G'day Mate... We're Going to Sydney
Jul 4, 2009, 3:22 pm
#76
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,516
I am on LAX-SYD today. It's J9C9S9I9Y0B0M0.
So, it looks like it's oversold in Y and wide open in J.
In another thread, my hopes of an Op-Up, even as a Plat, were dashed--they said it's usually NonRevs instead of Plats.
OK so I will report back when I arrive to SYD!
15 hours in seat 37F.... at least it's an aisle.
Jul 4, 2009, 6:47 pm
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
Until somebody checks out & substantially reduces capacity, prices aren't likely to go up. In the meantime, Qantas is increasing capacity by throwing some A380's into the mix.
You got two newbies (VA & DL) on the route & two more established carriers (QF & UA) determined to hang on all costs.
It's a good time to visit Australia.
Jul 4, 2009, 7:11 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
Jul 4, 2009, 7:28 pm
#79
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: OOL Australia
Programs: QFF (Gold), Skywards, Rapid Rewards,United, Velocity, Hilton Silver
Posts: 2,440
Jul 4, 2009, 8:35 pm
#80
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Sydney - Australia
Programs: BD, QF, QR/EY/GF & HH Gold/SPG, Hertz#1G
Posts: 11,079
V Australia (but enjoy both UA & DL on this route, while it lasts)
The price leader in this market is an LCC -- Virgin Australia.
Until somebody checks out & substantially reduces capacity, prices aren't likely to go up. In the meantime, Qantas is increasing capacity by throwing some A380's into the mix.
You got two newbies (VA & DL) on the route & two more established carriers (QF & UA) determined to hang on all costs.
It's a good time to visit Australia.
Until somebody checks out & substantially reduces capacity, prices aren't likely to go up. In the meantime, Qantas is increasing capacity by throwing some A380's into the mix.
You got two newbies (VA & DL) on the route & two more established carriers (QF & UA) determined to hang on all costs.
It's a good time to visit Australia.
The name Virgin in this region is the property of Singapore Airlines, a major Virgin Atlantic shareholder.
V Australia is not a clone of Virgin America and has been configured as an alternative to Qantas travellers.
To compare V Australia to JetStar is unfair and incorrect.
Local reports have UA denying it will pull out, but clearly the market cannot support tickets at less than half the usual prices, indefinitely.
Enjoy this route on US legacy airlines and their FFPs, while two are on it.
Jul 4, 2009, 10:42 pm
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
When we flew on Virgin Blue (DJ) last year, prices were ~50% those of Qantas, and you had to pay for almost everything except for checking a bag. Now you have to pay to check the bag. That's certainly what most people would call a LCC (low-cost carrier), closer to the RyanAir model even though they are often compared to WN. Newspapers then basically depicted DJ driving the Australian domestic market.
Yes, they're introducing a whole 3 rows of premium economy, but it sounds like the back of the bus is the same LCC as ever (+ baggage fees). Today DJ's prices seem about the same but it's Qantas that is coming down, probably trying to lose less business to DJ.
I never caught that before. I would hope VA is not a clone of Virgin America. Those small Airbii won't quite reach SYD.
V Australia is patterned after Virgin Atlantic, which initialially was set up as a successor to Laker, the original low-cost trans-Atlantic airline, though it tends to be more upscale than Laker. Branson has made it clear he will undercut everyone to fill his seats. He seems to be keeping his promise, at least with regard to pricing.
V Australia (but enjoy both UA & DL on this route, while it lasts)
Jul 5, 2009, 4:08 am
#82
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Australia
Programs: QF LTS, Marriott LTP, ALL GOLD
Posts: 2,440
Jul 5, 2009, 7:16 am
#83
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: BCN
Programs: BA Gold · A3 Gold · DL Gold · VY apologist
Posts: 8,545
Jul 5, 2009, 10:58 am
#84
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: N Charleston South Carolina
Programs: UA PM (by 2MM), DL GM (by 3.5MM), Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,655
Billy
Jul 5, 2009, 4:40 pm
#85
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,516
As expected, the flight on Saturday the 4th was completely packed in Y.
The board listed 100% full in Y, and 15 empty seats in BusinessElite. And about 15 standbys (mostly or all Non-Revs, from what I could see).
All standbys got Biz Elite. No Op-Ups at all.
I do see why they do that--I heard the GA explaining they don't want to give it away to paying pax.
But I also wonder, then, why they'd give it away free to pax who aren't paying? I think this is a HUGELY popular Non-Rev route because it's brand new--so I'd be willing to bet there will be a big Standby list every night, and Op-Ups are even less likely than on other Int'l routes--though of course that would vary day to day--but just my thoughts.
Inflight service was quite good:
Flying Time: 14 hrs 21 min
Full dinner with drinks after take-off. 3 choices (!): beef, chicken, or pasta.
Then, about halfway through the flight, a snack plate--a deli sandwich, grapes, cookie. Reasonably substantial, actually--better than UA's midflight snack, from what I remember
Finally, before touch-down, a hot breakfast was served--the standard eggs, sausage, and potatoes. Not too tasty but somewhat edible.
Arrival is around 6:30am, when customs can be a zoo, but I was connecting to another International Flight, so I didn't have to enter the country.
FAs seemed pretty excited about being there--but only a 24-hour turn for them and they're back on a 15-hour flight! They mentioned the Pilots get 48 hrs. in SYD but FAs only get 24. They said they might be voting to unionize in the fall. Sounds logical to me. 24 hours is pretty brutal to have to board another one of these flights.....
Anyhow, a decent trip!
The board listed 100% full in Y, and 15 empty seats in BusinessElite. And about 15 standbys (mostly or all Non-Revs, from what I could see).
All standbys got Biz Elite. No Op-Ups at all.
I do see why they do that--I heard the GA explaining they don't want to give it away to paying pax.
But I also wonder, then, why they'd give it away free to pax who aren't paying? I think this is a HUGELY popular Non-Rev route because it's brand new--so I'd be willing to bet there will be a big Standby list every night, and Op-Ups are even less likely than on other Int'l routes--though of course that would vary day to day--but just my thoughts.
Inflight service was quite good:
Flying Time: 14 hrs 21 min
Full dinner with drinks after take-off. 3 choices (!): beef, chicken, or pasta.
Then, about halfway through the flight, a snack plate--a deli sandwich, grapes, cookie. Reasonably substantial, actually--better than UA's midflight snack, from what I remember
Finally, before touch-down, a hot breakfast was served--the standard eggs, sausage, and potatoes. Not too tasty but somewhat edible.
Arrival is around 6:30am, when customs can be a zoo, but I was connecting to another International Flight, so I didn't have to enter the country.
FAs seemed pretty excited about being there--but only a 24-hour turn for them and they're back on a 15-hour flight! They mentioned the Pilots get 48 hrs. in SYD but FAs only get 24. They said they might be voting to unionize in the fall.
Sounds logical to me. 24 hours is pretty brutal to have to board another one of these flights.....Anyhow, a decent trip!
Jul 5, 2009, 5:01 pm
#86
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: DL Silver, AA, VX, VS, UA
Posts: 198
Edit: Sorry, it appears from your above post you were (unfortunately) in Y.
Jul 5, 2009, 6:48 pm
#87
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: DL 3 MM/DM, Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, National Exec Elite
Posts: 4,003
15 hours down, 24 off, 15 hours back: That's 30 flight hours earned in 54 hours clock time (i.e., just over two days). Out of those 54 hours, they would be working 56% of the time.
Is that much different from a nurse working 12 hour shifts? Work 12, off 12, work 12, off 12, work 12. That's 36 hours working during a 60 hour time frame, roughly 60% of the time.
Jul 5, 2009, 10:20 pm
#88
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,516
I guarantee you that for every FA who wants to spend 48 hours in SYD as a tourist, there is another FA who is thrilled at the chance of working that many hours while spending such little time away from home.
15 hours down, 24 off, 15 hours back: That's 30 flight hours earned in 54 hours clock time (i.e., just over two days). Out of those 54 hours, they would be working 56% of the time.
Is that much different from a nurse working 12 hour shifts? Work 12, off 12, work 12, off 12, work 12. That's 36 hours working during a 60 hour time frame, roughly 60% of the time.
15 hours down, 24 off, 15 hours back: That's 30 flight hours earned in 54 hours clock time (i.e., just over two days). Out of those 54 hours, they would be working 56% of the time.
Is that much different from a nurse working 12 hour shifts? Work 12, off 12, work 12, off 12, work 12. That's 36 hours working during a 60 hour time frame, roughly 60% of the time.
At least in the galley at that moment, it was 4-0 on "It's not fair the pilots get 2 days rest, we only get one.... but THEY have a union. We're voting this autumn, though, on joining a union........"
Jul 6, 2009, 9:00 am
#90
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
Programs: DL DM MM, BIS 2.4MM, EK Gold, SQ Gold, Marriott Gold, HH Gold,
Posts: 5,225
It wouldn't be available to Skyclub members regardless. The question is whether or not it is available to Skyteam Elite Plus, or just J, and my guess would be that E+ get an invitation as well.