Switching from economy reward to business reward.

[goldenhorn]

I'm trying to get a flight from Australia to Japan next March, and of course, the options are incredibly limited.

Ideally, I would like a SYD-HND on ANA. I see one at the moment leaving Perth that could work, but I'd prefer not to travel from the east coast to Perth just to catch that flight.

I'm wondering if I book an economy reward, SYD-HND, and then wait until ANA releases more flights close to departure, is it possible to pay the extra points and upgrade your economy reward to a business reward?

I've heard this is possible on Virgin. I just don't know if it can be done with Aeroplan.

 

[I love to travel]

I'm trying to get a flight from Australia to Japan next March, and of course, the options are incredibly limited.

Ideally, I would like a SYD-HND on ANA. I see one at the moment leaving Perth that could work, but I'd prefer not to travel from the east coast to Perth just to catch that flight.

I'm wondering if I book an economy reward, SYD-HND, and then wait until ANA releases more flights close to departure, is it possible to pay the extra points and upgrade your economy reward to a business reward?

I've heard this is possible on Virgin. I just don't know if it can be done with Aeroplan.

Yes you can change. 100 CAD change fee plus points difference. However don't rely on closee to the time

 

[goldenhorn]

Yes you can change. 100 CAD change fee plus points difference. However don't rely on closee to the time

Yeah, I know it's a risky strategy. I probably won't do it.

 

[luxury-lizard]

If the flight is PER-HND on ANA, on the same award you should be able to include SYD-PER on VA for the same number of points (as long as your date is within the Virgin booking window).
Also my observation on ANA award (booked with AC) is that ANA release 1 award in J on most route as soon as their booking window opens (355? days) and often one more in the 2 weeks prior to the flight.

 

[exceladdict]

Was going to ask a similar question about using VA points to book ANA PER<>NRT, seemingly no J is released at all until a week or two out. Obviously running a gauntlet as to whether or not the J is available 2 weeks out, but is this change doable? (can repost in the VA thread if needed)

Also unsure whether adding a flight after arrival e.g. to KIX or HIJ would make the change not possible

I've heard this is possible on Virgin. I just don't know if it can be done with Aeroplan.

 

[goldenhorn]

If the flight is PER-HND on ANA, on the same award you should be able to include SYD-PER on VA for the same number of points (as long as your date is within the Virgin booking window).
Also my observation on ANA award (booked with AC) is that ANA release 1 award in J on most route as soon as their booking window opens (355? days) and often one more in the 2 weeks prior to the flight.

Oh, that's very interesting information. If the SYD-PER can be added for no additional points, that would be much more palatable. I'm going to see if that's possible.

Yeah, the flight is one seat. My partner and I are traveling separately on different days, so I can meet my brother's family earlier (he's allergic to kids lol), so it's actually not an issue.

The only problem would be finding something to get home. We'd prefer to travel together, but we'll see what's possible once things open. One backup plan is to pay for ZipAir from Tokyo to Singapore, where it's much easier to get two seats home to the East Coast.

 

[goldenhorn]

Was going to ask a similar question about using VA points to book ANA PER<>NRT, seemingly no J is released at all until a week or two out. Obviously running a gauntlet as to whether or not the J is available 2 weeks out, but is this change doable? (can repost in the VA thread if needed)

Also unsure whether adding a flight after arrival e.g. to KIX or HIJ would make the change not possible

I believe it's possible because I just saw a well-known travel influencer in Australia say they use this exact strategy to get to Tokyo. I think they said you just have to pay the change fee. I can't remember if that was cash or points.

 

[goldenhorn]

If the flight is PER-HND on ANA, on the same award you should be able to include SYD-PER on VA for the same number of points (as long as your date is within the Virgin booking window).

I can see the PER-NRT J seat on AC. Would I need to add the SYD-PER sector by doing it all over the phone?

I've tried a multi-city to add SYD-PER on the same date as PER-NRT and can't get it to work. It just shows me a SYD-AKL-PER economy seat that takes 12 hours to get to PER lol.

 

[luxury-lizard]

@goldenhorn - is your travel date more than 333 days in the future. If yes - then Virgin bookings are not open yet.. If SYD-PER-NRT is available as an award this itinerary should show up on a search for SYD-NRT.

 

[goldenhorn]

@goldenhorn - is your travel date more than 333 days in the future. If yes - then Virgin bookings are not open yet.. If SYD-PER-NRT is available as an award this itinerary should show up on a search for SYD-NRT.

oh yes. The date is over 333 days. I'll check in a couple of weeks when the VA flights open. Thanks!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If the flight is PER-HND on ANA, on the same award you should be able to include SYD-PER on VA for the same number of points (as long as your date is within the Virgin booking window).
Also my observation on ANA award (booked with AC) is that ANA release 1 award in J on most route as soon as their booking window opens (355? days) and often one more in the 2 weeks prior to the flight.

PER-HND in business class is 4893 miles, so 45k one way (AUD900).

Adding SYD-PER takes it to 6934 miles, which is in the 60k zone (AUD1200).

So it’s +$300 for the VA domestic business, which is good value. But if I could get the PER-HND now, i’d snap that up.

 

[goldenhorn]

PER-HND in business class is 4893 miles, so 45k one way (AUD900).

Adding SYD-PER takes it to 6934 miles, which is in the 60k zone (AUD1200).

So it’s +$300 for the VA domestic business, which is good value. But if I could get the PER-HND now, i’d snap that up.

Could I book PER-NRT now and add on SYD-PER for the additional points later? Or do I miss out if I book now?

 

[luxury-lizard]

You can book PER-NRT now and add SYD-PER later but you will need to ring AC (with wait times up to 2 hours) and pay a change fee of $100 + the additional points (and some additional taxes). Alternately you could book SYD_PER as a separate award (on VA using AC points for 45K) so 15K more than a combined itinerary - but no change fee. You also risk a missed (unprotected) connection unless you travel the day before.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You can book PER-NRT now and add SYD-PER later but you will need to ring AC (with wait times up to 2 hours) and pay a change fee of $100 + the additional points (and some additional taxes). Alternately you could book SYD_PER as a separate award (on VA using AC points for 45K) so 15K more than a combined itinerary - but no change fee. You also risk a missed (unprotected) connection unless you travel the day before.

The combined itinerary would be 60k, booking separate would be 45+45 =90. $900 for the standalone SYD-PER is not worth in on VA.