Having done BNE-MKY in a Q400, that was generally a 1:40ish flight time...surely 3 hours is a bit generous?? Admittedly I'm not signing up for it, although if it was at the right price I'm sure there might be a few takers...
My previous experience with VA group travel was that it credited as a Choice fare, but OLCI and seat selection was hit and miss. Should allow you to add your Velocity number either by Web or by calling up, however YMMV.
I have mine with milk so at least there's some redemption. Having said that, didn't think to check if it was a different set of beans to Brisbane or not.
MEL lounge calling flights early again today. I'm on VA329 (1310 departure) which they called at 12:45. Get to Gate 2 and doesn't board for another 10 minutes 😑😑
1697853915
FYI Melbourne lounge coffee was average to say the least. Tasted like the machine hadn't been cleaned recently. 😪
Bid minimum + $5 for tomorrow middle of day flight MEL-BNE. No "update your bid" email or anything. Noted that at T-18 there are no seats left... not sure if purchased or if upgraded though.
PS - received the "Upgrade offer unsuccessful" email at T-3, offering me the option of Economy X...
BNE lounge this morning had scrambled eggs and a corn-based jumble (the word escapes me at the moment) on offer. Coffee bar was being run by 2 and (as usual) had a queue of ~10 deep, so used the automatic machine for that instead.
Holding my nerve, as I already have 3A sewn up for the morning trip. Wouldn't mind the J upgrade as that would save me rushing to the lounge for breakfast though.
I have a BNE-MEL flight in 2 days (0600 departure) and received the "you've been outbid" email this morning. I've bid Minimum + $5.
Currently 5 seats available in J - will be interesting to see how this one shapes up.
As a follow-up to this, flight departed on time, flight arrived in NTL on time, and aside from having to pay $8 per person to select the seat on a QFF booking it was fine...
The other little trick is to check at T-48 how many seats are remaining in the J cabin. If there's 6-8 seats left then minimum + $5 will probably suffice. If not, feel free to increase. The system also makes offers at any time within the T-48 space....sometimes T-24, sometimes T-12.
Or perhaps it is that someone HAS bid more than you...but there is more than just one seat on offer.
FWIW I've never received one of these "you have been outbid" emails....and in generally bidding minimum or $5-10 above. 🤷♂️
It will be interesting to see what timeframe they have for those -700 J conversions, considering they were for the FIFO market and replacing the F100s.