Virgin Australia's direct flights between the Gold Coast and Perth
By David Flynn, September 18 2018
Virgin Australia will launch direct flights between Perth and the Gold Coast from mid-December, albeit with a few caveats.
The flights will run just twice a week, and across a seasonal roster from 13 December 2018 to 26 January 2019 rather than being a year-around service.
Those flights will run on the workhorse Boeing 737-800 rather than Virgin's larger and more comfortable Airbus A330, although this will at least offer inflight Internet across the 4½ journey.
Virgin's two-tier WiFi system will see passengers able to tap into a free connection at around 1Mbps (sufficient for simple Web browsing, email and social media) or pay for a higher-speed service rated "at up to 13Mbps for higher-bandwidth applications such as video streaming and downloading large files or attachments," the airline says.
Read more: Virgin Australia begins charging for fast WiFi on domestic flights
Jetstar is the only other airline flying directly between the two cities, and Virgin no doubt hopes that its positioning as a more premium airline will attract its share of higher-paying customers.
Business class passengers plus Platiinum and Gold frequent flyers at either end of Virgin Australia's newest route will enjoy entry into the Virgin lounges at the Gold Coast...
... and Perth.
Also read:
- Why Virgin's cabin baggage allowance is bad for business travel
- Qantas vs Virgin Australia: how points-based reward seat fares compare
- Qantas vs Virgin Australia: how their flexible economy fares compare
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Dec 2017
Total posts 50
Really hoping to see VA return to the international short haul market here in Perth too, looks like they’re keen to expand!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 381
While on the topic of Virgin Australia’s domestic expansion, the new Perth - Hobart link began yesterday. This is a year-round, three times per week service.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Dec 2016
Total posts 7
This route will be very interesting to watch, as to if the route ends up being successful. No doubt QF/JQ will give the route a go, if VA can make a go of it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Mar 2017
Total posts 16
JQ already do PER-OOL daily.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Mar 2017
Total posts 16
Except Sundays. Whoops.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 439
I regularly use JQs OOL-PER service, so this will be a VERY welcome addition. Here's hoping it's popular and gets extended to year-round service.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2014
Total posts 319
Good move by Virgin, this is what their focus should be, target Jetstar only routes to regional areas that Qantas don’t fly and offer a better product, they have done this on the TSV - SYD route with real success, let’s hope this goes to a year round service.
02 Aug 2018
Total posts 15
As a regular user of OOL, kudos to VA for this. Hopefully it goes well and eventually goes daily
22 Dec 2012
Total posts 35
Good move by Virgin. I've often thought that the Gold Coast, being Australia's largest non-capital city, needed some direct west coast flights.
17 Jul 2018
Total posts 3
Hopefully Virgin get enough traction on this to extend to at least a 12-month trial. It is a niche market so 2 to 3 times a week to start would be ideal and if the route does get an extension, maybe ramping up to 4-5 times a week over the winter school holiday periods as not all from Western Australia wish to go to Bali!!!. Even before the service has started, VA has an advantage over Jetstar in that these flights are being operated during daytime hours and not as a dreaded red-eye (other than the one off on the 20th of December). The flight schedule itself will be a winner with many.
02 Dec 2016
Total posts 91
Good move VA. Let's hope it moves to an increased frequency.
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