Is International Virgin Reward availability now worse that QANTAS?

[PlutekPlutek]

Do HKG flights become available on the website or only via phone. Looking for J HKG-SYD in late July but nothing comes up.

 

[jbman]

They are released on the website, however recently they have been difficult to get

 

[liamsal]

Anyone know if any J reward seats AU-LAX have already been released for December/January? I obviously know that there's <1% availability atm but being 'optimistic' that they will release some eventually

 

[Spizz]

No. You can only get seats for LAX in J only a few days before departure. Otherwise nope.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

Do HKG flights become available on the website or only via phone. Looking for J HKG-SYD in late July but nothing comes up.

I find lots available via phone.. not much shows on website. Plenty of times it shows NIL on web but available on call up..just annoying

 

[pauly7]

I find lots available via phone.. not much shows on website. Plenty of times it shows NIL on web but available on call up..just annoying

That’s interesting - they can’t help at all with LAX bookings.... what status are you?

 

[CJEMNMAC]

That’s interesting - they can’t help at all with LAX bookings.... what status are you?

I am plat but it makes no difference.

All my USA travel is now CX with Alaska points,using life miles or VA transfers to Singapore air.

I have given up as the availability is so poor.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

Well I have made a decision. I am going to hold all my flybuys and Amex points and not transfer to Velocity. I received an email a few weeks ago saying I was in top 1% in collecting flybuys (do not know if this is just a ruse). If awards are better with Etihad then that is where they will head. 15% bonus is no use to me if I cannot get a decent seat even 330 days out.

 

[jkbaus]

Well I have made a decision. I am going to hold all my flybuys and Amex points and not transfer to Velocity. I received an email a few weeks ago saying I was in top 1% in collecting flybuys (do not know if this is just a ruse). If awards are better with Etihad then that is where they will head. 15% bonus is no use to me if I cannot get a decent seat even 330 days out.

I believe that Flybuys can't be transferred to Etihad anymore.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

I believe that Flybuys can't be transferred to Etihad anymore.

Just checked and Etihad still shows up on their website as a travel partner

 

[jbman]

I read you can't add it to your flybuys account now. If you had linked then in the post you are ok

 

[Lonely Flyer]

I read you can't add it to your flybuys account now. If you had linked then in the post you are ok

Oh dear I see what you mean. Are we all on a meaningless journey!

 

[mlob]

Oh dear I see what you mean. Are we all on a meaningless journey!

My understanding is that linked accounts will only earn Etihad tier miles and are unable to redeem flybys for etihad miles.

 

[TSOOBI]

With the email suggesting ways to vote for the Freddies i thought there may have been an influx "how to vote rewards seats" but i guess not

 

[Lonely Flyer]

Does anyone pay 1.5 million points for a one-way business reward?

 

[ozjuice]

Does anyone pay 1.5 million points for a one-way business reward?

Never underestimate what people are capable of. ;-)

 

[serfty]

Never underestimate what people are capable of. ;-)

Hey ... if you have 10^6 doing nothing ...

 

[Saltywings]

Does anyone pay 1.5 million points for a one-way business reward?

Sometimes I feel that if they advertise the cost, someone once in a blue moon will...haha.

 

[Spizz]

Sludge321- Any possibility of your Velocity LAX search coming back?

 

[HeavyElectricity]

Sludge321- Any possibility of your Velocity LAX search coming back?

Doesn't look like it I'm afraid, at least not in the short-term. I don't think it was actually that helpful for LAX business reward availability anyway - all it showed was that any business reward seats released for ~+330 days (if there even were any) were snapped up almost instantly, and then there was no real availability until a couple of days before the flight. So the best option is to check rigorously at ~+330 days, and if that fails and you're gold (and willing to risk it) maybe buy a freedom/premium fare and hope for an upgrade opportunity a couple of days out from the flight?

Economy rewards were pretty much available every day. I guess the tool would have been more helpful hunting for the rare but not completely gone premium reward availability.