VA to Japan?

[erkpod]

My biggest bugbear with VA/VFF is that they don't fly direct or codeshare with anyone who does between Australia & Japan. I know the chances of VA going direct are next to nothing & I don't know if they'd codeshare with someone like JAL.


I'll be returning home from America via Japan on SQ in February on a SQ/VA Circle Pacific fare but I am considering flying from SYD to Japan in July, returning August.


So far, my best options seem to be via SIN on SQ or via AKL on ANZ.


I'll be WP by the time I do the July trip & aiming to requalify.


I don't mind doing an extended layover somewhere.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

I'm in the same boat. Having to go via SIN is a bit of a pain but helps the SCs. I've got a pretty decent 240 SCs coming my way from a MEL-SIN-NRT-SIN-MEL next week in Flexi econ.

 

[samh004]

Are there any partner flight from HKG, as that would seem to be closer?

 

[eastwest101]

I'm in the same boat. Having to go via SIN is a bit of a pain but helps the SCs. I've got a pretty decent 240 SCs coming my way from a MEL-SIN-NRT-SIN-MEL next week in Flexi econ.

Haven't done it yet but also in same boat - it would be nice for VA to have at least one other option other than SQ via SIN though, on the VA web site I assume that Japan does not exist? So you have to book with SQ on the SQ web site and pray and hope that the SQ fare class allows earn with either Krisflyer or with Velocity?

Has anyone tried calling VA and attempted to book flights to Japan? I wonder what would happen?

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Haven't done it yet but also in same boat - it would be nice for VA to have at least one other option other than SQ via SIN though, on the VA web site I assume that Japan does not exist? So you have to book with SQ on the SQ web site and pray and hope that the SQ fare class allows earn with either Krisflyer or with Velocity?

Has anyone tried calling VA and attempted to book flights to Japan? I wonder what would happen?

I booked with VA straight through to Tokyo. Should show up as a destination.

 

[eastwest101]

I booked with VA straight through to Tokyo. Should show up as a destination.

Thanks for the info - very interesting. Did some trouble shooting on the VA web site and I have discovered my problem, searching MEL-NRT I got offered SQ flights via SIN - fine, then searched for CNS-SIN and got offered codeshare via BNE & SIN fine.

But look what happens when I decide to try booking TSV-NRT...



So yes - Japan does exist on the VA booking site if you live in ADL BNE CBR DRW (via Silkair! and then SQ) HBA MEL SYD.


But if you live in OOL TSV LST etc etc then Japan does not exist on the VA web site....:shock: This is quite hilarious as if you lived in Tasmania and lived in Hobart then VA can book and fly you to Japan but if you live 2 hours up the road in Launceston then you cannot fly to Japan on VA...

And its my fault that I live in Townsville and not Cairns.


Ah yes - now I understand that this thread has become a VA Web Site fail thread. I wonder how many other threads morph into a VA Web Site problems thread.....

Maybe someone in VA is trying to work out why all their international passengers flying VA and other codeshare metal all seem to come from a capital city? Do you think they have figured it out yet?

 

[moa999]

Could well be something do with the codeshare agreements only being to from certain cities

 

[erkpod]

Are there any partner flight from HKG, as that would seem to be closer?

Looks like SQ might have a flight ... HKG - SIN - HND. (edited routing, I got it in the wrong order.)

It looks cheaper to fly into HND via SQ compared to NRT for when I want to go.

 

[notzac]

But if you live in OOL TSV LST etc etc then Japan does not exist on the VA web site....:shock: This is quite hilarious as if you lived in Tasmania and lived in Hobart then VA can book and fly you to Japan but if you live 2 hours up the road in Launceston then you cannot fly to Japan on VA...

Yet another example of VA's miserable, abject failure to comprehend ages ago that their website is causing them to lose revenue and actually do something about it. Using your itinerary of TSV-TYO on random dates next year, I went and plugged them in to Expedia:



Sure enough, the fare exists (and it was only a few dollars more than SQ, who were the cheapest available for the dates I checked).

EDIT: you'll also note that Expedia shows the booking class (something else the VA website ought to be doing) -- in this case, this fare would be ineligible for points / status credit earn.

 

[eastwest101]

Yes in my experience the best thing about the VA web site is using expedia to book the "complex" flights, and then tripcase to manage your booking, and the velocity web site is good to get the phone number to ring the VA call centre to do everything else that the VA web site should do but cannot (like select your seats and make retro claims for the missing SCs!).

 

[erkpod]

Thanks to the DSC, I'm now looking forward to trying to bring my annual leave & my Japan trip forward.

 

[AstroDamo]

Thanks to the DSC, I'm now looking forward to trying to bring my annual leave & my Japan trip forward.

Flights have to be on Virgin Australia or Virgin Samoa though codeshares don't count read the terms and conditions

 

[erkpod]

Flights have to be on Virgin Australia or Virgin Samoa though codeshares don't count read the terms and conditions

The way I've read it is that a VA flight number is ok but if it only has a SQ or MI flight number (like flights SIN - KUL), it's not.

 

[AstroDamo]

The way I've read it is that a VA flight number is ok but if it only has a SQ or MI flight number (like flights SIN - KUL), it's not.

Terms and Conditions * This offer is valid for new bookings made between 18 December - 31 December 2013 inclusive, for travel on eligible Virgin Australia flights between 1 February - 30 June 2014 inclusive. Eligible flights include any flights operated by Virgin Australia or Virgin Samoa with a Virgin Australia or Virgin Samoa (VA) flight number, and flown in a fare class and itinerary that normally earns Status Credits. Please check the Status Credits Earn Fare Classes table to determine if you are eligible for Status Credits accrual. Charter flights, ground or sea transport services including those marketed with a Virgin Australia (VA) flight number, and codeshare services operated by partner airlines are not eligible for this offer. Single or return sectors qualify and can be flown in either direction. Normal Velocity rules apply to retrospective claims which must be raised within 6 months from date of flight. Status Credit earn rates are subject to the Membership Terms and Conditions, available online. To earn and redeem Velocity Points you must be a member. Velocity membership and Points earn and redemption are subject to the Member Terms and Conditions, as amended from time to time.

Terms an conditions in the email state it must be operated by Virgin Australia or Virgin Samoa

 

[erkpod]

Damn damn me for reading the T & C the way I wanted them to read rather than the reality. That said, there's more than one way to cook a steak.

Might go to London instead!

 

[JohnK]

Might go to London instead!

You are choosing a holiday destination for the SCs?

 

[erkpod]

You are choosing a holiday destination for the SCs?

I was planning on going to Japan in 2014 & the UK in 2015. But partly because of this offer & the new time that I now have my leave, I'm going to London instead in 2014. I am already heading to Japan for a week on the way home from the US in February 2014.

 

[JessicaTam]

You are choosing a holiday destination for the SCs?

And the problem is?...

 

[JohnK]

And the problem is?...

No problem at all.

 

[gwilli1]

I too , would love VA to go to Japan . I now have my best mate their after he moved from the US earlier this year . OW have a total monopoly on the direct Aus-Japan route with QF & JAL and now with JQ ex MEL . This route is primed for the picking if VA could open there eyes just a bit to see another opportunity to grab some business of QF/JAL . I know we can go via SIN with SQ , but to be honest i couldn't be bothered . I would much prefer VA going direct to NRT or even better as a point of difference ,HND. I know there is not any 777 available , which would be my preference , so stick an A330 on the route …I still think they have another couple on order …get them in for international use to Japan , I say