VA & QF mainly for Corporate Travellers & Status Junkie FF's

[Genji88]

I'm your typical 1-2 times a year flyer, but after clocking up 10k worth of points via earning through my phone bill with Virgin & being on the receiving end of some downright Nasty treatment from a CX ground manager in Hkg due to lack of FF status, I'm interested in achieving VA SG by taking shorter domestic holidays or even doing turnarounds or overnight stays when a too good to refuse sale fare comes around.

However, I'm not a CC person & don't value status enough to pay $800 for a (eg.) Mel -Bne RT FF Flexi or $1800 in J for 5 hrs total flying time, because full fare tickets have highest yield of FFPs & SC's. Yet I can see the value in spending $1.8- $2.5k PE or 4k + for an International flight with serious hours.

When travelling Domestically, have other AFF members had any experiences where flying with VA or QF has been far superior than say Tiger or Scoot to justify paying such prices?

 

[Borisdog]

I'm one of the typical Australian FFs out there who don't live in Melbourne or Sydney.
We are there.
We don't have Tiger or Scoot

But I actually need to get to where I'm going, at the time I want to. That alone would eliminate me from even vaguely considering unreliable cut priced horror stories like Tiger. Hell it even stops me from using Jetstar - and I do have them!

 

[flying_duck]

The lack of stress from flying VA with status is what I'm in it for. I can always carry my sporting equipment, I never have to worry about luggage, rarely about flight delays or cancellations. I know if I want a different seat they'll give me one at the lounge. I know if i want to fly earlier I can from the lounge. I know I don't have to pick some junk food up at the petrol station in a rush, I can take my time, have a glass of wine and a snack and relax. I know security at major airports will be quick and hassle free. I know check in lines are nonexistent if I do need to check baggage. I know if there is an issue that someone will listen and try to sort it out for me.

I recently was travelling with a friend on another flight (same destination) and they wouldn't let both of us into the lounge. The $150 I spent on breakfast for the two of us was a complete waste of money on average food and wine that I like that I don't have to shell out for it every time (monthly or more) I fly. If I don't pay outright, I don't notice/care and just enjoy the convenience of it all. I wouldn't fly an airline I don't have status with again, unless someone else was paying for it and it was somewhere I really wanted to go, and even then I'd probably be on here begging someone to guest me into a lounge on the day.

I think of it like insurance. Insurance against me having an awful time travelling. Worth every cent.

 

[Genji88]

FIFOsuit does raise some valid points. I've heard enough horror stories about flight delays & cancellations to see the value in VA base Y fares, & if you have the "means" to ensure enjoyability of travel, absolutely.

I'll still end up paying $65 dollars a pop for lounge access (I've a realistic goal of 71k for MEL-VLI Y redemption & dream of 200k for a SQ MEL-SIN R/F redemption!) but would prefer it if VL's included Spirits in the cost (don't drink beer or wine) & also had more of their own lounges OS, especially in Asia.

When missing my connecting flight & stuck at HKG for 10 hrs due to vomiting from a Horrid Y chicken meal on a CX flight,
while unlikely to be successful, I was willing to try to beg staff to let me use points to use the lounge, or even gift points to a SG or WP as I didn't have the cash to use paid lounges.
But sadly I didn't even have this as an option.

 

[yohy?!]

Yes - every single flight.

 

[Anna]

You get what you pay for. Especially when things go pear shaped.

 

[Deleted member]

Depending on your long term plans, ( where , when and how often you will,fly) whoever you choose (VA or QF) will make a big difference. I chose QF. Better international network (one world) and IMHO a much better FF program.

 

[Happy Dude]

The lack of stress from flying VA with status is what I'm in it for. I can always carry my sporting equipment, I never have to worry about luggage, rarely about flight delays or cancellations. I know if I want a different seat they'll give me one at the lounge. I know if i want to fly earlier I can from the lounge. I know I don't have to pick some junk food up at the petrol station in a rush, I can take my time, have a glass of wine and a snack and relax. I know security at major airports will be quick and hassle free. I know check in lines are nonexistent if I do need to check baggage. I know if there is an issue that someone will listen and try to sort it out for me.

I recently was travelling with a friend on another flight (same destination) and they wouldn't let both of us into the lounge. The $150 I spent on breakfast for the two of us was a complete waste of money on average food and wine that I like that I don't have to shell out for it every time (monthly or more) I fly. If I don't pay outright, I don't notice/care and just enjoy the convenience of it all. I wouldn't fly an airline I don't have status with again, unless someone else was paying for it and it was somewhere I really wanted to go, and even then I'd probably be on here begging someone to guest me into a lounge on the day.

I think of it like insurance. Insurance against me having an awful time travelling. Worth every cent.

This all makes sense, other than $150 for two for brekky. Good lord man - even the buffet at Sheraton on the Park, surely one of the best brekky buffet's anywhere on the planet, is less than that!

 

[serfty]

.... I chose QF ... IMHO a much better FF program.

On that we can disagree!

It depends on your need, but VA in Business MEL-LAX-MEL is 191K and ~$150, on QF it's 192K and ~$1040.

 

[Lemon_Party]

I've tried tiger and scoot. I prefer to pay a little more and travel VA/SQ etc, status or no status. Agree that you get what you pay for...

 

[pauly7]

On that we can disagree!

It depends on your need, but VA in Business MEL-LAX-MEL is 191K and ~$150, on QF it's 192K and ~$1040.

Still trying to book that elusive VA J award flight though

 

[serfty]

Still trying to book that elusive VA J award flight though

I traveled on a return basis this year ... twice the year before have bookings in June for next year ... All MEL-LAX vv.

 

[serfty]

You can currently book for several dates in October next year.

 

[pauly7]

I traveled on a return basis this year ... twice the year before have bookings in June for next year ... All MEL-LAX vv.

Lucky you

 

[serfty]

Lucky you

Not so much luck ... just some research and being aware of any patterns (that have changed once or twice times during the period).

 

[flying_duck]

A very important trip for her so I wanted to treat her and we drank a very large amount of alcohol.... I had already nipped into the lounge for a shower and a triple vodka on the way out the door before this as well