Business Class Fares - Dropped in Price

[lovestotravel]

If I am not mistaken (I could be), it appears that J class fares are now quite a bit cheaper on VA...

MEL-BNE $659, was $799
MEL-OOL $459 was $509
MEL-SYD $487 was $699 (I think)
MEL-CBR $459 was $499 (I think)
MEL-PER $859 was $1299

This is good, but not good, considering the very poor loads in J

 

[anat0l]

Well should help to give them a real boost! It's a big undercut on QF.

Seems to be a timed or staged thing, because some of the prices in the coming months are lower but far ahead in the future they're high (again). For example, BNE-SYD in close months is $487, but in farther months its $535. BNE-MEL for close months is $659 (quite cheap - about the same as a QF Fully Flexible), but for farther months its ~$800 (still cheaper than QF Business).

Trans-continental is definitely quite low compared to before! With prices like those, really why would the load factors be low? (Even with the latest news from the AusBT saying that preference to fly VA has increased by 5%)


Perhaps this change is compensation for repegging the minimums on J Reward Seats. Just kidding...

 

[Fruitcake]

That's a massive drop on the trans-cons. Ausbt noted in September last year that SYD-PER was $1399, and MEL-PER was $1299.

Business class now on all Virgin flights to Perth from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

SYD-PER is now $899 (looking at dates in August). A modest 35% decrease in fares. QF offerings for similar dates are $1500 to $2100 one way.

 

[lovestotravel]

SYD-PER for $899 is a bargain if you get an A330 and double SC's

Wait I have an idea

 

[anat0l]

SYD-PER for $899 is a bargain if you get an A330 and double SC's

Wait I have an idea

$899 for 80 SCs normally; for 160 SCs you're still staring at $5.62/SC

Not very cheap on SC rate, but by and large that is still a cheap fare if you want to fly J on cash. The SCs (and double at that) is the cherry on top.

Of course, as a VFF Platinum you'd also be rolling in the points like no tomorrow.

 

[lovestotravel]

Indeed MEL-PER $859 until the 14th of September
$1305 after that!

Perhaps to limit people trying out Qantas for the double SC offer with them ?

A nice 5 month window though! Other routes seem to have different dates

 

[lovestotravel]

True, MEL-OOL is still great for 120SC and at $469 is $3.90/SC, I guess the A330 and a trip to PER is another consideration too though.

I am a little annoyed I booked a few J flights yesterday with Amex travel and their 30% off deal, as this would have made a MEL-OOL-MEL flight $730 instead of $790

 

[eastwest101]

This is why we all love competition.

Although with the observed load factors that I have seen on the east coast - not surprising at all.

 

[Comoman]

Wow those are massive reductions! I flew Mel-Per this week for $1299 one way in J. And it was full!

Going to save me and my company a huge amount!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

MEL-PER / SYD-PER still showing $1,299 ea way for Apr 11 and 13 - have not checked any other dates.

 

[Comoman]

I look April 29th

 

[leemin]

Well, Virgin's just guaranteed me forking out cash for J for my winter getaway at these prices. Before I was unsure, thinking of going Flexi + points upgrade.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[Shy180]

Well, Virgin's just guaranteed me forking out cash for J for my winter getaway at these prices. Before I was unsure, thinking of going Flexi + points upgrade.Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

Mission accomplished for virgin in their recent changes I would think

 

[medhead]

MEL-PER $589 was $??

This is good, but not good, considering the very poor loads in J

When are you getting this? I can only see $859.

 

[DJSYD81]

This works out well for me. I was booking J SYD-PER and flexi for the return segment before for $1798 total. Now for the same price I can fly J both ways.

Will also make my East coast flights swing more towards J although mainly longer legs though.

 

[Noob]

considering the very poor loads in J

So, is this based on fact or just from pure observation?....

 

[eastwest101]

So, is this based on fact or just from pure observation?....

I am not claiming to be a VA load factor or yield management guru. Observe enough empty VA J cabins and I can draw my own conclusions, I do fly fairly regularly but maybe not as often as some of our hard core commuters, as I should have first said - I do only see east coast J cabins SYD-BNE-TSV-ADL-CNS-MEL so can't speak for the transcontinental stuff or OOL/HBA. From what I have read their transcon A330 J is quite popular and well patronized.

 

[lovestotravel]

So, is this based on fact or just from pure observation?....

Observation which is fact, well as much fact as we can get without working for VA and knowing the details.

Flights I have been on, and most reports on here indicate very low loads in J, combine that with the new discounting over the next 5 months indicate that J is not performing as well as hoped...

 

[777]

Observation which is fact, well as much fact as we can get without working for VA and knowing the details.

Flights I have been on, and most reports on here indicate very low loads in J, combine that with the new discounting over the next 5 months indicate that J is not performing as well as hoped...

I'm not sure that's true to be honest. The main reason that i'm not sure the plan was first and foremost to fill J seats with paying passengers. The J cabin is part of a bigger program to make them competitive with Qantas, to sell more high yield fares, and win more corporate accounts and that seems to be working very well. Their yields are well up over previous years their corporate accounts are clearly on the up. The lounges are busier than they've ever been and the profitability is definitely improving. They've also cleverly designed their J cabin so as not to lose too many seats to accomodate it.

Obviously the more bums in J seats the better but i think if the flow on benefits are there it's still a winner. I've flown on flights with full J cabins and some with totally empty J cabins so YMMV.

 

[lovestotravel]

You don't discount products that are selling well!

Yields are of course up, since Tiger is hardly flying around, prices have risen and people are paying more to fly a better carrier, the Qantas strike/shut down put more people on VA as well.

Lounges are of course busy, because it's actually too easy to get Gold Status, purchase access as a Silver member and the status match last year.

Of course a few flights in J are full, but its very rare!