Last Minute PER-BME - cheapest option?

[phantompharter]

Hi everyone,

Just trying to tap into the wisdom that is AFF...

My wife cannot book a trip PER-BME until after an appointment tomorrow. If she is able to go then she will be interested in flying fairly quickly ie within a day preferably, but could be convinced to fly out a week later if the cost was significantly better.

So my questions are:

• What are the options for getting a cheap PER-BME flight at the last minute? Is it just trawl through VA, QF, TR or JQ websites for the best deal? And the more lead time the better?
• We also have enough for a return velocity redemption - If there is availability would this be the best option as we got the points for 0.7c per point?
• We have LM and USDM miles as well - but I think these will work out more expensive and I am not sure about last minute availability. And it is not possible to do a stopover in an intrazone redemption, is it? Say if we booked a PER-BME-SIN

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[cove]

Are you sure you need a stay in Broome when it is so hot there at the moment?
We enjoyed Exmouth way more than Broome.

 

[phantompharter]

Are you sure you need a stay in Broome when it is so hot there at the moment?
We enjoyed Exmouth way more than Broome.

haha - i know what you mean. But its been that rainy and cold down here in the SW that any sunshine will be a welcome relief!
Anyway its a trip for family so hands are tied

 

[phantompharter]

Or for the future...I have heard that BA redemptions are good for short domestic hops. Would that be the case for this trip? Thx

 

[cove]

A Broome regular told me the Virgin plane was nicer after I used Qantas but I haven't tested it.
Lots of good fish get taken by sharks before you land them so everyone is talking about that in their fishing stories.

 

[markis10]

So my questions are:

• What are the options for getting a cheap PER-BME flight at the last minute? Is it just trawl through VA, QF, TR or JQ websites for the best deal? And the more lead time the better?
• We also have enough for a return velocity redemption - If there is availability would this be the best option as we got the points for 0.7c per point?
• We have LM and USDM miles as well - but I think these will work out more expensive and I am not sure about last minute availability. And it is not possible to do a stopover in an intrazone redemption, is it? Say if we booked a PER-BME-SIN

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Last minute options, use webjet to compare the offers. As for using LM or USDM, no chance, there is no Star Alliance carrier flying into BME. At $649 for a round trip per person, points with Va or QF will be the best bet.

 

[AdMEL]

As far as I am aware, TR (think you might mean TT?) and JQ do not fly to BME, only QF and VA.

It's almost always expensive too! You may find seats are not available at short notice. As already mentioned, using points might be worth it.

 

[kamchatsky]

If you have Amex Plat Edge or Reserve you can always redeem PER-BME return ticket for free.

IF you don't have one, and want one, PM me for referral

 

[phantompharter]

@Markis10 and AdMEL - using webjet is a good option, thanks. Though when I compare the values on webjet to another aggregator, say adioso, webjet comes out much more expensive. Adioso works out the same as the virgin website... at about $346 one way... ouch.

I will check for reward availability tonight once we know if she can go. Velocity points looks like the cheapest option.
(on a side note do you get velocity points for a business class redemption on virgin? I know you don't get them on Y redemption and wondering if it is the same for higher fare redemptions).

 

[phantompharter]

If you have Amex Plat Edge or Reserve you can always redeem PER-BME return ticket for free.

IF you don't have one, and want one, PM me for referral

Yes we do have one - thanks ... but we recently used it for PER-SYD return for free. So unfortunately that is no longer an option! But I think that was a slightly better redemption based on the distance flown.
Doesn't that offer have a minimum lead time to booking?

 

[AdMEL]

@Markis10 and AdMEL - using webjet is a good option, thanks. Though when I compare the values on webjet to another aggregator, say adioso, webjet comes out much more expensive. Adioso works out the same as the virgin website... at about $346 one way... ouch.

I will check for reward availability tonight once we know if she can go. Velocity points looks like the cheapest option.
(on a side note do you get velocity points for a business class redemption on virgin? I know you don't get them on Y redemption and wondering if it is the same for higher fare redemptions).

No Velocity points on standard Y or J reward seats.

It is of no relevance anyway, because I don't think VA sell J seats on that route - at least they weren't when I checked a few months ago.

Yes we do have one - thanks ... but we recently used it for PER-SYD return for free. So unfortunately that is no longer an option! But I think that was a slightly better redemption based on the distance flown.
Doesn't that offer have a minimum lead time to booking?

No lead time as far as I am aware. Availability might be an issue at short notice though.

 

[kamchatsky]

Yes we do have one - thanks ... but we recently used it for PER-SYD return for free. So unfortunately that is no longer an option! But I think that was a slightly better redemption based on the distance flown.
Doesn't that offer have a minimum lead time to booking?

I actually think because there are always sales between PER-SYD/MEL/BNE, that it would be more value redeeming PER-BME as it is more expensive if you pay cash. But since you have Velocity points definitely redeem it ASAP and just cancel it later when you decide not to fly.

 

[phantompharter]

I actually think because there are always sales between PER-SYD/MEL/BNE, that it would be more value redeeming PER-BME as it is more expensive if you pay cash. But since you have Velocity points definitely redeem it ASAP and just cancel it later when you decide not to fly.

Yes - that makes sense... oh well.

Good idea about the redemption and then cancelling if needed. Are there any costs with cancelling?

 

[phantompharter]

@AdMEL - You are right about J rewards with velocity - I cannot see any available in the coming weeks.

Trawling through the T&Cs for Economy rewards the following costs are liable for changes / cancellations:
- Flight changes - For domestic, more than 24hrs notice and will cost $35 or 4,500 points + fare difference;
- Flight cancellations - For domestic, more than 24hrs notice and will cost $35 or 4,500 points.

So, for $35 opportunity cost you get to book an award ticket and move it if required. Not a bad deal for last minute rewards when flexibility is also necessary.

Just working through all the numbers now for flight costs... will post what is the best option shortly.

 

[AdMEL]

@AdMEL - You are right about J rewards with velocity - I cannot see any available in the coming weeks.

Trawling through the T&Cs for Economy rewards the following costs are liable for changes / cancellations:
- Flight changes - For domestic, more than 24hrs notice and will cost $35 or 4,500 points + fare difference;
- Flight cancellations - For domestic, more than 24hrs notice and will cost $35 or 4,500 points.

So, for $35 opportunity cost you get to book an award ticket and move it if required. Not a bad deal for last minute rewards when flexibility is also necessary.

Just working through all the numbers now for flight costs... will post what is the best option shortly.

Just to clarify, VA J reward seats are not available because you cannot buy a J seat on that route (I checked this just now) - they don't offer J reward seats on routes they don't sell J seats on. Note that the plane will likely have J seats (At least the E190 will, given all the E190's have been refurbished and J seats installed, doubt the Focker will though!), but no J service. Not sure whether it is possible to select J seat.

 

[phantompharter]

Just to clarify, VA J reward seats are not available because you cannot buy a J seat on that route (I checked this just now) - they don't offer J reward seats on routes they don't sell J seats on. Note that the plane will likely have J seats (At least the E190 will, given all the E190's have been refurbished and J seats installed, doubt the Focker will though!), but no J service. Not sure whether it is possible to select J seat.

Seat 2A in J was available to be selected... but then on final confirmation it was unable to be ticketed (doh!).
Wife checked in on her phone after ticket had been bought and then chose seat 3A (which was an economy seat). Pretty good for a last minute award redemption!
Not sure why but there was plenty of fantastic seat availability on this flight whilst the return flight in a week was full up? (she ended up in row 20).

So the final outcome is that we were able to get PER-BME return last minute for $200 all up with velocity points.
Actual fare was $641 with VA and $777 with QF. Not bad.
(Not sure what this would have been with QF, but didn't check as I only have 5000 points - anyone have a working knowledge if the QFF would have been cheaper again?)

Thanks for everyones help

 

[Simo]

IMHO,

there is never any real good deals when travelling to regional Australia.