Virgin now allows Fly Ahead on all Flex fares

[Mattg]

From today, anyone travelling on an Economy Flex fare on Virgin Australia can change to an earlier flight on the day of travel, free of charge. The Fly Ahead option is also now available in the Virgin Australia app (also for Gold, Platinum & Plat Plus members).

Good news for people on Flex fares, but kinda devalues the Fly Ahead benefit for Velocity Gold members, since they have to book Flex (or Business/reward) to use the Fly Ahead benefit that they've earned through their status, no?

 

[henrus]

I’m struggling to think of any perks of gold/platinum now that one can’t get by paying.

Fly ahead was one of the last remaining things you had to have gold/platinum for.

 

[andrewpf]

I would go further than saying it 'devalues' the benefit for gold. The benefit disappears, because it isn't a benefit any more, its the same as every customer at the same cost- buy flex, get access to fly ahead. Don't have a flex ticket, you don't get fly ahead as a gold member.

 

[henrus]

I would go further than saying it 'devalues' the benefit for gold. The benefit disappears, because it isn't a benefit any more, its the same as every customer at the same cost- buy flex, get access to fly ahead. Don't have a flex ticket, you don't get fly ahead as a gold member.

Gold still gets it on business class fares and economy reward seats so still some minor benefits exist.

 

[transpactraveller]

Being able to change to another flight is surely the base definition of a Flex fare though?

 

[antycbr]

Being able to change to another flight is surely the base definition of a Flex fare though?

The main change being no fare difference applicable. Before a flex might require a fare difference to be applied.

 

[im.daniel]

I wonder if this will have any impact on whether QF makes any changes to their Flex fares (in both pricing and flying ahead benefits) ....

 

[antycbr]

The main routes where this is beneficial is on the triangle where I’d wager a significant number of days (particularly in summer) are already on flow forward to minimise later weather related disruptions. This simply allows passengers to get on their way earlier, filling all available seats and indirectly also reducing lounge wait times and F&B costs - while also driving incremental upsells to Flex.