How often does Virgin change aircraft types on Perth domestic legs?

[Ruranda]

Hi, I was after some advice on the likely frequency of changes to Virgin Australia aircraft types on Perth domestic legs.

I recently booked Cairns/Perth return flights for my wife and I for September 2020 on freedom fares and used my velocity platinum upgrade me offers and some points to upgrade to business. I booked the Melbourne to Perth and Perth to Brisbane legs on the A330 as I wanted to try the lie flat seats. I just checked my online booking and the Perth to Brisbane flight aircraft has now changed to a 737. I wasn’t contacted by Virgin about the change.

My questions are would forum members have an idea of how often Virgin changes aircraft types on these legs and do you think it would be worth me contacting them to get the flight changed to a leg that does have an A330 ?

I guess not a lot of point in changing the flight if the aircraft type is going to change again.

Any opinions on whether the business seats on the A330 are substantially better than the 737 on a 4 to 5 hour domestic flight would also be most welcome.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

My questions are would forum members have an idea of how often Virgin changes aircraft types on these legs

Fairly often unfortunately. I had my upcoming Easter PER-MEL flight swapped out for a 737 too recently.

and do you think it would be worth me contacting them to get the flight changed to a leg that does have an A330 ?

Yes!

I guess not a lot of point in changing the flight if the aircraft type is going to change again.

Any opinions on whether the business seats on the A330 are substantially better than the 737 on a 4 to 5 hour domestic flight would also be most welcome.

The A330 is a far far superior business experience!


I'd keep an eye out for any more swaps, and keep changing your booking if there is A330 business award availability - after all, you have booked a freedom fare, so should allow changes.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Too often - I had the Ette all saddled up for 330 to / fro PER recently and she cops a 737 over 330 home - her conclusion was HTF can VA charge same rates for these diff aircraft? Fair point me tinks

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

They don't have a lot of 330s around.
There has 1 gone to HKG, and the other to HND.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Oh that’s ok then- sub an eye fillet for a blade steak anytime - the mug punter will just cop it

 

[Ruranda]

Fairly often unfortunately. I had my upcoming Easter PER-MEL flight swapped out for a 737 too recently.


Yes!


The A330 is a far far superior business experience!


I'd keep an eye out for any more swaps, and keep changing your booking if there is A330 business award availability - after all, you have booked a freedom fare, so should allow changes.

Thanks for your advice. I'll change the booking legs to get the A330 again as I can be flexible with times and days but I'll see how my patience holds up if I have to do it a number of times.

 

[ozstamps]

Don't Virgin offer to get you to from SYD-PER in a Business Class seat? Seems like they are still offering to do that.

I frankly am amazed they'd agree to swap it to a (current) A330 route with no penalty.

I was swapped on Monday on an Air China old version A330 CDU-SYD 11 hours flight, instead of the lie flat one that was sked, but aircraft held up in Winter storms in PEK. Them's the breaks.

Wasting time raising it with them sounds like a few wasted hours to me.

 

[Ruranda]

Don't Virgin offer to get you to from SYD-PER in a Business Class seat? Seems like they are still offering to do that.

I frankly am amazed they'd agree to swap it to a (current) A330 route with no penalty.

I was swapped on Monday on an Air China old version A330 CDU-SYD 11 hours flight, instead of the lie flat one that was sked, but aircraft held up in Winter storms in PEK. Them's the breaks.

Wasting time raising it with them sounds like a few wasted hours to me.

Actually booked the trip to Perth and paid for the more expensive freedom fares on the premise we could upgrade to business on a longer flight on more comfortable A330 seats. We normally fly economy on domestic and only do business class on longer overseas trips. If I had known I couldn’t get the A330 flight, I would probably have got a cheaper getaway/elevate fare economy flight in row 3 which I find is not much different to business on a 737. I still have the lounge access etc as a platinum member.

But I do take your point that Virgin has given me an upgrade to business and as you said them’s the breaks. I’ll have to have a think about contacting them for a change back to an A330 flight which I can do on a freedom fare but it may happen again as the flights are in September and it may be a waste of time.

 

[ozstamps]

Don't get me wrong I am sure that exceptions are made - more likely if you are a Plat, and recall I asked them once along the same lines.

HOWEVER the official party line I feel sure is - a Biz Seat is a Biz Seat that we sold you/upgraded you to etc.

The fewer A330 must drive them nuts on the call in line.

 

[Inlander]

They only have six A330's in the fleet. B

Hi, I was after some advice on the likely frequency of changes to Virgin Australia aircraft types on Perth domestic legs.

I recently booked Cairns/Perth return flights for my wife and I for September 2020 on freedom fares and used my velocity platinum upgrade me offers and some points to upgrade to business. I booked the Melbourne to Perth and Perth to Brisbane legs on the A330 as I wanted to try the lie flat seats. I just checked my online booking and the Perth to Brisbane flight aircraft has now changed to a 737. I wasn’t contacted by Virgin about the change.

My questions are would forum members have an idea of how often Virgin changes aircraft types on these legs and do you think it would be worth me contacting them to get the flight changed to a leg that does have an A330 ?

I guess not a lot of point in changing the flight if the aircraft type is going to change again.

Any opinions on whether the business seats on the A330 are substantially better than the 737 on a 4 to 5 hour domestic flight would also be most welcome.

Thanks for your advice.

Unfortunately ,they only have six A330-200 in the fleet. From end of March daily BNE- HND will commence using the 330's but Mel- HKG is cancelled. They also use them seasonally out to Fiji in winter. The odd part in this reshuffle is that there will 3 times a week A330 from BNE- to MEL from April