Is International Virgin Reward availability now worse that QANTAS?

[Charleston]

Re: Business Reward LAX => AU Any

I've considered the Singapore Airlines flight, but the after a bit of googling the business class seemed a bit aged. Has anyone got any first hand experience?

 

[CJEMNMAC]

Re: Business Reward LAX => AU Any

I've considered the Singapore Airlines flight, but the after a bit of googling the business class seemed a bit aged. Has anyone got any first hand experience?

Charleston

I don't think you would be disappointed with the product. As long as you don't mind the extra stops

There is an entire section of AFF dedicated to Singapore Airlines. You will find heaps of information and experiences from other travellers.

It is located here

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

 

[PPOW]

Re: Business Reward LAX => AU Any

I have absolutely had it with the Velocity portal. 3 times has it showed availability in J on LAX-BNE/SYD/MEL only for it to flake out after I've entered my payment details for the taxes and tell me the fare is unavailable.
Today in fact, the call center could see a LAX-SYD-BNE in J but couldn't book it either saying it must be synchronizing issues.

Early Jan dates.

 

[Jurahn]

Re: Business Reward LAX => AU Any

I stand corrected. I'm kind of shocked they don't service LAX directly. Sounds like they plan to in 2018, but probably not by January.

SQ used to have non-stop flights to both EWR and LAX, but they were discontinued several years ago, as I remember looking at those flights when we were planning our first trip to the US (but no way we could afford J then!) - I think the aircraft used were all-business-class A340s?

 

[Tiggerstoes]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

For anyone looking, there is availability to snag a reward J SYD-LAX flight on the 13th August. 2 flight options available. Not sure about return dates as I was only looking for one way. Hope this helps someone!

 

[AnotherWorld]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

I just spent 30 minutes trying to find flights from East Coast Australia to LAX in J, between July to November, and found nothing. Should I just redeem my points to other destinations? Or is there a better way for me to use points?

 

[psi999]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

yeah you're about 6 months off the money. I booked for September last December. heaps of availability at time of booking for those dates, not so much month or so out.

 

[serfty]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

Last night I booked a LAX-xBNE-MEL award in Business for March next year.

Checking daily for the last couple of weeks ( ~10 months out ) paid off.

 

[aaronm]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

Successfully upgraded both legs of a BNE-LAX-MEL trip to J, just have to keep checking daily... eventually the seat shows up.

 

[AnotherWorld]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

How do you plan a trip 9-10 months in advance???

 

[theiml]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

I've noticed virgin availability to the Us has dropped off significantly. It's a shame since I think their business class is the best direct option to the US. Qantas is feeling a bit tired. Singapore is great if you don't mind the much longer flight times. Also beware of their older 777 planes on the SYD-SIN route. They are the recliner types and the planes are showing their age.

 

[theblank]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

Successfully upgraded both legs of a BNE-LAX-MEL trip to J, just have to keep checking daily... eventually the seat shows up.

what time of day does the seats become available?

I am getting bored with checking 100x a day

 

[aaronm]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

what time of day does the seats become available?

I am getting bored with checking 100x a day

I have just been checking once a day, usually in the morning. BNE-LAX was upgraded back in Feb, LAX-MEL earlier this week. Both flights are in June. It's definitely a gamble but the award seats did eventually appear. Then again, if I'm paying zero dollars for the upgrade it's worth some effort to secure it.

 

[andyhui01]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

what time of day does the seats become available?

I am getting bored with checking 100x a day

My understanding is 10am in Winter and 11am Summer (Melb/Syd Time)

 

[sausagefingers]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

My understanding is 10am in Winter and 11am Summer (Melb/Syd Time)

I've noted on multiple occasion finding nothing at lunch time and then a seat being available after 6:30pm

 

[andyhui01]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

I've noted on multiple occasion finding nothing at lunch time and then a seat being available after 6:30pm

Interesting. thanks for the info

 

[theblank]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

My understanding is 10am in Winter and 11am Summer (Melb/Syd Time)

I've noted on multiple occasion finding nothing at lunch time and then a seat being available after 6:30pm

Guess I am still stuck with checking 100x a day

I guess it makes a difference if the seat is released due to a cancellation, that might pop up immediately, but when releasing the quota as part of their revenue management that it is on a set cycle.

 

[sausagefingers]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

Guess I am still stuck with checking 100x a day

I guess it makes a difference if the seat is released due to a cancellation, that might pop up immediately, but when releasing the quota as part of their revenue management that it is on a set cycle.

Good point,

However last year doing the 2 times a day checking I managed to find 3X J BNE-LAX and and 2 X J SYD-LAX the day before which myself and my workmates all booked, I should also note I never noticed any appearing new on weekends.

 

[clipped_wings]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

How do you plan a trip 9-10 months in advance???

With military precision when there's 6 of you travelling. For me, that equates to 6 cabin bags, 12 checked, food for the fussy eaters, seat allocation that satisfies EVERYONE but me. Oh, and enough sleep medication to take down a blue whale.

Military precision.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Velocity internat J redemptions now totally scarce!

With military precision when there's 6 of you travelling. For me, that equates to 6 cabin bags, 12 checked, food for the fussy eaters, seat allocation that satisfies EVERYONE but me. Oh, and enough sleep medication to take down a blue whale.

Military precision.

I hope that blue whale is not in a middle seat beside me!