Release timeframe for business reward seats

[cashman05]

Hi,

I am interested if anyone knows when business reward seats are released for VA long haul flights (eg:10 days out).

Thanks

 

[CJEMNMAC]

This is often asked and no one really has the exact formula I don't thnk

You will just need to keep checking... I booked last week 2 seats ex SYD-MEL-LAX for next week... a few seats different days around 10 - 20 days out from departure

 

[Muppet501st]

I booked 2 return J BNE-LAX last week, for 22nd July return 26th July

 

[serfty]

It's basically 5-7 days out. Keep looking from 10 days.

More here: Is International Virgin Reward availability now worse that QANTAS? (More recent posts).

 

[SuzieQ68]

I picked up VA Codeshare Reward J seats about 2 weeks ago for flights departing Aus mid July, returning end August. Was a bit surprised, but very happy.

 

[VulpesVulpes]

This might not be exactly what people are wanting to hear but they release seats about 330 days in advance. +/- a few days but VA ticket on VA metal seems to be more precise. SQ metal may pop up early.

If you want a seat on a particular day at the pointy end you need to book 11 months ahead. Anything less is a gamble.

Booking that far out isn't for everyone, but I just booked SQ MEL-SIN on the new 77W and SIN-LHR on the new A380 in dream seats for May next year.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

I just did 6 days in USA. 2 x Tix in Business booked about 2 weeks out.. The annoying thing is that the MEL-LAX flight had at least 8 vacant seats and last night VA2 flight home had about 12 seats vacant seats... This is poor when everyone is trying to get reward seats

 

[jb01]

Resurrecting an old thread - any idea at the time of day reward seats might be released?

I hesitate to use the words ‘usually released’ as I’m sure there is no ‘usual’.

 

[clipped_wings]

I've checked at 1am which is 12am AEDT in Brisbane. Nothing.Then, at 7am they've popped up. I also find them 284 days out, 254 days out.

VA love messing with me

 

[CJEMNMAC]

I just did 6 days in USA. 2 x Tix in Business booked about 2 weeks out.. The annoying thing is that the MEL-LAX flight had at least 8 vacant seats and last night VA2 flight home had about 12 seats vacant seats... This is poor when everyone is trying to get reward seats

Seems nothing much has changed in 12 months.. VA2 had min 12 vacant J seats. Just got home from a week away..

 

[freebo]

I recently upgraded both directions on an Aus-LA trip to J.

Return leg appeared at T-36, outbound was T-16.

 

[deangelj]

I'm planning a trip SYD<->LAX for June 2020. I can't find much availability for a reward seat in J at the moment. Is it worthwhile just buying the Freedom seat and asking Virgin to go on "the waitlist"? Does Platinum status get you anywhere on a waitlist or should I just monitor the reward seat availability myself?

 

[freebo]

I'm planning a trip SYD<->LAX for June 2020. I can't find much availability for a reward seat in J at the moment. Is it worthwhile just buying the Freedom seat and asking Virgin to go on "the waitlist"? Does Platinum status get you anywhere on a waitlist or should I just monitor the reward seat availability myself?

I don't think the waitlist works well, in fact I believe it only activates 3 days out. I'd be monitoring from 45 days out.

As for Plat,only Gold and Plat can upgrade so I suspect these two are equal (and I'm Plat too).

Source: last 2 years I've successfully upgraded Freedom->J on both legs of BNE-LAX trips in July, each time it was by monitoring, not waitlist.

 

[clipped_wings]

I'm planning a trip SYD<->LAX for June 2020. I can't find much availability for a reward seat in J at the moment. Is it worthwhile just buying the Freedom seat and asking Virgin to go on "the waitlist"? Does Platinum status get you anywhere on a waitlist or should I just monitor the reward seat availability myself?

I would tend to watch every day from now on. If you are set on reward seat availability - that is the only way you'll be ready to jump on them when they appear.