Points waitlist discussion

[Must...Fly!]

In my experience the VA Upgrade wait list may as well not exist. I am a Plat, so have the 4 comp upgrades - but obviously there needs to be award availability to secure an upgrade using Platinum perk. However these disappear quickly and the perk is therefore often of limited value (especially given the Freedom fares are the only ones you can upgrade on).

Most recent example is a freedom fare, SYD-PER. Call centre won't release anything after several tries over a couple weeks - ok, I'll waitlist on points and if I have to spend them, I'd rather do that than sit in economy with the points in my pocket!

T-96 - 8 J seats available (the actual number, not counting fare buckets/seat maps or anything - will be the same below). This is when, according to the VA website, points waitlists are supposed to be actioned for Platinum members (from this time, anyway).

T-72 - 7 J seats available. I guess they sold one. Main cabin: Y7 B7.

T-48 - 4 J seats available. Main cabin: Y7 B7 H2 K2.

T-24 - 1 J seat available. Economy opens up some more to become Y7 B7 H7 K7 L7.

Given the time frames, paid bid upgrades may be getting preference ahead of anything else. It might not be true but based on the evidence of watching this closely, it's hard to come up with a different conclusion, unless there are many more Platinum members waitlisting for upgrades than I think.

Not sure how I feel about it. Look, if I really want to fly in J then it's pretty simple - accept and pay up. I don't know the value of the bids that have (presumably) been accepted. But it's difficult to comprehend that someone on a $250 getaway could bid $360 (the going rate on this occasion) and be sitting in J, while I've paid roughly the same in total for a Freedom as a WP and will be in Economy.

Anyway, curious to see some discussion on this topic and the opinions/experiences of others.

 

[serfty]

Do you think they are simply not releasing Z class or Z is being released but they are not processing any waitlists?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Do you think they are simply not releasing Z class or Z is being released but they are not processing any waitlists?

I see a trend of being more stingy with Z class (and X, actually).

In this particular case no Z was released for rewards (after I booked, at least) and I couldn't get the call centre to release one. I had an EF alert set up and checked myself roughly every hour or two in the 10 days leading up to the flight. Maybe that extra $5.50 they'll want from January will change that

My suggestion here is that they are not looking at the wait list at all, and simply processing the bid upgrades to get the money, ahead of any premium passengers on the wait list. Not sure if anyone can come up with another hypothesis but it's pretty poor, if I'm correct.

 

[Harthagan]

I never understood this so called benefit. From what i can see it would be better to just redeem points for the business reward seat if one is available. I mean the conditions of:

1. Must have purchased a freedom fare
2. Must be a reward business seat available

woukd make the benefit all but useless surely? Or am i missing something?

I think if a reward seat isnt available id just resign myself to getting the cheapest fare and flying in economy X.

I mean with the money you save on the fare you could easily get a 3 course meal at a very nice restaurant haha

 

[jasecao]

I normally check for business reward seats before booking freedom fare, otherwise its an elevate ticket for me

I find you have to book a few weeks in advanced to take full benefit

 

[Saltywings]

I think if a reward seat isnt available id just resign myself to getting the cheapest fare and flying in economy X.

I mean with the money + points you save on the fare you could easily get a 3 course meal at a very nice restaurant haha

100% agree with these two sentences. As a VA WP I've never been able to justify exercising this 'perk'. And when I can justify it, there are no seats! Funny that.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Well as serfty has often pointed out, at best this benefit is worth 39,600 points. Assuming you can find availability to upgrade.

As it is, to (possibly to be fair) be taking money ahead of processing waitlisted premium passengers adds insult to it.

In this particular case, an elevate was around $420 and the freedom $610. Considering the status credits were required anyway and for the first time in a while I actually needed some flexibility, went with it.

I completely agree on all counts. The free upgrade perk should be available regardless of reward seat availability. I wonder more and more what the point of Platinum is. A recent trip with EY failing in service a number of ways has not helped the situation....

 

[Harthagan]

In this particular case, an elevate was around $420 and the freedom $610. Considering the status credits were required anyway and for the first time in a while I actually needed some flexibility, went with it.

And I think that perfectly demonstrates the point. To avail yourself of the benefit you need to outlay $610 and a reward seat in business has to be available. But in that case it would be better value to just do a reward seat to begin with.

The consideration of status credits and also the flexibility however is something I never considered before so now I can see how the benefit could make sense to use (if available haha)

 

[Saltywings]

Honestly these days VA WP is only useful for two things: free econ X selection and guesting more than one person into the lounges.

Good perks, but certainly not so good that it makes me want to retain WP for next year...

 

[Must...Fly!]

Honestly these days VA WP is only useful for two things: free econ X selection and guesting more than one person into the lounges.

Good perks, but certainly not so good that it makes me want to retain WP for next year...

Sadly, I am beginning to agree. I will be 20SC short on current plans so expect I'll probably have to do a status run at some point in the next 2 months, but can't see myself continuing on as WP in 2020/21. With rising fares (particularly transcon) and decreasing levels of service, it doesn't make me rush to make plans to renew.

 

[serfty]

Check the cost of a flexi fare to CNS ...

 

[Must...Fly!]

Check the cost of a flexi fare to CNS ...

The north wa$ not attractive given the time of year....otherwise.....

In any case it would not have solved the upgrade issue!

 

[sometime_flyer]

What! No one here thinks Fly-Ahead is a good perk of being Platinum, even Fly-Ahead by phone? How about being able to gift Gold....or Platinum to a spouse/friend/relative?

 

[Saltywings]

What! No one here thinks Fly-Ahead is a good perk of being Platinum, even Fly-Ahead by phone? How about being able to gift Gold....or Platinum to a spouse/friend/relative?

Good point on Fly Ahead. Would agree if I actually have a case to use it. I generally plan trips such that if anything, I'd want more time on the ground rather than less (and thus requiring fly ahead). Disclaimer: almost all of my travel is leisure/self-funded.

With respect to the SG/WP gift - technically speaking that's not a WP benefit per se, you'd have to go above and beyond WP. I don't have the required SCs, and I wouldn't stretch myself to earn the extra just to be able to gift the membership! I'm nice but maybe not that nice

 

[Bibendum]

A recent trip with EY failing in service a number of ways has not helped the situation....

Can you expand on the on above..?

I have few flights that I need to book and as a VA plat wondering if I go SA or EY to Europe..