VA partner bookings... here we go!

[pauly7]

Hi all, I'm trying to burn up my VA points stuck in Velocity and VA will now just become a conduit for transferring to KrisFlyer in the future as I'm putting it in the 'too hard' basket!
I've searched - but is there a list of what airlines you CAN book 'classic' awards via Velocity online V having to call their call centre (shudder) to book?
And if I have no option but to call them up to book because they don't provide inventory online, am I charged for that pleasure?
Thanks!

 

[bam71]

We've successfully booked ( many times) Etihad classic awards and SQ. Also VA itself to LAX. - all online - no need to call. Remember if you transfer Velocity points Krisflyer you will loose 35%, so its probably not worth transferring ( depending on the route you want that is).

 

[henleybeach]

I would've book a dozen flights with their partner airlines Etihad and SIA and virgin international online with no problems.
At least 6 times their has been no flights showing online when I've wanted to go and I have rang up velocity and asked them to check and every time they see availability and book it for me. I just say it comes up with error on your web page so they don't charge me a booking fee. So even if there is no availability online ring up and double check .

 

[Mattg]

You can book award seats on the following airlines on the Virgin website: VA, SQ, VX, DL, EY
You need to call Velocity to book awards on the following airlines: NZ, HA, VS, SA, AB, AZ

I don't believe there's a fee for phone bookings that can't be done online.

While having to call up is a pain (as is the general lack of award availability with VA) there are at least no fuel surcharges when redeeming on *most* airlines.

 

[samas]

You can book award seats on the following airlines on the Virgin website: VA, SQ, VX, DL, EY
You need to call Velocity to book awards on the following airlines: NZ, HA, VS, SA, AB, AZ

I don't believe there's a fee for phone bookings that can't be done online.

While having to call up is a pain (as is the general lack of award availability with VA) there are at least no fuel surcharges when redeeming on *most* airlines.

I just tried calling up to book Virgin America which K class (first) showed up as available on Expert Flyer on all flights on the day I was looking, but Velocity couldn't see any. However they could see available K class the following day... Do they only have access to some K class and not others?

 

[CJEMNMAC]

We've successfully booked ( many times) Etihad classic awards and SQ. Also VA itself to LAX. - all online - no need to call. Remember if you transfer Velocity points Krisflyer you will loose 35%, so its probably not worth transferring ( depending on the route you want that is).

You need to work out what works for you

For example, booking say LAX - SYD on SQ via VA website is 139000 VA points + taxes

Booking the same route on SQ is 85000 KF points + taxes ( higher taxes than the VA option )



114750 VA points = 85000 KF points

So in this small example the decision is to burn more points booking via VA and pay less tax or transferring to KF and using less points and paying more tax

Also, a point of clarification as well, you actually lose +/- 25% - 26% in the transfer VA - KF not 35% if that helps in your calculations

 

[NZflygirl]

Hi all, I'm trying to burn up my VA points stuck in Velocity and VA will now just become a conduit for transferring to KrisFlyer in the future as I'm putting it in the 'too hard' basket!
I've searched - but is there a list of what airlines you CAN book 'classic' awards via Velocity online V having to call their call centre (shudder) to book?
And if I have no option but to call them up to book because they don't provide inventory online, am I charged for that pleasure?
Thanks!

That's the only thing I've ever used it for and I'm actually happy with that part of the FFP (for the most part)! Earn on NZ and EY, (bit of VA & BP) and burn on SQ.

Disclaimer: I have no access to Oz cc for sign up bonuses

 

[pauly7]

You can book award seats on the following airlines on the Virgin website: VA, SQ, VX, DL, EY
You need to call Velocity to book awards on the following airlines: NZ, HA, VS, SA, AB, AZ

I don't believe there's a fee for phone bookings that can't be done online.

While having to call up is a pain (as is the general lack of award availability with VA) there are at least no fuel surcharges when redeeming on *most* airlines.

Thank you - this is exactly what I wanted to know.

Yes the general lack of award avails with VA is doing my head in as well but I'm determined not to let them languish there and continue to lose value!

 

[CJEMNMAC]

Thank you - this is exactly what I wanted to know.

Yes the general lack of award avails with VA is doing my head in as well but I'm determined not to let them languish there and continue to lose value!

pauly7... you can also read here for a bit more info

https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Redeem/Flights/airline-partners/

 

[Pleb Status]

They like to 'hide' things on their website.

 

[Zerosignal]

I believe booking on SQ is restricted to their older business class seats though.

 

[Mattg]

I believe booking on SQ is restricted to their older business class seats though.

I know that you can't use Velocity points to book first class suites, but I don't think this is right. Last time I checked you could book business class on the A380, 777-300ER, etc.

 

[bam71]

We've done it. A380 J

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hi all, I'm trying to burn up my VA points stuck in Velocity and VA will now just become a conduit for transferring to KrisFlyer in the future as I'm putting it in the 'too hard' basket!
I've searched - but is there a list of what airlines you CAN book 'classic' awards via Velocity online V having to call their call centre (shudder) to book?
And if I have no option but to call them up to book because they don't provide inventory online, am I charged for that pleasure?
Thanks!

Have done several awards on HA HNl/BNE using VA points via their call center and did not have to pay the assistance fee (AUD70.00 pp IIRC) as HA cannot be booke online. Just did a DL award online today successfully although website a bit clunky timing out etc but persevered and got there in the end.

We are trying to do another DL booking which highlights the major bug bear I have with the VA website in that although there are sufficient points (40K for a 35K award) in the Velocity account to do the points and pay option, the VA website tells me there is insufficient points for both people to do the award as the beginning of the process it will display the 42K all-in points (no cash component) as it's not until the end of the booking process that you can use the slider to scroll back the points required to the minimum amount.

Has anyone else had this problem and found a workaround or is the only option transferring more points from Amex to Velocity so the poiints balance exceeds that of the all-in points cost of the award?

 

[CJEMNMAC]

We've done it. A380 J

Me too.. Just booked as well for October

 

[pauly7]

View attachment 88886

They like to 'hide' things on their website.

Yes one thing VA is very good at.
Three days of slogging and searching.... nothing yet....!

 

[Pleb Status]

Yes one thing VA is very good at.
Three days of slogging and searching.... nothing yet....!

I have the reverse problem. With just under 1M QFF points to use, I cannot find a single J/F seat ex PER to Europe within a week of my preferred departure date (and confirmed by the QF call centre).

However, multiple SQ and EY J seats are available each side of my preferred date ex PER (but not on my preferred date however). I will most likely book one of these seats but I need to move some of my QF points which have almost become unusable.

 

[Eternalx]

When I click redeem flights on the airline partners page, it just redirects me to the normal VA booking page. Is this normal?

Also, for a business reward seat from BNE --> INC (~5k miles), it's showing 105k each way



But based on the points table (https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Redeem/Airlines/PointsTables/), 5k miles should be 78k points, and 92k if calculated based on 5.8k-7k miles.

Am I doing something wrong? I'm trying to book a business reward seat with SQ.

Thanks!

 

[Pleb Status]

When I click redeem flights on the airline partners page, it just redirects me to the normal VA booking page. Is this normal?

Also, for a business reward seat from BNE --> INC (~5k miles), it's showing 105k each way

View attachment 89007

But based on the points table (https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Redeem/Airlines/PointsTables/), 5k miles should be 78k points, and 92k if calculated based on 5.8k-7k miles.

Am I doing something wrong? I'm trying to book a business reward seat with SQ.

Thanks!

I get BNE-SiN-INC to be 6375 miles. Therefore the quote above would be correct.

 

[pauly7]

I have the reverse problem. With just under 1M QFF points to use, I cannot find a single J/F seat ex PER to Europe within a week of my preferred departure date (and confirmed by the QF call centre).

However, multiple SQ and EY J seats are available each side of my preferred date ex PER (but not on my preferred date however). I will most likely book one of these seats but I need to move some of my QF points which have almost become unusable.

I would gladly swap my VA points for your QFF!?!
Have always had great avails out of Perth with QF.