Last minute reward seats?

[kkl]

Need a biz reward seat on VA552 on Sept 15. What are the chances of them releasing more space?

Thanks

 

[Mogul]

Give them a ring and ask if they can release one.

 

[kkl]

Does this ever happen? Only a red member. Have redeemed 2 seats on the flight now just need 1 for myself

 

[kkl]

called up and apparently no such thing of opening an award seat

 

[Mattg]

I just had a look at the load on that flight, and Business looks pretty empty! So, I guess there is a small chance they may release more seats in the coming week. But I would have a backup option.

 

[theoracle30]

In my experience they often release more J award seats from 72-24 hrs before the flight, if there's space. I did a PER-SYD return on J awards during peak period Christmas/New Year, each one-way leg booked the day before or day of travel. There was no availability in the weeks before.

 

[johnnyfive]

Had a good chat with a Velocity rep about this. VA and Velocity are essentially two business arms run seperatley. Velocity can't force a reward. They only get a certain number of seats released by the airline. How many and when is a bit of a mystery to Velocity reps.

I waited for a points upgrade from premium to the biz on VA8 only to not have it cleared. Yet there were four empty seats in J. They told me that if it doesn't clear at check in tht it wont open later... I was told maybe it's a loading factor, but yet in the lounge they're still willing to upsell you for $1399 USD. So like most things it comes down to money not loyalty...

 

[kkl]

DATA point: Cancelled 2 reward tickets PER-SYD. it DID NOT show back in award pool