When did happy hour cease to exist?

[AndyGoodyear]

I went on the Virgin Australia website today as I decided I need a vacation - but I noticed the happy hour countdown is no more. After lots of searching I typed a question into the 'virtual assistant' and got a blurb saying happy hour is "currently not available" on the Virgin Australia website.

So is this a politicians way of saying they scrapped it?

 

[oz_mark]

It pretty much went away with the switch to sabre. Who knows if it will return....

 

[AndyGoodyear]

It pretty much went away with the switch to sabre. Who knows if it will return....

They kept that very quiet!

 

[pauly7]

They have Tiger now for that

 

[AndyGoodyear]

They have Tiger now for that

I have only ever flown Tiger Airways once (not through choice) and I NEVER would ever again!

 

[smit0847]

I highly doubt the happy hour will return - it's a bit of an LCC hangover.

I've also noticed a bit of a slowdown in the number of normal sales - they used to have sales constantly (overlapping or one straight after the other), to the point I never, ever paid full price for a Saver ticket for about a year but this relentless discounting seems to have slowed.

I guess after spending all that time and money gaining new customers (sales, status matches etc), they're now going to work on yields and return which don't include relentless sales!

 

[MarkD]

Your experience is different to mine then. I find they are always having sales, but I crack the ****s with their booking system and go elsewhere most of the time.
For example, they have a HUGE sale on at the moment, Business class for $309 BNE-CNS. But the website is having hissy fits, and I cannot seem to book, een though they are showing availablity and its in the sale dates. They just finished another sale yesterday, (The more the merrier, or something like that, bigger discounts for extra people)
I guess Sabre is good for something, cant say they dont offer discounted seats, the fact you are unable to book them is another matter all together

 

[lovestotravel]

I thought happy hour was a great way to fill some empty seats on flights, but given that the flights were normally 2-4 weeks in advance it doesn't really help most people with traditional holiday planning

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So is this a politicians way of saying they scrapped it?

I was under the impression the "Flight Specials" app had replaced it (although not a happy hour style thing at all).

There are specials always coming in and the app makes it very easy to programme some parameters and then you're notified when they happen. Right now there's the like of OOL-SYD for $55, which is at a level we haven't seen for some time. Only trouble is, it's not until next year!

 

[Warks]

I don't seem to get any sale emails from VA any more whereas I get one a week from QF always pushing SYD-MEL "from $99" like that's exciting!

 

[LonePine]

I don't seem to get any sale emails from VA any more whereas I get one a week from QF always pushing SYD-MEL "from $99" like that's exciting!

We never get the emails either, despite unsubscibing and resubscribing several times

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I don't seem to get any sale emails from VA any more whereas I get one a week from QF always pushing SYD-MEL "from $99" like that's exciting!

I'm not quite sure Warks if this comment was in response to my post previous, but if it was I'll just clarify that the "Flight Specials" come through reasonably promptly via SMS to my iPhone. I have absolutely no idea if it's the same for Androids or not.


I too receive little or no emails, but the SMSs seem to work OK (perhaps VA IT stuffed that up....it actually works).

 

[lukenet]

For example, they have a HUGE sale on at the moment, Business class for $309 BNE-CNS. But the website is having hissy fits, and I cannot seem to book, een though they are showing availablity and its in the sale dates.

Hey Markd, When was the flight availability for that price? Can you let me know either by PM or post?

I can't find any availability at that price..

 

[Flywithd]

I've been getting plenty of email from VA about sales and advance bookings, around 1-2 sale emails per week.

 

[Plutonus]

Hey Markd, When was the flight availability for that price? Can you let me know either by PM or post?

I can't find any availability at that price..

Somewhere in 16 Jan, 2014 - 30 Apr, 2014

 

[AIRwin]

Your experience is different to mine then. I find they are always having sales, but I crack the ****s with their booking system and go elsewhere most of the time.
For example, they have a HUGE sale on at the moment, Business class for $309 BNE-CNS. But the website is having hissy fits, and I cannot seem to book, een though they are showing availablity and its in the sale dates. They just finished another sale yesterday, (The more the merrier, or something like that, bigger discounts for extra people)
I guess Sabre is good for something, cant say they dont offer discounted seats, the fact you are unable to book them is another matter all together

Would these sale fares be available for booking through other sites, eg expedia or zuji?