upgrade vs redemption (long haul)

[deva22]

Hi All,

I have no experience with upgrading on VA. Specifically I'm interested in long haul.
I hear the term wait list being thrown around, how does this work?
I assume that you ask to be wait listed, then if the seat gets released it would be assigned in the following order:

1. 'The Club' members
2. WPs
3. SGs
All in order of time of application.

So can I assume from this then, that if *any* individual has wait listed an upgrade that there is zero chance you'll be able to procure a regular points redemption flight?
I.e. I'm assuming that the wait listed upgrade will be awarded without any intervention by the upgradee which means the seat will never make it into the 'regular population' for redemption flights?

 

[bubblyguy]

Upgrades and Redemption seats both come from the same Z - Business Reward fare bucket.

Availability until date of departure is only based on the fare bucket. The ground staff may be able to offer more at time of departure.

Remember there are a number of ways to upgrade and some methods are restricted to certain VFF tiers (Gold and Platinum).

 

[williamsf1]

also you need to purchase the higer type of fair as well

[FONT=&quot]UpgradeMe Points flight upgrades will only apply to Virgin Australia International Long Haul Fares booked in Freedom, Premium and Premium Saver Fares;[/FONT]

 

[williamsf1]

So can I assume from this then, that if *any* individual has wait listed an upgrade that there is zero chance you'll be able to procure a regular points redemption flight?
I.e. I'm assuming that the wait listed upgrade will be awarded without any intervention by the upgradee which means the seat will never make it into the 'regular population' for redemption flights?

as mentioned above - upgrades come from the Z class bucket

These can be released at any time before departure and are normally snapped up quickly

waitlist are then cleared in the below windows

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR="bgcolor: transparent"][TD="width: 33%, align: left"] Membership Level[/TD][TD="width: 33%, align: left"]Waitlist Confirmation Time[/TD][/TR][TR="bgcolor: transparent"][TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Platinum[/TD][TD="bgcolor: transparent"]From 5 days to 4 hours prior to scheduled flight departure time[/TD][/TR][TR="bgcolor: transparent"][TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Gold[/TD][TD="bgcolor: transparent"]From 3 days to 4 hours prior to scheduled flight departure time
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

so if a Z class seat is released at 7 days out, it is open for anyone to pick up as a reward seat or a confirmed upgrade

 

[deva22]

as mentioned above - upgrades come from the Z class bucket

These can be released at any time before departure and are normally snapped up quickly

waitlist are then cleared in the below windows

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"][TR="bgcolor: transparent"][TD="width: 33%, align: left"] Membership Level[/TD][TD="width: 33%, align: left"]Waitlist Confirmation Time[/TD][/TR][TR="bgcolor: transparent"][TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Platinum[/TD][TD="bgcolor: transparent"]From 5 days to 4 hours prior to scheduled flight departure time[/TD][/TR][TR="bgcolor: transparent"][TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Gold[/TD][TD="bgcolor: transparent"]From 3 days to 4 hours prior to scheduled flight departure time[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]
so if a Z class seat is released at 7 days out, it is open for anyone to pick up as a reward seat or a confirmed upgrade

So I'm still a little confused... Can you only wait-list on a flight that close to the departure time? One cannot wait-list 6 months out, and if a seat becomes available the upgrade is confirmed? Or wait-upgrades are *only* confirmed during the time frames mentioned?

 

[andyhui01]

Its quite confusing.

6 months out, you can waitlist or wait till Z class fares appears. Virgin only starts processing Waitlist upgrades 5 days out. Prior to that, no one in the list gets upgraded, it is impossible to confirm one until T+5 with the waitlist method.

As most would know, VA still releases Z fares occasionally, (I have seen them come up T+40days). It is up to you to check daily to see if any has been released. It sounds stupid but even if you are on the waitlist, you should still keep checking till T+5 to see if you can get a confirmed Z fare prior to that.

After T+5, you just cross your fingers and wait.

 

[deva22]

Its quite confusing.

6 months out, you can waitlist or wait till Z class fares appears. Virgin only starts processing Waitlist upgrades 5 days out. Prior to that, no one in the list gets upgraded, it is impossible to confirm one until T+5 with the waitlist method.

As most would know, VA still releases Z fares occasionally, (I have seen them come up T+40days). It is up to you to check daily to see if any has been released. It sounds stupid but even if you are on the waitlist, you should still keep checking till T+5 to see if you can get a confirmed Z fare prior to that.

After T+5, you just cross your fingers and wait.

Well that makes it much clearer! Thank you!

I have been on the 'check every day' bandwagon since October last year, trying to figure out release patterns, etc, etc.
I guess I'll be checking availability every day from now until December...