Velocity Gold to Tokyo

[KvG]

Good morning!
We're looking at flying from the Gold Coast or Brisbane to Tokyo in early March 2017. As Velocity Gold, I would love to use it to update my SC's, spend some time in the airport lounge and take full advantage of the gold status.

I am looking to get some advice on what would be the best way to go about this. We have 250k velocity points and wouldn't mind an upgrade to business of premium economy somewhere.

I realise that it probably means we'll fly with SQ (17 hours compared to the 9hours, straight jetstar flight...). Should I book through virgin website, transfer points to SQ and book with them or go through skyscanner or similar.

Thank you very much for your help, appreciate any information!
Have a great weekend!
KvG

 

[Ausbt]

I just booked a SYD-SIN-HND in J for Feb 17. 88K VA points transferred to Krisflyer & $300 tax. Should be comfy. I had the last of 92K QF points hanging around, so coming back with KA & CX HND-HKG-SYD in J costing all of those points + $100 tax. Two weeks in Hakuba.

It took me quite a while to find those flights at the cheap redemption rate, so you'll have to look hard. Are you skiing?

 

[KvG]

I just booked a SYD-SIN-HND in J for Feb 17. 88K VA points transferred to Krisflyer & $300 tax. Should be comfy. I had the last of 92K QF points hanging around, so coming back with KA & CX HND-HKG-SYD in J costing all of those points + $100 tax. Two weeks in Hakuba.

It took me quite a while to find those flights at the cheap redemption rate, so you'll have to look hard. Are you skiing?

Thank you so much for the information! Yes we are going to the snow, possibly to Hakuba. We went there in 2015 and it was amazing! Excellent snow quality (powder up to your hips when you come to a stop) and a great little town in general. Nozawa Onsen is excellent too!

Do you still get SC's when you use your points?
I just tried to book through SQ and they charged me $1000 worth of tax!!!

 

[Ausbt]

T Yes we are going to the snow, possibly to Hakuba. Nozawa Onsen is excellent too!

Do you still get SC's when you use your points?
I just tried to book through SQ and they charged me $1000 worth of tax!!!

No SCs or points earned on these full point redemptions unfortunately, but that's the way it is. Yes, I love Nozawa as well such a beautiful town just nice walking around the streets, using the different Onsens and then of course drinks at Jonobi, Stay Bar and Ace High before a wonderful dinner somewhere. $1K tax on those flights seems a lot, for two people maybe ok but not one. Others might comment here.

Some other useful info: if a long layover in SIN you could consider the Aerotel for a bit of a nap. They sell access in six hour blocks so aim for no more than AUD$50
In Hakuba I've decided on the Roseheim for six nights and Azekura up in Wadano for 5, locked in some good rates for those. You could try booking via Virgin's Agoda link to earn some points but I couldn't find what I was looking for so went direct.

Let's hope it's a great season!

 

[Rigs]

Some other useful info: if a long layover in SIN you could consider the Aerotel for a bit of a nap. They sell access in six hour blocks so aim for no more than AUD$50
In Hakuba I've decided on the Roseheim for six nights and Azekura up in Wadano for 5, locked in some good rates for those. You could try booking via Virgin's Agoda link to earn some points but I couldn't find what I was looking for so went direct.

Let's hope it's a great season!

Thanks for this info on Aerotel. Best book in advance? Flying to HND via SIN in a couple of weeks.

Another question. Any decent lounges in HND for WP VA flying with Singapore Airlines? The VA website didn't have anything so I might be out of luck.

 

[Ausbt]

Hi Rigs, the Aerotel official site was doing USD$38 and you select a check-in time for a six hour block. They had 'add-on' hours, interestingly 3 hours is USD$42 and 4 hours $56. I mean why not just book another room for six hours for USD$38? Pricing seems off there. On Agoda best I could find was AUD$56, so pretty close but what isn't clear from Agoda is how the time works. I've heard of people who have turned up there expecting standard check-in hours (say 2pm-11am) and then getting hit for additional charges. Apparently the pool closes at 12 midnight. I'm checking in at 10:30 pm as I want a swim and 4 hours sleep before an early flgiht.

I don't know about the HND lounges.

 

[KvG]

The aerotel is great for a rest. We stayed there in June. Small world... we stayed at the Rosenheim too. Its very convenient but I wouldn't say its amazing. It really depends on which room you get. Our first room has duct tape around the toilet seat to keep it together. We complained and got one of the best rooms in the resort. The woman who runs it as a bit of a naz_... They switch the heating off during the day so if you aren't on the slopes you're going to be freezing and the onsen (which is amazing overlooking the slopes etc) is closed during the day too... Nice to stay close to the slopes though... We're thinking of going to shigakogen. Apparently it huge and there are many connected ski fields so you don't have to run the same runs all the time. We had a great time in Hakuba and they do sell really good coffee on the slopes...

I think we'll go through Virgin and get max points and Sc's. THrough the mobile SQ app you can select your seats and still fly on a VA number (lounge access). Do you know anything about lounge access in Singapore when on VA and or Haneda...?

 

[Ausbt]

Small world... we stayed at the Rosenheim too. Its very convenient but I wouldn't say its amazing.

I think we'll go through Virgin and get max points and Sc's. THrough the mobile SQ app you can select your seats and still fly on a VA number (lounge access). Do you know anything about lounge access in Singapore when on VA and or Haneda...?

Thanks for the tips on the Rosenheim. Thankfully my needs are pretty modest when I'm on a ski trip - a good Onsen is a must but otherwise just a bed and some sort of communal area. I'll be avoiding that duct-taped toilet, although I don't think I have a room with an ensuite anyway so probably all good! I was considering Shiga as well but I haven't finished exploring Hakuba yet so thought I'd give all the resorts there a solid workout first.

If you have any SG or WP status with VA or Star Allianz then you'll get access to the Silverkris or Gold lounge I would think. Haneda I know nothing about, this will be a first for me as I usually fly into Narita.

 

[KvG]

Yeah these trips require loads of research. What do you mean with SG? Sometimes I get lost in the abbreviations on this site... Ha ha. I'm Velocity Gold.
What is the lounge situation like at Narita airport? I think with SQ we can fly into either.. I have been to the jetstar lounge and it was completely full of Australian teenagers and their parents with their feet on tables and wearing wife beaters. Worst lounge of them all.
Thanks

 

[Ausbt]

SG is Gold Status, WP is Platinum. Fly J (Business) and you'll have access to the better Silverkris at Changi. Fly Y (economy) and it will be Krisflyer Gold Class. Since you are ticketed on VA use their guide for access, here: https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/international-lounge-access/

Here is the SIA (Singapore Airlines) guide: SilverKris Lounges around the world

I would say as a VA SG flying Y you'll be in the Krisflyer Gold Class Lounge at Changi but I'm unsure about what you'll be able to access at Haneda. There is no SIA or VA lounge there, you'd be relying on a partner lounge. Others might be able to jump in here. I'm returning with Cathay Pacific (CX) on a J ticket so I'll have access to a Oneworld lounge I think.

At Narita I've only ever used the Qantas lounge, which I quite like actually. VB in the fridge! Food is usually basic but ok, lots of Sushi of course.

 

[Lemon_Party]

I would say as a VA SG flying Y you'll be in the Krisflyer Gold Class Lounge at Changi but I'm unsure about what you'll be able to access at Haneda. There is no SIA or VA lounge there, you'd be relying on a partner lounge.

We had no lounge access flying Y from Haneda on SQ with VA platinum card. SQ use a partner lounge and don't allow access to VA status Y pax.

 

[KvG]

Shame. Thanks for the info. I guess we'll be flying to Narita instead!

 

[Tom125]

You could consider AirNZ as well. I flew SYD->AKL->NRT and back earlier in the year in PE and got quite a good $:SC ratio. Not every outbound flight works - only NZ95 connects with flights from Australia without an overnight stay in AKL, and it seems to only run Dec to April on Thursday and Saturdays, so quite restrictive and not exactly the fastest way to get to Japan... I'm Velocity WP and travelled in PE and had lounge access at SYD on the way out and AKL both ways on the way through, but not at NRT. Once through security/passports NRT wasn't too bad so I didn't miss lounge access and enjoyed a reasonably good final sushi set before my flight in the main terminal.

 

[KvG]

Thanks for the info. Think we'll stick to Sq as we're looking at flying on the Monday. Hope to get in at Sq lounge at NRT... See what happens. Having fun browsing for places to go and stay? Hard work in Japan I find.

 

[Tom125]

No worries, I had some luck with AirBNB. March is a busy time of year though with the Cherry Blossom season, so book early.

 

[Ausbt]

Having fun browsing for places to go and stay? Hard work in Japan I find.

What's the issue KvG? Are you finding a lot of places say 'no availability'? It seems common that some ski accom places don't actually release availability to quite late. Some places are also booked solid by package operators as well, so there is little chance of getting in anyway. Or is it something else?

 

[Dannyism]

SG is Gold Status, WP is Platinum. Fly J (Business) and you'll have access to the better Silverkris at Changi. Fly Y (economy) and it will be Krisflyer Gold Class. Since you are ticketed on VA use their guide for access, here: https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/international-lounge-access/

Here is the SIA (Singapore Airlines) guide: SilverKris Lounges around the world

I would say as a VA SG flying Y you'll be in the Krisflyer Gold Class Lounge at Changi but I'm unsure about what you'll be able to access at Haneda. There is no SIA or VA lounge there, you'd be relying on a partner lounge. Others might be able to jump in here. I'm returning with Cathay Pacific (CX) on a J ticket so I'll have access to a Oneworld lounge I think.

At Narita I've only ever used the Qantas lounge, which I quite like actually. VB in the fridge! Food is usually basic but ok, lots of Sushi of course.

Sorry what? SilverKris lounge? is better than GoldKris lounge? WP/SG and I've never stepped into SK only GK....

 

[Ausbt]

Sorry what? SilverKris lounge? is better than GoldKris lounge? WP/SG and I've never stepped into SK only GK....

Silverkris is indeed better than Singapore Gold Lounge. Personally I'm waiting for them to build the BronzeAgeKris lounge, replete with chefs using an actual 300BC Kris to prepare your Hainanese Chicken. For now, as a WP, you will have access to the wonderful Silverkris.

 

[Dannyism]

Silverkris is indeed better than Singapore Gold Lounge. Personally I'm waiting for them to build the BronzeAgeKris lounge, replete with chefs using an actual 300BC Kris to prepare your Hainanese Chicken. For now, as a WP, you will have access to the wonderful Silverkris.

Can I quiz you further as to what makes SK at changi better than GK? I don't have any Asia/Europe trips planned so won't get to check it out in the near future.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Just confirming that as a WP, not travelling in J, you would only have access to the KF Gold lounges in terminals 2 and 3. Terminal 3's lounge is marginally superior as it has some form of natural light.
Only SQ PPS club members and Air NZ elites on flights to/from NZ are permitted access to the SilverKris regardless of class of travel.

The SKs, which are also located in terminals 2 & 3, are superior to KF Gold. For one, they actually have toilets within the lounge which shouldn't really be considered a luxury in this day and age. Second, they have shower facilities however I have experienced queues around 11pm in the terminal 3 lounge due to a large number of Australia and Europe bound flights. The dining options are more varied and much better quality and at some times the staff wander around with trolleys of afternoon tea. I find a big downside the lack of tarmac views and natural light so usually don't aim to spend too long in the lounge as opposed to the QF lounge at Changi which I very much enjoy.