Virgin Australia introduce Business Class - BNE/SYD/MEL

[Fruitcake]

I also thought the premium economy was a complete joke domestically - same seats (with a slightly moved arm rest) and what would people actually eat and drink, $30 of junky food and drink and for this VB was expecting people to pay 3 - 4x the cost of a Saver fare for a short flight?

That is true, but priority checkin, priority security, priority boarding, Lounge access and not to mention full fare flexibility (including a "full" refund on cancellation, which isn't something you get even on a Flexi fare) also have value, for some more than others.

Of course those benefits can be had by status pax travelling on a Saver fare too, so perhaps my point is not that strong!

 

[Taezar]

HAHA - I have to laugh - this kicks in just after my PE trip from BNE to MEL.
Oh - well - maybe I will get lucky and be in a new config.
All I can say to Virgin is "Go get 'em!"

 

[Noob]

Interesting to note, from the 18th of January E-190 flights are the same price as 737 flights - this indicating that the Embraer fleet (or most of it) will be refitted before 18th January?

 

[haydensydney]

Good to see that we are getting the new J rolled out on more routes.

Unfortunately I am flying a one way DPS-SYD (6 Hours!) in late December in "premium" which I assume will not be the flash new J, but the old sh!tty Y+... *shakes fist*

Better than Y though I'm sure

 

[Justchecking]

Good to see that we are getting the new J rolled out on more routes.

Unfortunately I am flying a one way DPS-SYD (6 Hours!) in late December in "premium" which I assume will not be the flash new J, but the old sh!tty Y+... *shakes fist*

Better than Y though I'm sure

I think so Hayden. I imagine DPS will be one of the las routes to see J, given as it is a leisure route. But cheer up, your PE fare does get you out of the riff raff, in a quieter part of the aircraft, with a pillow and blanket and with first dibbs on whatever food and beverage is going.

 

[markis10]

I think so Hayden. I imagine DPS will be one of the las routes to see J, given as it is a leisure route. But cheer up, your PE fare does get you out of the riff raff, in a quieter part of the aircraft, with a pillow and blanket and with first dibbs on whatever food and beverage is going.

And a comfort pack

 

[haydensydney]

I think so Hayden. I imagine DPS will be one of the las routes to see J, given as it is a leisure route. But cheer up, your PE fare does get you out of the riff raff, in a quieter part of the aircraft, with a pillow and blanket and with first dibbs on whatever food and beverage is going.

Are your words meant to be comforting....? lol

....but at least I get a egg and lettuce sandwhich / bundy rum before the bogan elite eat and drink the carts dry

PS... did the points + pay rort and got 2 x Y+ tickets for $350 + ~30k points. Not bad.

 

[notzac]

Would anyone actually pay that much for a 1 hour flight? I can fully understand wanting more leg room, to be comfortable etc for an east coast flight but unless work was paying for it, I cannot imagine paying that much for a short flight.

It's the "tire kicker price". Domestic J prices typically aren't discounted on an airlines' website; certainly VA have no real reason to do so, given their competition don't (I've checked -- so far as I can see, the J fares for MEL-SYD/BNE listed on their VA's website are all full fat J). Corporates would have negotiated discounts or percentage kickbacks based on spend, so they're not actually paying full price in many cases. Having a good travel agent may also help in getting discounted business fares.

 

[DGW]

PS... did the points + pay rort and got 2 x Y+ tickets for $350 + ~30k points. Not bad.

I've done the same for an upcoming MEL-DPS. Two in Y+ for $320 and around 40k points. I've got my fingers crossed for a refitted aircraft but something tells me the Pacific Blue fleet are somewhere towards the bottom of the list in terms of priority for a refit.

 

[Noob]

I've done the same for an upcoming MEL-DPS. Two in Y+ for $320 and around 40k points. I've got my fingers crossed for a refitted aircraft but something tells me the Pacific Blue fleet are somewhere towards the bottom of the list in terms of priority for a refit.

I am pretty sure they are refitting the aircraft in types - all the 737-800s, then the 737-700s, then the E-190s - regardless of where they service because remember, pacific blue will cease to exist come january.

 

[mr_osborne]

As discussed in other threads, having higher prices helps create perceived value, also, with each status matched WP having 4 upgrade credits, I suspect Business will be more of a tool to create economy business as opposed to focusing on making money (having said that, I expect that they will want it to make money, but there other considerations as well)

 

[DGW]

I am pretty sure they are refitting the aircraft in types - all the 737-800s, then the 737-700s, then the E-190s - regardless of where they service because remember, pacific blue will cease to exist come january.

Thanks for that. I just found this link from an interview with JB yesterday: Sky News: Virgin CEO says his staff paid well

"Separately, Mr Borghetti said the airline would finish refitting the interiors of its Boeing 737 fleet by the end of the year."

 

[haydensydney]

Thanks for that. I just found this link from an interview with JB yesterday: Sky News: Virgin CEO says his staff paid well

"Separately, Mr Borghetti said the airline would finish refitting the interiors of its Boeing 737 fleet by the end of the year."

I'm hoping that this is true. But who knows, perhaps he is only referring to ex Virgin Blue aircraft and not Pacific Blue?

 

[737NG]

Hayden, althought the DPS route is marketed as a Pac Blue route, it is infact operated by Virgin Australia. Retrofitted aircraft have started to cycle through the DPS route recently.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Interesting to note, from the 18th of January E-190 flights are the same price as 737 flights - this indicating that the Embraer fleet (or most of it) will be refitted before 18th January?

Do we know yet whether the E190s will be 1,2 or 1,1?

 

[Noob]

Do we know yet whether the E190s will be 1,2 or 1,1?

Not sure, but I doubt 1-1 as they would be loosing revenue for a very wide aisle - wouldn't make sense.

I think business will be really nice on the embraers

 

[Jack Melon]

Pretty obvious it will be 2-1 or 1-2 like all the other airlines around the world with business (first class (american)) on there E190's. 1-1 would have to much isle space, just not right. They will be done after the 737's. Only 2 737-700's will be re-fitted with the new interior if i remember correctly, VH-VBY & VH-VBZ, the 2 purchased from Virgin, others will return to there owners shortly. 15 737-700's are left out of 21. Can The Virgin rep back this up please.

Jack

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Pretty obvious it will be 2-1 or 1-2 like all the other airlines around the world with business on there E190's.

I'm sure I saw an E190 with 1,1.........but I have been wrong in the past, or at least I think I have......but maybe I'm mistaken!

 

[Casual Class]

I just noticed that it seems if you take a flight from outside the triangle, to a destination within the triangle, on a route that has a connecting flight from another triangle point (that was a mouthful) the premium price is unchanged. Looking a OOL-MEL route, there is the option for OOL-SYD-MEL for the same price as OOL-MEL direct ($385) presumably the SYD-MEL segment of would be in J.

 

[Noob]

From the 18th of January basically the entire network (inc. Adelaide, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart etc.) has business class to SYD/MEL/BNE according to the website, including direct flights on E jets. Shouldn't be much longer until we start seeing some refitted E-190s!