Virgin Syd - LA pricing

[rowdyrobbieflyer]

Hey all, hope you guys can help me out.

Wondering what a good fare cost is for flying from Sydney to Los Angles return with Virgin Australia for both economy, and for premium.

Thanks all,

Rowdy

Edit: In July 2015

 

[CJEMNMAC]

I think it does depends on a few factors...One important one is the time of year... Do you have date in mind ?

 

[rowdyrobbieflyer]

Thanks for replying,

And yes, leaving early July 2015 for 2 weeks.

I'm not too fussed on getting the best deal ever, just don't want to get the worst deal ever! (And with little knowledge on what's expected, I have no idea.)

 

[Clivem]

Just a few months ago there was a cracker PE price @ $1999 return with a very big booking window.

 

[n7of9]

Just a few months ago there was a cracker PE price @ $1999 return with a very big booking window.

yep, and i nabbed it.. wooohhoo

 

[mole]

We grabbed that deal too, bne-lax premium economy $2050 return (leave April 24). I do prefer Qantas PE but that price was too good to miss.

 

[BAM1748]

Thanks for replying,

And yes, leaving early July 2015 for 2 weeks.

I'm not too fussed on getting the best deal ever, just don't want to get the worst deal ever! (And with little knowledge on what's expected, I have no idea.)

A peak time.

 

[Clivem]

Just a little more information on that cracker BNE/SYD -LAX price...
It was on the pre-xmas happy hour - the sale lasted all day.
The PE price of $1999 was for flights from Feb through to Nov ......a great travel booking window.
We booked several flights .......two of our staff are actually flying to LAX this coming Saturday morning on the unusually numbered 'VA5' flight on the back of that offer to attend a training course state side.

PE looks about $3.4K return for July currently ........ouch
PE normally (non peak) booked far enough in advance can often come in around $2.3K return

 

[mole]

I wasn't aware of the pre-xmas happy hour sale, I booked our $2000 PE return flights on 22 January 2015 for 24th April. I was looking at Qantas (preferred PE) but after comparing the Virgin website decided the difference was too much to not jump at it.

 

[rowdyrobbieflyer]

Thank you so much guys, this has been very helpful. (And a little bit depressing!)

2k return with PE, wow! Is this likely to happen again? Should I hold out for a price like this?

Also good to know the "normal" PE fare is around 2.5 return. I always thought "normal" was around 3k.

What about economy? At the moment that's about 2k return. Is that over-the-top expensive, or normal for a peak time to fly.

 

[williamsf1]

Thank you so much guys, this has been very helpful. (And a little bit depressing!)

2k return with PE, wow! Is this likely to happen again? Should I hold out for a price like this?

Also good to know the "normal" PE fare is around 2.5 return. I always thought "normal" was around 3k.

What about economy? At the moment that's about 2k return. Is that over-the-top expensive, or normal for a peak time to fly.

The 2K return PE was a Happy hour special, I don't think you will see a special like that again as the 777 in the new configuration is seeing a big reduction in seats available in that cabin.

There was a recent flight centre expo where they were offering return Y around the 1K mark

Suggest keeping your eye on Happy Hour ( 4pm today ) might get lucky!

 

[rowdyrobbieflyer]

Thanks guys.

Looking like my best bet is getting a Flex Economy and using points to bump my wife and I to Premium.

 

[mooingchicken]

Being peak times and 4 months out chances of specials are probably slim but you never know, the prices they were mentioning 2K PE and 999 (i think it was econ) was just before/after xmas time, now all flights seem to be about 2k mark for july. peak times really need to book early! but check out the happy hours, more change of a bussiness/PE sale then econ for that time frame though.

Be aware you can only upgrade using points if you are gold or above

 

[rowdyrobbieflyer]

Thank you guys, I'll take a peak this afternoon during Happy Hour.

Appreciate it all, great forum.

 

[MandM]

You should be able to get it at about $1800. July is peak. Look daily for a price change.
One suggestion is to not believe the prices indicated on the 'date tabs' and actually click through each date to look at the prices. Sometime chososing the cheaper outbound fare can trigger an offer for a cheaper return too. Just another little quirk of the Virgin website.

 

[stux]

Thanks guys.

Looking like my best bet is getting a Flex Economy and using points to bump my wife and I to Premium.

This is what I do if Premium Saver is much more than Flex Economy. If they are about the same then generally the extra SC and Points from PE is worth the cost (if it were <$200 or so)

Also, you would want to keep an eye out, as you might be able to swap the PE upgrade for a Biz Upgrade sometime between now and then... I've had a biz upgrade come through teh day before the flight.

BUT, you need to be Gold or Plat to use points for upgrades.

 

[rowdyrobbieflyer]

You should be able to get it at about $1800.

Thank you mate, but what exactly should I be able to get for $1800?

Thank you.

 

[MandM]

Thank you mate, but what exactly should I be able to get for $1800?

Thank you.

Sorry, yes details are often useful!
Economy return. Although out 8th July back 23 July is currently just under $1,300!

 

[rowdyrobbieflyer]

Sorry, yes details are often useful!
Economy return. Although out 8th July back 23 July is currently just under $1,300!

Thank you mate, wow, $1300, that sounds great! (I think?)

Also, is 1300 including tax?

Do you just click through lots of days to find deals like this, or do you use something special?

 

[MandM]

Thank you mate, wow, $1300, that sounds great! (I think?)

Also, is 1300 including tax?

Do you just click through lots of days to find deals like this, or do you use something special?

$1300 was including tax and the credit card fee. Its a good price for that time, and I imagine it will only rise from there.
If dates are flexible, I usually just start by picking a Tuesday departure and return as they tend to be the quietest/cheapest and then have a quick click through the date tabs a week before and after and do the same on return. The example I gave you was pure luck. But you can save a few hundred quite easily by checking it out every morning for price changes.