Platinum Reward Seat Guarantee

[henrus]

When I search for the flight with VA it shows as an available destination, both legs have VA flight numbers,

If it can be booked as a paid ticket on the website then it can be booked under the reward seat guarantee. If there are multiple options/times/airlines then VA will book you on the cheapest (you don't get to pick).

It's quite clear (in the T&C's) that your flights can be "...to any domestic or international destination when travelling on any Virgin Australia marketed flight beginning with a 'VA' flight number". It doesn't mention anything specific about non-stop/stopovers etc.

 

[maccaisking]

Thanks for the advice, I have a couple of hours between kids in bed and soccer kick off so will try then. My plan B is flying MEL - CAN (Guangzhou, China). VA offer that route as a codeshare on SQ metal. The route never has reward flights available so it ticks that box, and CAN is my actual destination, but the flight times with SQ are less favourable. I assume there should be no issue with a multi leg booking, it stops in Singapore. When I search for the flight with VA it shows as an available destination, both legs have VA flight numbers,

Didn't get to call last night, but when I jumped online this morning to check fares, there was a Virgin flight (normal number - VA69) with reward availability scheduled at 11am from MEL - HKG on Wednesday 2 January. This flight wasn't there yesterday, and MEL didn't used to have Wednesday flights. Looks like it has been just added as a daytime flight on Weds only. (edit - have now looked further and VA69 looks to be daily at 11am from Sunday 28 October)

When I rang to book, I explained I wanted a guaranteed reward seat booking but that one leg was already available as normal reward seats. The operator was very helpful, booked the outbound leg as a 'normal' reward flight and took my details to book the return leg as the 'guaranteed' reward flight to save me waiting on hold. (effectively means I am using it one way from HKG). I was worried that I would be knocked back as one way is available as a normal reward, but they had no issues booking it. All in all a very good experience for me.

 

[deejo77]

Sorry to bump an old thread

Has anyone used this for an open jaw?

Need A to B then happy to make our own eay to C then will need flight from C back to A?

 

[henrus]

Has anyone used this for an open jaw?

I don't think it's possible (but you'd be best to call up and ask). They tend to closely follow the terms and conditions listed: Velocity Membership Terms & Conditions

I've heard of someone using it for a oneway flight before but it's quite clear in the T&C's that it's to be used for a return trip you might struggle.

Let us know how you go.

 

[deejo77]

I don't think it's possible (but you'd be best to call up and ask). They tend to closely follow the terms and conditions listed: Velocity Membership Terms & Conditions

I've heard of someone using it for a oneway flight before but it's quite clear in the T&C's that it's to be used for a return trip you might struggle.

Let us know how you go.

I am going to give them a call tomorrow - hopefully they will accept it as brisbane to lax is their metal but we want to go to Orlando, happy to make own way back to lax and only their metal is involved on way back

 

[hossein_au]

I am going to give them a call tomorrow - hopefully they will accept it as brisbane to lax is their metal but we want to go to Orlando, happy to make own way back to lax and only their metal is involved on way back

So basically you want to ask for BNE-LAX return. I think the fact that there is a LAX-MCO trip nested inside should not matter.

 

[dandandan]

Hi all, just trying to work out how many points would be needed per ticket for a Platinum guaranteed family redemption. Say I was wanting to book Sydney - coughet, I would most likely end up on an SQ and Silk Air combo. Based on the below terms from the points tables, I think it would cost 35,000 per ticket each way, with Sydney to coughet being circa 4,500 miles, and being on SQ with connection of less than 24hours with Silk Air being owned by SQ and in the same points table. Or, do they calculate the required points simply on the miles from the Virgin points tables. I can't find this detail anywhere. Sydney to Samui is 35,000 points on an SQ/Silk Air combo, so I'm pretty sure it will be the 35,000 points each way Sydney to coughet. Of course they could put me on VA to HKG then to coughet that way which is 41,800 points and almost better off going to LAX 44,800 miles. Probably better off going on a direct VA flight somewhere to save miles, such as Bali however single isle 737, use cash, or J one way and cash flights home etc.


Terms and Conditions;
2. The Points price for a Reward Seat will be based on the total miles for all sectors in a one way journey, except where there is a break in the journey. Where there is a break in the journey, the Points price is calculated on a per sector basis. A break in the journey includes: (a) a stopover, which means: (i) in an Australian domestic itinerary, a break of journey at an intermediate point when onward travel does not take place on the same calendar day; and (ii) for all other itineraries, including those containing a domestic to international connecting flight, when a passenger arrives at an intermediate point and is not scheduled to depart within 24 hours of arrival; (b) a change in class of travel within the journey; or (c) a change in operating airline where the airlines are located in different Reward Seat Points tables.

 

[Must...Fly!]

The guarantee applies to Virgin Australia operated flights only

Edit: I think I'm confusing the gold benefit with the platinum one. As long as it's VA marketed you can request if you're WP

 

[dandandan]

The guarantee applies to Virgin Australia operated flights only

Edit: I think I'm confusing the gold benefit with the platinum one. As long as it's VA marketed you can request if you're WP

Yes, your edit is correct. So market meaning if you can book through Virgin website it can basically be booked under this benefit;

• Once a year, be guaranteed to be able to redeem four return Economy Reward Seats to any domestic or international destination when travelling on any Virgin Australia marketed flight beginning with a 'VA' flight number.

 

[cqtiger]

with long combination flights where multiple routes are available like SYD LHR are the points deducted based on distance alone or also the airlines and actual route?

 

[dandandan]

with long combination flights where multiple routes are available like SYD LHR are the points deducted based on distance alone or also the airlines and actual route?

As Virgin doesn't fly there themselves it would depend on who the airlines are however if change in operating airlines or stopover of more than 24 hours when on same operating airline it's calculated per sector basis.


Terms and Conditions;
2. The Points price for a Reward Seat will be based on the total miles for all sectors in a one way journey, except where there is a break in the journey. Where there is a break in the journey, the Points price is calculated on a per sector basis. A break in the journey includes: (a) a stopover, which means: (i) in an Australian domestic itinerary, a break of journey at an intermediate point when onward travel does not take place on the same calendar day; and (ii) for all other itineraries, including those containing a domestic to international connecting flight, when a passenger arrives at an intermediate point and is not scheduled to depart within 24 hours of arrival; (b) a change in class of travel within the journey; or (c) a change in operating airline where the airlines are located in different Reward Seat Points tables.

 

[jpp42]

I didn't realise exactly what this benefit was until reading this thread - very interesting. As I travel very little on VA metal, I have always struggled to use my VA points efficiently since I can't upgrade SQ, DL, or EY flights with these points. This really makes the points redemptions on partner flights a much better prospect. (side note: Probably I should really be using KrisFlyer instead, given most of my non-QF flying is SQ, and flying other StarAlliance carriers like United or AirNZ for other locations, but that's another discussion.)