Virgin Blue Premium economy - is it worth it?

[clare_s_]

I came across this on the Virgin Blue website today (Virgin Blue Homepage > Services tab > Seating > Premium Economy):

*****
Your Premium experience doesn’t have to end on arrival at your destination. All-inclusive service in the air, and now a bonus on the Ground!

Fly Virgin Blue Premium Economy and you’ll be eligible for these exclusive offers from our Partners:

InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) – receive 20% off the best available rate at participating InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels in Australia, plus complimentary 2:00pm late check-out. This offer is available for Virgin Blue Premium Economy domestic Guests who book and stay between 1 May 2009 and 30 April 2010. Accommodation and extended checkout is subject to availability. To book call IHG on 13 83 88 (within Australia) and quote “Virgin Blue Premium Benefit”. You may be asked to present your Premium Economy boarding pass when you check-in. Terms and Conditions apply**.

Europcar - book a Full Size Class Vehicle and receive a complimentary upgrade to an Audi A6! Or book an Economy Class vehicle for an upgrade to Intermediate Class, Compact Class for an upgrade to Standard Class, or Intermediate Class for an upgrade to Full Size Class. This offer for car rentals between 28 April 2009 and 15 December 2009 and is subject to availability. Audi A6 is not available at all locations. To book visit [Europcar’s website] and quote the booking code “PREMIUM1”. You must present your Premium Economy boarding pass at the Europcar Counter to validate your upgrade. Minimum driver age and Terms and Conditions apply**.
*****

Want a Premium Economy taste test?

Have you purchased a Corporate Plus or Flexible Fare for travel between 28 April 2009 and 27 July 2009 on a Virgin Blue domestic flight? If so, you have the opportunity to purchase a Premium Economy Taster Upgrade, and enjoy more space, comfort and choice with access to The Lounge and all the on-board benefits.
...

You can purchase a Premium Economy Taster Upgrade between 3 hours and 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time for your flight if:
- You have already booked a Flexible or Corporate Plus fare for your flight;
- There are Premium Economy fares available on your flight; and
- You have not checked in.
...

Upgrades can be purchased for the following fee based on your flight time:
Less than 90 minutes = $35 AUD; 3,900 Velocity Points
90 - 180 minutes = $50 AUD; 5,400 Velocity Points
More than 180 minutes and/or formal connections = $75 AUD; 8,100 Velocity Points
*****

They look like some great offers!

 

[lovestotravel]

Some great offers there, but yet another sing that Premium Economy hasn't worked for Virgin Blue.

Granted times have changed recently

 

[alien]

Want a Premium Economy taste test?

Have you purchased a Corporate Plus or Flexible Fare for travel between 28 April 2009 and 27 July 2009 on a Virgin Blue domestic flight? If so, you have the opportunity to purchase a Premium Economy Taster Upgrade, and enjoy more space, comfort and choice with access to The Lounge and all the on-board benefits.
...

You can purchase a Premium Economy Taster Upgrade between 3 hours and 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time for your flight if:
- You have already booked a Flexible or Corporate Plus fare for your flight;
- There are Premium Economy fares available on your flight; and
- You have not checked in.
...

Upgrades can be purchased for the following fee based on your flight time:
Less than 90 minutes = $35 AUD; 3,900 Velocity Points
90 - 180 minutes = $50 AUD; 5,400 Velocity Points
More than 180 minutes and/or formal connections = $75 AUD; 8,100 Velocity Points
*****

They look like some great offers!

I wonder if this is because these seats are generally empty?

 

[lovestotravel]

I wonder if this is because these seats are generally empty?

You would have to say so.

Discounts only happen for a reason!

 

[ANstar]

Some great offers there, but yet another sing that Premium Economy hasn't worked for Virgin Blue.

True - I guess the upside for Virgin is that they can always convert these seats back to normal economy if they need to for a certain flight.

 

[oz_mark]

Some great offers there, but yet another sing that Premium Economy hasn't worked for Virgin Blue.

Granted times have changed recently

The plus side is the option for points upgrades is there, which is something various folk on the board were asking for.

 

[Mal]

The plus side is the option for points upgrades is there, which is something various folk on the board were asking for.

Yep, Virgin Blue, V Australia and Velocity do listen ...

 

[clare_s_]

Velocity are also talking about the offers:

Velocity Homepage > Specials tab > Want a Premium Economy taste test?

and

Velocity Homepage > Specials tab > A Premium Economy bonus on the Ground!

 

[Flashback]

The plus side is the option for points upgrades is there, which is something various folk on the board were asking for.

Which CrazyDave98 mentioned only cannot be done due to the limitations of their systems, which are currently being upgraded.

 

[JohnK]

Yep, Virgin Blue, V Australia and Velocity do listen ...

OK so upgrades to premium economy are now possible from flexible or corporate airfares. I can see a few people, who's company stumps up for expensive airfares, taking the option to upgrade to premium economy.

There does not appear to be anything of value to the ordinary traveller. Is there anything being done to reduce the price of the premium economy seat or allow upgrades from cheaper fare classes?

 

[oz_mark]

Which CrazyDave98 mentioned only cannot be done due to the limitations of their systems, which are currently being upgraded.

It is only a limited time promotion, and I imagine they have some work-around for it. It is different to the way upgrades work on QF, and I imagine some of this is refelective of system limitations.

Doesn't seem to limit to those who can get in the lounge! Although the fact that you have to call the contact centre is a bummer, but also may be the system limitation striking again!

OK so upgrades to premium economy are now possible from flexible or corporate airfares. I can see a few people, who's company stumps up for expensive airfares, taking the option to upgrade to premium economy.

There does not appear to be anything of value to the ordinary traveller. Is there anything being done to reduce the price of the premium economy seat or allow upgrades from cheaper fare classes?

In many cases Qantas don't allow upgrades from many red-e-deal fares. So this is not a unique limitation, and in the case of QF you need to be in the Qantas Club to be able to get an ODU.

I would imagine that if they were to make it available from the lower fares then the upgrade price would have to be commensuratley higher.

 

[docjames]

I guess it could be looked at as a trial.

1. Get pax to try it and hopefully convert some business.
2. Trial the upgrade process and see for real what demand is for upgrades and who's doing so (not just what we on here have to say!)

 

[JohnK]

In many cases Qantas don't allow upgrades from many red-e-deal fares. So this is not a unique limitation, and in the case of QF you need to be in the Qantas Club to be able to get an ODU.

I see where you are coming from but we are talking about domestic business class as opposed to domestic premium economy which is really only 1.5 WHY seats. Not easy to compare the two products and I am not going off to search for airfares but I think the upgradeable QF fares are lower than the upgradeable DJ fares.

I would imagine that if they were to make it available from the lower fares then the upgrade price would have to be commensuratley higher.

Paying ~$400 for a corporate WHY fare and then paying again on top to upgrade to domestic premium economy is a bit steep. The DJ domestic premium economy is clearly overpriced, as indicated by demand and this desperate attempt to get people to sit in premium economy, and is trying to compete with Qantas domestic business class.

If DJ are serious about filling up the seats in the first couple of rows then they will drastically need to reduce the cost of premium economy airfares. It is ridiculous that premium economy is priced ~4 times more than WHY! I am sure we have had this argument before but you are better off purchasing 2 WHY seats on sale and save yourself over half the money and instead of 1.5 seats you get 2 seats to yourself.

 

[Justinf]

I guess it could be looked at as a trial.

1. Get pax to try it and hopefully convert some business.
2. Trial the upgrade process and see for real what demand is for upgrades and who's doing so (not just what we on here have to say!)

Agree. The same way that non-Lounge members can pay $35 to access it as a one-off. Get regular people to try it and if they like it, they might join.