reward redemptions - cheaper with connecting flight

[testy8eva]

Hi all, new member here, just wondering what's going on with some of these reward seats that I've been looking at for a trip to Indonesia. A direct flight from BNE - DPS in business for example is redeemable for 58300 points. However if the origin is MKY or CBR, connecting in Brisbane on the same flight to DPS in business only costs ~46000 points total for both flights. I save 11,700 points by booking an extra flight that I'm not going to fly on.

Similarly the return leg I save 14,000 points by setting the destination as HBA or ADL for example, flying through brisbane (37000 vs 51000 points).

I don't doubt that this is well known on the board but as someone who is relatively new to FF programs in general I'm curious as to how Virgin is coming up with these points prices. Obviously the miles traveled with the extra leg will be higher than the single flight! Most other trips I've looked at with connecting flights cost a modest premium over the direct flights. Are the examples above glitches due to the introduction of Sabre? Or is it some persistent feature of Virgin's system? If so how do you experienced FFers go about finding them

 

[Fruitcake]

I save 11,700 points by booking an extra flight that I'm not going to fly on.

Just be aware that although you can safely throw away the last leg of the itinerary, you will need to get yourself to MKY or CBR to start your trip. If you don't turn up for your first flight the rest of the trip will be automatically cancelled. So positioning yourself in MKY or CBR needs to be taken into account.

 

[dandandan]

Ummm.....Maybe delete this post!

Hi all, new member here, just wondering what's going on with some of these reward seats that I've been looking at for a trip to Indonesia. A direct flight from BNE - DPS in business for example is redeemable for 58300 points. However if the origin is MKY or CBR, connecting in Brisbane on the same flight to DPS in business only costs ~46000 points total for both flights. I save 11,700 points by booking an extra flight that I'm not going to fly on.

Similarly the return leg I save 14,000 points by setting the destination as HBA or ADL for example, flying through brisbane (37000 vs 51000 points).

I don't doubt that this is well known on the board but as someone who is relatively new to FF programs in general I'm curious as to how Virgin is coming up with these points prices. Obviously the miles traveled with the extra leg will be higher than the single flight! Most other trips I've looked at with connecting flights cost a modest premium over the direct flights. Are the examples above glitches due to the introduction of Sabre? Or is it some persistent feature of Virgin's system? If so how do you experienced FFers go about finding them

 

[medhead]

Ummm.....Maybe delete this post!

Indeed. Probably too late now.

But the OP needs to carefully note that you must take the first flight otherwise you risk the rest of the booking being cancelled. (As already mentioned)

 

[dandandan]

The post can be edited.

Indeed. Probably too late now.

But the OP needs to carefully note that you must take the first flight otherwise you risk the rest of the booking being cancelled. (As already mentioned)

 

[777]

As far as i can tell it often measures the number of points as origin-destination distance. So if the connecting flight comes from somewhere that (in great circle terms) is closer to the destination it can fall into a lower redemption bracket?