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Melbourne to Los Angeles Return for Approx. $1100

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Just booked my flight Melbourne to Los Angeles return (June to July) for $1150 flying the new Boeing 777, awesome deal I think.

I've been on the lookout for a cheap flight and couldn't find anything for months.

Here are some pics of the plane: http://www.watoday.com.au/photogallery/travel/on-board-v-aus…

Hopefully someone else will find this useful!

EDIT: make sure you tick flexible with dates to get a range of prices and dates :)

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  • Sooo damn tempting, wouldn't mind going to Venice beach again in warmer weather

    The backside got sore after 3 hours, the rest of the 13 hour flight was awful lol

    • who did you fly with Tal? I heard good things about Virgin and the new plane..

      • +2

        Virgin, but feb 2011. Their onboard entertainment system is Awesome

        • thats what i like to hear!! 14-15hr flight, youd hope it would be good!

    • +1

      Agreed, Virgin seats are painful. Let's hope their 777 does not get the standard ultra-hard Virgin seat treatment.

      • !!! Never mind………!

    • +6

      Hey - with all those big muscly guys and their bronzed skin on Venice Beach I'm surprised you lasted three hours before your backside was sore!

      My backside was all red and hurting after only twenty minutes - but came better after I asked the guy to use some lotion on it.

      So everyone Venice Beach can be a heap of fun - but make sure you play safe…. and use lots of…..

      …. sunscreen lotion - coz our pale winter skin is more sensitive coming into the northern hemisphere summer.
      (Get your minds out of the gutter!)

      • I think he meant being 3 hour into the flight and not about the sun tan lol

  • I tried checking flights between June and July but only found them for ~$1100 one way… which dates did you fly? I'm also ex Melbourne

    • im flying out on the 7/6 and coming back on the 9/7, make sure u tick 'flexible with dates' so you get a range of dates…

    • also, return is always cheaper…

  • Awesome, cheers!

  • Hopefully they'll do this offer next year… Too bad I've already booked my international trips for the year.

  • Good deal. Im from Sydney and there are a few of these going from Sydney to LAX for ~$1100 as well. It will be summer out there as well I assume so good time!

  • new 777????

    Its been around at least 10 years

    the article on Virgins plane that you link to is Feb 2009 and shows premium economy not economy.

    • One of the last photos shows normal economy.

    • lol i thought they were new, didn't they take ages to get delivered?

      • +1

        That's the 787.

        • -1

          yeah, a better one to fly is QANTAS's A380.

    • errr, their 777s are not 10 years old, they are 3 years old (which is when V Australia was set up)

      • I did say "its" not "theirs".

        Emirates were flying these around the "turn of the century" - boy that "sounds" OLD. LOL

        The "Feb 2009 link" comment reflects the 3 year age of the V planes.

        I also wasnt having a go at V, I was referring to the OP's NEW comment, which as Steve points out, they probably were getting confused with the 787

        Then again Qantas flies 747's and "its" 40 years old

  • any cheap tix for december 2012??

    • If there is… i'd be tempted to go back to NYC! It cost me about $2200 return from ADL to LAX return on a STUDENT ONLY price. Booked this trip around June '11 for Dec '11.

      • Just got back from NYC - amazing place!

  • +1

    Hi Everyone

    This is a link to the best fares on the virgin website (http://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/specials-offers/flight-…). It has other deals on there but you can see Los Angeles return for 1184 but travel dates are for March. Hope that helps someone.

  • +1

    Im going to the US in November, anyone recommend me the best time to book? April, May, June or Now?

    • +1

      early as possible for those "early bird rates" - try expedia as well etc.

      • thanks mate

        • +1

          Look it can be anytime, there is no set pattern here. Last year around May they did reduce prices, for a sept trip we made. Unfortunately its not possible to set a rule.

          BUT I think the advice you have been given above about "earlybird" deals may be wrong. Flights later in the year are showing around $2400 vs the $1100 for flights now. The earlybird concept, might be applicable for Europe/Asia but not for the US. IMHO

          Friends who are going to US in May/June when I talked to them in Jan were quoted $2400 for the flights we are now seeing here at $1100. And their TA told them to hold off booking for exactly this reason

          At $2-2.4K the prices are quite high. In fact for those going to NYC, or East coast, its probably cheaper to fly via Europe.

          When fares get around the $1500 mark then they are getting reasonable, and then at $1100 they are a good bargain

  • -2

    Virgin long-haul is not worth the money at all! I'd rather pay a little extra and travel QANTAS and know I'm getting a more superior experience and product. I flew Virgin long-haul for the first time a little while back, and I was not impressed - just lacking everywhere.

    • No continuous refreshment service on Virgin

    • No comfort kit

    All these little things add up.

    EDIT: Only $1349 with QANTAS. A380 vs. B777? I think A380.

    • -4

      Doesn't detract from the bargain price of this deal

      • -1

        I disagree. You need to look at the value for money (cost vs. quality & product).

        All Virgin's domestic lead-in fares are about $10 cheaper than QANTAS. But you don't get a checked-bag ($12), food ($10), drinks ($3 - $8), entertainment ($15), extra legroom ($70) or seat selection. So are you still going to pick Virgin? As your argument states it's all about "bargain price".

        • +2

          ??

          This deal is about their long-haul flight which is full-service. No extra for checked bags, food, drinks, entertainment, etc. Why are you talking about Virgin domestic flights? It's completely different. Is a comfort kit worth the ~$200 price difference to you?

          interestingly TrendyTim mentions he got a comfort kit.

    • +1

      QANTAS for me as well..

      I don't care if it cost a little bit more.

    • I flew V Australia last year, and found them to be quite great, nice crew, good entertainment, had self service snack bar (cant remember if they had soft drink cans there or not, but great selection of chips), the comfort kit included eyepatches and ear plugs, no tooth brush).

      Having just flown qantas A380 to USA recently (and going back home in 10 days), i managed to get 4 seats to myself, although the arm rests do not stay up so they get in the way when laying down, it was also very uncomfortable to lay down while remaining seatbelted. They did have an alright meal service, the comfort kits have been scaled right back to eyepatch and toothbrush/paste), the self service abr has lots of drinks and a small selection of nibblies, mostly pretzels.

      All in all they are about on par but are better in different areas. If Virgin was cheaper id choose them (in my case Qantas was cheaper because i had a short window for my trip and virgin was pretty full).

    • Cheapest i could find with Qantas is $1600+ during the June/July months, not sure where you got $1350 from?

      • Well Virgin website is showing $2057 in June for me!

        • for certain dates it is but if you tick flexible with dates you will get a range of prices and the lowest is around $1100 compared with Qantas being around $1600!

        • Every date from 14 June to 3 July is $2,000+

          Edit: Only before the 12 June it looks cheaper.

  • Late May, early June and return Early July is $1100 compared to Qantas being $500 dearer..

  • Flew to LAX with V Australia June last year - lived in California for three months.

    V Australia is probably the best international carrier to LAX, and the tickets are priced reasonably. Good food, continuous service, and the flight entertainment was amazing.

    It's also worth noting that V Australia will let you change your ticket from one time to another (Once you're in America) for $100. I extended my stay a month by doing this.

    Fiancee just got back from America and had four seats to herself, and the arm rests lift up. Bed for 14 hours, anyone?

    Highly recommended.

  • +1

    On all airlines the lower the price, the less likely to get the extra seats, They all work on load factors.

    Flights around June/July tend to be higher as its the US summer holiday break and the Americans start their hols, demand increases.

    But comfort is a factor of plane age. The A380's being newer are more comfortable. The 777's seat cushions on some V planes are getting compressed and harder on the butt.

    But flying Qantas and their aged 747's is a real pain in the butt, not literally, its actually.

    So pick your flights/craft carefully people

    • +1

      Couldnt agree more with the seat cushion feedback.
      I've even tried sitting on my partially inflated neck pillow.

      VA economy is great, I certainly appreciated the extra seat width and top notch entertainment system.

  • Awesome price. In June/July you may even be lucky enough to score a nice dose of radiation at Melb and Syd airports courtey of the new body scanners being installed for international flights.

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