Points + Pay a good Velocity Option, 7800 points + $53 PE BNE-SYD

[markis10]

Have not had a serious look at the DJ points + pay option until this morning, grabbed a PE seat to SYD tomorrow for 7800 points + $55 in total, which to me seemed very good value by comparison to the options on offer from QF.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

That really is great value, especially as a standard economy BNE-SYD is 6900 + taxes etc! If I wasn't DJ Gold (and therefore already receiving most of the PE inclusions when in economy), I certainly would take advantage of that rate!

On another note, my partner (also DJ Gold) received her first op-up to PE on Wednesday BNE-MEL... Apparently those around her were DJ Gold too, and had all received free PE upgrades (the flight was at 100% capacity due to the ash situation, so I'm glad that DJ at least chose to reward elites with op-ups. She wasn't able to get an upgrade on the return flight, but was moved by the lounge angel to row 3 (still a PE seat, just with standard Y service).

 

[froggerADL]

Have not had a serious look at the DJ points + pay option until this morning, grabbed a PE seat to SYD tomorrow for 7800 points + $55 in total, which to me seemed very good value by comparison to the options on offer from QF.

Hi markis,

Thanks for that, I didn't realise the great value of points + pay for PE fares.

As it's a PE fare, and a reward, can you cancel the flight for no fee and get a refund or credit for the points & cash?

 

[markis10]

Hi markis,

Thanks for that, I didn't realise the great value of points + pay for PE fares.

As it's a PE fare, and a reward, can you cancel the flight for no fee and get a refund or credit for the points & cash?

Good question, I tried changing my booking and it said no online, however when I bring up the rules they appear to be the same as paying PE, might try it at the airport tomorrow if I get sick of the lounge:

***Premium Reward
• This is a fully flexible fare for travel on Virgin Australia, Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue, Premium Economy seating.
• THE BASICS: This is our fully flexible Velocity Redemption Fare for Premium Economy fare. In addition to your wider seat and extra
legroom, the fare is fully refundable in most circumstances and there are no fees for changes or cancellations. On the ground, you will
receive an included checked baggage allowance of up to 69kg and have access to Priority Check-in and access to the Virgin Australia
Lounge, in major domestic airports including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth domestic airports. In the air, you
can enjoy in-flight entertainment and complimentary food and drinks from our on board menu. Food and beverage is for personal, in-flight
consumption only. Velocitys partner airlines practice responsible service of alcohol and you may be refused service on this basis. live2air is
available on the majority of Virgin Australia's aircraft. live2air is not available on Virgin Australia's Embraer E170 and E190 aircraft. The payper-
view movie component of live2air will only be available on selected routes over 2.5 hours duration. All FOXTEL/AUSTAR live2air
programming schedules are subject to change. Neither Velocity Rewards, Virgin Australia, Pacific Blue nor FOXTEL/AUSTAR are responsible
for any interruptions to the service including, without limitation, those interruptions due to acts of nature, power failure, satellite signal
failure or any other cause. On flights outside of Australian airspace, limited or possibly no signal will be received. Seating will differ
depending on aircraft type and Premium Economy seating may vary and is not available to unaccompanied minors under the age of 15
years old. This fare is only applicable origin to destination and en-route stopovers are not permitted. Flights on Airbus A330 aircraft are
subject to regulatory approval.
• BAGGAGE: this fare includes up to 7kg carry-on baggage and a checked baggage allowance of 69kgs, additional charges may apply for
baggage in excess of this amount. Further conditions apply in relation to Baggage and carrying Dangerous Goods, for more information
please see the website relevant to your travel Now you're flying with Virgin Australia | Virgin Australia ; Now you're flying with Virgin Australia | Pacific Blue ; Now you're flying with Virgin Australia | Polynesian Blue
• FLIGHT CHANGES: you can change the date and time of your flight and the name of the Guest and you do not have to pay a change fee.
For date and time changes, you may only make a change to another Premium Economy Velocity Redemption Fare of the same or greater
value. To make changes to your booking, contact the Guest Contact Centre (GCC) at any time up to 24 hours after your flight's scheduled
departure time. Changes to the name of the Guest can be made at up to 24 hours after the flights scheduled departure time by calling the
GCC. The fare difference (if any) will be payable at the time of making the change and can be paid with either credit card or by using a
credit. Passengers names can be changed by contacting the GCC at any time up to 24 hours before the departure date. All other changes
are not permitted and will be considered as a cancellation.
• CANCELLATIONS: You can cancel your flight at no additional cost, so long as the cancellation is made via the GCC. Cancellations can be
made up to 24 hours after your flight's scheduled departure time, so long as you had not checked in. If you check in and do not show up,
you will forfeit the fare paid and the Velocity Points used (if any), and you will not be eligible for a refund.
• REFUNDS: If you cancel your flight in accordance with these fare rules, you may receive a refund. Refunds can be requested by
contacting the GCC or by emailing your booking reference number, the name of the Guest and flight dates to
[email protected] If you are eligible for this option, you can elect to receive the refund in the same form as the original form
of payment, except where you have paid by cash or EFTPOS, the refund will be directly deposited into your nominated Australian or New
Zealand bank account. If you have booked using credit from another Virgin Australia fare type, you will not be eligible for a refund. If you
have paid in Velocity Points your Points will receive a refund in Points. Refunds will reach your account within 7 - 10 business days.
• CURRENCY: the currency in which you made your original booking will apply to fare differences payable, refunds, fees for animals in hold
and / or excess baggage. Please refer to the relevant airline website for more information.
• Unless otherwise specified, Points and Status Credits are not earned for travel on Velocity Redemption Fares, this is subject to change at the
discretion of VRPL.
KEY FEATURES

 

[markis10]

No issues changing it either, just moved my flight forward a few hours by calling the contact centre.

 

[froggerADL]

Good question, I tried changing my booking and it said no online, however when I bring up the rules they appear to be the same as paying PE, might try it at the airport tomorrow if I get sick of the lounge:

• FLIGHT CHANGES: you can change the date and time of your flight and the name of the Guest and you do not have to pay a change fee.
For date and time changes, you may only make a change to another Premium Economy Velocity Redemption Fare of the same or greater
value. To make changes to your booking, contact the Guest Contact Centre (GCC) at any time up to 24 hours after your flight's scheduled
departure time. Changes to the name of the Guest can be made at up to 24 hours after the flights scheduled departure time by calling the
GCC. The fare difference (if any) will be payable at the time of making the change and can be paid with either credit card or by using a
credit. Passengers names can be changed by contacting the GCC at any time up to 24 hours before the departure date. All other changes
are not permitted and will be considered as a cancellation.
• CANCELLATIONS: You can cancel your flight at no additional cost, so long as the cancellation is made via the GCC. Cancellations can be
made up to 24 hours after your flight's scheduled departure time, so long as you had not checked in. If you check in and do not show up,
you will forfeit the fare paid and the Velocity Points used (if any), and you will not be eligible for a refund.
• REFUNDS: If you cancel your flight in accordance with these fare rules, you may receive a refund. Refunds can be requested by
contacting the GCC or by emailing your booking reference number, the name of the Guest and flight dates to
[email protected] If you are eligible for this option, you can elect to receive the refund in the same form as the original form
of payment, except where you have paid by cash or EFTPOS, the refund will be directly deposited into your nominated Australian or New
Zealand bank account. If you have booked using credit from another Virgin Australia fare type, you will not be eligible for a refund. If you
have paid in Velocity Points your Points will receive a refund in Points. Refunds will reach your account within 7 - 10 business days.

Thanks again markis.

So from the above, you can only make changes through the GCC (which would seem to rule out doing it at the airport), and only to a flight that has PE award availablity.

Refunds seem OK through the GCC as long as you don't do on-line check-in. I'm happy!

 

[brissyflyer]

Thanks for posting this, I just booked SYD-BNE for an upcoming trip in PE for 7000 points + $57. Hope I get one of the sky interior 738s, that would be amazing. Considering a casual lounge entry pass will soon be $55 and I am not a lounge member this makes it even better value.

 

[samh004]

Very good advice/find there!

 

[cove]

Thank you markis10 for your post. That new Amex Velocity card is now at Yes for a quick spin on paying quite a few monthly expenses.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Out of curiosity, are these rare finds? Just checking as every date I've checked for BNE-SYD just shows 13800+$16 for PE points+pay, or $13800+316 for any seat

 

[markis10]

Out of curiosity, are these rare finds? Just checking as every date I've checked for BNE-SYD just shows 13800+$16 for PE points+pay, or $13800+316 for any seat

Thats the point, that is exactly what I booked, but when you get to the screen where you can slide down the points used and use more cash, you get my result, I was not thinking at the time but should have seen have low I could go! Any award that around the 14K mark can be adjusted to get my figures from what I can tell, which makes Velocity point redemption suddenly very attractive IMHO at around $6.16 for every 1000 points reduction.

Looking at PER-SYD (no difference in points for 73 or A330, ie real J class), 33800+$16 could be come 7800 + $173 :shock:.

 

[Saab34]

Thanks for the tip markis10, just blew all my points!

 

[cove]

With that slider working so well for J travel it is the equivalent of me making points for very low cost.This is amazingly good value for those who figure it.

 

[pangwen]

With that slider working so well for J travel it is the equivalent of me making points for very low cost.This is amazingly good value for those who figure it.

Well I'm going to give it a go - hopefully this isn't a mistake which will be 'fixed up' *sigh*.

 

[cove]

It works like this today so get on it. This is not a wait awhile idea that markis10 has posted.Big smiles on faces I think for those who book now!

 

[pangwen]

It works like this today so get on it. This is not a wait awhile idea that markis10 has posted.Big smiles on faces I think for those who book now!

Unfortunately, I'm still in the process of transferring some points across. Fingers crossed it's still available when the points are cleared (probably Monday).

 

[cove]

Don't bite your fingernails with that 2 day wait!

 

[brett-au]

Wait? Are you assuming you earn SC&Miles on award flights? Did I miss something here? How long has that been the case?

 

[JohnK]

Looking at PER-SYD (no difference in points for 73 or A330, ie real J class), 33800+$16 could be come 7800 + $173 :shock:.

Surely that is too good to be true! Sounds like there is a glitch somewhere that may well be fixed soon.

 

[markis10]

Scored YFC, 1A is nice with the new seats, but row 3, OMG, more legroom than 1, more than 1A on a 717! Love the new interior!