Virgin Atlantic 20% bonus points... its back..

[StevePER]

PER-AKL in J for 30k seems like good value (assuming this is return).

 

[k3nnis]

Can someone confirm if it's return?

 

[RB]

IMHO VS J is appalling when compared to sq and qf J.

The clubhouse in lhr is the only plus for me... Usually a dated plane syd-HKG-lhr. Food cough, service in-attentive.

So when spending $ I would avoid VS but VS redemptions are V cheap in membership rewards compared to QF and SQ redemptions.

I guess u get what u pay for, even in membership rewards points!

That was not how we found it in May 2011, a J redemption SYD-HKG. Food was very good, service excellent & Mrs RB was rapt in the flat seats (a bit narrow for me).
Points transferred across easily & promptly at the time.
We haven't travelled with SQ for a long time but travelled on a QF JASA the next morning after the VS flight & there was certainly no great difference in the flights for our priorities.

 

[k3nnis]

Hi,

I agree with you as well. I have been in VS UC for SYD-HKG vv and also NRT-LHR and LHR-SFO and found it to be alright. I haven't flown SQ C nor QF J so I can't compare. I have flown MH J and they are quite comparable. I have also flown MH F and that's a lot better but it's not fair to compare F to J

Thanks,
K.

That was not how we found it in May 2011, a J redemption SYD-HKG. Food was very good, service excellent & Mrs RB was rapt in the flat seats (a bit narrow for me).
Points transferred across easily & promptly at the time.
We haven't travelled with SQ for a long time but travelled on a QF JASA the next morning after the VS flight & there was certainly no great difference in the flights for our priorities.

 

[JohnK]

So that would make a SYD-HKG return

37,500 Amex MR points in economy
45,000 Amex MR points in premium economy
66,667 Amex MR points in upper class

PER-AKL in J for 30k seems like good value (assuming this is return).

I believe the Air New Zealand partner award is return but the website is a little confusing on the available routes.

When you click on partner flights and then Air New Zealand the following is mentioned

New Zealand to Australia:

(Auckland/Wellington/Christchurch/Queenstown/Dunedin/Rotora to
Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane/Adelaide/Cairns/Coolangatta & Perth)


but when clicking on Full Partner Terms and Conditions the following is mentioned

New Zealand to Australia ( Auckland/Wellington/Christchurch/Queenstown to
Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane)

 

[pauly7]

IMHO VS J is appalling when compared to sq and qf J.

I guess u get what u pay for, even in membership rewards points!

I wouldn't say they are 'appalling' but their aircraft, seats and entertainment systems are definitely showing their age that's for sure. QF and SQ beat them hands down but their product is much newer.

Not sure if they have any refurb plans coming up?

Does VS flying club allow you to book onto SQ metal to Europe? Or do they just sell their own metal??

 

[k3nnis]

Hi,

I believe you can book on sq metal with flying club. However only in Y at the moment no J or F.

 

[pauly7]

Hi,

I believe you can book on sq metal with flying club. However only in Y at the moment no J or F.

Ugh really! Useless (for me). Pity. Can guess why though, why would you fly VS if you could fly SQ.

 

[k3nnis]

Yeah a pity. They used to allow J and F but not now....

 

[Pumbaa]

How good is Virgin Atlantic's availability with regards to reward tickets?
One way Hong Kong - London in Upper Class is only 50,000 points or 41,667 AMEX points

Might be worth while buying some AA points to do:

Perth-Syd(J)-HK(F) - 45,000 points ($1000 US)
HK-London(J)

 

[k3nnis]

Availability is pretty good I think.

 

[zig]

How good is Virgin Atlantic's availability with regards to reward tickets?
One way Hong Kong - London in Upper Class is only 50,000 points or 41,667 AMEX points

Might be worth while buying some AA points to do:

Perth-Syd(J)-HK(F) - 45,000 points ($1000 US)
HK-London(J)

SYD - HKG availability is good, it isn't as easy to get the leg to LHR, but if you have flexibility with your dates you might be ok.

 

[tinkybelle]

I am not seeing it either

went to all the instructions also clicked on virgin atlantic to transfer nothing at all there
is this a branded amex or a normal plat amex?

 

[JohnK]

How good is Virgin Atlantic's availability with regards to reward tickets?

I believe one needs to be flexible with travel dates.

In my experience I have not been able to redeem an award for a while now as I am looking to travel on a weekend and most of the VS awards HKG-SYD disappear very quickly. I don't want to commit to a date that far in advance so will wait.

 

[3eef]

Hi,

I agree with you as well. I have been in VS UC for SYD-HKG vv and also NRT-LHR and LHR-SFO and found it to be alright. I haven't flown SQ C nor QF J so I can't compare. I have flown MH J and they are quite comparable. I have also flown MH F and that's a lot better but it's not fair to compare F to J

Thanks,
K.

I probably should have qualified better, but in general I find virgin Atlantic to offer a middle of the road business product at best. When u compare to the same product on Air NZ I find their service consistently better and the seats less dated. the new air NZ seats are far better as a flat bed, much softer!

With respect to service on VA I find there is a lack of detail and poor quality compared to sq and qf.

Menus are limited and do not change, the crockery is chunky and unrefined. I find the bar means that the attendants don't come round with drinks as often as you would want.

Back in the 90's I used to find VA a cut above the rest, but now I think the cost cutting has left the product unrefined especially given that they usually have a price point above average.

All said and done for me the clubhouse is the highlight of their offering.

I would rate sq overall better product and qf better service levels / refinement.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks for your feedback. I would love to try NZ J on their 777 and 747 but I can't seem to find any seats! SYD-AKL-LAX and also LHR. Would you know which NZ routes have the business premier herringbone seats? I guess it makes it harder if I want to find 3 J reward seats on NZ!

Also do you think the clubhouse at LHR is better than the QF F SYD lounge?

I probably should have qualified better, but in general I find virgin Atlantic to offer a middle of the road business product at best. When u compare to the same product on Air NZ I find their service consistently better and the seats less dated. the new air NZ seats are far better as a flat bed, much softer!

With respect to service on VA I find there is a lack of detail and poor quality compared to sq and qf.

Menus are limited and do not change, the crockery is chunky and unrefined. I find the bar means that the attendants don't come round with drinks as often as you would want.

Back in the 90's I used to find VA a cut above the rest, but now I think the cost cutting has left the product unrefined especially given that they usually have a price point above average.

All said and done for me the clubhouse is the highlight of their offering.

I would rate sq overall better product and qf better service levels / refinement.

 

[pauly7]

Thanks for your feedback. I would love to try NZ J on their 777 and 747.

Also do you think the clubhouse at LHR is better than the QF F SYD lounge?

I've been looking for NZ seats as well - no luck seems it is VS or nothing.

QF F lounge IMHO is better than the London club. More upmarket.

 

[k3nnis]

Yeah no luck on long haul NZ J reward seats.....
I may give other FF program a try after I spend all my VS miles this time around Problem is which program I don't think QF suits me, maybe Asiamiles or TG ROP, MH Enrich, not sure with Krisflyer as the good awards are not saver. I hold amex plat and also westpac altitude gold CC. I don't do much travelling mostly CC spend

 

[3eef]

Also do you think the clubhouse at LHR is better than the QF F SYD lounge?

QF F vs clubhouse... QF hands down

Clubhouse vs QF j lounge - clubhouse

For me the lufthansa F terminal in FRA is still overall best.

 

[Cynicor]

Hmm. With QF no longer an option maybe this can help me.

Any way for me to get PER-NRT, PER-HKG or PER-CTS with Virgin Atlantic points?

What would a return flight in January cost, VA points-wise, if any of these are even possible?

Jon