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V Australia now charges 100% for child fares

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Old Apr 5, 2010, 10:50 pm
  #1  
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Angry V Australia now charges 100% for child fares

V Australia now charges 100% of adult fare for children 2-11yrs on Fiji & Thailand routes.
Sad considering family holiday destinations.

This is across of fare classes and types.

bad enought on cheap Y ticket, but full fare J!!

Will book on FJ in J for family fiji trip coming up!!
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Old Apr 5, 2010, 11:07 pm
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This is a bummer. I was considering them for a family holiday to Fiji but full price for MicroDUF doesn't sound good. Why would they do this?
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Old Apr 5, 2010, 11:40 pm
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Originally Posted by DownUnderFlyer
This is a bummer. I was considering them for a family holiday to Fiji but full price for MicroDUF doesn't sound good. Why would they do this?

To make money? A seat sold for less than full price loses money. It's been this way in the US for years.
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Old Apr 6, 2010, 12:28 am
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Originally Posted by Doc Savage
To make money? A seat sold for less than full price loses money. It's been this way in the US for years.
Just a fraction of the seats on a plane will be sold at full price. The majority are discounted. And having children fares doesn't mean that the seat is losing money.

Most fare in Australia have child discounts. Same applies to *A and OW fares. Fiji in particular is a lot about family travel. There is always kids stay and eat free promos on. Therefore FI and QF are offering child discounts on that route.

By not offering the discount when the competitors do, VA is in danger of losing revenue, not making more money.
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Old Apr 6, 2010, 3:58 am
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this is not good....
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Old Apr 6, 2010, 7:04 pm
  #6  
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Just to add, VA do not offer any extras on premium seats such as lounge access or limo service, that they offer on other routes, such as USA.

OK you still get priority boarding, but having to sit around with everyone else at the gate, when paying 3 times discount Y fare is a bit rich.

Even Emirates offer lounge access and limo service on low cost SYD- AKL route.

VA is just cost cutting, which I think will end up loosing them business.

Looking at FJ and VA J loadings, FJ seem to be getting better J yeilds, always empty J seats on VA on the NAN route.
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Old Apr 7, 2010, 4:36 pm
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Originally Posted by DownUnderFlyer
Just a fraction of the seats on a plane will be sold at full price. The majority are discounted. And having children fares doesn't mean that the seat is losing money.

Most fare in Australia have child discounts. Same applies to *A and OW fares. Fiji in particular is a lot about family travel. There is always kids stay and eat free promos on. Therefore FI and QF are offering child discounts on that route.

By not offering the discount when the competitors do, VA is in danger of losing revenue, not making more money.
I agree, it is a very nice thing for families. Child fares may well be an endangered species in Australia soon, as well, if the airlines follow the trend they have established elsewhere.
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Old Apr 8, 2010, 3:54 am
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Was just looking at bookings and discovered the same thing myself.

I guess V have given up on their aim of being (close to) a full service airline, and are now happy to play amongst the basic service carriers with single fares, just going for the price shoppers. Doesn't really match their offering of premium economy services, but charging full price for children is not consistent with a full service offering either.
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Old Apr 11, 2010, 4:07 pm
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Originally Posted by rotuma1
Looking at FJ and VA J loadings, FJ seem to be getting better J yeilds, always empty J seats on VA on the NAN route.
Yet the FJ Business product is pathetic! So it FJ's IFE as well to be honest!
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Old Apr 18, 2010, 12:42 pm
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With loads as high as I've seen and experienced on VA its fair enough. If you give the child a discount rate its lost revenue. The costs for transporting a child are pretty much on par with an adult (save a bit of gas), when you consider staffing, baggage handling, food.

You wouldn't expect a landlord to charge you less for your rent because its two adults and child and not three adults, would you?
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Old Apr 18, 2010, 2:36 pm
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Originally Posted by VancouverGuy
You wouldn't expect a landlord to charge you less for your rent because its two adults and child and not three adults, would you?
Make a difference in hotels and B&B though...lol...
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Old Apr 18, 2010, 3:28 pm
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Originally Posted by IC6A
Make a difference in hotels and B&B though...lol...
Only to attract business. That's the reason for any type of discount - to attract business. The idea that a travel vendor should offer a discount out of the goodness of their heart is preposterous. Even when discounts do seem to be out of the goodness of their heart at least in part, its more of a good will gesture.
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