International Upgrades with points?

[leemin]

It is based on doing SYD LAX return.

Yeah... I'm not following either.. lol

 

[mickeyc747]

Ok you have forced me to befuddle my "red wine" head and reconsider your post.

$6k on a J return Syd-Lax, but with Y+ and 90,000 pts, same outcome. Thats $2.7k or 90,000 points on top of the $3,300 from Y+, yes? The difference is, that I have already spent the money on everyday items to earn the 90,000 points.

In any event, I can't use those 90,000 points to go to J, because I don't have the status to do it.

To spend the additional $2.7k for 30 hours flying (when I've already earned it in points value) equates $90 extra per hour.

Nah. Doesn't add up that way for me.

Too much red wine without Status all you need is 94000 points plus $425 taxes and $3000 for a return J class SYD LAX. The 94000 points plus $425 covers SYD to LAX and the $3000 covers LAX to SYD total cost is $3425 plus 94000 points for a J return.

 

[robd]

Too much red wine without Status all you need is 94000 points plus $425 taxes and $3000 for a return J class SYD LAX. The 94000 points plus $425 covers SYD to LAX and the $3000 covers LAX to SYD total cost is $3425 plus 94000 points for a J return.

Ok, "same, same but different".

So if you wanted to do it that way, you obviously couldn't do it online, because booking the return leg (one way) wouldn't be that price. That would be an assisted booking fee too?

 

[Fruitcake]

I just called to ask about upgrading the LAX-BNE sector of a LAX-BNE-AKL booking departing LAX on Friday night. The response was that my fare (premium 'deal') was eligible for upgrade at 45k points per pax but there was no availability.

That's still a slightly better outcome than I expected - given the underlying "systems" issues that Virgin always seems to have I had expected them to say that bookings with a connecting sector couldn't be upgraded.

 

[drewbles]

So Silver and non-status members can't request int'l upgrades, even if they're in a flexible booking class... seriously??

The only advantage is that the upgrades appear to be confirmed and not waitlisted as is the case with QF - but there are always JASAs that earn J SCs.

(yes, I am VA SG, but I'm sure I won't always be - at least you can request int'l upgrades at any status level with QF... a little surprised they don't even offer this to Silvers...)

Realistically though, how many PS on QF get their upgrades cleared? I know we'll never find out the real stats, but i'm willing to be PS and NB make up a very small portion of those actually granted upgrades.

 

[anat0l]

One thing I see distinct from QF here is that it seems very much an inventory space based upgrade. So if the specified bucket is free in the class you want to upgrade to, you have an eligible fare and enough points, call VA and....bam, you have upgrade.

I suppose it's time to wheel out ExpertFlyer and so on to check on eligible days with inventory. That said, the earliest a request can be made is 7 days out.

Such a shame that VA only has two routes where this can work - LAX and AUH. That said, I suppose a VA metal expansion is in the pipeline, and perhaps even "Velocity alliance" wide upgrade system. (Hope it's a bit better than the *A wide upgrade system, where you can only upgrade on partners from (near full or full) flexible Y and J (in some cases, discounted J is not eligible)).

 

[leemin]

perhaps even "Velocity alliance" wide upgrade system

This is what I'm hoping will happen in coming months. I base my hope on the previous expansion of the Velocity Platinum Amex 2FOR1 J offer to include EY

 

[VMC73]

Just attempted to upgrade SYD-LAX flight from premium to business on points (flight leaving tomorrow at 13.40) for myself (gold) husband (gold) and 2 kids (both silver), they say there is no availibility, however when I search that flight for business class fare I am able to book 9 seats (this was the max I could choose so could well be more seats than that). One would think with 9 or more seats available 27 hours out upgrading should be a no brainer!

 

[mannej]

Seats for sale doesn't necessarily correlate to upgrade seats as they are different fare buckets

 

[leemin]

Seats for sale doesn't necessarily correlate to upgrade seats as they are different fare buckets

Understood. But surely there is a point where at T-(x) it is better to ring VMC73 back and say, "now we're closer to departure and there are still unsold fare buckets, would you still like to upgrade?".

I'm not sure what (x) would be - that's for people more expert in loads etc. than I to discuss. But at the end of the day, would it not be better to have bums in seats for cheap points (relative to fare cash cost) rather than have them empty?

 

[VMC73]

No doubt the seats will still be empty tomorrow and from how I read t&c's upgrade needs to be done 24hrs prior? Anyway was excited when I read the new international upgrade info on here and dissapointed I was unable to do it. Premium deal to business was going to be 45,000 points each so not cheap considering whole point ticket is 125,000. Plus Business deal fares still available.

 

[Deewhy]

Understood. But surely there is a point where at T-(x) it is better to ring VMC73 back and say, "now we're closer to departure and there are still unsold fare buckets, would you still like to upgrade?".

I'm not sure what (x) would be - that's for people more expert in loads etc. than I to discuss. But at the end of the day, would it not be better to have bums in seats for cheap points (relative to fare cash cost) rather than have them empty?

Totally agree. That's what I would have thought the intention of this "7 days or less" check for availability was. Pity this was done at T-24 hours and no luck. Hopefully it'll improve.

 

[Ausbt]

This is what I'm hoping will happen in coming months. I base my hope on the previous expansion of the Velocity Platinum Amex 2FOR1 J offer to include EY

Do you think the Plat Amex 2FOR1 deal is good? I recently got a quote from Amex at $15K for two SYD-Paris J returns. I'd make that a couple of thousand saved given sale prices available but well short of 50% off.

 

[leemin]

Do you think the Plat Amex 2FOR1 deal is good? I recently got a quote from Amex at $15K for two SYD-Paris J returns. I'd make that a couple of thousand saved given sale prices available but well short of 50% off.

I'm not a holder of that card, so in short I don't know. I suspect it would depend on the dates you usually travel. I think I could get decent value out of if i did have the card because I'm increasingly only able to take leave during peak travel periods. Otherwise it's probably just as advantageous to look out for specials.

 

[Shy180]

So has anyone actually used this perk yet?

 

[Bolthead]

So has anyone actually used this perk yet?

I have just had a win....

Next Tuesday (28th) I am flying Y+ to AUH on VA and although this leg was not available for an upgrade my return flight from AUH to SYD on the 17th was available. So 45,000 point later I now have an upgrade to J.

 

[Shy180]

I have just had a win....
Next Tuesday (28th) I am flying Y+ to AUH on VA and although this leg was not available for an upgrade my return flight from AUH to SYD on the 17th was available. So 45,000 point later I now have an upgrade to J.

Brilliant. Any idea what fare class this books into for the upgrade?

 

[Bolthead]

Brilliant. Any idea what fare class this books into for the upgrade?

Yes, just received the confirmation email, it is now in 'Z' class. Sounds like a downgrade not upgrade.


Sent from Bolthead's iPhone 4 using AustFreqFly app

 

[Airbumps]

Anybody know how to look up 'hidden' classes with VA? Z doesn't appear on KVS. Don't know about expert flyer.

 

[serfty]

Anybody know how to look up 'hidden' classes with VA? Z doesn't appear on KVS. Don't know about expert flyer.

Like Q for domestic upgrades ... call and ask...