Rewards Availablility

[elemist]

Hi All,

I have been planning a business trip across to SYD from PER in a couple of weeks. I've been watching the Velocity site daily (most days multiple times) and there has been plenty of seats available for business class.

I've just logged on this evening to confirm time and dates before i book tomorrow and there's suddenly no flights available at all. Is this just really bad luck on my part or is something not right? I mean i can understand certain flight times no longer being available, but all flights on both departure and return flights?

Is there maybe a time limit thing?

 

[elemist]

I'm really puzzled actually - looking at over a week either side there's no availability at all? The economy flights are showing as either available or Sold Out, but premium is just suddenly "not available"?

**Edit** I've just done some random checks through out random dates between now and the end of next year. No seats available at all?

 

[serfty]

Looks like that now more route are being sold with s Business, not premium, the premium rewards are no longer appearing on connections with with Business Class.

For PER routes I could only see them come up for an ADL connection.

 

[AdMEL]

Damn! I hope this is temporary, but resigned to the fact that it is permanent. I was looking forward to a business flight MEL-PER-MEL on points. Velocity points just dropped in value considerably!

Out of interest, I checked a random date MEL-BNE (5 Feb 2012) and every flight has premium seats available. This date is several weeks after business will start on all flights, but not showing business! Might have to get in quick before that is removed as well!

 

[elemist]

So do what's the chances they're removing the premium seats to replace them with Business seats on the website?

Surely there would have to be some premium/business rewards seats available.

Was looking forward to trying Virgin's product, but will have to fly points on QF if i can't find rewards availability

 

[Mogul]

Click on "Show more fare's" to see business reward seat's. Every direct flight has J seat's available.

 

[serfty]

Click on "Show more fare's" to see business reward seat's. Every direct flight has J seat's available.

That is true; however the points + pay cost has increased by $1000 or so each way!

 

[elemist]

Yeah but before you could get J return for $350 before. Whereas now its over 1500 each way.

 

[Mogul]

I noticed how much the points + pay option now cost's compared to a month ago, hope this is only a mistake.

A month ago I purchased 4 return J tickets Syd to Perth for $1,300 plus 55,000 points including the limo transfers, now it seems to cost more for one return ticket.

 

[Mogul]

I noticed how much the points + pay option now cost's compared to a month ago, hope this is only a mistake.

A month ago I purchased 4 return J tickets Syd to Perth for $1,300 plus 55,000 points including the limo transfers, now it seems to cost more for one return ticket.

Just tried to do the same booking for next week and WTF it would now cost $10,814.00 yes that is correct, plus 55,200 points.

 

[Moopere]

Thanks for the heads-up. Big change there if it ends up being permanent. Takes V points back down in value closer to 0.7c as they originally were.

However, the thought occurs thats its a web site glitch as they purge PE from their product line. Surely there will be 'classic' style J class reward seats available going into the future? Surely.

Right now there are none, only availability seems to be via ASA at very QF like pricing. Given that there _is_ a measurable difference in hard product between QF and DJ in J class (from airport facilities right through to BIS) if I'm asked to pay the same, in points or money, I won't have to deliberate very long.

 

[elemist]

I'm very much hoping this is a glitch in the system, or them updating the website. It does seam very strange that there's no rewards seats at all - i'm hoping they'll sort it out tomorrow. Might have to give them a call if nothing updates as i was ready to book return to SYD on Friday!

Any suggestions on booking with Qantas if all else fails? I was playing around with their booking system, but i seams to be either any seat which costs a fortune or rewards seat which you can only use points to claim, not like points + pay with virgin?

 

[elemist]

Just sent a PM to the Virgin Rep to see if they could find out what's going on.

 

[Fruitcake]

Reward inventory seems to be back - last night I saw nothing but rather expensive Any Seat Rewards for J class SYD-PER. As of this morning I can see availability on most flights for J Class rewards seats at 33,800+$16.

Good to see pricing hasn't moved, I was concerned that rewards prices would jump significantly in the manner that J fares are a jump from PE.

 

[serfty]

Reward inventory seems to be back - last night I saw nothing but rather expensive Any Seat Rewards for J class SYD-PER. As of this morning I can see availability on most flights for J Class rewards seats at 33,800+$16. ...

This appears to be the case.

I'm guessing an issue with fare buckets/programming occurred.

 

[elemist]

Yep - Same view here. Now time to book before they disappear again!

Just out of interest, what does this part mean when your doing the last part of the points + pay option?

"Note: You do not earn Velocity Points on the Credit Card portion of this redemption booking"

 

[Moopere]

Yep - Same view here. Now time to book before they disappear again!

Just out of interest, what does this part mean when your doing the last part of the points + pay option?

"Note: You do not earn Velocity Points on the Credit Card portion of this redemption booking"

Mmm. Its my understanding, after being informed by more knowledgable folks here at AFF, that this refers to not earning any status or FF points on reward bookings. I guess they are heading off a potential argument that a 10,000 point + 1000$ fare might/should earn some points because of the cash component ... the above quote reads to me that this is not the case and a redemtion of points effectively nullifies any points earn.

Personally I'm a bit disappointed to not earn status ... a huge number of miles may be flown entirely on points, and points _are_ worth money to an airline, because somehow they were paid by someone (CC company?) to take on the liability of holding those points. If one were to fly 100,000 miles a year, but on points, doesn't that still make you a FF customer worthy of recognition??