Looking for smart ideas Virgin to Bali in July

[Willsmere]

Hi, I'm just looking for some outside the box ideas from seasoned veterans for a short trip to Bali. Here is the summary. A family gathering has been hastily organised in Bali this July, I'm based in Melbourne. Ok, Bali isnt that expensive I know but it was a trip I hadnt planned for this year and need to take 4 people. Im VA gold now but probably lose that in March with no major trip planned before then. So as this trip was unplanned it got me trying to be ultra strategic and consider all options. Things I have considered so far, take some or all of us on a status credit run on the way to bali to requalify. I have also tried permutations from most australian domestic ports looking for a cheap exit and use my virgin visa 2 for 1 bookings before they dont take them anymore in march to reduce things but not having much luck there. Or do I forgo and just go for the old Jetstar option? Grateful for any ideas no matter how strange!

 

[drivatruk]

I use Airasia now for Bali. J can be had for $800 return. Comfy seat and priorty boarding and bags. Bad food. Y is reasonable at well. Remeber to search one ways fares as they are usually cheaper. EG rt in J is $980 however if you book one way tickets in each direction is falls to Just $825. Oh actually i just read yr dates and July is expesnive.

Another thing i tried and just got by the skin of my teeth was a J booking for just on $700. These tickets dont change in price whther boked as a single or return as the lower charges apply from DPS. I booked from DPS-MEL in J as its about $680 rt. The conditions said i could change dates. Unfortunatly if i changed the dates to before i left it is considered a route change from DPS - MEL to MEL - DPS. Called Airasia and they said bad luck. So HUACA and said Help im old. Just booked my tickets the wrong way around about 25 mins ago. The helpful man said no problem and flicked the flights around. New undies put on and i relaxed the rest of the day.

 

[Captain hum]

Since the VA debacle with the ash cloud in Oct/Nov and disgusting customer service from VA, we now fly Garuda to DPS. It means we have to go BNE- SYD but it is worth it. And their J class is fab. VA J class on those horrible 737's is grim. Not even a footrest.

 

[scottz95]

Since the VA debacle with the ash cloud in Oct/Nov and disgusting customer service from VA, we now fly Garuda to DPS. It means we have to go BNE- SYD but it is worth it. And their J class is fab. VA J class on those horrible 737's is grim. Not even a footrest.

I'm going to second this method of getting there, use Garuda if you want a full service airline.

If you are looking for a bargain, AirAsia is also a good choice but see if you can hold out to a bit closer to the date as they like doing sales with a few months leeway to the travel date. But its school holidays so July isnt going to be that cheap regardless.

 

[jackthomas]

You can also approach Alitalia for a status match from your VA gold, which will get you Skyteam Elite Plus on Garuda, although this is not all that useful if flying J.

 

[Willsmere]

Thanks, all good stuff so far. Sounds like chasing status is on the outer so far.

 

[PDog]

We've got a similar family thing later in the year & have also been exploring outside the box ideas as the Virgin flight to Melb is at a terrible time! Our solution is (so far!) to go home via Singapore with enough layover for a late lunch!

I think the virgin 2 for 1 still works post March as long as you book prior to that?

 

[Willsmere]

We've got a similar family thing later in the year & have also been exploring outside the box ideas as the Virgin flight to Melb is at a terrible time! Our solution is (so far!) to go home via Singapore with enough layover for a late lunch!

I think the virgin 2 for 1 still works post March as long as you book prior to that?

Correct PDog it does. So I was looking at bookings from sydney,brisbane and darwin for example return to bali and then seeing if it was worth it to use the 2 for 1 from melbourne to either of these ports but it didnt seem to come out much different.

 

[PDog]

Correct PDog it does. So I was looking at bookings from sydney,brisbane and darwin for example return to bali and then seeing if it was worth it to use the 2 for 1 from melbourne to either of these ports but it didnt seem to come out much different.

Sorry, I misread!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Chasing VA SC will be more expensive, as most of the time, the best flight experience will be on SQ, where you have to go up to SIN and then come down to DPS, taking more $$$ and time.
For 4 it will be pricey.
Not the mention the "We are experiencing a temporary error" message that seems to pop up quite a lot now on their website.

 

[PDog]

Since the VA debacle with the ash cloud in Oct/Nov and disgusting customer service from VA, we now fly Garuda to DPS. It means we have to go BNE- SYD but it is worth it. And their J class is fab. VA J class on those horrible 737's is grim. Not even a footrest.

any advice for future potential ash cloud issues while flying Virgin? (I'm guessing your first comment will be don't!)
thanks in advance!

 

[Willsmere]

Update. The dollar finally won out on this one. As Virgin flights were going over $3500 and required routing through Brisbane at best and Perth or Singapore at worst and involved a night flight on return. So for the first time ever I used Jetstars flight match guarantee. Found flights with Airasia on the days I wanted, got Jetstar to match them. Ended up with 4 return tickets MLB-denpasar ,direct, day flights, and dreamliners for $1600. Couldnt justify an extra $2000 for coughpy flights, a few points and probably not quite enough SC's to maintain gold, oh well.

 

[Tassey69]

Am going to Bali in June, I always try to book Y out to Denpasar and J coming home to Melbourne, with enough notice using specials I can usually get a mixed fare of under $800. Reason for J coming home is that it is usually a night flight, the J queue for check-in at Denpasar is very short, Y can be horrible and there is a lounge available for J passengers. If booking well ahead try for row 1 it is the best row in J.

 

[ChrisDPom]

As a Bali based member I had better put my 2 pennies worth in. I still have links with Perth and fly back & forth monthly.

DPS-PER is only 3.5 hrs so I skip the J class and go cattle but usually take a front row seat or emergency exit as need the leg room. Shops round and just take the best price - usually specials are offered by each airline about 2 months in advance.

If I can, I book Jetstar so I can lounge at Qantas in PER.

Usually take the Plus bundle (gives a meal on board, 20kg luggage QFF points & 25 SC each way). Cost is $65 each way. Max Bundle is 30kg each way, 40 SC each way & any seat including front row ($35 savings) or emergency exit ($17 savings). Cost is $235 each way and not worth it unless on SC run.

Jetstar A320 has limited legroom front row seats on right hand side (1D to 1F) as is where they cook everything. 1A to IC is the entry door so unlimited leg room even for lanky types like me.

First row of emergency exits don't recline (row 12), so if booking, book the 2nd row (row13). Max luggage with Jetstar is 40kg even with golf bags. Tiger allow 80kg (40 normal & up to same sports gear).

There is a lounge at DPS called Premium Lounge - not open to Qantas Club unless flying DPS-SYD - does not allow Jetstar flyers who are QC unless on max bundle ticket.

Have tried it once and it was fine - quite well laid out and lots of staff but I could see why all the food was wrapped in cling film as I spotted a dozen coughroaches on the food table. Had one coffee and left after 10 mins.

You don't really need a lounge at the new DPS international airport as plenty of coffee shops (and they hide their coughroaches very well)

Another idea with Bali is first call for a Euro trip.

Singapore & KL are only a few hours away and you can get very cheap standard or business class flights from these locations.

Another warning is on the Jetstar price match.

My son is visiting in March. Did the checking on prices (you can quite often get cheaper 2 singles vs return as previously posted).

Found a cheaper flight elsewhere back from DPS to PER on their website and asked for price match. Refused by Jetstar.

Contacted them online and they explained that while he saw the price in Aussie $ on their website, you actually pay DPS-Oz flights in Rupiah (you get a conversion price on your card payment).

Jetstar then said they only price match where prices are "really" in Aussie $. Don't you just love the way they do business???

Final Jetstar warning is the Jetstar app which is having colli wobbles at present and often reverts back to the initial search page. I am sure they will eventually fix it but use a tablet, laptop or PC for now.

And a warning on all the airlines is luggage booking. Book your luggage with the initial booking as they all seem to charge about 50% more if you add extra luggage later.


On the query regarding ash clouds, 4 active volcanoes currently within 1,000kms. Lombok is still rumbling but not spitting out much and the November ash cloud warning is officially over.

I like others got delayed (stuck in SIN for extra day and dumped Jetstar for Tiger to get back to Bali).

A lot of people who were due over when Virgin & Jetstar refused to fly (or soon after), found they could not get ash cloud insurance related to the Lombok volcano.

Insurers have now stated that event is now over so new holiday makers can get ash cloud cover again.

BUT please book the insurance when you book the flights instead of just when you are about to leave and check the fine print.

Cheers all

Chris

 

[Tassey69]

Thanks Chris great info

 

[Captain hum]

any advice for future potential ash cloud issues while flying Virgin? (I'm guessing your first comment will be don't!)
thanks in advance!

You got it. I'll never fly VA to DPS again.

 

[ChrisDPom]

You got it. I'll never fly VA to DPS again.

Some of us won't have the Virgin option much longer anyway Heg, as PER, MEL & ADL change over to Tiger from March.

BRI will retain Virgin for you to continue to ignore (lots of people in PER have the same post ash cloud trauma with Virgin & Jetstar).

Chris