Poor (aka None) Availability for J Redemption MEL/LAX

[dsotm]

Just looking to book 2x redemption seats for MEL/LAX, but notice there is zero availability one year out. I don't have Velocity status so maybe the plats and golds have snapped them up. There are some partner airlines with viability (via Singapore or Doha) with long layovers and eyewatering redemption points required.

I've always had excellent availability with Singapore Airlines for MEL/LHR award flights. Should I just capitulate, take the 1.55x transfer hit and look at Krislyer rewards to Europe?

 

[Mattg]

It's hard to find availability on that route, but there is some there on United. They tend to release seats only 1-2 months prior to departure.

 

[dsotm]

It's hard to find availability on that route, but there is some there on United. They tend to release seats only 1-2 months prior to departure.

Yep something like that would be alright. I'm looking at March/April next year. Maybe worth sitting on the points. I notice there's hardly any VA metal reward availability these days on US destinations.

 

[Mattg]

Yep something like that would be alright. I'm looking at March/April next year. Maybe worth sitting on the points. I notice there's hardly any VA metal reward availability these days on US destinations.

Well, Virgin Australia no longer flies to the USA. So you won't find any VA metal

I think there's a reasonable chance you might have reward seats on United for next March/April 2024 (perhaps more likely outside of school holidays) if booking in around February next year. Nothing is guaranteed, though.

 

[dsotm]

Well, Virgin Australia no longer flies to the USA. So you won't find any VA metal

I think there's a reasonable chance you might have reward seats on United for next March/April 2024 (perhaps more likely outside of school holidays) if booking in around February next year. Nothing is guaranteed, though.

Man, I'm really out of the loop since Covid! I had no idea they didn't fly the west coast route any more. Thanks for the heads up. I might flick the points to Krisflyer and re-arm for next Feb.

 

[MARTINE]

Post Covid I have now made the decision to give up on redemptions.
Reasons:
- too hard to find for what I want
- changes/cancellations/downgrades which are too frequent more hassle than flights paid in cold hard cash
- they cost me nothing (I dont chase points only spend as usual and pts come incidentally)
- I want to enjoy my retirement and can pay

I might start looking at hotel rooms now that I have equipped the house w new washing machine/TV etc!!!

 

[jaybo]

some annecdotal evidence - i tried to book 2x J redemption MEL-LAX / LAX-MEL for september a number of months back and found *nothing* at all, ended up booking MEL-SIN-LAX and JFK-FRA-SIN-MEL instead - i cancelled these later due to changes in plans, but i rebooked a single J MEL-LAX last night for sept 5, though there was no availability on the return leg, i checked a week either side and also LAX-SYD and SFO-BNE as well but no luck.

oddly something i did notice was those SQ based options didn't appear at all in any of the search results like they did back at the start of the year, looks like there's some kind of "it's United or nothing" approach (or the SQ redemptions have wrapped up and I'm out of the loop too!)

so yep, UA J reward flights are seemingly non existent unless you're booking with short(er) leadtimes... somewhat of a pain for those of us looking to lock in a vacation long in advance

 

[dandandan]

some annecdotal evidence - i tried to book 2x J redemption MEL-LAX / LAX-MEL for september a number of months back and found *nothing* at all, ended up booking MEL-SIN-LAX and JFK-FRA-SIN-MEL instead - i cancelled these later due to changes in plans, but i rebooked a single J MEL-LAX last night for sept 5, though there was no availability on the return leg, i checked a week either side and also LAX-SYD and SFO-BNE as well but no luck.

oddly something i did notice was those SQ based options didn't appear at all in any of the search results like they did back at the start of the year, looks like there's some kind of "it's United or nothing" approach (or the SQ redemptions have wrapped up and I'm out of the loop too!)

so yep, UA J reward flights are seemingly non existent unless you're booking with short(er) leadtimes... somewhat of a pain for those of us looking to lock in a vacation long in advance

I booked 4 x J at Xmas time with United (MEL-SFO) and 1 x SQ (MEL-SIN-MNL), interestingly all out of MEL when I live in SYD, it's harder with Velocity and not being able to use expert flyer so it's regular checking, multiple times a day you will need to do I think.

 

[jaybo]

I booked 4 x J at Xmas time with United (MEL-SFO) and 1 x SQ (MEL-SIN-MNL), interestingly all out of MEL when I live in SYD, it's harder with Velocity and not being able to use expert flyer so it's regular checking, multiple times a day you will need to do I think.

yeah back at the start of the year it was regular checking for a good 2 weeks, and i was checking basically a 3 week range of dates (had to be there for a wedding, but whether we stayed on after or got there earlier we didn't care)

there's definitely tickets available, but they're hard to find and it's basically just dumb luck if you can get them for the dates and legs you want

 

[dandandan]

yeah back at the start of the year it was regular checking for a good 2 weeks, and i was checking basically a 3 week range of dates (had to be there for a wedding, but whether we stayed on after or got there earlier we didn't care)

there's definitely tickets available, but they're hard to find and it's basically just dumb luck if you can get them for the dates and legs you want

I think that's about right!