International Long Haul - Mixed Ticket Classes

[cssaus]

I know there's no way of doing it on the VA web site but does anyone know if it's possible to buy a round trip ticket SYD-JFK via LAX where SYD-LAX & LAX-SYD is in business class and the LAX-JFK-LAX sectors are in economy?

The other related question, is it possible to purchase a SYD-JFK return flight in business class and have a stopover in LA?

 

[jad01]

I called VA just last week with the very same question and the answer I was given was a very clear YES.
The person I spoke with stated that you can mix classes and even combining paid and Velocity fares on the same ticket.
However the catch is that it cannot be done online and you have to call VA to do it.
Just do your homework on the flights you want taking into consideration minimum connection times in LAX.

JASON

 

[ff-jr]

I phoned recently to book using a gift voucher, and they had issues processing Flexi Econ dep, Saver ret for SYD-LAX. It took them 45 mins (including a third party call to their internal priority escalations line) to find the matching fare classes that Sabre would allow them to process. The girl was a sweetheart and couldn't apologise enough, but c'mon, it's been how many months since the upgrade?

Ironically, it took <3 minutes to upgrade the departing flight to Business.

 

[cssaus]

I called VA just last week with the very same question and the answer I was given was a very clear YES.
The person I spoke with stated that you can mix classes and even combining paid and Velocity fares on the same ticket.
However the catch is that it cannot be done online and you have to call VA to do it.
Just do your homework on the flights you want taking into consideration minimum connection times in LAX.

JASON

Thanks for the feedback Jason. For this type of a booking I'll probably call up my friendly travel agent and get her to look into it.

My ultimate destination in the New York area is Newark so I might look into doing SYD-LAX on VA, LAX-EWR on VX and then return from JFK to SYD via LAX on VA using the codeshare flight on DL from JFK to LAX.

The problem I've been having is that whereas there are some good business saver fares on VA from SYD-LAX on the date that I wish to depart SYD, the same can't be said if attempting to fly SYD-JFK on that same date. For the return date I want to use there are well-priced business saver fares. So maybe doing LAX to NY in economy might be the solution.

In booking my itinerary I'm conscious of using VA flight numbers on the codeshare flights so as to count to my eligible sectors for re-qualifying for Platinum status.