Platinums can now use complimentary upgrade from a Choice fare

[dk4]

I'm curious if these types of sort choice upgrades are actually good value (I guess if you've got them left over?)

With Virgin's new price model being similar to how legacy airlines structure pricing in the USA: where the lead in Business price point is often lower than the highest Flex Economy price, I didn't use a single Plat-upgrade last year, as it was better value to just buy Business outright. So all my plat-upgrades just disappeared unused, (first time since prior to Covid, when I religiously used them all, as Virgin's pricing model was similar to Qantas, with a big gap between the top Economy price point and the lowest Business one).

So, even though I think it could be more nuanced, I have now used this years Plat-upgrades, whereas they would have just expired again without this Choice offer.

 

[bcworld]

Yes I would not have used them otherwise and they would've just expired in January.

Surprise work trip to Canberra early Nov booked in choice so used all 4 to upgrade each way. MEL - CBR so almost pointless but as still...got to use them!

So my return flight CBR - MEL was cancelled last night which would leave my stranded in Canberra for the night (VA was not rebooking anyone on QF flights despite availability). I rebooked on Qantas myself. Called up and got my 2 x upgrade credits reinstated expecting I'd lose them again anyway when the are due to expire in January. But the expiry date is 12 months from today! So come Jan wen I requalify Plat I'll have 6 credits.

 

[marcojim]

Booked a surprise trip for my grandma and I from MEL to SYD next week last night in Choice. Noticed after booking that the return leg had two business reward seats available. Had an agonising wait overnight hoping that the two reward seats remained as the Velocity team had closed for the day so I couldn’t reach them.

Thankfully both seats remained and I used up my four upgrade credits (which probably would’ve gone unused since I never buy Flex) to upgrade us into business by calling this morning. Big fan of this trial and I hope they keep this around after March!

 

[knagelli]

So come Jan wen I requalify Plat I'll have 6 credits.

AFAIK the maximum credits you could have at any time is 4 ( as per Velocity rep I spoke to in the past). If you happen to have more than 4 then it will be bonus.

 

[Must...Fly!]

AFAIK the maximum credits you could have at any time is 4 ( as per Velocity rep I spoke to in the past). If you happen to have more than 4 then it will be bonus.

it's happened to me before. they'll stay per the expiry IME.

 

[Luke B]

AFAIK the maximum credits you could have at any time is 4 ( as per Velocity rep I spoke to in the past). If you happen to have more than 4 then it will be bonus.

some of us had 20 at one point...

 

[Bagpuss]

some of us had 20 at one point...

I was in this boat. Though I tried a use the extras a few times and was refused with the agents stating it was a system error and only 4 are issued during the status membership year. I'm sure some people have had better luck.

 

[sydunipete]

I just successfully used my Platinum upgrade vouchers for me and the mrs. I checked there was business reward availability on my flights, booked 2 x flex seats and rang the call centre. I got the Phillipines but the phone was answered straight away on a Sunday. All good.

 

[clifford]

I've never found it available on flights to or from OOL that I was interested in, even though there were reward seats available in J.

Well there have been upgrades available sometimes on the first or last flights of the day, but I'd rather sit in row 3 on a more sensibly timed flight.

So I guess my vouchers will go unused.

 

[sydunipete]

I've never found it available on flights to or from OOL that I was interested in, even though there were reward seats available in J.

Well there have been upgrades available sometimes on the first or last flights of the day, but I'd rather sit in row 3 on a more sensibly timed flight.

So I guess my vouchers will go unused.

I agree it's not the greatest of benefits. As a mostly leisure traveller I have the luxury of booking well ahead. THe 4 vouchers saved me about $400 which is better than nothing.

 

[liamsal]

AFAIK the maximum credits you could have at any time is 4 ( as per Velocity rep I spoke to in the past). If you happen to have more than 4 then it will be bonus.

Apparently I have 16… doubt I’ll use any of them though

 

[knagelli]

Apparently I have 16… doubt I’ll use any of them thoughView attachment 360007

That seems to be a system glitch as the maximum any user can have at a given point is 4. When you call the velocity platinum care to make use of the upgrades they will identify the issue and convey that only 4 could be used.

All the best !!

 

[clifford]

Well, after reading Matt Graham's (@Mattg) recent article on Velocity Platinum benefits, I decided to give it another go, and to my surprise I was able to use the 4 vouchers to upgrade an economy choice ticket ADL-MEL-CBR in March.

If I hadn't seen this article I would have probably forgotten all about it.

 

[Human]

Well, after reading Matt Graham's (@Mattg) recent article on Velocity Platinum benefits, I decided to give it another go, and to my surprise I was able to use the 4 vouchers to upgrade an economy choice ticket ADL-MEL-CBR in March.

If I hadn't seen this article I would have probably forgotten all about it.

So did you need 4 vouchers to upgrade both sectors (2 per sector) or did they let you upgrade the entire ticket with 2 vouchers?

 

[jase05]

So did you need 4 vouchers to upgrade both sectors (2 per sector) or did they let you upgrade the entire ticket with 2 vouchers?

Should be 1 voucher per person per sector

 

[sudoer]

Should be 1 voucher per person per sector

It's 2 vouchers per person per sector on Economy Choice (link) and 1 per person per sector on Economy Flex.

I used my own vouchers on SYD-BNE return today.

 

[Must...Fly!]

It's 2 vouchers per person per sector on Economy Choice (link) and 1 per person per sector on Economy Flex.

I used my own vouchers on SYD-BNE return today.

Indeed, I used two to upgrade a BNE-MEL dinnertime sector in a few weeks.

 

[PERLHR]

I find it confusing. I see availability in biz having a "choice" fare between MEL and Perth in 3 days. I call them. I'm prepared to use 4 vouchers. They say not available yet seem to be prepared to receive flight cash upgrade offers so I can only assume they have spare seats. They say I can go on a later one...(not doing that). Is this voucher thing a perk or just "a nothing".

 

[bcworld]

I find it confusing. I see availability in biz having a "choice" fare between MEL and Perth in 3 days. I call them. I'm prepared to use 4 vouchers. They say not available yet seem to be prepared to receive flight cash upgrade offers so I can only assume they have spare seats. They say I can go on a later one...(not doing that). Is this voucher thing a perk or just "a nothing".

Biz AWARD must be available...not just biz.

 

[PERLHR]

Biz AWARD must be available...not just biz.

Ah I see. Did not expect it to be straight forward.