Flying to Vegas in July - Qantas or Virgin?

[abarker]

Hi All....

I'm off the Vegas for the first time, attending the blackhat conference.

Departing Adelaide to Vegas and looking at my options. Currently bronze with qf and virgin but this flight would take me to silver with virgin. Also looking to use my points to upgrade to premium economy or business. Circa 100k points with QF and only 25k with virgin so I may not have enough points with virgin to upgrade. Virgin may not even have premium economy?

Any advice would be appreciated. Keen to keep travel time down and not keen to fly delta or American airlines.

I'm also a Qantas club member given the recent 2 year offer, although beginning to regret paying for it as a lot of my travel seems to be moving towards virgin.

Much apprecaited

Adam

 

[robd]

Hi All....

I'm off the Vegas for the first time, attending the blackhat conference.

Departing Adelaide to Vegas and looking at my options. Currently bronze with qf and virgin but this flight would take me to silver with virgin. Also looking to use my points to upgrade to premium economy or business. Circa 100k points with QF and only 25k with virgin so I may not have enough points with virgin to upgrade. Virgin may not even have premium economy?

Any advice would be appreciated. Keen to keep travel time down and not keen to fly delta or American airlines.

I'm also a Qantas club member given the recent 2 year offer, although beginning to regret paying for it as a lot of my travel seems to be moving towards virgin.

Much apprecaited

Adam

Virgin do have Premium Economy, but I'm pretty sure you can't use points to upgrade on International Long Haul with VA.

 

[leemin]

Virgin do have Premium Economy, but I'm pretty sure you can't use points to upgrade on International Long Haul with VA.

Correct. I'm not sure where the OP got the 25k points figure from?

Personally, I'd shoot for silver with DJ - at least you'll see some after-flight benefits.

 

[robd]

Correct. I'm not sure where the OP got the 25k points figure from?

Personally, I'd shoot for silver with DJ - at least you'll see some after-flight benefits.

25k pts - I'd be in J !

 

[markis10]

Correct. I'm not sure where the OP got the 25k points figure from?

Personally, I'd shoot for silver with DJ - at least you'll see some after-flight benefits.

The OP is saying they have 25k not what is required which is irrelevant as long haul upgrades are not yet available.

 

[mella2007]

As Markis mentioned, you cannot use points to upgrade to any Virgin long haul flight. The Premium product long haul if you're going to pay for the fare is quite good...food is decent and leg room is comfortable. I haven't flown QF so I can't comment.
If you think you will be flying Virgin more in the future, go with them, as once you hit Silver you will get 2 comp lounge passes

 

[abarker]

As Markis mentioned, you cannot use points to upgrade to any Virgin long haul flight. The Premium product long haul if you're going to pay for the fare is quite good...food is decent and leg room is comfortable. I haven't flown QF so I can't comment.
If you think you will be flying Virgin more in the future, go with them, as once you hit Silver you will get 2 comp lounge passes

Thanks to everyone who replied with advice, and sorry about the confusion with points; I was referring to the points I have and not the points needed to upgrade.

Spent some time looking at options today (Qantas v Virgin) and the economy flights are quite cheap with Qantas, and I can use points to upgrade to Premium Economy, so probably do that. It would be close to $4k for return premium economy with Virgin and probably closer to $2k economy with Qantas return. Also get to use the Qantas Club...

Is Silver with Virgin really worth obtaining, other than lounge passes?

Thanks again.

 

[robd]

Is Silver with Virgin really worth obtaining, other than lounge passes?

Thanks again.

Probably only because it means you're on your way to Gold.

 

[mella2007]

Thanks to everyone who replied with advice, and sorry about the confusion with points; I was referring to the points I have and not the points needed to upgrade.

Spent some time looking at options today (Qantas v Virgin) and the economy flights are quite cheap with Qantas, and I can use points to upgrade to Premium Economy, so probably do that. It would be close to $4k for return premium economy with Virgin and probably closer to $2k economy with Qantas return. Also get to use the Qantas Club...

Is Silver with Virgin really worth obtaining, other than lounge passes?

Thanks again.

I think you've done the right thing. Not much value with Virgin Silver....better at Gold or Plat levels and even then you're not able to upgrade yet via long haul and comp upgrades are few and far between. The Lounge is great domestically if you fly a lot and points bonus good...but as the program is still rolling out many changes, I think it will still be quite a while before it shows it's true value.

 

[Cynicor]

Bear in mind that points upgrades are not guaranteed on QF. You pay the fare, ask for an upgrade and then take the second-from-back of the queue for the upgrade lottery, as a QP Bronze on a cheap Y fare.

 

[Major]

As Markis mentioned, you cannot use points to upgrade to any Virgin long haul flight. The Premium product long haul if you're going to pay for the fare is quite good...food is decent and leg room is comfortable. I haven't flown QF so I can't comment.
If you think you will be flying Virgin more in the future, go with them, as once you hit Silver you will get 2 comp lounge passes

And you can use the priority check in counter