Is International Virgin Reward availability now worse that QANTAS?

[aussiejohn]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

Is Melbourne to Los Angeles business class very popular?

I think I have left my run too late, but I was hoping to go to a Genealogical Conference in Salt Lake City next February. I currently have 191,195 points, and the points table says I need 191,000 points to fly business class to Los Angeles.

I cannot find any flights in February. Even tried one way booking, but no joy there either.

The conference is 8-11 February, and I planned to have a couple of days in LA, go to the conference, maybe a couple of days in Vegas, and then home.

I could do it Premium Economy if need be, but nothing showing there either.

Don't really want to do that distance in Economy, just cannot hack it anymore for flights over about 4 hours, other than day flights.

Any suggestions?

 

[Arad79]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

Hi aussiejohn, give the Velocity call centre a ring, there still seems to be a problem with availability showing up for international seats on their website.

 

[tgt01]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

I just called the contact centre and managed to get J saver fares to Athens from Brisbane in June, even though they didn't appear on the website. I checked availability across 3 different dates, all had availability to use points.

Great service over the phone too! Shame about those new taxes...

 

[anat0l]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

If availability may be on a day that you can't see online then this is ridiculous.

Of course, you'll get stung for the assistance fee (and credit card fee due to the cost of the assistance fee and taxes).

I can somewhat understand if VA Platinums (or Golds as well) get access to space that other members cannot, which can only be accessed by calling the call centre, but otherwise how is one to even think about whether there is space or not now?

For that matter, if it is known that there is more space than can be displayed online, then how bad really is the availability?

 

[woodyren]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

If there is space that is not showing on line (due to the fact that their website is cough)and you would have happily booked on line (if their website worked reasonably well) how can they sting you with an assistance fee?

 

[anat0l]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

If there is space that is not showing on line (due to the fact that their website is cough)and you would have happily booked on line (if their website worked reasonably well) how can they sting you with an assistance fee?

So you talk yourself out of it; do you think they'll proactively strike it for you?

 

[RAM]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

If there is space that is not showing on line (due to the fact that their website is cough)and you would have happily booked on line (if their website worked reasonably well) how can they sting you with an assistance fee?

You explain there is an issue with nothing showing and you've seen posted online there is a problem currently with their site and they should waive the fee without being asked. If they do not offer to waive it then you can ask them to as the seats do not show online.

Has this issue back in early/mid June. Have you tried looking using the Etihad Guest site? If it shows VA flights then you KNOW they are available.

 

[Bolthead]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

I just looked at 7th Feb going out and 12th Feb coming back, both via Brisbane with reward seat availability in J.

You should grab that.... remember, there are no direct flights from Melbourne anymore on VA to LAX

Bolt

Is Melbourne to Los Angeles business class very popular?

I think I have left my run too late, but I was hoping to go to a Genealogical Conference in Salt Lake City next February. I currently have 191,195 points, and the points table says I need 191,000 points to fly business class to Los Angeles.

I cannot find any flights in February. Even tried one way booking, but no joy there either.

The conference is 8-11 February, and I planned to have a couple of days in LA, go to the conference, maybe a couple of days in Vegas, and then home.

I could do it Premium Economy if need be, but nothing showing there either.

Don't really want to do that distance in Economy, just cannot hack it anymore for flights over about 4 hours, other than day flights.

Any suggestions?

 

[aussiejohn]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have managed to get Sydney-LA return business class fares leaving Friday 3rd and departing Sunday 12th of Feb. Just have to get a Melb-Syd return, and LA-Salt Lake flights now, along with some accommodation.

Been wanting to go to this Family History conference for many years now, so I am very happy.

The only downside will be dealing with LAX and the TSA. TSA didn't exist last time I went to the US, back in the good old days! Just have to grin and bear it I guess.

By the way, any suggestions for good sites to book the LA-SLC flights at a reasonable price?

 

[clipped_wings]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

The only downside will be dealing with LAX and the TSA. TSA didn't exist last time I went to the US, back in the good old days! Just have to grin and bear it I guess.

I reckon the TSA do an outstanding job. It seems every year I get my luggage opened/searched during transit, but I guess that's because we make so many trips to the one destination that it probably looks totally suspicious haha

Anything that brings me peace of mind that people are actively providing a blanket of security over my travel plans, is absolutely worth it's weight in inconvenience.

You have an amazing trip and don't forget to let us all know how you go!

 

[Bolthead]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

delta.com $111.10 Y or $220 F Good deal in my eyes...

Bolt

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have managed to get Sydney-LA return business class fares leaving Friday 3rd and departing Sunday 12th of Feb. Just have to get a Melb-Syd return, and LA-Salt Lake flights now, along with some accommodation.

Been wanting to go to this Family History conference for many years now, so I am very happy.

The only downside will be dealing with LAX and the TSA. TSA didn't exist last time I went to the US, back in the good old days! Just have to grin and bear it I guess.

By the way, any suggestions for good sites to book the LA-SLC flights at a reasonable price?

 

[Lonely Flyer]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

There is little in June 2017 so my guess is that even though you can buy seats or pay an exorbitant number of points they release standard awards a little later but they are generally scooped quite quickly.

 

[Arad79]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

I have been trying for over a week now for flights from Perth to Europe (London or Rome) for availability in June 2017 and not one single reward flight was showing up (I even tried different dates throughout the year with no success). I was searching one way flights only. Everything was showing up as "Sold Out". I have never seen this before.

I have just called Velocity and finally got through to someone who could confirm there is availability on their system for 1 June 2017 Perth to London. He then checked their website and it showed no flights. He did this for a few more dates and realised there is an issue with the website showing availability. He advised that he will report he issue.

What I find strange is that this was not identified a lot earlier as it seems to have been like this for over a week. Anyway if you need to book reward flights in the meantime and they are not showing up I would ring the call centre as there may actually be availability.

A bit of an update from my previous posts.

Given the problem still existed after my call on 14 July I decided to email them last week. I got a call from Velocity a couple of days ago and the lady acknowledged that they are (only just now) aware of the issue and are looking to have it resolved (she was apologetic and sounded sincere about it getting resolved). Funnily enough my previous phone call to them on 14 July (despite the call operator saying he would) does not seem to have been reported. The lady also advised if I needed to make a booking by the call centre before the issue is fixed they would waive the call centre fee.

I have just checked again this morning and the issue of availability not showing up still exists. I guess we will wait and see how long it takes to fix.

In the meantime I would suggest people ring the call centre to double check availability. If available on the phone, ensure they don't try to charge you for this service if it is not showing up on their website.

 

[Arad79]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

There is little in June 2017 so my guess is that even though you can buy seats or pay an exorbitant number of points they release standard awards a little later but they are generally scooped quite quickly.

I would ring the call centre and double check Lonely Flyer, there is definitely an issue with their website. Let me know how you go.

 

[toottifruitti]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

If there is space that is not showing on line (due to the fact that their website is cough)and you would have happily booked on line (if their website worked reasonably well) how can they sting you with an assistance fee?

I was thinking of doing this too. How much was the assistance fee?

 

[pauly7]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

A bit of an update from my previous posts.

Given the problem still existed after my call on 14 July I decided to email them last week. I got a call from Velocity a couple of days ago and the lady acknowledged that they are (only just now) aware of the issue and are looking to have it resolved (she was apologetic and sounded sincere about it getting resolved). Funnily enough my previous phone call to them on 14 July (despite the call operator saying he would) does not seem to have been reported. The lady also advised if I needed to make a booking by the call centre before the issue is fixed they would waive the call centre fee.

I have just checked again this morning and the issue of availability not showing up still exists. I guess we will wait and see how long it takes to fix.

In the meantime I would suggest people ring the call centre to double check availability. If available on the phone, ensure they don't try to charge you for this service if it is not showing up on their website.

I have booked 3/5 VA redemptions on the phone on account of their poor website and availability issues. Not once have I paid an assistance fee. One operator tried to make me pay, I refused, offered to take their name and speak to their manager = assistance fee waved. VA's off shore outsourced call centre is pretty useless but if you kno how to play them you can get what you want.

 

[pazz0102]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

Looks like the website is still not working properly.

 

[Blackswan]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

Looks like the website is still not working properly.

Is it ever?:shock:

 

[eastwest101]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

I have booked 3/5 VA redemptions on the phone on account of their poor website and availability issues. Not once have I paid an assistance fee. One operator tried to make me pay, I refused, offered to take their name and speak to their manager = assistance fee waved. VA's off shore outsourced call centre is pretty useless but if you kno how to play them you can get what you want.

Good advice - everyone needs to start doing this as the only way that we are going to get VA and/or Velocity to fix up their awful web site is by hitting their ancilliary fee revenue enough so that it affects someone's KPI's. When that happens, someone may light a firecracker under the VA IT web design team.

Certainly I have found complaining to the VA management and complaining to the Virgin and Velocity reps in the past has been futile/elicited no response at all to fixing their problems with their web sites, which date back to 2012.

 

[adame]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

That's interesting.

I filled out the 'Website Feedback' contact form on 21 July describing the problem:

Hello, the online booking engine isn't showing any available seats on
Etihad or Singapore Airlines for any dates. Something has changed in the last
couple of weeks because previously there was availability. Now I cannot even find
a single seat for Brisbane to London on Business for any date in the future.

Their response showed that they didn't really understand the problem:

Thank you for your email regarding seat allocation. I am sorry to learn the inconvenience that you have experienced doing it online and will be glad to assist you by providing the following information.I can confirm that our seats are subject to availability and can only be confirmed upon check-in. In order for me to better assist, I would need to pull up your booking. May I please ask for your Virgin Australia reservation number (6-digit code) or ticket number?