Virgin to remove bagfree fares from Domestic Routes

[SimonF]

There must have been a glitch in the transition as the airfares now are nothing like what I saw 2 days ago.

BNE-SYD for 09 May - 25 Jun $105. Qantas $109.
BNE-SYD for 22 Jul - 16 Sep $89. Qantas $95.

Ridiculous prices from Virgin and their only saving grace are the discount codes where the $105 airfare comes down to ~$92 and the $89 airfare comes down to ~$81 and a further 5% off by using a gift voucher.

Remember when Flexi to ool was hardly anything via syd ex Mel. Gone are those days.

 

[bullerdude]

Remember when Flexi to ool was hardly anything via syd ex Mel. Gone are those days.

I've noticed that even on Qantas only charges a tad more on those flexi fare where there is more than one leg (for some routes), whilst on VA it can be double or move :-/

 

[notzac]

There more for the business traveller I would guess.

I can only speak for my employer's travel policy, but 'lowest logical' is the order of the day for all travel - you've gotta have an exceptionally good reason to book a flexible ticket (and it requires extra levels of approval) - so most don't bother with it.

--

I generally only buy Flexi tickets to use the upgrade certificates. When Flexi was a small premium over a Saver ticket, I was happy to do so .. but now that Flexi fares are in excess of a 100% premium over a Saver fare (which are also a lot more expensive these days)? Not so much.

VFF, a little feedback for you in case you read this: what is the point of Platinum over Gold any more? The benefits have been 'enhanced':

• Upgrade certificates: now costs too much to use them - given the fare increases, perhaps consider making them usable on Saver fares - even if just the more expensive Saver fare classes? Also, what about allowing them on trans-Tasman fares?
• Better lounge access: no F Lounge at AUH for an indefinite period, F Lounge at LAX is a little box - otherwise lounge access is basically the same as Gold - and I can count the number of times I've travelled with more than one companion on one finger (and in that instance, buying lounge access would have worked just as well).
• Better seats: generally easy to get row 3 at the lounge for domestic, row 5 going away in the 777 refit. IMHO, seating on VA domestic is a major issue - non status guests regularly end up in premium seats when there are seats further back.
• Better priority service: HAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAA .. does anyone (VA staff included) actually believe that? My calls are answered by the same people as Gold and I still get transferred offshore if I want to use my points.

 

[SimonF]

I can only speak for my employer's travel policy, but 'lowest logical' is the order of the day for all travel - you've gotta have an exceptionally good reason to book a flexible ticket (and it requires extra levels of approval) - so most don't bother with it.

--

I generally only buy Flexi tickets to use the upgrade certificates. When Flexi was a small premium over a Saver ticket, I was happy to do so .. but now that Flexi fares are in excess of a 100% premium over a Saver fare (which are also a lot more expensive these days)? Not so much.

VFF, a little feedback for you in case you read this: what is the point of Platinum over Gold any more? The benefits have been 'enhanced':

• Upgrade certificates: now costs too much to use them - given the fare increases, perhaps consider making them usable on Saver fares?
• Better lounge access: no F Lounge at AUH for an indefinite period, F Lounge at LAX is a little box - otherwise lounge access is basically the same as Gold - and I can count the number of times I've travelled with more than one companion on one finger (and in that instance, buying lounge access would have worked just as well).
• Better seats: generally easy to get row 3 at the lounge for domestic, row 5 going away in the refit. IMHO, seating on VA domestic is a major issue - non status guests regularly end up in premium seats when there are seats further back.
• Better priority service: HAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAA .. does anyone (VA staff included) actually believe that? My calls are answered by the same people as Gold and I still get transferred offshore if I want to use my points.

Re upgrade cert. I suggested they allow you to use them from Saver fare but charge double a bit like they do using points. It's a win win.

Regarding seat comment - what do you mean by row 5? Yes everyone can access all seats on check in time.

 

[notzac]

Re upgrade cert. I suggested they allow you to use them from Saver fare but charge double a bit like they do using points. It's a win win.

I'd rather not pay double to use upgrade certs for the questionable comforts of 737 J - I could definitely see the value if it was for the 330s.

Regarding seat comment - what do you mean by row 5? Yes everyone can access all seats on check in time.

Sorry, I meant in the 777s - clarified my original post as well.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Re upgrade cert. I suggested they allow you to use them from Saver fare but charge double a bit like they do using points. It's a win win.

Been with you from the start on that one. But alternatively, do you know what would make them really valuable? Flexi/Y+ to J on international flights.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re upgrade cert. I suggested they allow you to use them from Saver fare but charge double a bit like they do using points. It's a win win.

I'm not sure I follow. Do you mean require two certificates for saver where one would suffice for flexi? If so, the Plat freebies won't go far. I'd be more interested in them expanding the use to all short haul int sectors.

 

[SimonF]

I'm not sure I follow. Do you mean require two certificates for saver where one would suffice for flexi? If so, the Plat freebies won't go far. I'd be more interested in them expanding the use to all short haul int sectors.

Correct that's what I mean.

 

[bullerdude]

Was looking at some VA Adelaide flights and could have been mistaken for thinking I was actually on the Qantas website.

 

[anat0l]

Was looking at some VA Adelaide flights and could have been mistaken for thinking I was actually on the Qantas website.

I don't get the point. So they are about the same? In other news, the sun will rise tomorrow.

Did you search the VA flights with a promo code?

 

[Virgin Bart]

Was looking at some VA Adelaide flights and could have been mistaken for thinking I was actually on the Qantas website.

View attachment 44010

View attachment 44011

Not cool at all.

 

[JohnK]

I need to book some last minute flights and they are costing an arm and a leg. I should have booked last week but have been putting them off. Huge regret I did not book them last week but finances were poor.

I am instead now booking QFF award one way and VA cash fare on the return. SYD-BNE flight for 12 April was ~$156 including discount code :shock: which is a joke for VA.

And apparently it is going to get worse.

 

[Grimace1]

Looking at flights to Auckland to check some prices and notice that Virgin Australia haven't removed the "SAVER LITE" Fares from the "Select Flights" page however checking a few dates all the "SAVER LITE" fares are Sold out...

Heh?

 

[anat0l]

Looking at flights to Auckland to check some prices and notice that Virgin Australia haven't removed the "SAVER LITE" Fares from the "Select Flights" page however checking a few dates all the "SAVER LITE" fares are Sold out...

Heh?

Saver Lites remain on markets other than Australia Domestic for now.

I have no idea how quickly they sell out those fares on your dates. Also, if you have a domestic connection followed by your Trans-Tasman flight, does Saver Lite appear as a choice, or will you have no luggage allowance on the domestic (or 1 piece on the domestic, then no pieces for the international)?

 

[serfty]

Looking at flights to Auckland to check some prices and notice that Virgin Australia haven't removed the "SAVER LITE" Fares from the "Select Flights" page however checking a few dates all the "SAVER LITE" fares are Sold out...

Heh?

As per the OP (below), a saver light fare class is being retained trans-tasman to align with AirNZ bag free fares.

Maybe this is simply selling out? Or perhaps VA are having issues filing those fares?

just spotted this industry release..I wonder if their T class fare will go down to the old S level or is this an effective $10-15 fare increase at the bottom end of their tariff.Time will tell

Effective 17 March 2015, Virgin Australia will commence a Fare Class re-alignment across our Domestic and Trans-Tasman markets, removing the Saver Lite brand from all markets except Trans-Tasman. All fares will now include complimentary luggage across the network. This change has been made as a result of strong customer feedback and streamlines the airline's product offering. We are retaining a single booking class on Trans-Tasman sectors as bagless to maintain parity with our Trans-Tasman partner Air New Zealand. All ticketed Saver Lite fares remain valid. As part of this re-alignment, please see below a summary of these changes. Domestic Fare Class Changes 'S' class Saver Lite fare brand is being removed from the Domestic fare structure

 

[Grimace1]

I do appoligize, I misread the OP In regards to the trans-tasman remaining somewhat

 

[Grimace1]

I have no idea how quickly they sell out those fares on your dates. Also, if you have a domestic connection followed by your Trans-Tasman flight, does Saver Lite appear as a choice, or will you have no luggage allowance on the domestic (or 1 piece on the domestic, then no pieces for the international)?

So checking further I have discovered that if I am booking the flights on the one PNR, PER > SYD > AKL, The saver lite fares will show as sold out, but if I do the search for SYD > AKL for the same dates (Sep/Oct/Nov) Saver lite fares appear as bookable!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So checking further I have discovered that if I am booking the flights on the one PNR, PER > SYD > AKL, The saver lite fares will show as sold out, but if I do the search for SYD > AKL for the same dates (Sep/Oct/Nov) Saver lite fares appear as bookable!

Sounds like the way they've chosen to manage their not so friendly web platform. Remove client options to make it easier for them.

 

[notzac]

Sounds like the way they've chosen to manage their not so friendly web platform. Remove client options to make it easier for them.

As much as I feel dirty defending VA on matters of IT - that's the way most travel booking sites work - whatever is the lowest common denominator becomes the cheapest available option.