redeeming velocity points for flights - useless

[busyhands]

Can anyone advise how to get on a virgin "velocity" reward flight. I rang them today and they can not offer me a flight in the next 12 months Adel - Denpasar return using points only I have altitude points and was going to redeem to velocity. Any clues ?? Thanks

 

[markis10]

Plenty of anyseat awards, just no normal awards, if you can get to Perth there is lots of award flights.

 

[busyhands]

Thanks Markis10, we were hoping to use just points, thought that Qantas was still part of the scheme and had flights chosen, until Altitude told us otherwise. Does anyone know when Virgin release the "reward seats"? Is it every month/day/week? Am feeling a little "gutted" as I thought I had the whole holiday sorted within budget

 

[markis10]

How many points do you have to spend, looking at two segments - ADL-PER then on to DPs will make things easier, DJ do not have the best system in that respect, and like many things FF related, there are work arounds and advantages to not going in a straight line.

 

[busyhands]

We have 372349 altitude points. With Virgins current offer of +25% to redeem to velocity makes (465436 altitude) becoming 232718 velocity points. With Qantas it was 50,000 points return to Bali, which meant we would have paid a few hundred dollars to get the 4 of us (all adults) return to Bali. Cant even get close.

 

[StevePER]

I'm not very familiar with Altitude, but can't you transfer them to Krisflyer? If so forget about Velocity because you can fly with a better airline and it will probably cost you fewer points. And there will be flights available.

 

[markis10]

We have 372349 altitude points. With Virgins current offer of +25% to redeem to velocity makes (465436 altitude) becoming 232718 velocity points. With Qantas it was 50,000 points return to Bali, which meant we would have paid a few hundred dollars to get the 4 of us (all adults) return to Bali. Cant even get close.

I just did a search on the site, no issues in March for 4 people:

 

[crazydave98]

I just did a search on the site, no issues in March for 4 people:

On Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays we operate ADL-DPS nonstop. Just did a search outbound 16 March and return 23 March - plenty of seats available priced at 29,100 ADL-DPS and 25,200 DPS-ADL so for your part of four that's 217,200 points total. Within your points available balance and not a cent to pay.

Can I ask a dumb question - did you ring Velocity or Altitude to enquire about flight availability?

cheers
CrazyDave98 (Virgin Blue staffer)

 

[busyhands]

Markis, u are right, have just checked myself. Wanted to go in April school holidays but if it has to be earlier/later, thats ok. Weird cause I checked yesterday and there was nothing. And Dave, I rang Virgin (and waited 39 minutes) spoke to a lady (who did have trouble speaking english) about 4pm yesterday, cause I was sure I was doing something wrong. She said she could find nothing out of Adelaide in the next 12 months? Tried to sell me Malaysia air thru Kuala Lumpur for 90,000 points or points + pay. Could there have been a glitch in system perhaps or do they release fares daily? Never reedeemed before

 

[markis10]

April will be a hard month to get award flights given its Easter, and school holidays.

 

[busyhands]

So it seems, was shocked when Qantas had so many........ but thats ok, just checking our accomodation now with agent. Am interested about Kris flyers though, yes Altitude convert into Kris. We would have 186174 kris miles (372349 altitude divided by 2). Tried calling them yesterday but needed a login to speak to them. Used their website too but it said thru singapore 140k then 70k to Denpasar. Maybe that was for 4 people (cant remember). Was in a bit of a FLAP yesterday! If you could let me know that would be awesome (and give me an alternative if accom doesnt work out). Thanks HEAPS for your help guys. Feeling stacks better

 

[StevePER]

I didn't realise that there was a 2:1 ratio on conversions.

With Krisflyer, there are different redemption levels depending on availability. Theoretically you should be get a "Saver" redemption for 55,000 each, or 220,000 for four people. You should also be able to get a 15% discount for booking online (making it 187,000).

However, their booking engine doesn't seem to like the Adelaide/Bali combination for award flights. I don't know what's going on there, perhaps it's all too difficult.

If you're willing to consider other destinations, you could go to Malaysia or Thailand for the same price (and other places as well). Or 25k per person to anywhere in the South Pacific (35k in business class, but you'll never get availability for 4).

 

[busyhands]

Thanks Pete, we do have our sites on Bali (although must admit the south pacific sounds lovely). My husband has always wanted to buy the boys their first Bintang at the swim-up bar! Will try their website again, see if i have any joy and if they have flights in April (best case scenario). If not, then Virgin in January, Feb or March wil be lovely. Thanks everyone for your help, feel a bit of a ninny but am positive those flights were'nt there yesterday. Especially since the Virgin rep couldnt find any either. BUT< alls well that ends well. Thanks again, Caryl xx

 

[busyhands]

On Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays we operate ADL-DPS nonstop. Just did a search outbound 16 March and return 23 March - plenty of seats available priced at 29,100 ADL-DPS and 25,200 DPS-ADL so for your part of four that's 217,200 points total. Within your points available balance and not a cent to pay.

Can I ask a dumb question - did you ring Velocity or Altitude to enquire about flight availability?

cheers
CrazyDave98 (Virgin Blue staffer)

David, cannot reply to ur private message cause I dont have enough posts yet (only have 12, need 15)??? Have transfered altitude points to Velocity but have a 3 day wait. Any clues how I can hold the flights I want. Have accomodation organised. Thanks, Caryl (Busyhands)

 

[crazydave98]

David, cannot reply to ur private message cause I dont have enough posts yet (only have 12, need 15)??? Have transfered altitude points to Velocity but have a 3 day wait. Any clues how I can hold the flights I want. Have accomodation organised. Thanks, Caryl (Busyhands)

Hi Caryl - unfortunately there is no way to hold the flights without a booking of some type sorry. But given that the flights you want to book are some months out, it is very unlikely that there will be a change to pricing or availability within 3 days.
cheers
CrazyDave98

 

[busyhands]

Thanks Dave. Points transferred next day....... of course the flight we had earmarked was gone but got on a flight for the following day without to much disruption to the travel bookings. SO, WE ARE GOING TO BALI ......... YAY.


Thanks to everyone for all of your help xx