Business upgrade on SYD-HKG-SYD

[bion]

Going to Guam in couple of weeks and have to options to choose from.
1. Virgin on FLEXI Economy to SYD-HKG-SYD and UA HKG-GUM-HKG
2. China Airlines Premium Economy SYD-TPE-SYD and Economy TPE-GUM-TPE

Option one I'm platinum both with VA and UA but my issue is that Virgin does not have any J reward seats available either way hence no guarantee for J upgrade. So my question is how likely is it that VA customer service will bump me up? Have never flown VA internationally and don't know how their upgrade process works. With domestic it's pretty straight forwards as long as there are seats available. With UA I get J upgrade automatically at check-in as long as there are seats available.

Option two is not something I'm keen on but at least I have PE guaranteed between SYD-TPE-SYD

My budget is $2000-$2500 if anybody has any other ideas.

Thanks

 

[odysseus]

With Plat on VA to HKG you should have a fair chance of upgrade though I'd suggest choosing off-peak travel days if you can i.e. non Fri-Sun outbound and return.

You'll go on a waitlist so they will likely allocate seats for you if still available.

China Airlines is also a good product, though of course you don't get econ to Guam. Food would be better on VA.

 

[Saab34]

I can see CI about $2k return PE with Business on the Guam legs. A350 from Sydney and

 

[bion]

With Plat on VA to HKG you should have a fair chance of upgrade though I'd suggest choosing off-peak travel days if you can i.e. non Fri-Sun outbound and return.

You'll go on a waitlist so they will likely allocate seats for you if still available.

China Airlines is also a good product, though of course you don't get econ to Guam. Food would be better on VA.

I twill most likely be peak travel for me.

I wonder if I should call VA customer service and ask them pre-approve upgrade before I purchase tickets and otherwise I'll fly with CI