Is International Virgin Reward availability now worse that QANTAS?

[HeavyElectricity]

Most impressive and sadly eye opening.

Very sad in terms of business awards (which of course is what we're actually all after), but in their defence they do seem to be making a lot of economy reward seats available (especially when compared to the DL flights listed on the lax-syd table).

 

[clipped_wings]

Sludge, I think you're on to something here. Very impressive layout and stylish look. Very Virgin.

I hope your efforts result in enough positive feedback to be supported from our community. Well done mate, thanks for sharing.

 

[pauly7]

A 'sneak-peak' at my refreshed availability tables for long haul:
https://flyer.tools/velocity/award-search/

Next step in the project is to get this to automatically update once a day, I'll notify again here when that's in operation.

What. A. Joke. (Not your tool, VA avails!)

I think VA will move quickly to shut this down - this has the markings of a serious PR problem.

LAX.... say no more.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

A little off-topic, but I would defend VA on three counts:

1. VA aren't really a serious international airline, with only 8 long-haul routes to two destinations. Their partnership (and award availability) with SQ and therefore the entire Star Alliance is fantastic, and IMHO easily makes up for this. On a personal note, I have no interest in LAX, HKG is tempting, but the fact I was able to transfer velocity points to SQ and redeem with Air Canada (YVR-MEL) in J for later in the year was great (and hopefully even direct VA - Air Canada redemptions in the future).
2. International long-haul availability in Economy is great.
   
3. Domestic availability is fantastic! Who'd have thought there would regularly be 9 'The Business' seats available on the transcon?

 

[Gold Member]

A 'sneak-peak' at my refreshed availability tables for long haul:
https://flyer.tools/velocity/award-search/

Next step in the project is to get this to automatically update once a day, I'll notify again here when that's in operation.

Great work sludge. Thanks for your efforts.

Donning my selfish cap, lets hopes this doesn’t get too well publicized to the masses.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Very nifty indeed.

Donning my selfish cap, lets hopes this doesn’t get too well publicized to the masses.

The masses are more interested in the toaster availability tool.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm really looking forward to viewing this link. Unfortunately I can't just now because it's been blocked from the PNG highlands!! I'll be in CNS tonight, so I'll have a look then.

 

[clipped_wings]

Have to concede agreement with Sludge's comments too. The availability of Domestic reward fares is incredible. And if Hong Kong still has the Z fares next year, I'd consider using our hard earned points for a holiday to Asia instead of LA.

 

[clipped_wings]

I think VA will move quickly to shut this down - this has the markings of a serious PR problem.

I wouldn't be surprised Pauly7. However they'd better have a serious precedent, as the calendar isn't exactly breaching advertising copyright codes or intellectual property rights. Virgin's reward fares are public information already, for the benefit of the general public. All he has done is interpret that same information in a very clear context.

It's no more devious than the promo codes offered on our home page.

 

[serfty]

All he has done is interpret that same information in a very clear context.

That in itself breaches the website https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/about-us/legal-policies/terms-of-use/

In addition, you agree that you will not use any robot, spider, other automatic device, or manual process to monitor or copy our web pages, apps or the content contained therein, without the prior express consent of an authorised Virgin Australia representative.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

That in itself breaches the website https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/about-us/legal-policies/terms-of-use/

Well website t&c's aren't laws, worst they can do is block me. All the information is already public.

But in all honesty, I hadn't seen/read that page. My focus was on the booking site/pages at fly.virginaustralia.com (which is technically a separate site, and none of those pages have that link in the footer). I had also checked for 'robots.txt', a 'robots meta element', and a 'robots http header', which is the industry standard and accepted way - since 1994 and AltaVista - (see Robots exclusion standard - Wikipedia) of telling bots not to visit, and it doesn't exist / is not sent for pages on that domain/site.

I'll take down the pages later today when I get home. Does anyone actually know how to get in contact with Virgin Australia for things like this? I must have tried at least 10 times over the last few years to request access to their APIs on their developer site (such as the booking/flight status apis) for various ideas and haven't had any form of reply (either affirmative/negative). Total silence. e.g. I've been wanting to build a VA booking tools for some time (for frequent flyers) which would display status credit earn and points earn alongside the prices (and allow filtering for A330 flights only on the transcon).

On another note - I'm looking for work, if anyone has any paid projects for me .

 

[serfty]

Well website t&c's aren't laws, worst they can do is block me. All the information is already public. ...

Yes, they are not laws, but if they deemed themselves to have suffered a loss they could try to sue for damages.

What loss that would be is not easily quantifiable.

I'd think the worst that would happen it would be a "cease and desist" type of notice.

However, what you did really looked good, I hope you get some paid work soon.

 

[serfty]

Looking around I see some PE has been released on various days over the next few weeks.

 

[clipped_wings]

Thanks Serfty. Yes, I thought there would be some T&C's that alluded to such.

It would be a shame if they didn't endorse you Sludge321. I feel your project has the potential to actually generate revenue for VA, not inhibit it. You aren't profiting from the exercise - rather it is the exact opposite right now I'd imagine). I've been in the advertising game for nearly 40 years now, many of them spent exclusively marketing various airlines. And it is utterly tragic to see so many brilliant conceptual ideas flushed away due to the egos at the top of the tree.

I really hope you get some recognition for this. It is a positive step towards total transparency with any reward seat program. And if Virgin Australia doesn't like what you have implemented, don't be discouraged. Go to another airline and offer it.

 

[Spizz]

sludge321- Maybe time to take your page to PM only as I would hate and I'm sure others would hate to see it go.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I really hope you get some recognition for this. It is a positive step towards total transparency with any reward seat program. And if Virgin Australia doesn't like what you have implemented, don't be discouraged. Go to another airline and offer it.

Hmmm. I agree of course, but am somewhat more pessimistic. FFer points are a valuable commodity and as such, those that control them are not keen to have their worth whittled away.

 

[rfc4eva]

From my own experience I've always got the J seats I was after,but i noticed whenever i look at a certain flight 75% of the time its available about 1-2 weeks out,previously ive booked economy then copped the 7.5k fee to change to business.

 

[clipped_wings]

From my own experience I've always got the J seats I was after,but i noticed whenever i look at a certain flight 75% of the time its available about 1-2 weeks out,previously ive booked economy then copped the 7.5k fee to change to business.

Yes, the domestic redemption is pretty impressive. But I am referring specifically to the ever-elusive SYD - LAX return which at the moment, is proving to be the Holy Grail.

 

[clipped_wings]

Hmmm. I agree of course, but am somewhat more pessimistic. FFer points are a valuable commodity and as such, those that control them are not keen to have their worth whittled away.

True words indeed. The great irony is - the more the unattainable they make the long haul redemption, the greater risk they run of losing the faith from the Frequent Flyers they award the points to in the first place.

 

[pauly7]

Hmmm. I agree of course, but am somewhat more pessimistic. FFer points are a valuable commodity and as such, those that control them are not keen to have their worth whittled away.

Agreed there is absolutely no way VA would endorse this because it’s a indictment on their program - not a positive.

Separately I had a call with the ever unhelpful Velocity Call centre who yet again couldn’t find any LAX avails via any AU exit points (except for next week which is useless for me). They did though say they had been dealing with lots of complaints about (lack of) premium award avails on international and had escalated as an issue to address.... slim hope this gets looked at...