What's going on with reward availability to Europe?

[SCM]

I think VA has gone from hero to zero in this regard, it was really good everywhere even up to the start of this year, but now I can't find anything to anywhere. I am looking past the summer, to September, even November but still nothing. Yesterday I found one QR flight to AMS amazingly, but that's about it.

 

[levelnine]

Not sure what you mean. There are pages of availability for Australia to Europe in J in September/October alone (there's tonnes for November too, many flights with up to 4 pax):

 

[bcworld]

I think VA has gone from hero to zero in this regard, it was really good everywhere even up to the start of this year, but now I can't find anything to anywhere. I am looking past the summer, to September, even November but still nothing. Yesterday I found one QR flight to AMS amazingly, but that's about it.

If you're talking about business...not that long ago Etihad introduced a max 30 day lead time for booking...so essentially overnight one of the 3 main options disappeared. So now everyone is left fighting over what remains with SQ and QR.

 

[SYD]

If you're talking about business...not that long ago Etihad introduced a max 30 day lead time for booking...so essentially overnight one of the 3 main options disappeared. So now everyone is left fighting over what remains with SQ and QR.

and EY has huge fuel fines (up there with EK).

 

[bcworld]

and EY has huge fuel fines (up there with EK).

They're high for sure...but they don't come anywhere close to EK levels of cash grab...they're "only" about 40% of what EK charges.

 

[SCM]

Not sure what you mean. There are pages of availability for Australia to Europe in J in September/October alone (there's tonnes for November too, many flights with up to 4 pax):
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Thanks - seems like BNE-CDG is a good one. May I ask where this information is from?

Post automatically merged: Apr 8, 2024

If you're talking about business...not that long ago Etihad introduced a max 30 day lead time for booking...so essentially overnight one of the 3 main options disappeared. So now everyone is left fighting over what remains with SQ and QR.

Just curious, has anyone had any luck with ~30 day EY flights?

 

[djkelly69]

May I ask where this information is from?

That is a Seats.Aero search. You will need a paid account to search more than 3 months out.

 

[twiningb]

Thanks - seems like BNE-CDG is a good one. May I ask where this information is from?

Post automatically merged: Apr 8, 2024

Just curious, has anyone had any luck with ~30 day EY flights?

Velocity is turning up EY awards in J in the range of 25-30 days from now. There isn't much from SYD or MEL but (for instance) I can find SIN-xAUH-CDG on several consecutive days in early May.

Looking through Etihad Guest there appears to be some occasional space out of SYD and MEL starting in June and July.

 

[jase05]

SIN-AUH-CDG in J for 2 people


Even some AUH-LHR in F

 

[Rayesfeg]

I am having the same issue with availability to/from the USA.

I recall browsing Seats.Aero last year with plenty of USA availability in Business Class. Having a look through the availability recently, there is hardly anything (business class).

As far as I am aware, none of the carriers that fly to the USA have changed rules around reward seats, but even if they have, the low/almost non-existent availability definitely devalues the benefits of Velocity points.

 

[levelnine]

I am having the same issue with availability to/from the USA.

I recall browsing Seats.Aero last year with plenty of USA availability in Business Class. Having a look through the availability recently, there is hardly anything (business class).

As far as I am aware, none of the carriers that fly to the USA have changed rules around reward seats, but even if they have, the low/almost non-existent availability definitely devalues the benefits of Velocity points.

VA's US partner is UA, which releases award flights close to departure:

 

[twiningb]

This was true back in the day as well. Prior to COVID, business award seats on DL (and VA's own metal) were very rare in advance and might occasionally appear close to departure, but it couldn't be relied upon.

 

[Rayesfeg]

Yeah that’s exactly the issue. I am seeking flights 5+ months out, which is where the business class availability is close to zero.
It’s good to know that UA have availability closer to flying but realistically, I would not want to rely on making a booking close to departure and risk having no availability.

 

[ben95]

would not want to rely on making a booking close to departure and risk having no availability.

Gone are the days when you can just sit in front of your computer 350 days in advance when the reward seats are released and get exactly what you wanted. With dynamic pricing, data science and AI etc airlines are now very good at predicting what they can sell and for how much. To play this points game I think you need a new mentality and flexibility. To effectively use points in J flexibility to go in short notice is now better than the ability to plan far in advance.

 

[bcworld]

Yeah that’s exactly the issue. I am seeking flights 5+ months out, which is where the business class availability is close to zero.
It’s good to know that UA have availability closer to flying but realistically, I would not want to rely on making a booking close to departure and risk having no availability.

With a small amount of flexibility its actually fairly reliable to get seats on UA close in...but I can understand the stress of taking that approach.

 

[MooTime]

Yeah that’s exactly the issue. I am seeking flights 5+ months out, which is where the business class availability is close to zero.
It’s good to know that UA have availability closer to flying but realistically, I would not want to rely on making a booking close to departure and risk having no availability.

So that's plenty examples of J rewards on QR, EY and united and yet you want them exactly to appear when you want 5+ months out. Geewizz.

I'm very happy how many options there using VA points.

Have a look over the fence, very skinny offerings apart recent dump.

 

[Matt_01]

FWIW and IIRC when you look for rewards around this time of year be it 12 month out or 6 months I normally ran into issues as the airlines will adjusting schedules for the northern summer and winter changes. I have run into this in past as I tend to travel with the family in the term 1 and 3 holidays and these normally over lap with the northern summer and winter schedule changes.

 

[Rayesfeg]

Gone are the days when you can just sit in front of your computer 350 days in advance when the reward seats are released and get exactly what you wanted. With dynamic pricing, data science and AI etc airlines are now very good at predicting what they can sell and for how much. To play this points game I think you need a new mentality and flexibility. To effectively use points in J flexibility to go in short notice is now better than the ability to plan far in advance.

I think this is the crux of the issue with Velocity frequent flyer.

While Qantas may not be perfect, they do operate internationally so frequent flyer point holders have some sense of certainty of when and how to book reward seats (Generally, stay up till midnight to snap them up 1 year in advance).
Virgin do not fly internationally and rely on their partners for international reward seats, but there are so many limitations and niches when it comes to booking reward seats with their partner airlines that it takes away the value of being a velocity member.

Take for example the recent Etihad change where reward seats in premium cabins can only be booked 30 days in advance. Realistically, who would take such a gamble to wait till 30 days from a departure date to book an international rewards seat. Yes, Etihad 'set' this from their side, but from a Velocity member perspective, Virgin should do better and negotiate better terms.

 

[masco131]

I think this is the crux of the issue with Velocity frequent flyer.

While Qantas may not be perfect, they do operate internationally so frequent flyer point holders have some sense of certainty of when and how to book reward seats (Generally, stay up till midnight to snap them up 1 year in advance).
Virgin do not fly internationally and rely on their partners for international reward seats, but there are so many limitations and niches when it comes to booking reward seats with their partner airlines that it takes away the value of being a velocity member.

Take for example the recent Etihad change where reward seats in premium cabins can only be booked 30 days in advance. Realistically, who would take such a gamble to wait till 30 days from a departure date to book an international rewards seat. Yes, Etihad 'set' this from their side, but from a Velocity member perspective, Virgin should do better and negotiate better terms.

Haha eithad did not only do this to velocity. It is for every single member and it was a move to make their own eithad guest miles more valuable. Qantas flies internationally but you can’t even get seats unless for random dump. Qatar-Velocity partnership is the strongest and can generally get flights 350 days out. There’s no loyalty in the point game, you have to be flexible and use what’s available when you need it.

 

[bcworld]

Haha eithad did not only do this to velocity. It is for every single member and it was a move to make their own eithad guest miles more valuable. Qantas flies internationally but you can’t even get seats unless for random dump. Qatar-Velocity partnership is the strongest and can generally get flights 350 days out. There’s no loyalty in the point game, you have to be flexible and use what’s available when you need it.

You're not getting QR flights 350 days out because Velocity's booking window starts at 330 days