Virgin Announce J for most routes eff 18th Jan

[markis10]

Virgin Australia group of airlines today commenced sales for Business Class on most of its Australian domestic routes across the airline’s fleet of Airbus A330; Boeing 737-700 and 800s; and Embraer aircraft for travel from 18 January 2012. News and Press Releases | Virgin Australia

 

[brad330]

Virgin to launch 'Business' network wide*

From Jan 18th Virgin will launch 'Business' network wide on E90, 73W and 73H aircraft. The exceptions are:

-Pacific+Polynesian Blue Flights
-ATR72 flights

Interestingly enough 'Business' is not available for the following routes,

CNS-TSV, TSV-ROK, ROK-BNE, SYD-CFS, SYD-ABX, MEL-MQL and MEL-LST

These routes are all operated by E90 aircraft and are all possibly ATR72 routes, hence 'Business' not available?

Brad330

 

[Fruitcake]

Unfortunately you need to travel through a wormhole to take advantage of these fares - from the fine print:

"Fares are on sale from 7 November for travel from 18 January 2012 until 19 December 2011."

 

[DJ737]

From the same press release complementary drinks for saver fare pax.

Virgin Australia also confirmed today that Economy Class guests travelling on Saver fare types will also receive complimentary tea; coffee and water from 18 January on all domestic flights. Saver fare guests travellingbetweenAdelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney Monday to Friday will be offered complimentary beer and winebetween 4:00pm and 7:00pm.

 

[haydensydney]

I wonder when Pacific Blue will be all sorted with the new config?

 

[yohy?!]

From the same press release complementary drinks for saver fare pax.

This brings them closer to harmonisation with NZ Discount Y service, IFE still niggling though

 

[notzac]

Has it been announced what the J config on the E90 will look like? 2 rows of 1x2?

 

[Jack Melon]

Has it been announced what the J config on the E90 will look like? 2 rows of 1x2?

No, but most likely 2-1 config for business.

 

[jaspon]

premium economy no longer available from 18 jan from these ports. Economy cabin only
Albury
Ballina
Coffs harbour
Hervey bay
Launceston
Maroochydore
Mildura
Port Macquarie
Proserpine
Rockhampton

 

[DJ737]

There's a chance for a nice seat when they have to sub a 2 class 737 to some of these ports :mrgreen:
esp ROK,LST & MCY

 

[cavemanzk]

This brings them closer to harmonisation with NZ Discount Y service, IFE still niggling though

I wouldn't hold you hopes up for IFE on Domestic Services!
NZ doesn't have IFE on its 733s or A320(171D config) they only have drop down LCD's which pretty much are used for the boarding video / safety demo. This aircraft don't even have in seat audio. Wheres as the A320(168I config) are fitted with Panasonic AVOD they are only used on International services.

 

[markis10]

I wouldn't hold you hopes up for IFE on Domestic Services! NZ doesn't have IFE on its 733s or A320(171D config) they only have drop down LCD's which pretty much are used for the boarding video / safety demo. This aircraft don't even have in seat audio. Wheres as the A320(168I config) are fitted with Panasonic AVOD they are only used on International services.

IFE has been promised, so I would hold my hopes up, at least on the Virgin front.

 

[cavemanzk]

IFE has been promised, so I would hold my hopes up, at least on the Virgin front.

Only problem who is currently running the airline John Borghetti or Rob Fyfe. The last 3 months there seems to be a rapid amount of changes that seemed to be made by Fyfe

 

[Justchecking]

premium economy no longer available from 18 jan from these ports. Economy cabin only
Albury
Ballina
Coffs harbour
Hervey bay
Launceston
Maroochydore
Mildura
Port Macquarie
Proserpine
Rockhampton

Whoah! I expected abx, cfs, pqq, rok to all go to the ATR, but not the others. They run 737s there most of the time. Is this an indication that they are going to increase frequency there with smaller aircraft or just not sell J class on these routes. Or is there something else I'm missing entirely about this?

 

[mickeyc747]

premium economy no longer available from 18 jan from these ports. Economy cabin only
Albury
Ballina
Coffs harbour
Hervey bay
Launceston
Maroochydore
Mildura
Port Macquarie
Proserpine
Rockhampton

Also the following flights out of OOL

OOL ADL direct and connecting
OOL TSV direct and connecting
OOL CBR direct and connecting CBR connectors are ATR's
OOL LST via MEL
OOL HBA via MEL & SYD

Some how I dont think all the fares are loaded into the system.

 

[markis10]

Whoah! I expected abx, cfs, pqq, rok to all go to the ATR, but not the others. They run 737s there most of the time. Is this an indication that they are going to increase frequency there with smaller aircraft or just not sell J class on these routes. Or is there something else I'm missing entirely about this?

They are all airports where there is no QF J on offer.....

 

[Deleted member 29185]

premium economy no longer available from 18 jan from these ports. Economy cabin only
Albury
Ballina
Coffs harbour
Hervey bay
Launceston
Maroochydore
Mildura
Port Macquarie
Proserpine
Rockhampton

Hervey Bay???

 

[Mwenenzi]

I wonder when Pacific Blue will be all sorted with the new config?

Maybe never. Trans Tasman flights are code shared with Air NZ. Air NZ do not have J on many flights

 

[pshepvic]

Whoah! I expected abx, cfs, pqq, rok to all go to the ATR, but not the others. They run 737s there most of the time. Is this an indication that they are going to increase frequency there with smaller aircraft or just not sell J class on these routes. Or is there something else I'm missing entirely about this?

It's strange. I looked at MCY flights for Feb. They show as a 73H yet no premium cabin for sale. So ATR replacement on the route I think is unlikely, unless they go to 2 MEL flights a day, but it's a long way in that little plane!

So are they going to retain some all-economy planes on routes competing only with JQ? Or will they be refitted/BSI and 8 lucky Platinums get upgraded each flight? Or last option - are the fares just not loaded yet?


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[Fruitcake]

I've just booked a SYD-CBR return in Jan, and no premium fares were available on either E190s or ATR-72s, either before or after the 18 Jan J class rollover date. Not that I was looking to book one anyway, but the info might be helpful for this discussion!