The Velocity 10th Birthday Sale and triple points offer

[PDog]

I cancelled my booking with credit to travel bank (back to card was an extra $80). I got hit with $35 for cancelling my points-upgrade, but that was ok. However when I went to make my new booking, the site refused to process it as it said it found an existing 'duplicate' booking (even though it was cancelled, and showed as cancelled). So my new booking had to be made via the call-centre.

Will have to check the penalty for cancelling a platinum upgrade. I upgraded with points to start with, then changed to the platinum upgrades (don't ask!) but there was no fee associated?

 

[mmchow]

Will have to check the penalty for cancelling a platinum upgrade. I upgraded with points to start with, then changed to the platinum upgrades (don't ask!) but there was no fee associated?

Upgrade with points: $35 or 4500 points. Waived for platinum member. 24hrs prior
Upgrade with platinum upgrade: no charges

 

[PDog]

Upgrade with points: $35 or 4500 points. Waived for platinum member. 24hrs prior
Upgrade with platinum upgrade: no charges

Thanks, you are the best! I was trying to read the T&C while in the back of a cab, had to give up.
ok, you've convinced me: will tackle it when I'm home.

 

[mmchow]

Thanks, you are the best! I was trying to read the T&C while in the back of a cab, had to give up.
ok, you've convinced me: will tackle it when I'm home.

One note - you'll have to call to cancel as you applied the upgrade, can't do it online. Also, if you receive an error message of duplicate booking during your re-booking process, don't panic. Wait for 15 - 30 minutes and try again (happened to me yesterday). Delay in Virgin site is inevitable.

Happy to help!!

 

[HeavyElectricity]

I think I may have just lucked out when searching using this sale.

I saw that SYD-NAN business was on sale for $799 each way in Feb/March. After selecting this offer, I changed the departure airport to PER, and the fares were just over $1000 each way. I've managed to get PER-MEL-NAN, NAN-BNE-PER all in J for $2233 (transcon legs on A330). By my rough calculations this should net me ~40k points (triple points offer + silver bonus + amex points) - enough for another business reward seat transcon in the future. Plus 320 SC, which will get me to SG.

Not sure if I actually want to go yet - but the business fair looks to be fully refundable, so I have some time to think about it at least

Have I got myself a good deal?

 

[andye]

The corporate travel agent came up with UA (in full J to be fair) for my SYD-LAX trip. Thank goodness VA were able to undercut

 

[serfty]

You will earn 2,500 base points, 5,000 bonus points and x number of status bonus points applied to base points only.

For red, status bonus is 0, for Silver 1250, Gold 1875 & Platinum 2500.

So with the promo, Red get 7500, Silver 8750, Gold 9375 & Platinum 10000 for a $500 fare.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I cancelled my booking with credit to travel bank (back to card was an extra $80)...... However when I went to make my new booking, the site refused to process it as it said it found an existing 'duplicate' booking

Forgot to mention that I had the same issue last night, ....tried booking 10 minutes later and it went through. Obviously there is a delay within Virgin booking system.

Re the duplicate booking.....I'm curious about mmchow's experience as that has never happened for me, even days later still pops up the duplicate booking message. I have found a work around which does work for me, that is if the booked flight is a return, book it again as two singles. If it's two singles, book it as a return. It allows that and because the funds are returned to travel bank, there are no addition CC fees to pay and you can then still add a discount code. In fact I love the travel bank refund as it's a great way to "deposit" a truck load of money with just one CC fee and then use it to buy any multitude of flights in any configuration (one way/return/multi) for any number of pax! I've not yet tried "depositing" with a single domestic CC fee and then redeeming for multiple internationals, but I can't see why it won't work!

 

[mmchow]

For red, status bonus is 0, for Silver 1250, Gold 1875 & Platinum 2500.

So with the promo, Red get 7500, Silver 8750, Gold 9375 & Platinum 10000 for a $500 fare.

That's what I've got too. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[mmchow]

Re the duplicate booking.....I'm curious about mmchow's experience as that has never happened for me, even days later still pops up the duplicate booking message. I have found a work around which does work for me, that is if the booked flight is a return, book it again as two singles. If it's two singles, book it as a return. It allows that and because the funds are returned to travel bank, there are no addition CC fees to pay and you can then still add a discount code. In fact I love the travel bank refund as it's a great way to "deposit" a truck load of money with just one CC fee and then use it to buy any multitude of flights in any configuration (one way/return/multi) for any number of pax! I've not yet tried "depositing" with a single domestic CC fee and then redeeming for multiple internationals, but I can't see why it won't work!

Interesting as I called up the call centre and the agent confirmed the booking was indeed cancelled. Told her I will try it again in the next 10 and next thing I know, it went through. I had the same thought too re travel bank

 

[HeavyElectricity]

My duplicate booking error didn't clear - ended up doing it over the phone (good to know about the single/return workaround for future). i waited around 6 hours before i gave up and phoned, but that was also the day the website collapsed for several hours too.

 

[Pleb Status]

Booked a couple of flexi fares (with the 10% promo code) to use up my free WP J upgrades for the year. At 21.5pts/$ spent (3x5 base + 5 WP bonus + 1.5 Amex) that is not a bad return.

 

[pythonisman]

Thanks, I hadn't got this email yet, but I've registered. I am looking to potentially book in a US trip mid next year, in addition to a few domestics, so this should do nicely, hopefully!

Now... how about that J upgrade (award) seat availability transpac..?

Edit: interesting -- the J award seats which weren't there last week are back... I should strike while the iron's hot, no?

I ummed and arred around for a bit over a week, but finally got my annual leave approved today, the award seats were still there and I've booked - Hello USA mid '16!
Also managed to get a J upgrade seat on VA1 for the way over (VA8 for the return) which will be the first time in 4 years I've gotten to fly from SYD directly rather than having to spend an extra couple of hours transiting through BNE. Happy days!!

 

[Zinger]

I registered for the triple points offer then booked a business class flight to Paris ensuring VA coded and operated flights SYD-AUH and return.

VA hasn't managed to roll out its new business class seats as they expected and they changed my booking to EY operated flights but still with a VA codeshare, which are ineligible for the triple points offer.

Has anyone heard if VA will honour their offer on my original booking or have I just lucked out?

 

[JohnK]

Has anyone heard if VA will honour their offer on my original booking or have I just lucked out?

This should be no different to Original Routing Credit. Ask them to honour the offer as booked.

 

[andye]

My triple points for this offer posted (together with the standard ones) for me 3 days after landing SYD-BNE-LAX. A good haul