Virgin Australia has introduced a new range of Economy airfares including a seat only option designed to give Aussie travellers and businesses more options and choices.
Virgin Australia has today introduced brand new Economy fares, including Economy Choice, Economy Flex and Economy Lite, each of which will offer different booking options.
In announcing the new range, Virgin Australia said that after a review of fares, pricing and bookings, the airline found that an average of 30 per cent of customers did not use their checked baggage allowance.
As such, the new Economy Lite seat-only fare will give travellers the option to remove the unwanted cost of checked baggage from their ticket price.
For those who still want baggage, travellers will continue to receive a hefty 23 kilograms of checked baggage and seat selection when they book an Economy Choice or Economy Flex fare.
Economy Choice will also offer bonus Velocity Frequent Flyer Points and Status Credits and booking flexibility for changes up to 14 days before departure without paying a fee.
Today’s announcement will see Virgin Australia customers continue to enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, and water on all flights regardless of the fare type they purchase, as well as Velocity Frequent Flyer Points and Status Credits with every booking.
Equally, Virgin Australia Club members, eligible Velocity Frequent Flyer and Lounge members will continue to be welcomed to enjoy the airline’s premium and domestic lounges, irrespective of the ticket they buy.
Importantly, the airline says the new fares will reduce Virgin Australia’s lowest lead-in Economy fare to just $59, which is a 33 per cent reduction compared to September 2019 prices.
The move positions Virgin Australia as the only Australian airline to offer Economy, Economy X, seat-only Economy fares and Business Class, giving customers the most diversified range of airfare options in the domestic market. It will also bring Virgin Australia in line with most major US and European carriers.
A Virgin Australia Group spokesperson said the new fares follow an extensive review of the airline’s fare pricing and structure.
“We discovered that nearly one in every three Virgin Australia customers don’t bring a checked bag when they travel, despite a bag allowance built into their airfare. On flights between Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, that number is even higher.
“Today, we’re putting the power back in the hands of our customers by leaving it up to them to choose what they want. If they don’t want a checked bag or seat selection, they won’t have to pay for it – it’s that simple. If they prefer to keep the extras, there are great value inclusive fare options available.
“Every customer is unique and has different needs and budgets, and we want to welcome all of them on board to experience our award-winning service in the way that best suits them,” they said.
You can find out more about Virgin Australia’s new Economy airfares here.