Virgin are losing the plot.

[Auski]

VA Flight from CBR to ADL is only one direct flight a day at an inconvenient time . I usually fly vie Mel. Yesterday I booked a QF flight for 60% of the VA fare. VA planes appear to be almost empty at this time for an early Dec flight. In the past being a Gold VA I would not even bother looking at QF however with the stupid pricing and harder to retain Gold I am no longer a rusted on VA customer.

 

[muppet]

While I tend to agree, I had a look at random dates over the next few weeks and VA is consistently about 30% cheaper than the comparable QF flight.

So yes, VA has one flight a day at 8pm and the 7am QF fare is often heaps cheaper. But the comparable 7:05pm QF fare is always much more expensive. So I don’t think you’re comparing like for like.

 

[clifford]

I think the point might be, who wants to get to Adelaide (or anywhere else) around 9 pm (unless you have no choice)?

So how about comparing flights at 7 am?

 

[muppet]

I think the point might be, who wants to get to Adelaide (or anywhere else) around 9 pm (unless you have no choice)?

So how about comparing flights at 7 am?

Well I certainly don’t, but clearly based on the fares for both QF and VA, the evening flights are the pricey ones so someone is filling the seats. The only comparable flights on the route are the 7:05pm QF and 8:00pm VA… nothing to compare at 7am.

 

[Scarlett]

Well, if you finish work at 1700…

 

[DC3]

I think the point might be, who wants to get to Adelaide (or anywhere else) around 9 pm

Pie cart? Probably gone now.

 

[stevenwr175]

Pie cart? Probably gone now.

Yep unfortunately the Pie Cart has been gone for years now.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

While we’re here, another data point about interacting with VA in general.

Yesterday I needed to change a Lite fare. Change fee owed, of course; no problem.

Whoops. Website is broken as the error immediately pops up when I press the button to change a ticket; “action not allowed, ring the call centre to change this booking.” Ticket has never been changed or affected by schedule issues, so nothing complicated going on here.

No matter. Ring the call centre. Spoon feed flight numbers and new dates to agent. Whoops. Quoted price is significantly higher than the website. Why? “Fares change constantly.” No, this fare is available on the website right now not just for this sector but most of them that same day. Virtual shrug from agent; apparently all the fares I’m seeing on the website are no longer available (nonsense, of course). We briefly go back and forth to tease this out to no avail or clarity. I think to ask if this is because it’s Happy Hour — is it possible agents can’t book those over the phone. “Yes, sir.” Ah ha; discrepancy unlocked. So I can’t access these fares because I can’t change my ticket online. “Correct, sir. To be honest, it is a known error on the website that you cannot change.” Splendid; a systemic problem that’s well known but left broken. I understand you’re not empowered to do much, so just to be clear, there is nothing I can do here except change the ticket over the phone and pay more than I would online? “That is correct, sir; sorry.” And is there anyone you can escalate this call to who might be given more ability to assist here than they give you? “No, (verbatim) this is the end of the line.”

I politely hang up and then swear. With Platinum service like this, I won’t miss the status as I let it lapse.

I’d also note, Lite fares are very restrictive. I suppose I should have paid more for Choice to at least cancel to Travel Bank and rebook anew. But changes can be made on Lite fares and that’s what I wanted to do and was happy to pay the fee. I shouldn’t have to pay more for a higher fare class to be able to do what I need to do without incurring additional, unnecessary costs simply because VA’s systems won’t do what they say they’ll do.

Patheti—pardon, wonderful.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That was one of the biggest problems with platinum, lack of access to a qualified agents when you needed help.

They’ve ‘fixed’ that for platinum plus, but really, that shouldn’t be something reserved just for top tiers.

 

[ols]

That was one of the biggest problems with platinum, lack of access to a qualified agents when you needed help.

They’ve ‘fixed’ that for platinum plus, but really, that shouldn’t be something reserved just for top tiers.

I'll swear when I first got platinum that Aussie call centre was part of the benefits.

 

[burmans]

I think the point might be, who wants to get to Adelaide (or anywhere else) around 9 pm (unless you have no choice)?

So how about comparing flights at 7 am?

Plenty of people aren’t so keen on 7am flights either. I think airlines have a pretty good idea of which flights are more popular and price accordingly, far more than any individual’s preference.

 

[pauldab]

I'll swear when I first got platinum that Aussie call centre was part of the benefits.

It was a thing before Bain took over IIRC, but not since.

 

[Saab34]

They have some new weird flights in the summer schedule. What is with this Melbourne to Cairns red eye flight. Not bad for say Cairns locals who want the day in Melbourne.

 

[anat0l]

They have some new weird flights in the summer schedule. What is with this Melbourne to Cairns red eye flight. Not bad for say Cairns locals who want the day in Melbourne.

You must mean the CNS-MEL redeye. And wow... that will hurt a bit.

At around just over 3 hours, it's not too dissimilar to a PER-MEL redeye. Both hurt, but I guess you've found out why some people will still fly it. I'd say you'd struggle to get your full day in MEL unless you're running on adrenaline and maybe a stack of caffeine.

Alternatively, Melbournians having it up in CNS can have a full day (out and about, reef etc.) until they have to go home - get to MEL, go home (taxi/Uber/friend pickup) and crash out.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You must mean the CNS-MEL redeye. And wow... that will hurt a bit.

At around just over 3 hours, it's not too dissimilar to a PER-MEL redeye. Both hurt, but I guess you've found out why some people will still fly it. I'd say you'd struggle to get your full day in MEL unless you're running on adrenaline and maybe a stack of caffeine.

Alternatively, Melbournians having it up in CNS can have a full day (out and about, reef etc.) until they have to go home - get to MEL, go home (taxi/Uber/friend pickup) and crash out.

What are you supposed to do after the hotel kicks you out at 10, or 11 if you have ‘late checkout’?

It’s as bad as the timings to bali… you lose a whole day on arrival, and have to pay for an extra night at the hotel on the return.

 

[anat0l]

What are you supposed to do after the hotel kicks you out at 10, or 11 if you have ‘late checkout’?

It’s as bad as the timings to bali… you lose a whole day on arrival, and have to pay for an extra night at the hotel on the return.

Put the luggage into storage and then have an excursion or something planned for the whole day. You can return at 5 pm and then have a leisurely dinner after chilling, or even at 7 pm, have dinner, return to hotel, then saunter to the airport.

Anyway, beats me. VA are taking a chance people will fly this timing; we'll see how vindicated they are. For all we know, VA may need an excuse to get that aircraft back to MEL anyway. Some may end up doing the flight if the unpopularity makes it particularly cheap (or offers a higher chance of an award flight compared to other flights on the same day).

 

[twinaisle]

No point parking an aircraft up there when it can continue on and keep flying.

 

[Saab34]

No point parking an aircraft up there when it can continue on and keep flying.

Probably the case, especially in peak. Tropics/Cairns is low season in the southern peak so makes sense using aircraft during day in peak southern routes then the red eye for wet season once all the aircraft return to base.

ADL-CNS seems to have been pulled not sure if this one is normally seasonal.