Is International Virgin Reward availability now worse that QANTAS?

[butcheredit]

I find it almost impossible these days to find a SYD/LAX business class reward seat using Velocity Points on any available dates. When looking this time last year (and previous years) there would be heaps of availability and up to 6 or so BC seats per flight.

Just wondering if others have noticed the significant drop in availability?

 

[smit0847]

http://pointmetotheplane.boardingarea.com/2015/08/03/virgin-australia-awards-delta-skymiles/

 

[Captain hum]

Virgin Australia Business Award Availability Wide Open w/ SkyMiles in Feb! - Point Me to the Plane

I'm confused. Isn't this link about booking with Delta from the USA?

 

[smit0847]

Its saying there are lots of seats on VA from LA available.

 

[butcheredit]

Maybe, but there are close to none from Sydney to LAX.

 

[robd]

You might have to start from BNE.

 

[butcheredit]

Id rather fly Premium or Economy than have a stop over, or just holiday somewhere else. Just annoying that I focused on Velocity because of their great availability (compared to QANTAS) and then they turned the tap off without notice.

 

[robd]

Id rather fly Premium or Economy than have a stop over, or just holiday somewhere else. Just annoying that I focused on Velocity because of their great availability (compared to QANTAS) and then they turned the tap off without notice.

It's not ideal, but I personally don't mind the stop on the way out (particularly if you have lounge access), but definitely will try for the direct on the way home (always more tired and scratchy).

 

[mark4217]

I would fly the hour and half in a fit, to get J to LAX. It's only 1.5 hours!! Economy!!

 

[Zerosignal]

I saw this as well, not many options!

 

[im.daniel]

Probably from the 100k/110k sign up bonuses ...

 

[mlob]

I have definately noticed the difference. I made a trip last October to LA. Booked around April. I had lots of dates to choose from at 6 months out. Have always seen lots of availability to Europe and the US. But sometime this year it all disappeared. I had pulled the pin on Qantas and moved all flying and point collection to Virgin based on their previous availability.

 

[williamsf1]

Id rather fly Premium or Economy than have a stop over, or just holiday somewhere else. Just annoying that I focused on Velocity because of their great availability (compared to QANTAS) and then they turned the tap off without notice.

I don't think the tap has been turned off as such , you need to understand that there are only limited seats on 1 flight each day from BNE and SYD and they go fast- Velocity has over 5 million members now . You also need to understand that other airlines members - example the post smit0847 re DL members also looking to get value from points ... DL has around 95mil members ...... those 2 airlines alone there is 100million members who can book the same seats you are after

 

[mlob]

Well if that is the case then their membership has grown exponentially this last 6 months or so. There was seriously a lot more awards available. Now when I have been watching them they last for about one day as they are released at the maximum 330 day window. Brisbane maybe lasting a couple more days then the other cities. As I stated before there availability was over several months not just a couple of days.

 

[Zerosignal]

Well if that is the case then their membership has grown exponentially this last 6 months or so. There was seriously a lot more awards available. Now when I have been watching them they last for about one day as they are released at the maximum 330 day window. Brisbane maybe lasting a couple more days then the other cities. As I stated before there availability was over several months not just a couple of days.

Agree it feels like a change rather than just bookings, could be related to holding back seats due to expected demand for the new business class?

 

[butcheredit]

Yeah I thought it might have something to do with the new business class as well. Seems like the only logical explanation. I will give them a call, not that I expect them to know what the story is, but they might just be releasing them over the phone for now.

 

[butcheredit]

Agent agrees there must be an issue as she could only find 1 BC Reward seat on all days 330 into the future. She is escalating.

 

[teebow]

100% Something has changed. I have booked 2xBusiness seats to LAX Twice a year with both little and moderate notice every year since inception, now its not possible to book 1 seat to LAX. An Increase in members is not a sufficient explanation. It is a lot worse than Qantas now, who at least hold reward seats for Higher Tiers, Velocity need to start doing the same, or may as well go back to Qantas.

 

[aaronm]

I suspect it's due to the 777 refits, not just reward seats either. I've been trying to price a PE seat to AUH next year, no availability showing at all on VA metal flights and that's in May/June, so unlikely the seats are sold out already. Something is up with the system, possibly they are holding back sales/rewards until the refits are complete. Not surprising since it seems like their schedule for this work has been bumped a few times already.

 

[doczim]

Agent agrees there must be an issue as she could only find 1 BC Reward seat on all days 330 into the future. She is escalating.

I suspect it's due to the 777 refits, not just reward seats either. I've been trying to price a PE seat to AUH next year, no availability showing at all on VA metal flights and that's in May/June, so unlikely the seats are sold out already. Something is up with the system, possibly they are holding back sales/rewards until the refits are complete. Not surprising since it seems like their schedule for this work has been bumped a few times already.

This is what I thought also. I too noticed the availability was quite good and got three J BNE LAX at around 300 days out but this dropped right off but I put it down to the above.