Is International Virgin Reward availability now worse that QANTAS?

[razors_girl23]

That's good news. My husband and I had to postpone our Sydney to Seattle cruise until April 2017, so I'm very positive that this fiasco will be well and truly sorted by then and we can book J reward seats for the flight home.

 

[Alanslegal]

That's good news. My husband and I had to postpone our Sydney to Seattle cruise until April 2017, so I'm very positive that this fiasco will be well and truly sorted by then and we can book J reward seats for the flight home.

So you postponed a cruise to > 18 months away because you couldn't get reward seat or two Don't know if I should shake my head or shake my fist

 

[andye]

I didn't read the lack of reward seats as the cause of the cancellation

 

[razors_girl23]

Yeah...

a) It's only six months later than our original plans

b) It was because of my husband being unable to get leave for the original dates

c) What's it to you even if we did postpone our plans for that reason? I'm a phobic flyer and can't fly that long in economy and I'm nowhere near someone who could afford to pay for business class seats.

 

[razors_girl23]

Your hypothesis is completely wrong (I just flew in J on my last trip and all of my points have been acquired by travelling), but thanks for playing.

 

[razors_girl23]

And people say I'm a flying snob... I may be fairly new to these forums, but I've been a Velocity member for years and a high tier member for three. I'm quite proud of the fact that despite the fact that I'm terrified of flying, I get the hell on with it anyway. I earned even single one of those points and I don't appreciate the assumptions made by you. Nice way to make new members feel welcomed. Hope it's not indicative of all members on these boards.

 

[serfty]

... Hope it's not indicative of all members on these boards.

No it's not! (& welcome to AFF )

This is a forum where sharing and helping others is normal.

Aggressiveposts such as that you were responding to have been moderated as with that post.

Stick around, being a Platinum I sure you have many and varied experiences to share.

 

[razors_girl23]

Thank you, serfty. Much appreciated.

 

[Duffa]

Just booked J to Dublin in December and J back from CDG in early Jan 2016.
Who says Virgin has no availability??? Better than QF, that's for sure!!

 

[VAG newbie]

Just booked J to Dublin in December and J back from CDG in early Jan 2016.
Who says Virgin has no availability??? Better than QF, that's for sure!!

I think you are on EY operated flights. Their availability is still pretty good. I think the op is referring to VA operated flights to LAX and AUH.

 

[Duffa]

I think you are on EY operated flights. Their availability is still pretty good. I think the op is referring to VA operated flights to LAX and AUH.

Understood. This is my first big VA redemption.

 

[JohnK]

Didn't want to start a new thread.

I have been accumulating points faster than expected and now have ~135,000 Velocity points.

Would like to use the points for business class to Asia. Is ~126,000 Velocity points transferred to SQ the best option for return flights? Quite steep.

I seem to recall mention of EY flights to/from SIN. Can't find these flights.

Any other ideas?

 

[VAG newbie]

Didn't want to start a new thread.

I have been accumulating points faster than expected and now have ~135,000 Velocity points.

Would like to use the points for business class to Asia. Is ~126,000 Velocity points transferred to SQ the best option for return flights? Quite steep.

I seem to recall mention of EY flights to/from SIN. Can't find these flights.

Any other ideas?

Etihad stopped the BNE-SIN flight in Jun since they introduced the 787 direct flight to AUH. So all of VA's Asian network (other than those operated by 737) is now operated by SQ. So yes, transfer to KF is your best option. (I believe that is the reason that VA can transfer to KF, otherwise VA has a significant disadvantage over QF in their Asian network!)

 

[JohnK]

Etihad stopped the BNE-SIN flight in Jun since they introduced the 787 direct flight to AUH. So all of VA's Asian network (other than those operated by 737) is now operated by SQ. So yes, transfer to KF is your best option. (I believe that is the reason that VA can transfer to KF, otherwise VA has a significant disadvantage over QF in their Asian network!)

Thanks. So in essence 120,000 QFF points or ~126,000 Velocity points? Taxes roughly the same.

Poor value with both programs.

 

[VAG newbie]

Thanks. So in essence 120,000 QFF points or ~126,000 Velocity points? Taxes roughly the same.

Poor value with both programs.

VA's value is not to Asia, it's actually the weakness. Agree both are poor value and that's why I use KF and AM.

AM will charge only 80000 rt in J to HKG and NRT (direct flights), and KF is ~46000 to SIN. If you have those miles (or credit card currencies that can convert to those miles, eg. Amex MR, Westpac altitude) then it's better to use those for redemption to Asia. I reserve VA for ultra long distances redemption, like BNE-GRU on Etihad for 125K in J with little tax.

 

[JohnK]

VA's value is not to Asia, it's actually the weakness. Agree both are poor value and that's why I use KF and AM.

To be honest I don't think the value is there to USA either. In my opinion 94,000 Velocity points is a lot of points for a one-way business class to USA. Not saying is better either but at least for 140,000 QFF I can go round the world.

AM will charge only 80000 rt in J to HKG and NRT (direct flights), and KF is ~46000 to SIN. If you have those miles (or credit card currencies that can convert to those miles, eg. Amex MR, Westpac altitude) then it's better to use those for redemption to Asia. I reserve VA for ultra long distances redemption, like BNE-GRU on Etihad for 125K in J with little tax.

That's a great tip about Asia Miles. I have Amex MR points and transfer them to KrisFlyer. I can get to BKK in business class with 46,750 MR points. If it costs the same amount of points to go CX that be and bonus a the lounges are better.

Is it still 80,000 return to BKK with Asia Miles?

 

[VAG newbie]

To be honest I don't think the value is there to USA either. In my opinion 94,000 Velocity points is a lot of points for a one-way business class to USA. Not saying is better either but at least for 140,000 QFF I can go round the world.

It was until VA cut the availability. Even though 94k is not cheap, but because it used to be wide open I actually consider it valuable. But agree, not anymore.

That's a great tip about Asia Miles. I have Amex MR points and transfer them to KrisFlyer. I can get to BKK in business class with 46,750 MR points. If it costs the same amount of points to go CX that be and bonus a the lounges are better.

Is it still 80,000 return to BKK with Asia Miles?

You need to see the total miles travelled. AM is distance based award chart. I can say with confidence SYD-BKK in QF metal should be the 80k rt. But I can't say for SYD-HKG-BKK in CX, you need to add the total miles of each segment and check the award chart. If still within 5000 miles in total then you are good. I did BNE-HKG-TPE and the distance is still within the same zone so 80k return.

Be careful, don't believe what it prices in the website. It will list as 80k return but that's the lowest mile possible, and when you try to book it, it will say insufficient miles if the total distance is the next zone.

 

[JohnK]

You need to see the total miles travelled. AM is distance based award chart. I can say with confidence SYD-BKK in QF metal should be the 80k rt. But I can't say for SYD-HKG-BKK in CX, you need to add the total miles of each segment and check the award chart. If still within 5000 miles in total then you are good. I did BNE-HKG-TPE and the distance is still within the same zone so 80k return.

Way over 5,000 miles distance. Makes the return trip SYD-HKG-BKK in business class at 120,000 Asia miles. This rings a bell. SQ better value if going somewhere other than HKG.

 

[ragingsheep]

Is there any way to see when reward flights are available and at what point price? Like if I'm looking for business return to London but I don't have any particular dates, is there any better option than sticking random dates into Velocity's booking engine and hoping for the best?

 

[CJEMNMAC]

Is there any way to see when reward flights are available and at what point price? Like if I'm looking for business return to London but I don't have any particular dates, is there any better option than sticking random dates into Velocity's booking engine and hoping for the best?

Firstly welcome to AFF

On virgin site there is no other way. I guess because people have a rough idea about when they want to go and then work backwards from there. VA awards are tight and I would be searching 300 odd days out from now to give yourself the best chance at finding something... You need to plan a long way ahead, check often and be patient. That would be my advice.