New options to upgrade with Virgin Australia & Velocity Frequent Flyer

[IainF]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

I can def confirm that travel agent bookings are not eligible. Which is a shame for the corporates who have to book via a TA.

 

[kevrosmith]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

No, not for several weeks yet. I read that as saying you can offer anytime if you visit the webpage or VA will sent an email reminder 7-10 days before, but you may be right. Would explain the reject.

Yeah, well, that's what I'm hoping for... Mine were rejected too, but they are more than 10 days before flying... So I'll be checking back.

 

[J-G]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

I can def confirm that travel agent bookings are not eligible. Which is a shame for the corporates who have to book via a TA.

Also disappointing for those of us with free AMEX flights who rue the idea of sitting in pleb class.

 

[pythonisman]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

Also looks like if your booking has a saver lite one way, an a saver the return, the query comes back as non eligible, at least from one example I tried.

 

[Steve Dyer]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

I think this should be open to only the top Tier's and only the "Bums on Seats" flyers, not the old QF soft landing on SG. As a WP who flies alot, this is frustrating. There is, other than the upgrades etc, what the real benefit of WP......

 

[IainF]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

Here is a screen shot of one of my personal bookings. BNE-SYD.

 

[QF WP]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

I can def confirm that travel agent bookings are not eligible. Which is a shame for the corporates who have to book via a TA.

MrsIainF won't be happy

Plugged in my Saver Lite BNE/ADL on Thursday, as expected ineligible. I'd rather use up my 3 upgrades still on my account but a very interesting addition. T&C's make for interesting reading.

 

[anat0l]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

I think this should be open to only the top Tier's and only the "Bums on Seats" flyers, not the old QF soft landing on SG. As a WP who flies alot, this is frustrating. There is, other than the upgrades etc, what the real benefit of WP......

But as top tier elites, you have upgrade instruments as well as access to ODUs. I would expect top tier instrument upgrades to clear first before any of these kinds of upgrades, and then possibly the only reason to grant one of these new upgrades would be almost empty capacity in the higher cabin (i.e. these new upgrades should not fill a cabin necessarily that could have at least one ODU or revenue seat).

Maybe controversially, it could mean less op ups, but these are never to be expected - not then, not now, not ever.

The most viable use for VA is likely to be transcontinental services and international. There's enough premium seats and history does suggest they could have more full J cabins, even though I'm sure there's enough WPs clearing instrument upgrades, ODUs, awards and the inevitable execs (e.g. resource industry types ) who'll do the traditional thing and stump up the cash.

It gets a bit more interesting for international, but then almost everyone (status wise) was on equal footing already before this new change.

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

VA while this is good news...what do you think of the chances of getting a site working where we don't have to log in twice to manage our bookings?

We do appreciate that ‘single sign on’ is one of the biggest issues for everyone, and are planning to have a solution in place by Dec this year.

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

I think this should be open to only the top Tier's and only the "Bums on Seats" flyers, not the old QF soft landing on SG. As a WP who flies alot, this is frustrating. There is, other than the upgrades etc, what the real benefit of WP......

Realistically, upgrades are only available to those with 'bums on seats'.

 

[IainF]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

To be fair, I think this is pretty good. The only downside for us is MrsF books via a corp travel agent but I think I know how to get around that. The real upside will be for the international flights. If you can pick up a PE to J from BNE to LAX for $1000 or less then great. If they want $2000 then I will just book J.

 

[QF WP]

Re: UpgradeMe? (Rebranding, bidding)

Exactly, why lose the points & SC's.

This offer will be used by those that have excess points, no idea and won't read the T&C's and be disappointed when they don't get points & SC's on the flown cabin. Should be interesting comments on the VA website

 

[Rdarby]

Bidding for upgrades

I got an interesting email overnight, offering the chance to bid for an upgrade on my upcoming BNE to SYD flight.

It starts from $150 up to $350 to get me from my saver into Business.

I like the idea, but I am not sure I want to spend that much without just buying the ticket anyway.

It could be useful and interesting though, especially on international flights if they offer it.

 

[PDog]

Re: Bidding for upgrades

I'm also in the corporate travel agency bind. Why are TA booked flights excluded?

 

[benmay]

Re: Bidding for upgrades

Just got the email about it. Nice to see some initiative. I like AirNZs system, works well, Sometimes J can't be justified (for me) but the $$ value half way between is fine. Actually trying AirNZ's system next month for first time too.

<CheapShot> Since you do it online, hope the website actually works ;-) </CheapShot>

 

[Fruitcake]

Re: Bidding for upgrades

I'm also in the corporate travel agency bind. Why are TA booked flights excluded?

Virgin Australia launches cash auctions for business class upgrades - Australian Business Traveller

Scholz says that there are no plans to extend the UpgradeMe Premium Bid system to travel agent bookings."Part of the reason is that an upgrade changes the booking and we believe it's important for the customers of our travel partners to have their booking remain with that agency" he says, "so at this stage we have not included external bookings."

 

[Saab34]

Re: Bidding for upgrades

If anyone tries this for 777 flights I would love to see the results.

 

[Moopere]

Re: Bidding for upgrades

I don't know ... doesn't it just ultimately devalue full fare J?

I suppose it seems to make some sense in the short term at least. If you can turn a 200$ revenue seat into a 600$ revenue seat...even given that the original 200$ seat will probably remain empty its got to be a better position for the airline, but it makes me wonder if the greater bulk of J passengers will remain happy to pay an extra 400$ on top of that 'auction' price (from say PER to east) to secure their seat ... or will they be more inclined to play roulette and see how the cookie crumbles?

More broadly pondering ... I was interested to see the J cabin completely full on my 330 flight back from SYD two weeks ago, I'm noticing this more and more, either full or 90%+ ... surely these Pax are mainly FF upgrades or status upgrades of some type? Is the full fare price a bit like hotel rack rate? ie; its a marketing tool but hardly anyone every really pays it?

Service levels still seem to be high, on the 330's at least, so I guess ultimately I don't really care one way or the other so long as increased J passenger numbers don't lead to a slow degradation in service and amenity.

 

[lcc76]

Platinum and Gold members can also upgrade on international long haul Virgin Australia flights to Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi.

I have spent hours looking for these "Virgin Australia flights to Abu Dhabi" - can anyone help out a newbie? ;-) As far as can see, there are only codeshares on Etihad. Does this offer apply to VA codeshares as well? Flying in a month so it's interesting news, if it's true.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Bidding for upgrades

I don't know ... doesn't it just ultimately devalue full fare J?

More broadly pondering ... I was interested to see the J cabin completely full on my 330 flight back from SYD two weeks ago, I'm noticing this more and more, either full or 90%+ ... surely these Pax are mainly FF upgrades or status upgrades of some type? Is the full fare price a bit like hotel rack rate? ie; its a marketing tool but hardly anyone every really pays it?

Service levels still seem to be high, on the 330's at least, so I guess ultimately I don't really care one way or the other so long as increased J passenger numbers don't lead to a slow degradation in service and amenity.

Yep it just devalues J, but the A330 J is the only decent product on the VA domestic product.....

But yes any more $$ in the bank is good for VA at the moment