New Virgin Australia fare categories

[Ade]

The only downside I see is regardless of your FF Status, there is no baggage included when flying Lite .. could have given baggage at least to Gold & Platinums?

Also, is there any change to the carry-on allowance?

I'd assume those that fly regularly (inter state or same day returns) would prefer to do carry-on only. So if VA2 didn't make any adverse changes to that, then should be ok?

Thoughts?

 

[serfty]

No eligible segments on lite fares

 

[henrus]

Also, is there any change to the carry-on allowance?

No changes.

Something I haven't yet checked but do these lite fares show for travel agents. If I were VA I wouldn't push the new M fares to agents as corporate travelers will be in for a shock when they're told they can't even select a seat.

 

[jase05]

I like the changes, fare class names seem more relevant, Elevate & Freedom, where'd they come from, ha!

The showing of points to gain from each fare is a copy from QF if I'm not wrong, VA you always had to work it out or just be surprise.

Good changes & No complaints from me.

Could've been lot worse & gone el cheap so good stuff VA.

Have to agree.
The usual VA bashers will no doubt find something to complain about though

 

[Jurahn]

No eligible segments on lite fares

Yes, I just saw that on the email I received about the new fare classes. That’s enough to put me off.

 

[shuuy]

Shame on me for not moving my SYD-MCY flights earlier on - could have used the older fare rules (i.e., checked bags on the cheap fares).

So long as they extend my platinum, and I can keep booking row 3 Y+... then I'll ride platinum into the sunset!

 

[MooTime]

Having a closer look, it's really just a mish mash of what already existed, couple tweaks.

Plat members seems to keep all their benefits, lose nothing.

Gold lose ability to Fly Ahead, was nice as did use it a few times travelling for work, but I'll hardly cry in the corner over.
Gold lose checked baggage if buying Lite fare, I rarely buy the Getaway fare, but can see this change as a bummer for some/many. Don't keep you Gold Status by flying Getaway really!

And the intro of the Lite fare which is very basic & I assume price will fit the glove, budget conscious traveller pax. Strategic move IMO.

Very much fits the hybrid rammed nicely between QF & JQ.

Edit; I note Lite fares don't count to your eligible sectors for Status.....not many status holders will take these flights I suspect, really directed at non-status leisure pax IMO.

Edit x2; Quick check of some flights the Choice fare is same $$ as old Getaway fare so Lite fare would be a steal, but yet to find one. Need to search more routes though.

 

[ozstamps]

Put American Hrdlickr in charge, and her American bosses, and we get dumbed down American spelling pretty fast -

LITE

Talk about lame. And the fare costs if it were HALF like Tiger, it might be a trade-off option, but clearly they are not. No sectors even count using those fares. DUMB.

This airline is in a death spiral already - mostly due to COVID of course, but messing with ANYTHING right now is dumber than dirt - they need to retain EVERY flyer.

Taking away a checked bag from Platinum flyers is about as dumb as they can get.

Most Plats are bizoids who do not bother with checking bags, so little to be gained leaving checked bags as a very small Plat bennie, but if they DO decide last minute to bring something home, slugging them $30 or whatever is a total slap in the face.

Race to the bottom is on.

 

[ozstamps]

Plat members seems to keep all their benefits, lose nothing.

Well losing ALL checked baggage rights might be "nothing" to you.

 

[Stealthflyer]

Except that they're not actually providing any further benefits to those with platinum status. All they've done is remove benefits for everyone else.

And remove baggage benefits for platinums on the lite fare. I don’t always use the checked luggage but I like the freedom of not worrying about a 7kg limit, particularly as I often have to lug books back home without notice. I might as well fly Jetstar from Hobart.

 

[MooTime]

Well losing ALL checked baggage rights might be "nothing" to you.

Only on Lite fares. Being a Plat, you don't gain status credits or sectors on Lite so doubt you'd ever fly on that fare anyway.

But yes my use of 'nothing' was incorrect.
Apologies.

 

[Poss]

I am probably one of the lesser mortals that gained status solely as a leisure traveller at my own expense. I very rarely booked a Getaway Fare as often for a few extra dollars I got the value in the extra status credits of booking an Elevate Fare with the occasional business overseas fare. Being based in Melbourne most of my trips fell in the 750-1700 range. Comparing the old and new tables of status credits it is this distance range and above that offer the lower status credits by comparison with the higher distances being even less. I haven't been able to take advantage very much of the benefits of Platinum with lounge closures and restricted travel from Melbourne. Even though I was granted an extension like many others, those status credits were dropping off like flies with continued lockdowns and forced cancellations. It remains to be seen whether it will be advantageous to aim at retaining the top tier. International partners will be a deciding factor in moving forward.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

EconomyLight fares from on do not count towards eligible sectors..., that is the thing that gets my gripe.
Looks like they are starting to be money pinchers, and are not interested anymore in "helping" their members retain status on the lower fares.
Guess as I will only fly VA once a year for the forseeable future, ((when domestic flights are freer to go from state to state, I will only fly VA J using p+p...))
And come back to ADL with QF in J, also p+p.
They will blame covid, but I see it as being, I can't say the word on here, tight something.

 

[jakeseven7]

No changes.

Something I haven't yet checked but do these lite fares show for travel agents. If I were VA I wouldn't push the new M fares to agents as corporate travelers will be in for a shock when they're told they can't even select a seat.

Bain and VA2 have repeatedly said they are not targeting or trying to attract corporate customers anymore so I don’t think this will be a problem tbh.

 

[kamchatsky]

I actually think it is a smart move by VA. They have to compete with JQ and Rex. So they can just heavily discount Lite fares (with advertising blitz showing how cheap they are) and leave the Choice fares as is. They can be more competitive that way.

Also I have to say as as a past domestic corporate traveller, I hate having luggage check-in anyway. I don't mind this fare if self funded but I think most corporate and bfod traveller would choose Choice fares anyway as you cannot cancel for travel credit. That will never work for business travellers.

 

[odysseus]

Thumbs up from me. The entry level is really to look cheapest for those who travel solely by price. Which isn't most people here.

The premium for the next step up is quite reasonable for all the extras it includes. And I'm sure will still be priced cheaper than Qantas.

As for the [regular] doom/gloom predictions by some here, all of the many other airlines that have introduced similar pricing levels have done it in a similar way - including AirNZ. None of them have reduced the price by half for the entry level, which only the most entitled would expect. And it's generally worked out positively for them, so don't see why it wouldn't work here.

 

[odysseus]

No changes.

Something I haven't yet checked but do these lite fares show for travel agents. If I were VA I wouldn't push the new M fares to agents as corporate travelers will be in for a shock when they're told they can't even select a seat.

It's reported that they won't be available to TAs, only direct through Virgin. So most corporate travellers won't have access to them in any case. They really are just there to give cheap lead in prices for price shoppers. And the cons of them are laid out when you book so you can choose whether it really is best for you, or worthwhile upgrading.

 

[stm1sydney]

Looks fine and reasonable. I can't remember the last time I had checked baggage on a domestic flight. And the business class fare from the OP is sensational.

 

[jase05]

I dare say most Platinums aren’t flying on a Lite fare so no issue for me personally

 

[Carrots]

I dare say most Platinums aren’t flying on a Lite fare so no issue for me personally

Exactly right... but that won't stop the perpetual negative nellies from having a whinge .