Brisbane to London

[djchuckles]

Was gonna fly Virgin Atlantic but looks like affordable tickets just sold out!

So going to fly VA but some parts are codeshare Etihad flight

Whats the difference between a Flexi and a Saver in regards to points earn/status credits

I'm Platinum Velocity so Etihad seems a better option than Singapore

Flight would be BNE - MEL/SYD - AUH - LHR - would I earn status credits for all 3 legs separately?

Outbound flight says Virgin Australia BNE to MEL then Etihad MEL to AUH and AUH to LHR

Inbound says Etihad LHR to AUH and then Virgin Australia AUH to SYD and SYD to BNE (not sure why it has two VA legs and one Etihad compared to the opposite for outbound)

 

[Milboo]

I earned SC on each sector on a similar trip.

I am assuming that Flexi will be full fare compared to saver. On that basis, you should get double the amount of SC. The other advantage of booking a flexi is that you can upgrade on points for the sector to AUH from Y if you are on a VA operated flight.

Other benefit of EY as a platinum is the first class lounge in AUH.

 

[lukenet]

I have to make this trip and was also planning to do it on Virgin Atlantic in PE.

I am keen to see peoples suggestions on which is the best way to the UK, being a VA Plat?

 

[erkpod]

There's a few ways to do it if you are flexible about which way you want to go.

For instance, I just did a random date in March 2014 one way BNE - LHR & there's a flight BNE - AUH then AUH - LHR. Both are EY metal with VA codeshare. Depends how you feel about connection times, where you transit & flight times.

 

[bullerdude]

Was gonna fly Virgin Atlantic but looks like affordable tickets just sold out!
Inbound says Etihad LHR to AUH and then Virgin Australia AUH to SYD and SYD to BNE (not sure why it has two VA legs and one Etihad compared to the opposite for outbound)

VA fly a 777 on the SYD-AUG route, thus you would be on this plane for part of your flight home.

 

[djchuckles]

How come with exactly the same flights, it's $3519 on Etihad site and $3878 on Virgin site?

Is there any difference if I book on Etihad (except that I wouldn't benefit from using my Velocity Escape AMEX card and getting double points on the payment)

 

[day-heg]

How come with exactly the same flights, it's $3519 on Etihad site and $3878 on Virgin site?

The Dark Arts of yield management that all on these fora yearn to understand fully, but none shall ever so!

Is there any difference if I book on Etihad (except that I wouldn't benefit from using my Velocity Escape AMEX card and getting double points on the payment)

Points earn will be different (only 50% bonus for Plats for example), but check the Velocity site for full details. SCs should be the same unless booked in deep discount Y - again check the earn tables.

If you have a Westpac CC, Etihad is a bonus partner with them, so for example with an Altitude Black AMEX, you'll earn 6 points per $ = 3 Velocity points when converted, plus potentially the 15-20% bonus offer they have from time to time.

 

[djchuckles]

Interesting - thanks

i do have an Altitude Black card so I think I'd rather save the $300 and risk a few less bonus pts, some of which will be made up by the triple points Altitude offer

 

[Moonshiner]

The virgin Atlantic flights are still coming up cheaper on sky scanner than the etihad flights for BNE to LHR. What date are you looking at? I have do this trip in Oct and was about to book the etihad flights then on Friday, the virgin Atlantic flights popped up which I grabbed and saved $400. Don't think you'll see anything cheaper if flying in next 6 weeks or so

 

[djchuckles]

Gotta leave on. Fri 20th Dec, or late eve on 19th. Was all set to book virgin Atlantic but the flights on. Friday in Economy are totally gone!

 

[djchuckles]

Can anyone check if VS201 really is fully sold out in Economy on 20/12 - or is it likely more seats will be released in the future?

 

[greenfish]

Can anyone check if VS201 really is fully sold out in Economy on 20/12 - or is it likely more seats will be released in the future?

EF shows VS201 SYD->LHR 20/12 J9 C8 D4 I0 Z0 W2 S0 H0 K0 Y0 B0 R0L0 U0 M0 E0 Q0 X0 N0 O0

EF shows VS201 SYD-->HKG 20/12 J9 C9 D9 I9 Z9 W9 S9 H9 K7 Y3 B3 R3L3 U2 M0 E0 Q0 X0 N0 O0

EF shows VS201 HKG-->LHR 20/12 J9 C9 D6 I0 Z0 W0 S0 H0 K0 Y0 B0 R0L0 U0 M0 E0 Q0 X0 N0 O0

The next day is a little better

VS201 HKG-->LHR 21/12 J9 C9 D9 I9 Z5 W0 S0 H0 K0 Y2 B0 R0L0 U0 M0 E0 Q0 X0 N0 O0

The day before not too good either

VS201 HKG-->LHR 21/12 J9 C9 D6 I0 Z0 W0 S0 H0 K0 Y1 B0 R0L0 U0 M0 E0 Q0 X0 N0 O0

Someone who knows more about this stuff than me might be able to comment if VS are keeping seats out of the GDS.