When do VA potentially release more DOMESTIC award seats last minute?

[smit0847]

I’m flying VA MEL-SYD next month. I booked Y but would like to upgrade to J as a treat. There are no award seats for my flight, so no upgrade possible. I can see there are still 6 x J revenue seats available for the flight which leads me to believe that VA release 2 x J seats per domestic 737 flight when they load the flight (which is fair enough).
If the remaining 6 J seats do not sell (which seems likely), I assume VA will release some of them for some combination of additional award seats/upgrades plus upgrademe bid options. Obviously I don’t know if and how many seats may be eventually released for awards/upgrades but does anyone know the likely timing of when this might happen if it happens?

 

[stux]

I’m flying VA MEL-SYD next month. I booked Y but would like to upgrade to J as a treat. There are no award seats for my flight, so no upgrade possible. I can see there are still 6 x J revenue seats available for the flight which leads me to believe that VA release 2 x J seats per domestic 737 flight when they load the flight (which is fair enough).
If the remaining 6 J seats do not sell (which seems likely), I assume VA will release some of them for some combination of additional award seats/upgrades plus upgrademe bid options. Obviously I don’t know if and how many seats may be eventually released for awards/upgrades but does anyone know the likely timing of when this might happen if it happens?

I'm not sure about domestic flights, but for international they sometimes show up just a few days before flights. I basically just check VA's website early in the morning just before the contact centre opens...

 

[kamchatsky]

If you don't get the upgrade, I don't think you would miss it that much as it is only MEL-SYD.

 

[smit0847]

If you don't get the upgrade, I don't think you would miss it that much as it is only MEL-SYD.

I know but its the start of a longer overseas trip and I would like to treat my cousin by starting it in style!

 

[n7of9]

I recently rang VA a 4 days before my flight with no upgrades showing, and they gave me one... Worth a shot

 

[Eggsbenedict]

I have never actually come across domestic upgrades "appearing" closer to the date (not to say this does not happen) however it's been my experience that the lounge will upgrade you using points if there are ANY business class seats left around 120-90min before the flight.

 

[smit0847]

I have never actually come across domestic upgrades "appearing" closer to the date (not to say this does not happen) however it's been my experience that the lounge will upgrade you using points if there are ANY business class seats left around 120-90min before the flight.

Is it Catering Not Assured though? Theres no point upgrading on a short flight if thats the case.

 

[Eggsbenedict]

My personally experience (about 3 lounge upgrades a month this year) is that I have never missed out on the business class food offering, it is true that you sometimes get asked last and don't end up with a choice.

 

[tea&coffee]

I've always had success with domestic flights well in advance.

trans Tasman flights are another matter though - they seem to hold back until a few days before (I was recently unable to upgrade until 48 hours before to be one of two people up front!

VA could really do with a waitlist like QF based on status - it drives me crazy calling and checking frequently.