UpgradeMe pricing and success

[Bagpuss]

The 738 service leaves a -lot- to be desired.

It's probably OK for flights less than 2 hours.
Anything else, I think Virgin need to be looking at a B737 "Mark 2" config which has better J (even if it's less seats) and the same entertainment system as the A330's

Then again, as always mentioned it's good compared to offerings in other countries.

 

[kevrosmith]

They should consider installing the Virgin America First Class seats as their B738 J Seats.

 

[Denali]

They should consider installing the Virgin America First Class seats as their B738 J Seats.

For one, they have leg rests. Great seats - really enjoyed sitting in these on our last US trip.

Stupid question but are there power points in the VA J seats - Ive seen a photo on their website with them but Ive never found the damned things.

 

[AdMEL]

Ah yes, fair comments.

The 738 service leaves a -lot- to be desired. With the new "the business" seating now pretty much entirely rolled out to the 332's there is a vast gaping chasm between 738 J and 332 J, yet pricing is the same. If they want to maintain the 738 version of J they'd be more truthful to start calling 'the business' style J domestic first class (or similar). Theres almost nothing to like about 738 J imho ... seats are wider sure, but extremely uncomfortable, a problem exacerbated by the lack of footrest, no J 'cabin' ... that little purple piece of dividing plastic doesn't count in my view, inadequate recline, poor drink/snack/food selection which borders on farcical given the usual price asked. Lounge and priority bags, boarding, screening etc works well, as it should, but as others have said, this is provided for status holders anyway.

Theres 8 J seats on the 738's and I hardly ever see them filled ... they'd be a lot better off in my view converting the fleet at the next refresh to 4x J seating of a style somewhat reminiscent of the current 332 'the business' and putting up a proper J cabin partition.

As it is, I won't consciously choose 738 J over Y unless something very special happens with pricing (as it did for me in one direction recently on a trip PER-DPS)

Care to share what happened with J pricing PER-DPS?

 

[HeavyElectricity]

Stupid question but are there power points in the VA J seats - Ive seen a photo on their website with them but Ive never found the damned things.

Apparently the power sockets are only on some of the 737-800s (I believe I was told the ones with the mood lighting). Older fit-outs don't have power sockets in the business seats.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Yes power sockets are not standard! Pathetic really.

 

[Milefest]

I was on a J flight not too long ago and was surprised there were no power sockets in this particular flight. Crazy since you're paying $700+ per flight, wasn't able to get too much work done because I didn't charge my laptop in the lounge.

 

[Moopere]

Care to share what happened with J pricing PER-DPS?

Oh, no magic really, just lucky on the day. A single flight appeared on a single day at $589 one-way, PER-DPS ... other random days and other flights on the same day were at the 'normal' price ... circa $1200 per leg.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

I was on a J flight not too long ago and was surprised there were no power sockets in this particular flight. Crazy since you're paying $700+ per flight, wasn't able to get too much work done because I didn't charge my laptop in the lounge.

Same - it was on a BNE-PER flight that I first discovered this! Possibly the longest domestic flight on Virgin you can make. I ran down the battery in my laptop about half-way through the journey.

 

[i_hate_the_tulla_freeway]

Well, I'm off to Perth tomorrow night ex SYD in J for the princely sum of $780 after an upgrade me bid. Barely any status credits but as I'm saving $1200 on the published J fare, I'll live without the credits.

I plan to get money's worth and discreetly and tastefully demolish supplies of inlounge and onboard Pinot.

I'll wake up in Perth on Thursday at 7.00 and feel like it's 10.00 and feel fabulous.

Want to try the a QF PER J Dom lounge pizza on the return. Currently considering how much a few slices of pizza are worth.

 

[Quickstatus]

Has anyone had success with upgrademepoints in Int long haul between syd/bne and LAX when business reward is not available.

Note that officially business reward availability determines success of upgrademepoints from flexi, premium to business.

 

[hedge]

Is there an 'ideal' time to make a bid?

 

[Milefest]

Is there an 'ideal' time to make a bid?

From personal experience, not really. If I want to try and upgrade I usually put the minimum possible bid a few days out. As long as the J cabin isn't full you'll generally have a good chance.

 

[subichow]

I bid minimum on PER-SYD and got it. As someone else mentioned, even with the cost of the economy ticket, it was cheaper than buying a business fare straight out. It was the most cost effective way to try the new seats!

 

[hedge]

From personal experience, not really. If I want to try and upgrade I usually put the minimum possible bid a few days out. As long as the J cabin isn't full you'll generally have a good chance.

Thanks, ill go with that. Otherwise flying with a moonboot in Y will not be that pleasant (will pick emergency row otherwise)

I bid minimum on PER-SYD and got it. As someone else mentioned, even with the cost of the economy ticket, it was cheaper than buying a business fare straight out. It was the most cost effective way to try the new seats!

Thanks, im looking on the same route

 

[danielt25]

Regularly do the BNE-CNS-BNE each weekend. I've noticed the minimum bid has gone from $150 to $180 ...
Not sure why they've increased that, but on a $95-$115 saver fare when on special make for a cheap upgrade

 

[Edge]

I flew Mel-Per on Wednesday and the upgrademe min bid was $400. Even though the product looks fantastic I can't justify it on a 4-hour flight, especially when you can snare an exit row for $30. I would consider it if you got the extra SCs.

The J-cabin looked very empty, maybe they should reduce the min bids? They can still choose to decline them?

 

[drewbles]

I flew Mel-Per on Wednesday and the upgrademe min bid was $400. Even though the product looks fantastic I can't justify it on a 4-hour flight, especially when you can snare an exit row for $30. I would consider it if you got the extra SCs.

The J-cabin looked very empty, maybe they should reduce the min bids? They can still choose to decline them?

If you have points, you can do a flexi (with discount) for around $500 on the MEL-PER sector and 9,900 points you can get a J seat. Arguably better value than this.

 

[Edge]

If you have points, you can do a flexi (with discount) for around $500 on the MEL-PER sector and 9,900 points you can get a J seat. Arguably better value than this.

Agree - unfortunately we have a "no flexi-fare" policy at work so I have to book savers. I can swing an exit-row seat on the company card but I couldn't do an UpgradeMe bid.

 

[Milefest]

Regularly do the BNE-CNS-BNE each weekend. I've noticed the minimum bid has gone from $150 to $180 ...
Not sure why they've increased that, but on a $95-$115 saver fare when on special make for a cheap upgrade

They've seemed to have all increased.

One thing I hope is that they don't create a required minimum points spend with the bid, like QF. If they did, I'd stop bidding altogether.