Is Velocity almost defunct for long-haul business class rewards?

[SCM]

Which route?

SYD -DOH, it used to be A380, now it's 777, but there's a second 777 under VA (in addition to the current 777 VA).

So basically we are going from...

A380 (QR)
777 (VA)

To now...

777 (QR)
777 (VA)

And in December...

777 (QR)
777 (QR)
777 (VA)


Mind you this is just Sydney, but capacity is temporarily reduced now.

 

[iamsuperandrew]

SYD -DOH, it used to be A380, now it's 777, but there's a second 777 under VA (in addition to the current 777 VA).

So basically we are going from...

A380 (QR)
777 (VA)

To now...

777 (QR)
777 (VA)

And in December...

777 (QR)
777 (QR)
777 (VA)


Mind you this is just Sydney, but capacity is temporarily reduced now.

Will any be the CX leased planes with F?

 

[bcworld]

Will any be the CX leased planes with F?

No. All QSuite.

 

[oliverd]

I logged on intending to start a thread with the same question (or rant!!
I'm generally a Happy (Platinum) VFF Member with most of my flying being domestic - but am also QFF LTG with the ability to transfer Amex point to QF for reward redemptions.
The lack of J reward availability with VFF is woeful - I cannot see ANY seats to Europe or the US, even when testing dates well out into next year. Seems I am not the only one seeing this.
Doesn't seem like there is any solution, other than reverting to QFF or transferring VFF points to SIA, which seems to have way better availability.
Really hope this is addressed or Virgin joins Star Alliance every time I fly internationally I re-think my loyalty to VA!!

 

[MELso]

Agreed.

I booked a MEL-SYD hop for next year to catch up with a friend for the footy. The SYD-MEL leg is in J as it's decent. There was oodles of availability too.

Internationally though, VA is pretty dire so conversion to SQ is definitely an attractive option.

SQ - reasonable for PE, but J gets picked over by the time 330 days rolls around meaning it's luck of the draw what else shows up. Even then, carrier charges are crazy high compared to SQ itself.
UA - holds back long haul J redemptions for credit card partners these days making redemption difficult.
AC - no rhyme or reason as to when J comes out particularly to/from Australia.
QR - okay, but I suspect this is down to the current troubles, and many (like me) have a strong preference not to fly through the Middle East for the foreseeable future.
NH - picked over by the time 330 days rolls around.
HX - okay, but managing bookings is a chore.
VS - a total coughshoot whether the call centre can even book an award (as I discovered trying to book one in whY).
SAA, Hainan, Capital and Tianjin are all fairly niche.

I suspect that with QR in OW, VA won't end up in Star Alliance though.