Virgin Australia UpgradeMe pricing and success

[Demonoid]

put in an upgrade offer for my ADL to CBR flight of $215 (so in the very weak territory). Minimum offer was $200

Just got the congrats email saying I have been upgraded. I am not sure how to feel?

I paid about $150 for the Save flight when I booked it. Just checked now and its up to $200.

The current Business saver fair is $659 and the standard Business fare is $759. SO I have paid a total of about $350 for a fair that costs about $650 - but with no J status credits or points....

 

[blackcat20]

Not my ticket but I'm managing the booking.

MEL-BNE on a Friday night. $115 paid for a saver. Offered $200+ to upgrade (can't remember the upper figure). I think its worth it but as I'm not flying I don't get a say.

 

[smit0847]

I think VA have really blundered by not offering at least J SCs for upgraded fares.

You need to consider what you are actually getting for your bid. For non-status pax I think it's only increased baggage, priority luggage, check-in and boarding, a slightly bigger seat and a meal and drinks.

For status pax it's a slightly bigger seat and a meal and drinks.

I can't work out who would think $200+ for the above on a short-ish flight is worth it. I could get a fabulous meal before or after the flight for this price - much, much better than what is served in J - especially where it's a snack service.

Given for a status run many would consider $4 per SCs to be good value awarding SCs for this offer would make it much more attractive. I understand that they don't want to devalue the normal J rev ticket but these sorts of offers strongly suggest the difficulty they are having filling these seats anyway!

 

[eastwest101]

put in an upgrade offer....

The current Business saver fair is $659 and the standard Business fare is $759. SO I have paid a total of about $350 for a fair that costs about $650 - but with no J status credits or points....

Useful info - thanks for posting!

 

[Demonoid]

I think VA have really blundered by not offering at least J SCs for upgraded fares.

You need to consider what you are actually getting for your bid. For non-status pax I think it's only increased baggage, priority luggage, check-in and boarding, a slightly bigger seat and a meal and drinks.

For status pax it's a slightly bigger seat and a meal and drinks.

I can't work out who would think $200+ for the above on a short-ish flight is worth it. I could get a fabulous meal before or after the flight for this price - much, much better than what is served in J - especially where it's a snack service.

Given for a status run many would consider $4 per SCs to be good value awarding SCs for this offer would make it much more attractive. I understand that they don't want to devalue the normal J rev ticket but these sorts of offers strongly suggest the difficulty they are having filling these seats anyway!

Some good points there. As you said, as a Gold I get a bigger seat and a meal. I made the judgment call that for a 2 hour flight, I was going to spoil myself. The fact that my offer was in the weakest category (and yet I still got it), is a strong indication of too many empty J seats. Just out of curiousity, I know you can also upgrade with points at the Virgin Lounge - I am assuming you also don't get J status credits with this?

 

[eastwest101]

I know you can also upgrade with points at the Virgin Lounge - I am assuming you also don't get J status credits with this?

Correct - only the originally booked SC and Points, and also catering not assured.

 

[a330j]

I think VA have really blundered by not offering at least J SCs for upgraded fares.

You need to consider what you are actually getting for your bid. For non-status pax I think it's only increased baggage, priority luggage, check-in and boarding, a slightly bigger seat and a meal and drinks.

For status pax it's a slightly bigger seat and a meal and drinks.

I can't work out who would think $200+ for the above on a short-ish flight is worth it. I could get a fabulous meal before or after the flight for this price - much, much better than what is served in J - especially where it's a snack service.

Given for a status run many would consider $4 per SCs to be good value awarding SCs for this offer would make it much more attractive. I understand that they don't want to devalue the normal J rev ticket but these sorts of offers strongly suggest the difficulty they are having filling these seats anyway!

Totally agree. Do non-status passengers get lounge access? Even if they do, still not worth it IMHO.

At its simplest its a case of supply and demand. If there is no demand at existing J prices, prices need to drop, either temporarily (a sale) or permanently. Surely its better to generate some revenue than none at all out of the J seats. Remains to be seen whether UpgradeMe will achieve better results than a J sale.

 

[Fruitcake]

I think VA have really blundered by not offering at least J SCs for upgraded fares.

Although just because you're not offered anything more than your base fare SCs doesn't mean you won't receive more than your base fare SCs.

 

[DGW]

Although just because you're not offered anything more than your base fare SCs doesn't mean you won't receive more than your base fare SCs.

Indeed, I've been the beneficiary of some doozies lately.

 

[caskings]

I put in a minimum bid ($200) on upgrading my BNE - MEL flight and got notification this morning that the bid was accepted. I'll be curious to see what SCs I get at the end of the day.

 

[MartinMemo]

At its simplest its a case of supply and demand. If there is no demand at existing J prices, prices need to drop, either temporarily (a sale) or permanently. Surely its better to generate some revenue than none at all out of the J seats. Remains to be seen whether UpgradeMe will achieve better results than a J sale.

I spent big for 2014 on their last J sale - pricing was worth it at the time, but now not. I have been finding myself cancelling the J trips when savers are on sale, and putting the cash towards more flights - Oz Fest #11 one of the bigger ones; sale J MEL-BNE-MEL was able to give me sale S MEL-OOL-MEL & Flexi AYQ-MEL... The more I fly S or Y over J on 1-4 hour flights, the less I feel I need J (at its current even sale prices).

 

[kevrosmith]

I put in a minimum bid ($200) on upgrading my BNE - MEL flight and got notification this morning that the bid was accepted. I'll be curious to see what SCs I get at the end of the day.

Whatever you do happen to get, consider wisely before you post on this public forum (which the airlines monitor).

 

[carwashhair]

I spent big for 2014 on their last J sale - pricing was worth it at the time, but now not. I have been finding myself cancelling the J trips when savers are on sale, and putting the cash towards more flights - Oz Fest #11 one of the bigger ones; sale J MEL-BNE-MEL was able to give me sale S MEL-OOL-MEL & Flexi AYQ-MEL... The more I fly S or Y over J on 1-4 hour flights, the less I feel I need J (at its current even sale prices).

I take it that the potential loss of SC's is not a factor for requal?

 

[pwae]

Indeed, I've been the beneficiary of some doozies lately.

I third this..

 

[Virgin Bart]

Success! Details below.

Future data point: a few weeks ago I booked MEL-PER-HKT in Y. When this feature became available I went online and have bid $205 (min was $200) which was "very poor" for the PER-HKT leg. I consider this to be fantastic value IF I get.

I'm not holding my breath. Although it'll make my 6.5 hours in a 738 bearable, if not enjoyable. Will report back, flight is on Monday - 7 days.

 

[DGW]

Success! Details below.

That's a good get. It's a shame you won't be in J the whole way. Given my experiences over the last twelve months or so I don't see the value in flying VA J domestically/short haul intl but for what would otherwise be a pretty intolerable flight in Y, $205 seems like really good value.

 

[MartinMemo]

I take it that the potential loss of SC's is not a factor for requal?

Not really - I have flights booked to requalify gold, and no real possibility of hitting plat.

Note - I haven't actually hit gold yet, it's a few weeks off, but should requal by end April.

 

[Virgin Bart]

That's a good get. It's a shame you won't be in J the whole way. Given my experiences over the last twelve months or so I don't see the value in flying VA J domestically/short haul intl but for what would otherwise be a pretty intolerable flight in Y, $205 seems like really good value.

Yeah I've got to say, for a 6.5 hour flight I'm happy. A few drinks, a meal (which I never normally buy on Dom flights, but would on 6.5 hours) and a comfy seat is worth it. It just sucks I'll have to leave my mate in the back, but he'll be ok. Would really loved to be on MEL-PER in J again, but just couldn't justify a min of $300 for a 3.5 hour flight.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I have been finding myself cancelling the J trips when savers are on sale, and putting the cash towards more flights

That's been my modi operandi for many years. J is nice, but never lose sight of why you fly and don't upsell to yourself simply because it seems trendy to do so. If you wish to expend cash/points to fly J, by all means do so, but always remember most flyers are in Y or Y-. Status gives us the edge and J/F are the cream when it can happen...nothing more!

 

[Virgin Bart]

That's been my modi operandi for many years. J is nice, but never lose sight of why you fly and don't upsell to yourself simply because it seems trendy to do so. If you wish to expend cash/points to fly J, by all means do so, but always remember most flyers are in Y or Y-. Status gives us the edge and J/F are the cream when it can happen...nothing more!

Spot on swanning_it. Being a relatively new (and self funded) player in this game I sometimes find it hard to resist some of the "offers". Then I try to being myself back to reality and Y.