Booking Velocity Reward Seats for Xmas Period

[flyerzz]

Hi All,

I am new to this points game, so please bear with me if my questions below are trivial.

Basically, I am trying to find reward seats for family hols this Xmas (2 adults + 9 yo) using Velocity points.
I have a family pool set up with my partner holding all the points currently.

Firstly, is there a blackout period where Velocity reward seats aren't available during Xmas / NY period?
As for the destinations, I am looking at ideally somewhere in Asia.

I have been playing around with 'booking with points' option in the Velocity website for the last few days.
Some of my observations / questions (using Japan (ANA) and Singapore (SQ) as destinations):

1. it seems that it's really difficult to find reward seats for 2 adults + 1 child. If I switch to 1 adult only, it's much easier. Some dates allow for 2 people.
Question: is it advisable to book 1 adult + 1 child first for the dates where 2 people is allowed? Then, straight after, try book for 1 adult reward seat (hoping it's available)?
I also notice that for SQ for example, when I put 3 people, they are available but with many more points (around 80% more!!) required compared to if I just select one or two reward seats, hence I am thinking maybe redeem 1 adult + 1 child first, then redeem 1 adult in two separate transactions.

2. If #1 can work, i.e. my partner books her and my kid's tickets first, then afterward booking my reward seat using her point, is it allowed or will this be a problem with T&C ?

3. Currently, my Velocity account automatically sends point to my partner's Velocity account via family pool. If she does a points transfer to my account, when the points hit my account, will they be sent back to her account due to the Family Pool set up? If so, do I need to cancel Family Pooling first, transfer the points, then re-enable the pooling?

4. it seems that 2 x one-way ticket cost the same points as a return reward seat.
Does it mean it's advisable to purchase one-ticket first as soon as it becomes available?
My concern is that the one-way reward seat to go back to AU will not be available and have to pay lots of money for it.
Which one is a better option - try to get reward seat as soon as the departure date is available, or wait until both departure and return dates are open/available?

5. If reward seats are not available currently, does that mean it's game over, or will they become available still in the future potentially and just have to keep checking everyday?

6. The booking screen shows to either use all points to cover the tax, or points + some cash, but when I click on it to proceed, it does not give me an option to choose points + pay some cash for the tax.
Does this option appear later in the process after filling up passengers details and before checking out?

Any tips/guidance/suggestions are most welcome and appreciated.
Thank you very much in advance.

Cheers

 

[TMP]

Welcome to AFF @flyerzz

Christmas / New Year is obviously a popular time. I recommend if you see a reward seat, book it, can always cancel later (for a $60 fee). There's not necessarily a blackout period, but SQ releases its rewards seats to its own members first (at 355 days). For VA, reward seats are available at 330 days.

1. This will vary, depending on the airline and the time of year and destination. However, yes, generally it is rare to find more than 2 seats being released to VA by its international airline partners like SQ and ANA.

2. If I'm understood correctly what you're asking, no.[it wouldn't be a problem]

3. Yes, and yes. Be aware of annual limits of changes to the family pool arrangements.

4. You are correct. This is ultimately personal preference. I jump on a rewards seat as soon as I see it if I want it, and leave the return to later if needed.

5. Seats do appear now and again, but again this is route and time dependent and not guaranteed. A paid subscription site like seats.aero can help you with an alert. But by way of example, my partner and I had a reward seat booked back from Europe to Australia in January on SQ that had a connection in BNE (we are in MEL). In December before we left, new reward seats appeared on Etihad and Qatar that were better for us, so we cxld the SQ seats (for a fee) and booked the other seats.

6. Yes, this is done at payment.

Good luck with your search and I hope you have a good trip.

 

[flyerzz]

Thank you for your warm welcome and your detailed response @TMP

Regarding #2, what I was asking was whether it is possible for my partner to book my flight using her Velocity points and if there will be an issue with that (e.g. breaking T&C etc).
I called Velocity call centre and was told that it's actually possible, not an issue.

 

[TMP]

Thank you for your warm welcome and your detailed response @TMP

Regarding #2, what I was asking was whether it is possible for my partner to book my flight using her Velocity points and if there will be an issue with that (e.g. breaking T&C etc).
I called Velocity call centre and was told that it's actually possible, not an issue.

I can't edit my post to be crystal clear, but agreed with this re: point #2 (I meant, no, it wouldn't be a problem - as confirmed by your call).

 

[flyerzz]

I can't edit my post to be crystal clear, but agreed with this re: point #2 (I meant, no, it wouldn't be a problem - as confirmed by your call).

Got it, thanks for make it clear potentially for others who stumbled upon this thread.

If I book a flight with points + cash, and if I cancel in the future before the departure date, will I get all the points back and the cash paid, but minus $60 ? So effectively, I would be worse-off by $60 per ticket/person?

In the T&C, it says $60 or 7,500 points, do I get to choose to pay $60 or deduct 7500 points?
In that case, $60 is a better option, right?

Thanks

 

[TMP]

Yes, it's a $60 or 7500 point cancellation fee. You get to choose. I pay the cash fee. You get all the points back using that option.

 

[flyerzz]

Yes, it's a $60 or 7500 point cancellation fee. You get to choose. I pay the cash fee. You get all the points back using that option.

Let's say the reward seat is 30k + $100 .. then if I cancel, I will get 30k points back + $40 back? Or, I will get 30k pts back only, and have to pay $60 ?

 

[serfty]

Let's say the reward seat is 30k + $100 .. then if I cancel, I will get 30k points back + $40 back? Or, I will get 30k pts back only, and have to pay $60 ?

You effectively get 30k and $40 back, although the latter can be of two transactions (YMMV).

 

[Auski]

Yes, it's a $60 or 7500 point cancellation fee. You get to choose. I pay the cash fee. You get all the points back using that option.

I recently cancelled a flight and they took the 7500 points and refunded the full amount of the taxes. I would have preferred to pay the $60 but did not see an option to choose. How did you choose $60?

 

[Pele]

I recently cancelled a flight and they took the 7500 points and refunded the full amount of the taxes. I would have preferred to pay the $60 but did not see an option to choose. How did you choose $60?

I think if you want the full points back and to pay $60 then you need to call them. It isn't an option on the website.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

I think if you want the full points back and to pay $60 then you need to call them. It isn't an option on the website.

Spot on. They will ask for your credit card details over the phone, but apparently that's a bit tough for an e-form