The Virgin Australia Newbie Questions Thread

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @bails81 .

 

[Love2Flyyyy]

Is anyone having trouble booking flights using Virgins site?
I keep getting the following error!

Error processing your payment Please refresh the page and try again. If the error persists, please navigate back and reselect your flights. If you are still experiencing issues, please call our Guest Contact Centre to complete your booking.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Bails81, if nothing has appeared in a few days/week or so, put in a claim.
Send VFF a copy of the BP.
Sometimes its the airline you flew with that is a bit lax, or very.
---
Also depends on what classes that VFF recoginises as flying with a partner, its different.
Your BP should have a subclass of J that of the J seat you sat in.
Try to find the subclass anyway.
Worst case, dont laugh, has happened with some OW partners of QF.
---

Qatar Airways

www.velocityfrequentflyer.com

• Eligible fare classes for Business/First A, P, F, C, J, I, D, R

 

[A321]

Is there any logical reason why longer trips have such complicated routing? Like why should I have to go ADL-SYD-PER when I could just go ADL-PER on one of the afternoon/night flights?
Are they trying to minimise length overnight stopovers by having longer in the sky?

 

[RooFlyer]

Is there any logical reason why longer trips have such complicated routing?

Dumb machine just spitting out what it can.

 

[bails81]

Last year I managed to climb my way up to Velocity Gold due to some international and domestic work trips (99% of my travel is work).
This year I am oh-so close to retaining Gold, but look like I will fall 1 segment short by the review date in early August.
In addition I to work travel I also have a personal trip booked with the whole family from CBR to PER (paid on points) for Christmas time. I also hope to take the family to Japan mid to late next year.
I am now contemplating if I should do a cheap personal day trip somewhere just to get the final segment. It looks like I could do CBR to MEL return for around $350.
I know that the value proposition really depends on personal circumstances and how much benefit I expect to get from it, but I’m still interested to know what others might do in this scenario.
FYI - when I travel OS for work (typically 1-2 trips pa to USA at moment) they always book me Business Class, the my own status is less relevant. When I travel domestically for work it’s always cheapest economy fares.

 

[AIRwin]

I am now contemplating if I should do a cheap personal day trip somewhere just to get the final segment. It looks like I could do CBR to MEL return for around $350.

Or even Reward seat one-way?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Or even Reward seat one-way?

Sydney one way would surely be cheaper - get the bus or train one way!

 

[MooTime]

Last year I managed to climb my way up to Velocity Gold due to some international and domestic work trips (99% of my travel is work).
This year I am oh-so close to retaining Gold, but look like I will fall 1 segment short by the review date in early August.
In addition I to work travel I also have a personal trip booked with the whole family from CBR to PER (paid on points) for Christmas time. I also hope to take the family to Japan mid to late next year.
I am now contemplating if I should do a cheap personal day trip somewhere just to get the final segment. It looks like I could do CBR to MEL return for around $350.
I know that the value proposition really depends on personal circumstances and how much benefit I expect to get from it, but I’m still interested to know what others might do in this scenario.
FYI - when I travel OS for work (typically 1-2 trips pa to USA at moment) they always book me Business Class, the my own status is less relevant. When I travel domestically for work it’s always cheapest economy fares.

I'd go with @AIRwin suggestion of a reward points flight one way to reduce your cost.
But with 2 family trips upcoming, if both on VA metal, even the Japan trip would be nice for your family to enjoy some lounge time. When it's infrequent all lounges are nice.

Note; Japan trip lounge access in Cairns bit of non existent.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yep, I would fly that one sector.
For the Japan trip, with family in tow, would avoid CNS - HND.
Would go with NH via either PER or SYD to NRT/HND.
Some would say, what is the difference if its a 737 or a 787, but with a 787, there is a bit more space to bring along the kids for a walk along the ailse, even if its for a few minutes each time.
---
CBR - SYD on link on way, get the earliest plane out, and then get the expensive train from T2 to Central, and then the last train from Sydney back to Canberra.
If you can get the last 17.42 train from Sydney Central, it will get to Canberra Station at 22.05.
I know Canberra (train) Station is not in the Canberra CBD, so might need the other half to pick you up, or uber from there to home.
Train from Central to Canberra is only $50.84, add about $25 for the train from T2 to Central, it will still come under $350.

 

[bails81]

Thanks for the thoughts on a status run to keep my Gold. I managed to get Choice fares return to Melbourne for $240. A trip to Sydney was my first thought too, but for some reason CBR-SYD is way more expensive, and then the bus or train is $50 and 3-4hrs. So a dash to Melbourne early morning and return at lunch was a much better option for me.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

And you get breakfast and lunch in the lounges, too.

 

[Simpic]

Hi,

Newbie at Melbourne on Virgin. Have Platinum status. What is the best car park for security with hand baggage only? And is the lounge worth it?

 

[MooTime]

Hi,

Newbie at Melbourne on Virgin. Have Platinum status. What is the best car park for security with hand baggage only? And is the lounge worth it?

Long term carpark. As close parking spot to Area A. From there you can walk to the terminal.
15min stroll or so, easy to carry hlo & just $12 bucks a day.

Lounge good, food various, but it is what it is, far from terrible.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

As there is no valet at MEL T3/T4, so as Mootime mentioned, have to do your own parking.
No fast entry from the drive way either.
If you have a look at Google images or Google map, the whole first row of the drive way, fronting T4 is the bus park, and further along, its uber so there are no spots for a valet parking service.
Main front door, enter T3, if you have done OLCI, go straight to domestic security screening at T4, then veer back to the internal walkway, inside domestic security screening, to get to the lounge, half way between T3 and T4, spend some time there, then go to gate for departure, either T3 side, or T4 side.
VAd at MEL now uses both.
T4 domestic security screening handles all VAd and JQd and ZL flights, so can be/get quite hectic, as there is/are a large group to go through each time, than previously.

 

[Simpic]

As there is no valet at MEL T3/T4, so as Mootime mentioned, have to do your own parking.
No fast entry from the drive way either.
If you have a look at Google images or Google map, the whole first row of the drive way, fronting T4 is the bus park, and further along, its uber so there are no spots for a valet parking service.
Main front door, enter T3, if you have done OLCI, go straight to domestic security screening at T4, then veer back to the internal walkway, inside domestic security screening, to get to the lounge, half way between T3 and T4, spend some time there, then go to gate for departure, either T3 side, or T4 side.
VAd at MEL now uses both.
T4 domestic security screening handles all VAd and JQd and ZL flights, so can be/get quite hectic, as there is/are a large group to go through each time, than previously.

Thanks for the info. Appreciated.

 

[SCM]

Hi

I need a bit of advice. I want to fly with a family member from SYD to PER in business class. I have over 800k points so it's not too big of a deal, about 70-75k points for double return, however ideally I would still love to save all points for international.

I recently got platinum, and I know about this benefit;

• Platinum members are entitled to four complimentary Business Class upgrades per year, when flying on a Flex fare on Domestic, Trans Tasman and International Short-Haul flights marketed and operated by Virgin Australia (excluding Christmas Island and Cocos Island)~. Log in to My Velocity to view your available upgrades.

However I have no idea how practical it is - so my question is, is there any way to judge the likelihood of this actually being possible before buying a flex fare for this route? Would I be able to do it for both my and family member's ticket (purchased at the same time on one booking of course)? Is it a waiting process or is it instant if there's any business class availability?

Thanks

 

[serfty]

Hi

I need a bit of advice. I want to fly with a family member from SYD to PER in business class. I have over 800k points so it's not too big of a deal, about 70-75k points for double return, however ideally I would still love to save all points for international.

I recently got platinum, and I know about this benefit;


However I have no idea how practical it is - so my question is, is there any way to judge the likelihood of this actually being possible before buying a flex fare for this route? Would I be able to do it for both my and family member's ticket (purchased at the same time on one booking of course)? Is it a waiting process or is it instant if there's any business class availability?

Thanks

If business rewards are available for a flight then a Platinum upgrade can be used. So you can search that way.

Do not check/book when the Velocity call center is closed (e.g. on weekends or at night). Book during business hours and as soon as ticketed, call.

 

[Must...Fly!]

You can also call in advance, check there are available seats for upgrade, pull the trigger for a flexi while on the phone then have the agent process the upgrade.

 

[Simon Overall]

Is anyone having trouble booking flights using Virgins site?
I keep getting the following error!

Error processing your payment Please refresh the page and try again. If the error persists, please navigate back and reselect your flights. If you are still experiencing issues, please call our Guest Contact Centre to complete your booking.

Have you tried with other cards? Checked your card issuer?