Is International Virgin Reward availability now worse that QANTAS?

[Kilo]

How many people are you booking for? I just had a scan and found J seats for 2 pax SYD - AUH on a couple dates in June.
I agree it does look pretty grim though.

 

[supa007]

Yep, confirms my suspicion. Left seats empty hoping someone will pay for it, then hoping for last min award seekers / upgrades or cash bids.

Probably makes business sense, but doesn't work for people planning trips...

They've definitely lost me as a customer.

 

[supa007]

Must say though, VA award availability previously was probably way above industry norm and too good to last. Now that private equity has their fingers in the Velocity pie, not surprised it's now died up to a very weak trickle, if that at all...

 

[woodyren]

I am reasonably new to Velocity and have just been amassing points and getting the feel of availability while making plans for travel long term.

Decided to try to make our first booking and had no problem finding J seats on Singapore airlines Beijing - Singapore-Sydney next July.

102K Velocity pts for around 13 hours flight time was OK for me.

I am hoping that the upcoming relationship between VA and Hainan airlines opens up more availability to and through China as we usually travel there a few times a year.

 

[hossein_au]

Yes, got off the phone and came here straight away to vent... Even pushed the guy to tell me when was the last time he successfully booked a business award seat for customers. He was very elusive, but doesn't seem like finding business award seats on an international long haul is a regular occurrence regardless of route...

With all the recent changes to the Velocity program, unless you're happy redeeming points for business upgrade within the golden triangle, I don't think you'll get much value out of your points now.

Even domestic rewards seats are almost non-existance. Up until a few month ago I could 'easily' find economy reward seats between, say, CBR-OOL, just a couple of weeks out. Now I cannot find a single seat on the days I usually want to travel... Why is there a race to the bottom amongst frequent flyer programs? :-(

 

[supa007]

On a slight positive note. Out of interest, I found some Etihad award seats BNE-JFK during Easter school holiday 2017 (not hard at all) on their website, but didn't show on Virgin as being available. Called the call centre and they confirmed availability. Except with all the charges and the cost of 278000 points for return in business, it works out we are getting slightly over 1c worth per point due to the Etihad sale on now ($5300 return for that route)... Not great value preposition.

 

[hummel]

On a slight positive note. Out of interest, I found some Etihad award seats BNE-JFK during Easter school holiday 2017 (not hard at all) on their website, but didn't show on Virgin as being available. Called the call centre and they confirmed availability. Except with all the charges and the cost of 278000 points for return in business, it works out we are getting slightly over 1c worth per point due to the Etihad sale on now ($5300 return for that route)... Not great value preposition.

Yep the EY charges have really put a big dent in the viability now.

 

[pauly7]

What do we think the chances are of the VFF rep commenting on this worsening 'unavailability' is?

 

[hummel]

What do we think the chances are of the VFF rep commenting on this worsening 'unavailability' is?

About as likely as getting a fully functional VA website...

 

[CJEMNMAC]

What do we think the chances are of the VFF rep commenting on this worsening 'unavailability' is?

About as likely as getting a fully functional VA website...

Ha Classic !! hummel you said exactly my thoughts

 

[CJEMNMAC]

I have commented along these lines a few times in the past. Whilst most agree that availability is not what it used to be, some people have also alluded to or remarked that they have not found "any" seats.

I am not convinced that this is entirely the case.

I have looked just now for 2 pax and the entire month of May 2017.... SYD - LAX

At least 7 or 8 days of the month have 2 seats in J. Mostly SYD-BNE-LAX.

I accept it is not ideal but some flexability and persistence should result in a seat or 2

 

[williamsf1]

Must say though, VA award availability previously was probably way above industry norm and too good to last. Now that private equity has their fingers in the Velocity pie, not surprised it's now died up to a very weak trickle, if that at all...

From a business side points are a liability to a loyalty side so Velocity would like you to spend them.

People need to remember in the old days there were only 2-3 million members … now with close to 6 million and throw in all the 100K credit card sign on bonus…. More people with points hunting the same seats

 

[Nathant123]

I've begun to plan my trip for next year but won't book anything till I get conformation from work regarding annual leave. Flying to South Africa (Johannesburg) and the Virgin site doesn't appear to ever show reward seats with points no matter which dummy dates I put in. I did sign up to Singapore airlines and have checked rough availability for dates that I'm planning on flying and they're doing business class one way for 72000 points (97,875 Velocity points converted). The price for the same flight otherwise is a little over $4000 Aussie. It doesn't say waitlist so I presume that it would be good to book as is on points alone? I don't have any status at all with Krisflyer obviously so if I converted my points next year and then booked a flight it it as simple as that? Seems to be way more availability with Singapore than with Virgin oddly enough. Not too fazed about the points expiring after 3 years as I would obviously fly within a year of having converted them over.

 

[RAM]

I've begun to plan my trip for next year but won't book anything till I get conformation from work regarding annual leave. Flying to South Africa (Johannesburg) and the Virgin site doesn't appear to ever show reward seats with points no matter which dummy dates I put in. I did sign up to Singapore airlines and have checked rough availability for dates that I'm planning on flying and they're doing business class one way for 72000 points (97,875 Velocity points converted). The price for the same flight otherwise is a little over $4000 Aussie. It doesn't say waitlist so I presume that it would be good to book as is on points alone? I don't have any status at all with Krisflyer obviously so if I converted my points next year and then booked a flight it it as simple as that? Seems to be way more availability with Singapore than with Virgin oddly enough. Not too fazed about the points expiring after 3 years as I would obviously fly within a year of having converted them over.

What you see is what you get with SQ. If you have the Krisflyer points in your Krisflyer account - you can book it.

Created an account one Monday, transferred the VFF points that afternoon and redeemed them a day or two later for Suitesaver fares. No status, no history just enough points for the deal.

Don't forget you will have SQ's version of 'fees and charges' - do not take up their offer (I think it was SQ who did this as well) of using additional points to pay out the cash amount. The rate you get is way too low for wasting the points.

 

[Nathant123]

What you see is what you get with SQ. If you have the Krisflyer points in your Krisflyer account - you can book it.

Created an account one Monday, transferred the VFF points that afternoon and redeemed them a day or two later for Suitesaver fares. No status, no history just enough points for the deal.

Don't forget you will have SQ's version of 'fees and charges' - do not take up their offer (I think it was SQ who did this as well) of using additional points to pay out the cash amount. The rate you get is way too low for wasting the points.

Thanks for the reply. So if I click the actual flight it gives me an option of 61,625 points plus $504.45 AUD in taxes. Seems pretty good value to me considering you can almost get that with some credit cards as a sign up bonus and then not even use the card after reaching the minimum spend. Seems like I'll be converting my points to Krisflyer once I know for sure when I will be travelling. Pretty good that they allow this without any status. Wouldn't be able to gain any with them anyway as majority of my flights are domestic.

 

[vetrade]

I've begun to plan my trip for next year but won't book anything till I get conformation from work regarding annual leave. Flying to South Africa (Johannesburg) and the Virgin site doesn't appear to ever show reward seats with points no matter which dummy dates I put in. I did sign up to Singapore airlines and have checked rough availability for dates that I'm planning on flying and they're doing business class one way for 72000 points (97,875 Velocity points converted). ....................

I recently got J reward seats for MEL - PER (VA) and PER - JNB (SAA) for travel over Xmas / NY all booked with VFF points so there is availability out there. And FWIW I don't have any status with VA. You may just need to call VA.

 

[hummel]

Has any got experience with Delta seats using Velocity points?

I am specifically looking New York - LAX/LAS and can find seats on Delta.com but am not familiar with how it all works with the VA tie-in...

 

[Nathant123]

I recently got J reward seats for MEL - PER (VA) and PER - JNB (SAA) for travel over Xmas / NY all booked with VFF points so there is availability out there. And FWIW I don't have any status with VA. You may just need to call VA.

If you don't mind me asking, how many points did they take for that? May need to give em a call when I have solid dates.

 

[vetrade]

If you don't mind me asking, how many points did they take for that? May need to give em a call when I have solid dates.

126,500 one way pp + a cash payment of $65.50 pp. I think the MEL - PER sector was 38,300 pp one way.

 

[Nathant123]

126,500 one way pp + a cash payment of $65.50 pp. I think the MEL - PER sector was 38,300 pp one way.

Hmm, that seems pretty reasonable. Singapore require less points for a reward business ticket but their fees and taxes seem quite high! Thanks for the info though. I'm sure I'd be happy with business regardless of whether it is with Singapore or SA airlines.