United Airlines new Virgin Australia/Velocity Partner

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You can also do it the other way through the United Website especially if you have some United Travel Bank to use (US Amex cards with airline fee reimbursements) and want Velocity status.

 

[HS-TQE]

Interesting that the VA codeshares with UA came online before anyone else.

VA did had their code on EY's SYD-AUH flight not long ago but the VA code seems to have disappeared from the EY flight on certain days (only appearing on some days) since the QR announcement.

 

[henrus]

Interesting that the VA codeshares with UA came online before anyone else.

No questioning the US market was very important for VA pre pandemic. It's hardly a surprise that it came back online albeit with a different partner first.

VA did had their code on EY's SYD-AUH flight not long ago but the VA code seems to have disappeared from the EY flight on certain days (only appearing on some days) since the QR announcement.

If you're talking about airport screens/websites showing the VA code on EY flights then it's likely a pre pandemic legacy. Offically the VA/EY agreement expired during December of 2020 so anyone showing VA/EY flights just hadn't updated their information.

Some airports are really slow to change these sorts of things like when Air NZ switched from VA codeshares to QF. There was months where some Australian airports still showed NZ flight numbers on VA flights despite the agreement ending and moving to QF.

On a different note VA awards using NZ miles have gone live. Within Australia it's 17,500 UA miles for a Economy redemption and 25,000 miles for a Business redemption except for economy flights under 800 miles where the redemption rate is only 8,000 UA miles.

 

[HS-TQE]

JH is in a radio interview with Ben Fordham from SYD, with some quotes stating that 'only a matter' of time before masks become optional on flights to/from Australia. Plus repeating that that the new UA partnership should make 'travel a a whole lot easier' (at least for NSW/Victoria) .

 

[henrus]

JH is in a radio interview with Ben Fordham from SYD, with some quotes stating that 'only a matter' of time before masks become optional on flights to/from Australia.

I flew UA from SFO to SYD last month and masks were already optional.

On US based carriers they are optional already and we were only required to put one on before the door opened in Sydney.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

To be honest I am more interested as to when the USA will drop the pre arrival covid test...

 

[Auski]

Loosing interest . No classic business reward flights at any time to be found.

 

[Bagpuss]

Loosing interest . No classic business reward flights at any time to be found.

Which is always rare on international flights.

 

[angelaorourke]

I'm new so sorry if this is a basic question but how do I find Velocity business rewards seats to USA for August/Sept? Do I just keep plugging in dates and various usa destinations on the virgin website?

 

[SeaWolf]

I'm new so sorry if this is a basic question but how do I find Velocity business rewards seats to USA for August/Sept? Do I just keep plugging in dates and various usa destinations on the virgin website?

Yeah, pretty much. There's some tools like Expert Flyer or Award Nexus that can help, but in the end that's what you'll have to do.
Keep in mind that business award seats on the Australia - USA route (no matter which carrier) are like hen's teeth. Your best bet is to either book as far in advance as possible, or be flexible and see if something opens up at short notice.

 

[traceyy]

Managed to snaffle 5 economy reward seats from Melb to la in dec....no business but hey gotta be happy with something for free

 

[angelaorourke]

Yeah, pretty much. There's some tools like Expert Flyer or Award Nexus that can help, but in the end that's what you'll have to do.
Keep in mind that business award seats on the Australia - USA route (no matter which carrier) are like hen's teeth. Your best bet is to either book as far in advance as possible, or be flexible and see if something opens up at short notice.

Thanks SeaWolf - alternative would be buy seats and use points to upgrade?

 

[SeaWolf]

Thanks SeaWolf - alternative would be buy seats and use points to upgrade?

I haven't gone through the details of the UA agreement yet but I don't think doing a points upgrade is possible on UA using points through VA.

 

[SYD]

Loosing interest . No classic business reward flights at any time to be found.

They were very rare with UA at the best of times. Then they went to a more dynamic award pricing - but only booking through UA.

UA used to release short notice J saver awards but I wouldn’t expect any with current premium seat demand.

 

[traceyy]

I haven't gone through the details of the UA agreement yet but I don't think doing a points upgrade is possible on UA using points through VA.

just confirmed with them and you are right can't do point upgrades

 

[leewizza]

Loosing interest . No classic business reward flights at any time to be found.

310,000 points for a one way "flex" fare to US from MEL.
Was 130,000 points for a "Business" rewards flight with Delta. Fail

 

[Thibault]

310,000 points for a one way "flex" fare to US from MEL.
Was 130,000 points for a "Business" rewards flight with Delta. Fail

You are quoting two different types of fares.

310K would be the equivalent of a cash fare but you are using your points to pay the fare.
You can see that you are buying a regular fare with the name of the fare - here choice or flex.

130K would be for a reward seat - using only points and you settle taxes and fees with cash.

Make sure you are using the correct miles redemption page to see if you can find a J reward seat.

 

[Bagpuss]

Activate your exclusive member only offer

You won't want to miss out on our special limited-time offer! Activate now

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

Earn up to 7,000 bonus Points and 70 Status Credits on your first flight departing Australia with United Airlines.*

Interesting it has to be booked on the United website. Had a look flying Perth <> USA and it returns Qantas, Jetstar flights for the Australian domestic flights including Virgin. Also being Star Alliance has flights via New Zealand. (Any flights not flown with Virgin or United metal isn't going to get Velocity recognition.)

 

[leewizza]

You are quoting two different types of fares.

310K would be the equivalent of a cash fare but you are using your points to pay the fare.
You can see that you are buying a regular fare with the name of the fare - here choice or flex.

130K would be for a reward seat - using only points and you settle taxes and fees with cash.

Make sure you are using the correct miles redemption page to see if you can find a J reward seat.

How about this one? Only a cool 1million points difference between what I paid with Delta partnership vs United

 

[Thibault]

How about this one? Only a cool 1million points difference between what I paid with Delta partnership vs United

View attachment 278262

Same as above.

No rewards seats are available so the system is offering you a revenue seat with pricing in points.