome]

Interested to hear people's experiences with Fly Ahead on Virgin — specifically whether others have been using it as a money-saving strategy rather than just a convenience perk.

A few months ago I needed to move to an earlier same-day flight on HBA–MEL on a Choice fare. I called the call centre around 7am and was moved to VA1321 (10:35am), which surprised me — outside the golden triangle I expected them to only put me on the nearest flight to my original (VA1323 at 12:35pm). It was completely painless.

Since then I've deliberately booked the much cheaper late evening Choice fare (usually VA1335 at 8:20pm) and called on the morning to move to VA1321 or VA1323. The biggest price gap I've seen is $420 for VA1321 vs $150 for VA1335 — so a $270 saving just by taking a punt on availability and using the Platinum perk. Done it successfully three times now.

The one time it didn't work was MEL–HBA, where the only earlier flight was fully booked — so I just ended up with a longer stint in the VA MEL lounge

Has anyone else been doing this systematically? Have I just been lucky with availability on a thin route?

Next level consideration is a family trip I have coming up with wife & 2 kids - the savings go next level when its 4 fares but I'm obviously taking a bigger risk that 4 seats will be available on the earlier flights and not to mention that 4 seats are together.

 

[Happy Dude]

I used fly-ahead at check-in on a BNE-CBR reward ticket recently, moved from 2015 departure to 1640. I had luggage. No loss of economy X seat, eventually. Given a Row 20+ seat at checkin but changed to Row 5 at lounge, where they also said they'd have let me use a WP upgrade certificate too if I wasn't on a reward ticket. No idea if/what fare differences would have been.

I almost always have luggage and tend to book first/last flights (tight-a$$) but I wouldn't book cheap last flight fare and try to fly-ahead on a more expensive fare as a hack or habit though. Don't mind/care if others do though and I'm glad that the rules aren't always strictly applied.

 

[FSM-2024]

I haven’t noticed it before, but this morning I saw the app gave me an option to fly ahead. Did anyone else get the same option?

 

[kerfuffle]

I haven’t noticed it before, but this morning I saw the app gave me an option to fly ahead. Did anyone else get the same option?

Never seen that before. What was your flight? I've only seen it on Qantas (usually due to bad weather in Sydney)

 

[kerfuffle]

Looks like Fly Ahead via the app is a new thing according to a Sydney Morning Herald article ‘Friction-free’: Virgin calls time on the check-in kiosk

Also moving from the kiosk to the Virgin Velocity app is the ability for passengers to select an earlier same-day flight if disruption is expected. Velocity Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus members can change flight times in the airline’s mobile app at no cost.

Edit: Non-paywalled article via Executive Traveller https://www.executivetraveller.com/...pL4FsIKi2yfu1d1D5h_aem_bTTCNYx9B1VrjcwENG4bBQ

 

[FSM-2024]

That explains it then!

 

[im.daniel]

I'm ADL based, often flying non golden triangle routes. I've been WP on VA for almost 10 years now, and have been using Fly Ahead systematically for as long as I can remember, to save $ by booking the latest/cheapest flight of the day and calling in on the day to change to a more desirable flight. Call centre usually ask me 'what time would you prefer to fly' and I tell them exactly which flight I want, without push back.

I often book the 2130 flight to PER, with the intention to fly at 1820, or even 1215.

I use Expertflyer to notify me of seat openings on earlier flights - 'Y' bucket full fare economy availability means one can fly ahead - although I have heard of reports recently where fly ahead has been denied, despite Y bucket availability. This has yet to impact me however.

Traveling with a family presents challenges - as you've pointed out.
1. Obviously there has to be more seats available on an earlier flight. This can be challenging on routes with less frequency IME.

2. It is often difficult to get seating for 3-4 together when moved to an earlier, often more popular timed flight. This is incredibly troublesome with young children. This has been even more noticeable with the elimination of Row 5 as Economy X (which was often never full, and only generally allocated to non WP's at airport/online check in when all other non premium seats have been allocated)

I have posted on this forum countless of times about fly ahead, and I'll say it again - Fly Ahead is without doubt, the best WP domestic frequent flyer benefit (QF or VA) for me.

EDIT: I will be curious to see how Fly Ahead is implemented in the app, and whether it is more strict on flight options ...

 

[Warks]

I've tried it a number of times but have never ever managed to get a seat. Every flight before is always completely full these days it seems. I got to BNE about two hours early last Friday for a 1505 flight and thought I'd have a chance. But there wasn't even a single flight leaving until mine (to SYD) and even the 1605 was cancelled so you can imagine my flight was full too.
It feels like a scam, literally never been able to use it.

 

[luckypierre]

Looks like Fly Ahead via the app is a new thing according to a Sydney Morning Herald article ‘Friction-free’: Virgin calls time on the check-in kiosk

Slightly off topic, but disappointing that priority checkin will be a thing of the past and replaced by priority bag drop

 

[HBAhome]

Looks like Fly Ahead via the app is a new thing according to a Sydney Morning Herald article ‘Friction-free’: Virgin calls time on the check-in kiosk



Edit: Non-paywalled article via Executive Traveller https://www.executivetraveller.com/...pL4FsIKi2yfu1d1D5h_aem_bTTCNYx9B1VrjcwENG4bBQ

Had my first experience with the new in app fly ahead feature this morning.
Originally I was on the last flight to Hobart (VA1334) at 9:10pm.
Was always planning on getting an earlier flight of which there are 3 earlier ones!

Checked Expert flyer to see availability and there was on every flight.
Went to check in using the app and selected the new fly ahead button but only gave me the option of VA1330 6:20pm as an earlier flight.

Back to the tried and trusted method and called up VA at 6am from my Melbourne Hotel.
No issues got me on the first flight (3 flights earlier) VA1316 8:35am. also saw there were 2 J seats so did a points upgrade at the same time over the phone. All done within 10 minutes with no questions asked.

New in app feature will always be limited especially in the case of flying ahead a lot sooner and being able to upgrade.

Just got to the airport in VA lounge with coffee.

Money saved on original booking, got the flight I wanted and an upgrade with minimal fuss!

Also to note there is still in person check in for VA plat, gold, business etc in MEL. Was still quicker for me to use self check in. Still scanning boarding pass twice at this time

 

[Happy Dude]

Slightly off topic, but disappointing that priority checkin will be a thing of the past and replaced by priority bag drop

To continue, that's a huge loss for me. I almost always have luggage and fly on choice or reward fares. I never use online check-in unless I'm cutting it fine arriving at the airport or HLO (and even then I'd just check in at the lounge, if there is one).

I have grown accustomed, fond of even, to the easy and brief check-in experience that priority check-in affords. I have always said that this could be a point of difference between WP and SG. They're going to need a person to stop silvers and below using the priority bag drop. I don't care for the machines and would prefer not to have any bag-tagging responsibilities. I also suggest that this creates another weakness in security/ID, but that would be a good thing for the family pool exploiters.

I'm WP/SG until June 2028 and this feels like VA slamming the door on my butt on the way out.

 

[sykoticx]

I use this benefit all the time and so far I’ve been successful in getting onto my desired earlier flight 100% of the time.
Calling the morning of the flight I find is the best guarantee but I’ve also done it at the front desk of the lounge as well.

This morning I called and the agent said the 4.30pm flight didn’t have any FlyAhead fares left so I left it. Then I received a notification on the app about moving to an earlier flight and guess what the 4.30pm flight was available so I moved to an earlier flight myself.

By far the best benefit of WP on VA imo.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

To continue, that's a huge loss for me. I almost always have luggage and fly on choice or reward fares. I never use online check-in unless I'm cutting it fine arriving at the airport or HLO (and even then I'd just check in at the lounge, if there is one).

I have grown accustomed, fond of even, to the easy and brief check-in experience that priority check-in affords. I have always said that this could be a point of difference between WP and SG. They're going to need a person to stop silvers and below using the priority bag drop. I don't care for the machines and would prefer not to have any bag-tagging responsibilities. I also suggest that this creates another weakness in security/ID, but that would be a good thing for the family pool exploiters.

I'm WP/SG until June 2028 and this feels like VA slamming the door on my butt on the way out.

I hear you! And used to be the same.

But recently I’ve been on a few flights where there was little option but to tag my own bags and once you get the hang of it, it’s actually pretty good! Saves even the minute or two having to wait for the staffed counter.

 

[im.daniel]

My first experience with the new Fly Ahead option via the app;

I was on VA441 on Friday night. Booking was for 2 passengers.
Fly Earlier was offered to me initially ... all flights prior to VA441 was available for selection (similar to QF, when offered)

Fly Ahead was also offered - but interestingly, only VA419 departing at 1225 was offered, which was interesting .... (I thought they would only offer VA429 (as it's the flight immediately preceding VA441)

I checked again on the app later in the day, VA425 also opened up for Fly Ahead.

Anyway, I had no intention of using Fly Ahead that day, but thought it was an interesting observation. I would love to hear of others experience as well!