Business Upgrade with Platinum, zero availability

[rapitts]

I was hoping for an upgrade to business class on a recent purchase return to Japan via Sydney and Cairns, 4 flights in total.

However I was disappointed to discover that apparently Velocity had no availability on those flights however could be purchased separately to business class.

Never had an issue before upgrading since the Flex fares are typically more expensive to secure the business upgrade.

Have Virgin now limited the number of business class seats for this benefit and focus on offering these via the upgrade me path.

Obviously this damages holding the platinum card in the first place.

 

[encryptededdy]

You can only upgrade if there's business award seats available on that flight, and this has always been the case to my knowledge.

 

[knagelli]

Reward seats/upgrades are like hot cakes , grab them while they are fresh ( read released). Not many have had success in upgrading VA metal in international routes.

 

[SYD]

Reward seats/upgrades are like hot cakes , grab them while they are fresh ( read released). Not many have had success in upgrading VA metal in international routes.

With so few on a B737 to start with and huge demand, I’d be surprised if there are any - short of some late cancellations or missed flights.

 

[Bagpuss]

With so few on a B737 to start with and huge demand, I’d be surprised if there are any - short of some late cancellations or missed flights.

Depends on when are where you are flying. This took under 30 seconds to find and within the next week with 2 available.

 

[SYD]

Depends on when are where you are flying. This took under 30 seconds to find and within the next week with 2 available.

OP was referring to flights to/from Japan and connections.

 

[Bagpuss]

OP was referring to flights to/from Japan and connections.

As my comment was it depends when / where you are flying and there's availability

It's the classic reward availability trick. What you want isn't available, but (almost) everything else is.