Issue with EY reward ....

[bernching]

Hi All,

Been reading on this forum a lot, but this is my first post. Been a VA Platinum since the 2011 status match, and have never looked backed. Whilst most of my work / personal trips are in Y, Had been lucky with many great redemptions in J and F in the last 2 years, love the AUH F lounge.

Planning a trip to the World Cup in Brazil next year, and cheapest economy ticket to Brazil across the pacific pushing $4000+, I was quite surprised to find some award availability on certain dates. Using my SQ miles, I was able to pickup a J award MEL-SIN-BCN-GRU. in Mid June 2014. Looking for return options, using my Etihad logon, I was able to find a J award for :
July 4th GRU - AUH
July 5th AUH - MEL

A quick distance count shows both legs combined just under 15000 miles. I thught I was in luck I can draw down my massive pile of miles.

After calling the plat desk, I was first told there's no seats. After being pesistance, and told them about the EY search results, I was then told GRU is not a port they service??? Called again a few days later, same answer.

I have since booked a SQ Y award for the return trip. The only luxury will be paying for exit row for each legs of the 36 hours back to MEL ...

Off to Sydney for work this Morning, flicking thru the inflight mag, readng that Virgin and partners "now serve over 500 destinations" really made me a bit annoyed, and wondering, how many of these 500 destinations they don't actually service..

What else can I do?
Cheers

 

[anat0l]

Where have you previously redeemed EY J and F awards to?

I ran into similar problems one time with redeeming partner awards. I was looking for MNL-NRT-LAX and I called a couple of agents at the call centre. Despite DL servicing the route I wanted, the call center told me that they could not book my route. They said such redemptions (Asia to America) were not covered under the VA/DL agreement. I asked if there were other dates with availability, but they did not even bother to check because they said that it would not be possible to book this award.

This goes against what I have been told by someone who works at VA, in that as long as the partner operates a flight, it is bookable as a Velocity award (subject to availability of course).

Perhaps you've found a similar issue. I'd hope someone else here - or the VA / VFF rep - can shed some light on this. Even if it then becomes possible, does availability via EY mean that seat is also available on other programmes (e.g. Velocity, or say even AA which can also book EY awards).

On another note, if you wanted to go back in style, why not a SQ J award GRU-BCN then an EY award from BCN back home? Alternatively, you could fly DL to North America from GRU then back home across the Pacific on VA...

 

[bernching]

Been to LHR / CDG on F and J several times on redemption, on VS and EY. Love the morning EY flight from LHR, connects nicely at AUH, arrive in MEL early evening and ready for work the next day.

SQ no J Award on on GRU-BCN on any days.

DL/UA/AA no any award on anywhere to the US during that period, spend a few days looking at all searchable options. If there was, would do a award to anywhere in the US and get a J award on VA for LAX-MEL. One-Way Economy ticket from GIG/GRU to anywhere in the US costs $1500+. SQ award is attractive as the whole outbound leg cost me 50150 SQ miles + $60US tax and no fuel fine because it's a brazil issued ticket. Considering hotel prices at that time, I thought I would be sensible and take the cheap travel option, and that all my mates will be in Y both ways ..

I am sure some Tiger Beer will help time pass...

 

[lovestotravel]

Speaking of EY rewards how have people experience been on redeeming MEL or SYD to Europe in J on EY using Velocity points ?

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Hi Bernching
Unfortunately an oversight has had this market being missed in our redemption pricing file.
This is being fixed asap - we'd expect you to be able to book within the next 24-48 hours.

If you require assistance with the booking, please PM us a time that suits, and we can organise a call.

Lovestotravel, if you'd like assistance on redeeming your points for an EY J class flight, we're more than happy to help you too.

 

[paultiffen]

I had a similar issue with booking Sydney to Milan. They said that the seats kept showing unconfirmed. Offered me an ASA instead! Ended.up booking scoot special plus singapore airlines

 

[lovestotravel]

Thanks VFF rep

Flights are showing on the Velocity website but 2 x J seats seem to dry up around April on say MEL-LHR-MEL

Heaps of seats in Feb/March

Does anyone have advice on when/if J EY seats pop up on VA for redemption ?

 

[bernching]

Thanks for your help.

I have PM you.

 

[bernching]

Just get a etihad guest account and search ..


Did F on EY last Sept from LHR