Booking Virgin flights using Velocity Points?

[ksthommo]

Had a play on the Velocity website, was looking at booking a one way flight from Cairns to Melbourne around 19 December. Couldn't get a Blue Saver flight as they are sold out (no dramas), but

Tried numerous other dates up to April 2007, surprise at no stage
was the Blue Saver fare available.

This isn't a good frequent flyer program if you can't get good value
flights any time at all.

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 Cairns to Melbourne

Flight No Lowest Fare Blue Saver Flexi Saver Fully Flexible Blue Plus
DJ648 Not Avail 20200 (Sold Out) 56500 70300 74400
(1140/1605)
DJ652 Not Avail 16700 (Sold Out) 56500 70300 74400
(2000/0025)

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Just before christmas - I'm not surprised you're finding cheapest awards hard to find. Not much different to the cheapest fares.

 

[ksthommo]

Just before christmas - I'm not surprised you're finding cheapest awards hard to find. Not much different to the cheapest fares.

Tried other dates when Santas doesn't visit, same ol, no Blue Saver flights.

 

[dajop]

Think you might be onto something (pretty apalling) here. On that route, there are heaps of Blue Saver fares available for purchase with $$$, yet none available at all on any date I checked either using Velocity points (at the Blue Saver level)

I did an experiment with velocity award flights, one way Syd-MEL during November (no school hols then, and not around Cup Day). No problems getting awards using 19,100 velocity pts (one way) at the Flexi Saver Level. But the only days I could find rewards using "Blue Saver" or less fare levels were on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On the much maligned Qantas FF program, I could redeem 8,000 pts on multiple flights ANY day of the week. Or for 16,000 pts in J.

All very well that DJ says they have seats available on every flight every day. But at those sort of redemption rates hardly worth it. Certainly, accruing credit card pts to DJ seems to be a complete waste of time. For the $19,100 in spend on a Velocity Amex to get from SYD-MEL (one way), you could earn on a Qantas aligned card instead and get a return on QF (and still have $$ left over), or using a Westpac altitude card get $238 Air NZ airpoint dollars, which you can spend on any fare.

 

[Yada Yada]

Think you might be onto something (pretty apalling) here.

I'll say! :shock: Their FF program is not supposed to be like that. You would expect there to be flights available at Blue Saver level some months out, especially given that the program has not been going that long and not many would have redeemed award flights yet.

 

[FrankC]

Not sure why, but it seems to let me book a seat on DJ659 on the 19Dec06 for 16700 points + tax. But it does say the lowest fare is sold out.
The earlier flight DJ648 is also sold out and all the different fare types are disabled.

 

[ksthommo]

Not sure why, but it seems to let me book a seat on DJ659 on the 19Dec06 for 16700 points + tax. But it does say the lowest fare is sold out.
The earlier flight DJ648 is also sold out and all the different fare types are disabled.

I just had another play and there are now blue saver fare options available, may have been a glitch (myself or virgin?). Can't book any
Cairns/Melbourne flights at all during April 2007.

 

[dajop]

I just had another play and there are now blue saver fare options available, may have been a glitch (myself or virgin?).

Ditto with the SYD-MEL flights I checked earlier today. Must have been a glitch.

 

[serfty]

Ditto with the SYD-MEL flights I checked earlier today. Must have been a glitch.

Maybe they are watching this Forum?:shock:

 

[crazydave98]

Yes, I'm afraid there was a software glitch yesterday, which was brought to our attention by members and fixed in the afternoon. Our apologies for the inconvenience and confusion. The model remains the same; Velocity redemption bookings link directly to Virgin Blue revenue bookings, so if you ever see fares available on one that aren't available on the other it means something has gone wrong! It shouldn't happen again....

We do keep an eye on this forum but don't check it compulsively, so only picked up this thread this morning.​

cheers​

CrazyDave98 (Virgin Blue staffer)​

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Thanks for clearing that up crazydave98

 

[NM]

We do keep an eye on this forum but don't check it compulsively, so only picked up this thread this morning.

We'll have to do something about that. Checking in here should be as compulsive as your morning cuppa .

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

With the switch in software it should be easier for crazydave98 to keep up to date. Can subscribe to forum and threads and get email notification of new posts.

As long as we keep posts about DJ/Velocity in this forum it should work.

 

[dajop]

Crazydave98,I echo the thanks of others for providing the clarification. It is a big relief that this was just a glitch!

I guess the cynics amongst us have gone through umpteen million downgrades of different FF programs over time we always think the worst!!

 

[ksthommo]

Thanks CrazyDave, what has Virgin Blue got up the sleeve to counter attack Deathstars Birthday?