No Redemptions from AKL or CHC to Europe

[shadrach]

Hi all,

I'm an Aussie living in NZ and am after some advice please.

I have recently had to cancel 2 separate one way J class velocity redemptions for me and my wife, AKL-DOH-AMS and then returning CDG-DOH-AKL with Qatar (most legs in QSuites) .

I'm looking at rebooking for Dec/Jan 2024/25, but when I use the points option and add AKL or CHC as my starting point, Europe destinations disappear. I know at least SIA and pretty sure Qatar fly these routes. Does anyone know why this seems not possible, when it once was? Any work arounds/suggestions?

At a pinch, I could book the trip starting in Aust.....would just need to get a positioning flight there first.

 

[elanshin]

Hi all,

I'm an Aussie living in NZ and am after some advice please.

I have recently had to cancel 2 separate one way J class velocity redemptions for me and my wife, AKL-DOH-AMS and then returning CDG-DOH-AKL with Qatar (most legs in QSuites) .

I'm looking at rebooking for Dec/Jan 2024/25, but when I use the points option and add AKL or CHC as my starting point, Europe destinations disappear. I know at least SIA and pretty sure Qatar fly these routes. Does anyone know why this seems not possible, when it once was? Any work arounds/suggestions?

At a pinch, I could book the trip starting in Aust.....would just need to get a positioning flight there first.

I suspect it's because you're more than 12months out and no airlines release reward tickets (most don't even release normal tickets) that far out.

 

[henrus]

I'm looking at rebooking for Dec/Jan 2024/25, but when I use the points option and add AKL or CHC as my starting point, Europe destinations disappear. I know at least SIA and pretty sure Qatar fly these routes. Does anyone know why this seems not possible, when it once was? Any work arounds/suggestions?

Put simply it's a bug with the VA website. Any award seats can be booked but you may need to do so over the phone. Ideally you can check QR award space using another carriers website to make sure the award seats exist before calling VA or manually edit the search URL (see below).

This is a common thing with VA and has existed long before covid. To be fair the same issue also exists with Qantas on many routes so not just a VA issue.

 

[henrus]

I suspect it's because you're more than 12months out and no airlines release reward tickets (most don't even release normal tickets) that far out.

Bug being spoken about is not related to the release time but more the lack of European destinations in the VA system when originating from NZ.

Another approach is to manually edit the search URL

Virgin Australia

book.virginaustralia.com

 

[bcworld]

Seems to be a bug. So, search for SYD - AMS.

Then find this part of the URL:


Change SYD to AKL...press enter (twice).


Et voila!

 

[shadrach]

Thanks everyone for you replies....I really appreciate it. The manual change to the URL works a treat with my dummy bookings

Now I just have to wait patiently until my travel dates open up.

What's everyones thoughts on paying about $200-$300 more in taxes each way per person to travel with Qatar (Qsuites) and experience the DOH lounge compared with SIA? We've done J class numerous times with SIA (not since the lounge upgrade), never flown Qatar? Do you think it's worth the potentially extra $800-$1200 all up?

 

[bcworld]

What's everyones thoughts on paying about $200-$300 more in taxes each way per person to travel with Qatar (Qsuites) and experience the DOH lounge compared with SIA? We've done J class numerous times with SIA (not since the lounge upgrade), never flown Qatar? Do you think it's worth the potentially extra $800-$1200 all up?

I am more than happy to be able to burn my Velocity points for SQ J...but to be honest, I just find SQ really boring! I think other airlines, and certainly QR, based on all trip reports are doing a much better job with catering. I feel that Q Suite must be a better hard product than SQ J...my thoughts on that (SQ) range from quite good (A350 long haul and 777), to very good with a bulkhead...to downright uncomfortable with SQ A380! So essentially, if available I'd probably try QR wearing the extra cost.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

(Air)NZ AKL - ADL some days, on the way to Europe could work, get the 8am flight AKL - ADL, arr about 10.30am, come out, there is the Atura to store bags, and maybe refresh, and then get the QR flight ADL - DOH, and then to Europe.
Most likely, the 2 bookings can't be mixed on the same PNR.
But as you are an Aust, you don't need a visa to do it (enter Au), but bags might be a poser tho, and ADL is the easiest airport to transit.
There are bags storage areas as in lockers, I have not used them but they are supposedly near the multistorey carpark), if you don't want to use the Atura.
Of course, you have to come out into the open zone, and then go into the int sec screening and outgoing immi at 6.30pm for the 9.30pm flight out with QR.
(Air)NZ and VA are starting a sort of an agreement again, so you could earn points on the (Air)NZ flight, as a VFF member, or earn Airpoint $ if you have that.
No more worksdeluxe, so it will be a tight squeeze on the all Y plane, AKL - ADL.

 

[HS-TQE]

(Air)NZ AKL - ADL some days, on the way to Europe could work, get the 8am flight AKL - ADL, arr about 10.30am, come out, there is the Atura to store bags, and maybe refresh, and then get the QR flight ADL - DOH, and then to Europe.
Most likely, the 2 bookings can't be mixed on the same PNR.
But as you are an Aust, you don't need a visa to do it (enter Au), but bags might be a poser tho, and ADL is the easiest airport to transit.
There are bags storage areas as in lockers, I have not used them but they are supposedly near the multistorey carpark), if you don't want to use the Atura.
Of course, you have to come out into the open zone, and then go into the int sec screening and outgoing immi at 6.30pm for the 9.30pm flight out with QR.
(Air)NZ and VA are starting a sort of an agreement again, so you could earn points on the (Air)NZ flight, as a VFF member, or earn Airpoint $ if you have that.
No more worksdeluxe, so it will be a tight squeeze on the all Y plane, AKL - ADL.

The one way VA/NZ agreement doesn't start until mid 2024 (on the assumption the CCs in Aust and NZ clear it through). Also likely you need to book the NZ flight on the VA code if you are after VFF points/credits (i.e no points/credits if you booked it on the NZ code).

 

[shadrach]

Half way there! Have brought the new trip forward a little to leave early November next year. Have snagged 2 business class tickets to new destination - Rome, with SIA. Pretty happy about that. Will hopefully be able to score some Qatar Qsuites coming home, if/when they open up.