Velocity Gold to Tokyo

[KvG]

Yeah I find that Japan requires a lot of research especially where you are within the village compared to where the restaurants etc are and the proximity to the ski fields. We have chosen to go to Myoko Kogen and stay at the Morino Lodge. This looks great and the guy has been very helpful. They have a place in Hakuba as wel...

Re the flights.. if I want to get max sc and miles, am I best off to book through virgin website (75% extra..) or can I go through skyscanner or others and save another $150 pp?
Any other sites I should consider?

 

[opto80]

And I don't think VA Gold or Plat get any lounge access in Narita flying SQ. At least I didn't about 12 months ago whilst in Japan.

 

[Tom125]

Re the flights.. if I want to get max sc and miles, am I best off to book through virgin website (75% extra..) or can I go through skyscanner or others and save another $150 pp?
Any other sites I should consider?

International flights are by distance, not what you paid for them, so you'll get the same number of velocity points and SC regardless of where you book (so long as you're in the right fare class). See fare classes here. However if you book an SQ flight with a VA code share flight number via VA then you get the 50/70/100% bonus velocity points, and it would also earn you sectors if you're chasing gold/plat and haven't done enough VA sectors.

In terms of websites, I have a pretty good relationship with my local Flight Centre. I tend to do my research and work out what flights I'm after and then go to Flight Centre with printouts of the best prices from the airline websites and some of the aggregators (webjet, expedia etc). FC will match and can often add extras in - for instance one time in the US they got me a fly/drive deal with a rental car for 5 days for only $100 on top of the flight-only price I'd found.

Opto80 - yup that's my experience at Narita - VF Plat doesn't get you access to any lounges unless flying business.

 

[KvG]

OK thats great. I will research and head to the travel agent to see what they say.
I was wondering whether the 50/70/100% bonus velocity points only applied to bookings made through the virgin website.
They are about $100 more expensive compared to skyscanner for instance.

Thanks for all your help! Really appreciate it!
Time for some JaPow!