Is International Virgin Reward availability now worse that QANTAS?

[ozjuice]

Of the 4 passengers I spoke to in the bar, one was a corporate traveller ("work books my tickets, I would never pay for this myself" were his words), the other three "just used points" to get their seats.

My point is, there once seemed to be a lot of availability of reward seats and reward upgrades, and the immediate confirmation of upgrade was the most attractive part of flying with VA. These days, I can never find a reward or upgrade, even as a Platinum, no matter how many times I check back or monitor with Expert Flyer etc. Booking through Delta is a good tip that I might try next time.

Wondering if others have the same experience. If VA has lost this former advantage, then I may as well go back to Qantas!

This will depend a lot on dates and days of the week. Often weekend rewards are not available but weekdays are. I just looked and saw quite a lot of dates for next summer. Just have to be flexible.
BTW, I'd also never pay full fare for a 13 hour LAX flight. Not worth it.

 

[pauly7]

My point is, there once seemed to be a lot of availability of reward seats and reward upgrades, and the immediate confirmation of upgrade was the most attractive part of flying with VA. These days, I can never find a reward or upgrade, even as a Platinum, no matter how many times I check back or monitor with Expert Flyer etc. Booking through Delta is a good tip that I might try next time.

Wondering if others have the same experience. If VA has lost this former advantage, then I may as well go back to Qantas!

This thread exists because there is a shared feeling that there has been a noticeable decrease in award avails on VA. I'm a realist - I'm flexible on days, months and times but still struggle to redeem a J award on VA. Actually I've only managed once! If it wasn't for the 'safety net' of getting them out of VA to SQ I'd almost be writing off the points I have with them they are that difficult to use for me.
How it compares in terms of avails to QF is really difficult to judge though and dependent on where you want to fly when. Certainly QF's broader network helps a lot.

 

[serfty]

Always worth snaffling a VA award longhaul when you can.

Qantas U MEL-LAX is 96k & ~$485.

VA Z MEL-LAX is 95.5k and ~$120.

As a WP I can get a good choice with QF but I like to save the $300+.

 

[Dannyism]

.. but I like to save the $300+.

Here here.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

As a WP I can get a good choice with QF but I like to save the $300+.

this could be an OZBargain quote

 

[Roflco]

Any idea when VS releases J award partner seats?

I just rang the VA contact centre to book a flight for May 2018 (9 months out) but they didn't have any seats. none in economy either within a week either side, so the contact agent said they probably haven't been released, and to call back in a week.

 

[serfty]

this could be an OZBargain quote

Have you seen the one way +++ out of LAX to oz an a QFF Business award.:shock:

 

[deva22]

Have you seen the one way +++ out of LAX to oz an a QFF Business award.:shock:

i had a Y+ one booked (just cancelled) and it was bad enough!! $500 per pax!

 

[Rdarby]

How does booking with Delta work? Do I need to join their program and transfer points? Is there a way to check availability before doing that? I need to be in the US on the 21st to 29th July, but no availability of J reward even this far out.

 

[AnotherWorld]

Well after looking at different flights for the past four months I still am yet to find a suitable J class reward on velocity. I do Fly in/fly out work so I cant always be as flexible as some here, although I do accrue annual leave so that gives me something. I've looked for tickets from syd-lax, mel-lax, per-dps, and every single time I come up with "Sold out". Am yet to be able redeem velocity points other than a couple of domestic upgrades. Not sure whether they're ever going to serve me any purpose... this is kind of irritating because I transferred my entire krisflyer points balance to velocity

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Not sure whether they're ever going to serve me any purpose... this is kind of irritating because I transferred my entire krisflyer points balance to velocity

I view Velocity as another way to get krisflyer miles. Without that functionality I'd give up on the program and stick with QF and Amex to earn miles.

The issue with Velocity is the paucity of their own international network, so there's very few award seats available each day, and I suspect platinum members get first dibs on the seats so anyone without status may as well forget it.

QF has a similar issue, but at least you can book online with the majority of one world airlines and emirates.

 

[Quickstatus]

Plats don’t get first dibs. And availability is not better than lower tiers

 

[henleybeach]

LAX is usually quite a popular route . I did book a MEL-LAX return business class for a mate in September for travel at the start of November this year . But usually you have to book fair way out.
I’ve never had a problem to Europe or Africa in business class with Etihad or Singapore Airlines , either booking 10 months out or 2 months out , I’ve always found availability

Well after looking at different flights for the past four months I still am yet to find a suitable J class reward on velocity. I do Fly in/fly out work so I cant always be as flexible as some here, although I do accrue annual leave so that gives me something. I've looked for tickets from syd-lax, mel-lax, per-dps, and every single time I come up with "Sold out". Am yet to be able redeem velocity points other than a couple of domestic upgrades. Not sure whether they're ever going to serve me any purpose... this is kind of irritating because I transferred my entire krisflyer points balance to velocity

 

[bullerdude]

LAX is usually quite a popular route . I did book a MEL-LAX return business class for a mate in September for travel at the start of November this year . But usually you have to book fair way out.
I’ve never had a problem to Europe or Africa in business class with Etihad or Singapore Airlines , either booking 10 months out or 2 months out , I’ve always found availability

My experience is the same - great availability into ASIA and Europe through partner airlines (albeit at higher points cost sometimes), limited availability to America in PE and J unless you book as soon as the tickets are released given the popularity of the route (which is no different to qantas).

 

[Dannyism]

Can anyone see any MEL-HKG J awards at the moment ?

 

[supa007]

I’ve been monitoring J availability to and from LAX for Sep/Oct 2018 for sometime now... Still trying to find a pattern to its release. Only seem to be releasing 1-2 seats (separate flights) at a time, sometimes weeks apart, and only on Mon/Tue... Around 310~280 days in advance.

Anyone else observing other patterns?

 

[CJEMNMAC]

Can anyone see any MEL-HKG J awards at the moment ?

Dannyism

Call up with a few possible dates.. Each time I have tried there has been zero online but 2 seats via call centre.. ( have tried 2 times with success )

 

[Dannyism]

Dannyism

Call up with a few possible dates.. Each time I have tried there has been zero online but 2 seats via call centre.. ( have tried 2 times with success )

oh really ?! thanks.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

oh really ?! thanks.

cannot guarantee of course but maybe coincidence ? I rekon just give it a shot and if you only need 1 seat you never know

 

[supa007]

After reading the above reply, I called to check. Yes, there are more J award seats than appears online.