Join Virgin Atlantic?

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I like this bit about the redemption:

"What's especially unique about our programme is that we hold back redemption seats on every single Virgin Atlantic flight without exception."

Also, I noticed that the Amex website says Virgin Blue is coming soon as an airline partner. (see clarification below)
 
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kyle said:
Also, I noticed that the Amex website says Virgin Blue is coming soon as an airline partner.

Well if that happens at a 1:1 ratio, that will really start setting the cat amongst the pigeons.
 
Sorry, let me clarify.

The bit about Virgin Blue becoming an airline partner is from the 20% bonus page on the Amex website for the Virgin Atlantic FF Club. (i.e. Virgin Blue becoming a partner of Virgin Atlantic). So one would have to transfer points from Amex to VA then redeem for VB.
 
blundeni said:
This looks pretty definitive...

Flying AirNZ in Business return for 30k points must surely make this one of the best reward redemptions available...

Aaah .. but can you ever get seats.

Using UA miles is the same 20K coach and 40K Biz and botjh those take you anywhere in Pacific via NZ as well - like Tonga, Tahiti etc. Just try and GET a seat. :(
 
kyle said:
I like this bit about the redemption:

"What's especially unique about our programme is that we hold back redemption seats on every single Virgin Atlantic flight without exception."

That doesnt mean much. Every flight has 1+ award seats available at some stage. Doesn't mean it will be in every cabin, or that will be available when you go to book.
 
ozstamps said:
Aaah .. but can you ever get seats.

Using UA miles is the same 20K coach and 40K Biz and botjh those take you anywhere in Pacific via NZ as well - like Tonga, Tahiti etc. Just try and GET a seat. :(

Actually NZ award availability has been very good lately, as long as you are not trying to use Mileage Plus miles (other *A partners also showing good availability on NZ flights). NZ seems to have loosened awards considerably from last year. Perhaps they now have a good feel for how many seats they can sell on each flight as thus more confident in making awards available, or perhaps the thinning out of airpoints members has had a noticeable effect?

Mileage Plus seems to have much less availability when redeeming on other *A partners - perhaps they are worried about how much payments they have to make (cheaper for them if MP redemptions are on UA flights)?
 
Well they do say they "hold back" seats. :D

Heck even UA will sell you an award seat at STANDARD points even if there is only 1 in the cabin left for revenue sale.

As of course does Virgin Blue. If there is only ONE seat left on the 5pm flight to MEL today I can secure that with (lots of!) velocity points.

Rob -- Air NZ now have directs to ADL correct? So that is all mainland cap cities right?
 
NZ Airpoints also has any seat - use airbucks instead of cash (though it isnt quite as simple with respect to taxes and fees).

NZ now flies AKL to/from SYD, MEL, PER, ADL, BNE, CNS. WLG & CHC to/from SYD, MEL, BNE. Plus various minor routes on Freedom Air (lcc subsidiary - not part of *A).
 
ozstamps said:
Merci. :D

That 30K biz award to AKL is neat - espcailly from ADL or Perth. :cool:

ADL uses A320 = shorthaul business seat, PTV & personal DVD (in business)
PER uses 767 = longhaul old business seat (slightly narrower than A320 but a lot more pitch), PTV with 8 channels (non-avod) but no DVD, redeye for PER-AKL and doesnt connect well with NZ<->US flights
CNS also 767
SYD, MEL, BNE = mixture of A320, 767, 777 and 747. 777 & 747 = longhaul new business suites (very nice), larger PTV and full avod (not as prone as QF to breaking down).
 
AKL-MEL is the longest trans-tasman flight with 747 :mrgreen: But if the proposed QF/NZ trans-tasman codeshare goes ahead the NZ 747 will reportedly be dropped from that route.

On the 747 I prefer row 6 or 7, or the upper deck - bit more space between the rows than the nose and zone B. 777 is better than zone B on 747.
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

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Oh yeah - NZ has a transtasman business sale right now (only ex NZ and only to MEL, SYD and BNE). NZ$699 one way includes taxes & fees. Sale ends 7 Sept.
 
Kiwi Flyer said:
That doesnt mean much. Every flight has 1+ award seats available at some stage. Doesn't mean it will be in every cabin, or that will be available when you go to book.

Surely, that's gotta be better than Qantas' "some flights may not have award seats available"...
 
kyle said:
Surely, that's gotta be better than Qantas' "some flights may not have award seats available"...

Sure but it is still rubbish. Even SQ does a lot better than this with availability in every cabin and multiple seats up for grabs each flight.
 
Transfered some points from AMEX to top up Flying Club account earlier this week for two return upperclass tickets to HKG, and the points can take up to 10 working days.......:( Called VS Flying Club, asked them if I could book/hold my seats with existing club points until the AMEX points came through, no problems they said :cool:

Remind me again why I give QF most of my business...:rolleyes:
 
Just clarifying this in my slightly jet lagged brain. Does this mean that to fly SYD-LHR business return on VS I'll need to transfer across to a newly set up VS Flying Club account 150K MR points or 125K to fly same itinerary on SQ ? This compares with 256K needed under the QF scheme? Similarly, for SYD-LAX return on NZ I'll need to transfer 105K MR points compared with 192K QF (or MR) points needed for the same trip on QF?

In the case of VS, NZ and SQ there appears to be good availability particularly with reasonable notice? In all cases would I be able to use the appropriate lounges?

If so, what am I waiting for. :idea:
 
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I specifically asked about flying Air NZ using VS flying club points, their response was
Australia - LA via AKL 80,000(economy) 125,000 (business) return.
So by my calculation would need to transfer 67,000 amex points for economy or 105,000 business.
 
turtlemichael said:
In the case of VS, NZ and SQ there appears to be good availability particularly with reasonable notice? In all cases would I be able to use the appropriate lounges?

Yes, if flying business class you have access to the relevant lounges.

In SYD, NZ lounge (very nice, much better than QF int lounge IMHO).
In SIN, SQ lounge (also nice although some find a bit dark) - lots of amenities, food and drink.
In LHR, VS Clubhouse or SQ SKL (very, very nice). I think VS also have an arrivals lounge (you'll need to fly VS or one specific SQ flight to get access, the other SQ and NZ flights have no access).
In AKL (en route to LAX), NZ lounge (very nice).
In LAX, NZ lounge (very nice, especially the showers).
 
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