Virgin Fares on Partners Airlines

[Jbones_86]

All,

After trying to plan a few trips later this year with Virgin to the US (Easter and Christmas) and Hawaii (October). I continually find that the cost of booking a virgin ticket is well in excess of booking the same flights on a partner airline (Hawaiian or Delta). Can anyone explain this to me, as I would prefer to buy VA tickets for the points and SC earn, though cant justify the extra dollars for only a few more SC's and points. The VA pacific planes are also a lot nicer than the delta planes flying this route.

I've attached a screen shot of the Easter trip, booked in Economy due to the late notice. As you can see the delta price (AU$2,545) is comparable to the one-world offering (AU$2,562 - extra long flight through Dallas). Though VA is $1k dearer (AU$ 3,579) for the same hard products and connections on delta.



Looking at flights from SYD to Honolulu, VA is between $600 and $750 more for a return ticket on Hawaiian planes - for the same SC and point earn.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[robd]

Where is your final destination? Wouldn't it just be cheaper direct SYD-LAX then domestic flights to wherever your going? I just priced SYD-LAX at Easter at under $2k on VA website.

 

[here2go]

May depend on fare rules. Have been burned on points with MH of late through Expedia. Should have paid extra $50 to book direct and get QF points

 

[moa999]

Certainly always found the VA codeshares on VS metal to HKG always be more than direct.
Quite often partners do not make available their cheapest fare buckets to partners

 

[TomVexille]

Quite often partners do not make available their cheapest fare buckets to partners

This is a big factor

 

[MattC]

I fly book and fly direct with SQ a lot and often end up better off in terms of Pts and SCs than booking via VAs website. $perSC is often better.

 

[Clobu5]

If you book direct with SQ and use SQ member number can you then change it over to a VA member number for Sc's and points awarding?