Am I right in assuming there's an element of sarcasm in your voice
I'd like to start and thank VA for fronting again. The VA interaction has been great previously - it certainly helped me out of some binds previously.
I see a certain point in charging significantly more where there are plenty of direct flights available (e.g. SYD-CNB-MEL over SYD-MEL). But surely you can't be serious on the routes where the connection is usually the 'default'? I'm just thinking of some of my regulars (SYD-MEL-HBA, SYD-BNE-MKY, SYD-BNE-ROK) where there are few direct options with times that are rarely convenient, yet bucketloads of availability on one hop. I see massive, often unjustifiable differences in fares - and usually find a much better deal on connections on QF. For an airline that still depends largely on hub-and-spoke, particularly to regionals, the current 'double-price if extra sector' system is a cop-out. And I certainly can't remember it ever being industry practice on most of the airlines I've flown with - in fact on US flights it's usually the directs that are premium. The business market may be VA's target, but they're not going to stand for that, particularly when there are many other options wanting to take your coin. The business market is becoming increasingly cost-sensitive, and the other mob aren't doing this so guess where they're going to book next time an itinerary requires a connection! I sincerely hope that comment was mistaken and it isn't going to become permanent VA policy.
Apologies if this response is blunt, but I couldn't let this go. As someone who usually connects on business trips not for want (I may be slightly points obsessed but I value my sanity and time over 'why fly direct when you can connect') but because for practical reasons they have to this statement was red rag to a bull.