Discover the Americas expo - VA flights & Upgrade?

[marcoakis]

Hi guys,

The Discover the Americas expo is in Melbourne this weekend. I'm looking to travel with my wife and baby girl next year and have a good chunk of points that I'm looking to burn to upgrade to Business.

VA's website states that upgrades from a Flexi fare must be (Y, B, H, K or L) and Premium Saver (R or O).

My questions...

- Do the discounted tickets sold in these events fall in the categories above? In terms of the letter classification.
- What are the price ranges for Economy Flexi and Premium Economy in these events? Looking to travel to LAX from Melbourne.

 

[williamsf1]

Hi guys,

The Discover the Americas expo is in Melbourne this weekend. I'm looking to travel with my wife and baby girl next year and have a good chunk of points that I'm looking to burn to upgrade to Business.

VA's website states that upgrades from a Flexi fare must be (Y, B, H, K or L) and Premium Saver (R or O).

My questions...

- Do the discounted tickets sold in these events fall in the categories above? In terms of the letter classification.
- What are the price ranges for Economy Flexi and Premium Economy in these events? Looking to travel to LAX from Melbourne.

I assume also you are Gold or Platinum?


Almost all of the airline fares sold at such travel shows will all be in the lower fare classes, so not valid for upgrade. As for the prices at these shows, they are normally 100-200 discount off the non sale fare (MEL-LAX $1100rtn)

 

[Denali]

Just a reminder that from late October, Virgin direct Melb >LAX flights will cease.

 

[Atleastonce]

I have purchased VA BNE-LAX-BNE twice at the travel expo, once Y and once Y+ and both times I think the ticketing was so low it didn't even attract a code. Very much discounted fare with restricted options, and definitely no option to upgrade with points.

 

[cjd600]

At the SYD Americas expo a couple of weeks ago, the SYD-LAX flights on VA were for T and Q class in economy (from $1170)

 

[marcoakis]

Thanks for the info guys, it seems like I won't be buying it through them then.

I've been saving points for a while now towards J so class fare is key.

 

[Limewood]

Aren't these Discover America Expos run by Flight Centre?.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Aren't these Discover America Expos run by Flight Centre?.

I would think that's highly likely. I went to one a couple of years back at the BNE Convention Centre thinking that there might be people from tourist bureaux there where I could obtain some general info. Wrong.

It's just a giant booking hall with thousands of people crammed in buying tickets for the same price you can get at FC the following week. People here have reported that when booking through a FC not on the day of the expo they could still get the special price.

Think of trying to making a booking during the ambience of a David Jones Boxing Day Sale.

 

[DaleS]

I guess those non AFF reading people who fly to LAX wearing trakky dax & thongs have to buy their cheap tickets somewhere. Good luck to them if they get a bargain and they have more money to spend at Disneyland.