Is International Virgin Reward availability now worse that QANTAS?

[vetrade]

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.

We're flying home with SQ in J so we can have a SIN stopover. That's costing $2450 pp so I reckon the points cost for the outbound legs compares well. Haven't flown SAA long haul before so not in a position to comment about their J.

 

[n7of9]

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...

IME, Delta rewards are near impossible... I've tried with VA and VS for a number of years

 

[rtyuiop]

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...

I've had good luck with VA redemptions on Delta domestic. With the possible exception of the 'premium' transcon business/first flights I've generally been able to get first (decent value for redemptions) on the flights I want. Not that US domestic first is an amazing experience, but it's comfy enough.

And for me (in the past, it's been a year since I've tried to do this) availability and booking has worked consistently on the VA website, not like EY flights for instance where I have had to call or even PM the VFF rep here.

 

[hummel]

I've had good luck with VA redemptions on Delta domestic. With the possible exception of the 'premium' transcon business/first flights I've generally been able to get first (decent value for redemptions) on the flights I want. Not that US domestic first is an amazing experience, but it's comfy enough.

And for me (in the past, it's been a year since I've tried to do this) availability and booking has worked consistently on the VA website, not like EY flights for instance where I have had to call or even PM the VFF rep here.

Thanks for the feedback.

I tried using the VA engine to search JFK-LAS for next year.. nothing at all showed up which would indicate to me a problem with VA's website?

Curious to know how many miles/taxes you were charged if you recall?

 

[rtyuiop]

Interesting! I booked a variety of DL segments on the web site, I guess the bookings would have been early next year. Didn't have too much trouble with availability. I guess one exception was flying Montreal to New York, I had to settle for a flight later in the day than I preferred but that was the only availability problem I recall.

Points varied with sector length, but in line with the VA tables, and from memory the taxes were pretty low - low enough that I didn't worry about them enough to remember them now!

I didn't really have a big transcon sector like LAS-JFK (we kind of hopped across, Portland->Calgary->Toronto->Montreal->New York), perhaps they are significantly harder?

 

[hummel]

Interesting! I booked a variety of DL segments on the web site, I guess the bookings would have been early next year. Didn't have too much trouble with availability. I guess one exception was flying Montreal to New York, I had to settle for a flight later in the day than I preferred but that was the only availability problem I recall.

Points varied with sector length, but in line with the VA tables, and from memory the taxes were pretty low - low enough that I didn't worry about them enough to remember them now!

I didn't really have a big transcon sector like LAS-JFK (we kind of hopped across, Portland->Calgary->Toronto->Montreal->New York), perhaps they are significantly harder?

Thanks mate, appreciate it.

Looks like a call into VA is in order...

 

[lm118]

I've managed to secure a J reward seat BNE-LAX-BNE in August/September next year. My strategy was to check every day, and book two separate one-way tickets. And there's still plenty remaining in August/September. Guess I got lucky that I was in a position to book so far in advance.

Just some observations....
- Premium and Business Reward seat release seems to be around 319 days out right now for LAX-BNE, and a little bit less for Australia-LAX (? 315 days). The reward seats are released onto the website like clockwork about the same time every day, in the afternoon.
- Economy Reward is released significantly earlier - this could even be available when the flight first goes on sale
- Looks like only 2x J reward seats released initially
- Only certain days of the week available - I've seen Sun/Mon/Tues/Wed out of LA, and Tues/Wed/Thurs out of BNE
- The retimed BNE flights (VA 6/9) don't appear to have any availability

 

[hummel]

I've managed to secure a J reward seat BNE-LAX-BNE in August/September next year. My strategy was to check every day, and book two separate one-way tickets. And there's still plenty remaining in August/September. Guess I got lucky that I was in a position to book so far in advance.

Just some observations....
- Premium and Business Reward seat release seems to be around 319 days out right now for LAX-BNE, and a little bit less for Australia-LAX (? 315 days). The reward seats are released onto the website like clockwork about the same time every day, in the afternoon.
- Economy Reward is released significantly earlier - this could even be available when the flight first goes on sale
- Looks like only 2x J reward seats released initially
- Only certain days of the week available - I've seen Sun/Mon/Tues/Wed out of LA, and Tues/Wed/Thurs out of BNE
- The retimed BNE flights (VA 6/9) don't appear to have any availability

Interesting observation, appreciate the data point.

I have checked every day since 330 days out for LAX-SYD/BNE for 1 J seat for travel mid January - I am aware it's a very popular time but not once have I seen a seat available. Luckily I've got SFO-SIN SQ J booked I suppose.

 

[lm118]

I believe there will be certain periods when no J reward seats are released at all eg I couldn't find any seats for the June/July school holidays. Sometimes reward seats will be released a few days before the flight, so that may be your best chance.

 

[serfty]

I have checked every day since 330 days out for LAX-SYD/BNE for 1 J seat for travel mid January - I am aware it's a very popular time but not once have I seen a seat available. ...

Can't guarantee it but have a look every day after the new year at flights showing I or D availability.

 

[sausagefingers]

I secured a BNE-LAX for late Jan last week, I checked everyday twice a day, now hunting for a return for the 2nd week of Feb, I have 2 PE seats, but will swap if 2 J seats come up.
Just found a 2nd J seat on VA7 on the same flight tonight.

 

[supa007]

Approximately what time of the day are the awards released?

 

[sausagefingers]

Approximately what time of the day are the awards released?

I checked at lunch time today and there was zero J rewards for my date, then checked an hour ago and there it was. same for the orginal booking.

 

[lm118]

Approximately what time of the day are the awards released?

Went back and checked the intinerary email timestamp, and it was 3.13pm EST. So maybe 3pm EST? I know I checked at 1pm EST earlier that day, and there was nothing

 

[sausagefingers]

I secured a BNE-LAX for late Jan last week, I checked everyday twice a day, now hunting for a return for the 2nd week of Feb, I have 2 PE seats, but will swap if 2 J seats come up.
Just found a 2nd J seat on VA7 on the same flight tonight.

A 3rd J reward became available tonight I just noticed, called my workmate who is on the upgrade wait list. He called and 5mins later is now going to be joining me at the bar. So that's 3 reward seats secured for Jan20 on VA7.

 

[andyhui01]

How is the upgrade availability on VA1 compared to VA7? I only qualify for Gold in about 2 weeks so nothing I can do now. My flight is Mid Jan on VA1 (In hindsight, maybe I should have booked VA7). Assuming there are no reward seats left (I can't see it now), what are the best steps at attempting to secure an upgrade to J before the flight? I read that they do release them closer to the flight.

 

[sausagefingers]

How is the upgrade availability on VA1 compared to VA7? I only qualify for Gold in about 2 weeks so nothing I can do now. My flight is Mid Jan on VA1 (In hindsight, maybe I should have booked VA7). Assuming there are no reward seats left (I can't see it now), what are the best steps at attempting to secure an upgrade to J before the flight? I read that they do release them closer to the flight.

Last I checked there was a reward seat (so up-gradable) on the 19th of Jan on VA1

 

[rfc4eva]

Im trying to book LAX-MEL on Sep 3rd,Business reward clearly is available and I go through all the steps and click on purchase seat and it says the seat is no longer available.Been like that for days so I call up the call centre and they say there isnt even 1 seat available.This is also the same for Sep 10.

 

[BriarFlyer]

I'm not seeing Biz Reward availability on either Sept 3 or Sept 10.

 

[serfty]

Did you tell the call centre you can see it online.

FWIW, I can see it as well (via BNE), but don't want to go to the point of booking.