Double Points and Status Credits on Business Class flights from 26 January 2012

Virgin Australia’s Business Class is now flying on all major domestic routes.

To celebrate, every Business Class flight you take on Virgin Australia domestic and international short haul services* between 26 January and 29 February 2012, will earn double Velocity Points and Status Credits* – even on flights already booked.

*Terms and conditions apply.

Updated 30 January 2012

Virgin Australia has announced additional flights as part of an accelerated capacity growth plan for major corporate, resources sector and leisure routes. The airline will be introducing the following:

• From 13 February 2012, extra services between Brisbane-Melbourne, Sydney-Melbourne and Adelaide-Melbourne – and also between Brisbane-Cairns and Brisbane-Whitsunday Coast (Proserpine).
• From 19 February 2012, an additional return service will also be introduced between Brisbane and Gladstone on Sundays in response to demand.
• From 20 February 2012, extra services will also be added between Brisbane and Rockhampton.

Capital city flight increases:

• Adelaide-Melbourne: An additional return flight Mondays through Fridays; taking the total number of flights offered between the two cities up to 10 per day or 130 per week.
• Brisbane-Melbourne: An extra return flight seven days a week; taking the total number of flights offered on the route up to 13 daily or 174 per week.
• Melbourne-Sydney: An extra return flight seven days a week; taking the total number of flights offered between the two cities up to 31 daily or 392 per week.

Queensland flight increases:

• Brisbane-Gladstone: One extra return flight on Sundays; taking the total number of flights offered by the airline on the route to 34 per week.
• Brisbane-Rockhampton: An extra return flight, Monday to Friday; taking the total number of Virgin Australia flights between Brisbane-Rockhampton up to 78 per week.
• Brisbane-Cairns: An extra return flight will be added every day except Saturdays; taking the total number of Virgin Australia flights between Brisbane and Cairns each week to 80.
• Brisbane and Whitsunday Coast (Proserpine): An additional return service, Monday to Friday, will be introduced; taking the total number of flights offered by the airline on the route to 24 per week.

Updated 27 January 2012

Virgin Australia today launched Business Class on most domestic routes across the country, giving Australian travellers choice in Business Class for the first time in over a decade. The offering includes new premium cabins with luxury leather seating and generous recline, a gourmet food and beverage service, as well as complimentary access to Virgin Australia’s lounges and priority security screening, check-in and boarding.

To celebrate the launch of Business Class, Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program is offering its members the opportunity to earn double Velocity Points and Status Credits on all Business Class domestic flights taken with Virgin Australia between 26 January and 29 February 2012. Virgin Australia also confirmed that Saver fare guests travelling between Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney on Monday to Friday will be offered complimentary beer and wine between 4:00pm and 7:00pm (AEST).

 BUSINESS CLASS FEATURES INCLUDE:

• Luxury leather seating with 62” seat pitch on the Airbus A330; and 38” seat pitch on the Boeing 737- 800
• Amenity Kits along with plush blankets and pillows on three+ hour flights
• Personalised service from a dedicated cabin crew member along with dedicated washroom facilities
• Coat check-in service with complimentary coat bag
• Newspapers until noon daily
• Exclusive Luke Mangan gourmet full service dining experience
• Premium Australian wines, beers, and spirit selection
• Priority security screening, boarding and baggage service where available
• Complimentary access to Virgin Australia airport lounges – at Sydney Airport, optional valet parking and direct kerbside access into the lounge via a dedicated security screening point and check-in desk.

Checked baggage fee increase on selected international short haul flights

Following an annual review of checked baggage fees for Virgin Australia, the online checked baggage fee on selected international short haul flights has been increased.

Please note – This is not an across-the-board checked baggage fee change but only on selected short-haul international routes as detailed below:

There will be no change to airport checked baggage fees or excess baggage rates.

Updated 15 December 2011

FASTER, SMARTER CHECK-IN LAUNCHES ACROSS THE TASMAN

Qantas has launched the first stage of its international Faster, Smarter Check-in with new Q Card Readers now operational at key trans-Tasman ports.  

 The new trans-Tasman Q Card Reader Check-in means Platinum, Gold and Silver Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members travelling across the Tasman will be able to use their Qantas card to check-in at an internationally configured Q Card Reader, streamlining their international corporate travel management experience.

For the all travellers and in particular the corporate traveller this will mean cutting down the journey time.

 Travellers travelling between Australia and New Zealand, who hold an Australian or New Zealand passport, will be able to scan their Qantas card at the Q icon as per the process for the domestic Q Card Reader. They then scan their passport at the reader located below the Q icon, completing their check-in.

Trans-Tasman Q Card Readers will be progressively introduced to Melbourne, Brisbane and Queenstown throughout 2011, with plans to roll out the technology in Christchurch next year.

Qantas announced it would increase capacity from Perth to a number of Western Australian destinations.  To provide the new capacity Qantas has added a B737-800 aircraft to its Perth based fleet to service key regional ports. This is the second B737-800 to be delivered to the Perth fleet in 2011.

The intra-Western Australia schedule changes, especially benefitting corporate travel passengers  include:

• Three new Perth-Karratha return services and the upgrade of four return services from a B717 to a B737
• Adding 1,120 seats on the route each week
• Four additional Perth-Newman return services adding 1,132 seats on the route each week
• Three new Perth-Paraburdoo return services adding 690 seats on the route each week
• The upgrade of three Perth-Port Hedland return services from a B717 to a B737 adding 318 seats per week
• The upgrade of one Perth-Broome return services from a B717 to a B737 adding 106 seats per week

QantasLink also launched its commercial service between Perth and Geraldton and enhanced its Perth-Exmouth services by introducing Q400 aircraft in addition to Boeing 717s on the route. QantasLink also confirmed that flight frequencies on its Perth-Exmouth route will increase in January from 2 to 11 return services per week*.

*Subject to Government and Department of Defence approvals

Updated 30 November 2011

Qantas travellers can book flights with confidence that there will be no industrial action by the pilots’ union, licensed engineers’ union and Transport Workers’ Union for up to the next four years.  Corporate travellers and corporate travel management agents benefit from the news.

The Transport Workers’ Union has confirmed that it will not launch an appeal or stay against the decision by Fair Work Australia to terminate all industrial action. [Read more...]

Qantas announced it will extend its A380 network to now include Hong Kong from January 2012*.

Qantas will receive its eleventh and twelfth A380s later this year, providing capacity for four return services per week to Hong Kong. It will also mean A380 services between Melbourne and London (via Singapore) will increase from six flights per week to daily and services between Melbourne and Los Angeles will increase from four flights per week to daily.

QF127 Sydney-Hong Kong will operate from Sydney to Hong Kong with A380s on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and return on the same day as QF128 from Hong Kong to Sydney.

The Qantas A380 schedule now includes:

• Daily services between Sydney and London (via Singapore)
• Daily services between Melbourne and London (via Singapore) (from early December)
• Daily services between Sydney and Los Angeles
• Daily services between Melbourne and Los Angeles (from 17 January)
• Four flights per week between Sydney and Hong Kong (from 15 January)

To celebrate the launch of the new service, Qantas is offering a special sale fare from Sydney to Hong Kong for $AUD380 one way in Economy class and $AUD938 one way in Premium Economy Class. This is subject to regulatory approval.   Contact  your MP Travel Management Consultant for further details.

* QF127 departs Sydney at 1145 local and arrives at 1750 local. QF128 departs Hong Kong at 1950 local and arrives at 0815 local (the following day).

Updated 10 November 2011

Virgin Australia has commenced sales of its Business Class airfare between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane for travel from 18 January, 2012.

Virgin Australia’s Business Class introductory pricing includes:

Sydney Brisbane From $579.00 one way

Melbourne Sydney From $559.00 one way

Brisbane Melbourne From $885.00 one way

Travellers of Virgin Australia’s Business Class will have complimentary access to Virgin Australia’s lounges and priority check-in and boarding.

 BUSINESS CLASS FEATURES INCLUDE:

• Luxury leather seating with 38” seat pitch on the Boeing 737 and 62” seat pitch on the Airbus
• A330
• Newspapers are available until noon daily
• Luke Mangan designed menu options
• Premium Australian wines and beers, and spirit selection

Seats are limited and may not be available at peak times or on all flights.  Business Class fare is correct as at 2 November 2011 and is subject to change. Fares are on sale from 2 November for travel from 18 January 2012.  Terms and conditions apply.  Contact your MP Travel Management Consultant for further details.

Updated 3 November 2011

QantasLink Qld announced that two additional 105-seat Boeing 717 aircraft will be based in Brisbane from early next year, as part of a significant boost to the airline’s Queensland capacity.  The airline also announced network expansions including a new twice weekly Townsville to Moranbah service.  From 17 Oct QantasLink will boost frequencies and capacity on routes including Moranbah-Brisbane, Emerald-Brisbane, Cairns-Weipa, Roma-Brisbane and a new direct service to Charleville.  MP Travel – as your corporate travel management agent can offers these services via your consultant or you can use the MP online travel booking tools available.