OPINION- likelihood of premium economy reward seats BNE-LAX

[Jobeki111]

Hi guys
I am tossing up at the moment whether to just purchase using cash economy seats for our family of 3 (+ an infant) or whether I gamble on premium economy reward seats coming up close to departure and book economy reward seats which I then cancel if PE rewards come up (or better yet business). We have not flown international economy in quite a while so would not relish it but what do you guys reckon the likelihood of 3 PE (or Biz) reward seats coming up on the same flight. It would be end of school holidays in Oz (mid-late July to early Aug) but we would not have flexibility with our dates more than a day or 2 each way. I also think flying with kids we would choose economy over an indirect flight (eg. flying via Syd or Melb) but flying in PE. Take the gamble or just resign ourselves to slumming it in economy but at least getting some SC to help my wife retain platinum with pooling
Thanks guys
Josh

 

[Mattg]

If you were flying outside of school holidays, I would say the chances of premium economy or business reward seats opening up within a week of the flight would be OK. But not during school holidays IMHO. Be prepared to fly what you've booked.

 

[Jobeki111]

I should clarify our departure date ex BNE is after the end of the school hols in qld and 3d before school hols finish in NSW

 

[odysseus]

Given you:
1) want 3
2) at that time of year, and
3) don't have flexibility,

I wouldn't gamble it. Too much risk.

Besides, that plane on that route in economy is pretty decent.

 

[PhilandJosh]

Well... the risk is not excessive... we would still have economy reward seats booked.
1. If PE did come up we would lose 15k points in cancellation fees
2 if they don’t come up we lose 200sc and maybe 25k pts we would have got from booking paid fares (based on current double pts promo).
But I get your point that the chance of reward given the constraints is probably small and the 200sc may be the diff between her retaining platinum or soft landing (Although in that case I would just pool to me so I retain gold rather than slipping to silver and she could just take the soft landing to gold).

 

[odysseus]

Yeah, I took it that you wouldn't be happy to redeem just for economy.

If you're fine with that as the outcome then there's no harm to it.

 

[Bagpuss]

Why don't you just book the cash economy seats, then submit an points upgrade ? (or even do an upgrade me bid)

You maybe expecting a little too much to get 3 rewards seats available in PE.

USA economy fares are really cheap at the moment.

 

[Mattg]

Why don't you just book the cash economy seats, then submit an points upgrade ? (or even do an upgrade me bid)

You maybe expecting a little too much to get 3 rewards seats available in PE.

USA economy fares are really cheap at the moment.

On VA you can only request a points upgrade to/from LAX if you purchase a Freedom fare AND have Gold/Platinum Velocity status. Freedom fares are not cheap.

 

[deejo77]

You said your wife is platinum - use the guarantee reward seats in economy as your back up - you can book very close to the departure date

Platinum Reward Seat Guarantee

 

[PhilandJosh]

I thought it was 6mths advance booking for guaranteed economy reward seats using the platinum benefit?

 

[PhilandJosh]

how about if it was only 2 PE reward seats rather than 3 would the chances be that much better? I can use my AIA vitality benefit to book up to 10d prior to departure for a 50% discount (only applies for PE flex or freedom/elevate as far as I can find)