New VA Fare Structure

[mannej]

Some sort of April fools joke,
If WPs loose the row 3 and fly ahead, then wow, that's all I can say.

CA cannot use Friday the 13th as an excuse for this if they wanted to retract the changes...

 

[Deewhy]

looks like Space+ is coming to domestic, wonder if this will require a reconfig of seating - no sign its free for elites either

I suspect it's row 3 or exit rows. Seat for charge, and no freebies for plat or gold.

 

[blackcat20]

I suspect this would just use the exit rows and the existing row 3 seats on the 737s.

Every VA flight I've been on in the last year or two has had newbs in row 3. Admittedly I'm "only" gold but by the time we get to the lounge, row 3 is gone. Onboard it ususally transpires that there are people who never fly in those seats (given away by things like not knowing how to turn on the lights or that their bags must go overhead).

 

[Milefest]

Every VA flight I've been on in the last year or two has had newbs in row 3. Admittedly I'm "only" gold but by the time we get to the lounge, row 3 is gone. Onboard it ususally transpires that there are people who never fly in those seats (given away by things like not knowing how to turn on the lights or that their bags must go overhead).

When I began frequent flying with VA as a red member, I never chose my seat and was auto-allocated one at check in. Regularly I was assigned to row 3, perhaps there is not automatic priority seat assignment when seats need to be allocated at check in?

 

[Muppet501st]

When I began frequent flying with VA as a red member, I never chose my seat and was auto-allocated one at check in. Regularly I was assigned to row 3, perhaps there is not automatic priority seat assignment when seats need to be allocated at check in?

I used to just select a seat down the back, and most of the times was asked if I wanted an exit row instead.

 

[kamchatsky]

Wow. Big changes. Obviously VA really needs the cash flow to stay afloat. Their shareholders must have had enough being asked for more money. I am sure they won't resort to this unless they have to.

 

[kevrosmith]

Some more info here:

https://static.cdn.responsys.net/i5...ia Fare Brand Change - Accelerate Toolkit.pdf

https://static.cdn.responsys.net/i5....08 Virgin Australia - Fares For You FAQs.pdf

https://static.cdn.responsys.net/i5...- trade press V7 pre-launch FINAL VERSION.PDF

 

[Denali]

Wonder how many points will be needed for upgrades now.

 

[Edge]

Wow, VA. Wow.

As a WP I will not be paying any extra for any of these features or services I currently receive. I simply won't use them. It will make me enjoy flying a lot less, hence I will do less of it, hence you will lose revenue from this customer.

It's just bad business.

 

[yohy?!]

imagine this is a response also to QF moves to reduce their domestic cost base, VA moving to maintain leadership in this space to fend off damage from future price wars -

Question is whether they have gone too far, im not sure they necessarily have - in my own experience I never saw VA WP as worth my while to chase and stuck to gold (until my flying changed) - they have built up significant amounts of business traffic that may not necessarily be as sensitive to these changes as AFFers - they just fly company policy/BFOD and accept whatever bones VA throw

 

[eastwest101]

So according to this:

Note:

An Advance Seat Preference fee for selected fare brands to selected regions will now apply. This fee will apply up to the start of the booking window. The fee will be payable by all guests including Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum members. Advance Seat Preference/Selection within the check-in window (-48 hours) will remain free of charge (FOC) for all passengers.




I am guessing that we are seeing the Credit Card Surcharge just replaced with this mythical Advance Seat Preference Fee that's collected on Domestic Getaway fares booked earlier than T-48 before flight.

Any/all passengers can then reselect seats (or change their seat selection) free of charge after T-48 but VA pocket the Advance Seat Preference Fee. Am I getting that right?

 

[Zerosignal]

Great I just hit WP for another 12 months!

 

[Bagpuss]

Next Virgin release. We've now got 1% of corporate travel, we're putting this purely down the Australian economy.
We have a new program to announce which is called "Virgin Simple Business" where we will achieve $225trillion in cost saving so we're breaking even by 2155. This involves us changing our fleet plan and using just 2 a380's which we got free from SIA and we'll operate 1 morning flight and 1 evening flight each going SYD>MEL + MEL>SYD. Whilst these aircraft are parked on the apron they will be used as a new day care centre at the airport so for the business traveller, your children can play on a plane all day.

 

[Bagpuss]

Some not so good changes, including seat selection fees for status pax.
Domestic https://static.cdn.responsys.net/i5/responsysimages/content/virginaus/Domestic - Retail.pdf
Trans Tas https://static.cdn.responsys.net/i5/responsysimages/content/virginaus/Trans Tasman - Retail.pdf
International long haul https://static.cdn.responsys.net/i5...irginaus/International Long Haul - Retail.pdf

I wonder if they've given their IT department the head-up on this for changes to their website.
It could be very delayed!

 

[JohnK]

Wow.

I am going to stick to my plan of 4 VA flights only per year to keep Gold status to use on SQ flights.

Grass is not always greener on the other side but in this case they have replaced the grass with quicksand. VA streets ahead in the race to the bottom.

 

[aaronm]

I will be very interested to see the fare difference between the "Getaway" and "Elevate" fares. In any case, very poor of VA to start charging status pax for seat selection.

Removal of the tier bonus seems like a strange move - given that on domestic fares, points are based on the dollar amount of the fare, those flights are already worth fewer points to begin with. I doubt they'll save much money with this.

 

[Milefest]

I wonder if they've given their IT department the head-up on this for changes to their website.

What IT department?

 

[MH_fan]

Is this what the kids today call a "hot mess"?
:shock:

VA has been getting most of my domestic travel in recent years but, with these changes, it looks like that will be changing.

 

[rtyuiop]

How convenient, just in time for me to make a run at some QF status in my next QF anniversary year!

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Is this what the kids today call a "hot mess"?

Ah no, a hot mess is actually a good thing.