Major changes to Velocity Frequent Flyer announced 17/10/24

[simmomelb]

Very handy that some recent bookings the Flexi fares have been close to Choice. Haven’t flown them yet so that’s handy for the SC balance.

Fare class doesn't make any difference for status credits, other than the cost now, between choice, flex or bus (1 status cr per $12).
Perhaps I've misunderstood your point, quite likely as I haven't had my first coffee yet lol.
Good luck, you are definitely tracking okay, hopefully you booked some during the DSC promo

 

[MooTime]

I booked a Flexi fare recently only cos I could see a reward seat in J so could use a WP free upgrade to J.
Good to get some value from final year of WP with VA.

 

[nutwood]

I booked a Flexi fare recently only cos I could see a reward seat in J so could use a WP free upgrade to J.
Good to get some value from final year of WP with VA.

How do you see whether there's a reward seat available? I can see there's a gap in my knowledge here!

 

[serfty]

How do you see whether there's a reward seat available? I can see there's a gap in my knowledge here!

You do a 'dummy booking', searching for Business Class award availability on flights for your route and timing. Note down suitable flights with the availability. Don't select any flights or complete the booking.

You then search for flexi flights on the same route and date; book the options that match the awards availability. As soon as ticketed (a few minutes generally), call Velocity and ask for the Platinum upgrades to be applied.

Do not do this during those times when the Velocity call centre is closed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How do you see whether there's a reward seat available? I can see there's a gap in my knowledge here!

During the booking process you can toggle between paid seats and award seats. If there’s an award seat available in business you buy flex and call up immediately to covert it to the business cabin, taking the award seat.

If no award, move to another flight where there is, and/or if timing is flexible, make sure you have the lowest flex fare + business availability (can save $20-$60).

Works Bali and the like too, giving considerable savings.

 

[nutwood]

Ah-ha. Thank you for that. My technique was to do a dummy booking and see if the J cabin had any any seats sold. If all seats were available, I would assume an award seat was available for my WP upgrade. This worked fine until about 12 months ago and then it didn't. I can only assume they cut back the number of award seats.

 

[QF WP]

Fare class doesn't make any difference for status credits, other than the cost now, between choice, flex or bus (1 status cr per $12).
Perhaps I've misunderstood your point, quite likely as I haven't had my first coffee yet lol.
Good luck, you are definitely tracking okay, hopefully you booked some during the DSC promo

A combination of spending a little more money that was within budget, getting more SC’s and MooTime’s comment (access to immediate J seat on same flight). Hard to spend those upgrades these days.

 

[Happy Dude]

I booked a Flexi fare recently only cos I could see a reward seat in J so could use a WP free upgrade to J.
Good to get some value from final year of WP with VA.

I probably would have just booked the J award, unless there was a burning desire to give VA revenue or get a few SCs.

 

[SYD]

I probably would have just booked the J award, unless there was a burning desire to give VA revenue or get a few SCs.

…or work’s paying.

 

[Happy Dude]

…or work’s paying.

Touche. I'd have to give my work the Flexi ticket that arrives first such is the drama associated with claiming a business class ticket.

 

[SYD]

Touche. I'd have to give my work the Flexi ticket that arrives first such is the drama associated with claiming a business class ticket.

Before I left my last big Corp, I used to be able book my own work travel on VA via a booking portal. In theory, it wasn’t too hard to match a flight with award seats (if any) but getting one in the right fare bucket (within travel policy) that was eligible got harder. Many freebies went unused towards the end…

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I probably would have just booked the J award, unless there was a burning desire to give VA revenue or get a few SCs.

In my case I didn’t have enough points left, but still needed to fly SYD-MEL and vv.

So for $200 each way I got business. Half the money I would have had to have spent anyway for business on either VA or QF.