VA booking strategy: full fare business, or hope for upgrade?

[SBD]

Good evening,

I’m heading to Denver for one full day in July.

I need to be there all of July 22, so leaving SYD on July 21, and leaving DEN on July 23.

I’ve got plenty of VFF points, so I'm seeking an upgrade to business to/from LAX.

Right now, no Z-class seats are available.

I’ve set up alerts in Expert Flyer (and also VA 7 from BNE), but I’ve not previously used it.

It’s showing 12 seats taken out of 37 business seats on VA 1 and 15/37 taken on VA 2.

A few questions spring to mind...

(1) What are my chances of a business upgrade, and when are business reward/upgradable seats likely to open up?

(2) Am I likelier to be able to upgrade with points from premium economy than flexible economy? (I’m VFF platinum.)

(3) Is there value in booking the fare, then trying to upgrade when the seats become available? Or am I just tying myself to the VA 1 and VA 2 option, closing off the VA 7 and VA 8 option?

(4) Since I must fly in business for this trip, am I better off just buying a discount business fare?

(5) If so, aside from the platinum points bonus, why would I fly VA when DL can sell me the same seats (VA metal across the Pacific, then DL metal to Denver) for less? VA wants $7266 for SYD-LAX-DEN-LAX-SYD, and DL wants $6444 (both business/"first" all the way).

(6) By the way, VA’s website seems to think the DL codeshare doesn’t exist. No flights to Denver. VA’s phone support said the same thing, until I explained that I’ve done it before on a VA ticket. Then they came back with an itinerary and price. Mysterious.

Thank you for your ideas and suggestions.

Kind regards,

SBD

PS - please feel free to re-categorise, moderators; it's been years since I've posted and this may not be in the right place.

 

[Bolthead]

1. Not likely, do you like a gamble?

2. Not sure but I would think considering you are WP and and assuming you will be paying more for a Y+ ticket then I think you have a better chance of an upgrade from Y+. (once again, see 1.)

3. Can't answer that one.

4. Yes, (if you have to fly J then why worry about all the other options)

5. Depends if the $822 price difference is worth the bonus points. (you can work that our for yourself by using the calculator)

6. I am going to Denver in October and I also found this. We opted to go via AirNZ.

By the way AirNZ have specials going at the moment and I found a flight to Denver return for $5604 AUD for your dates. That is definitely worth looking at I think.

Regards Bolt

Good evening,

I’m heading to Denver for one full day in July.

I need to be there all of July 22, so leaving SYD on July 21, and leaving DEN on July 23.

I’ve got plenty of VFF points, so I'm seeking an upgrade to business to/from LAX.

Right now, no Z-class seats are available.

I’ve set up alerts in Expert Flyer (and also VA 7 from BNE), but I’ve not previously used it.

It’s showing 12 seats taken out of 37 business seats on VA 1 and 15/37 taken on VA 2.

A few questions spring to mind...

(1) What are my chances of a business upgrade, and when are business reward/upgradable seats likely to open up?

(2) Am I likelier to be able to upgrade with points from premium economy than flexible economy? (I’m VFF platinum.)

(3) Is there value in booking the fare, then trying to upgrade when the seats become available? Or am I just tying myself to the VA 1 and VA 2 option, closing off the VA 7 and VA 8 option?

(4) Since I must fly in business for this trip, am I better off just buying a discount business fare?

(5) If so, aside from the platinum points bonus, why would I fly VA when DL can sell me the same seats (VA metal across the Pacific, then DL metal to Denver) for less? VA wants $7266 for SYD-LAX-DEN-LAX-SYD, and DL wants $6444 (both business/"first" all the way).

(6) By the way, VA’s website seems to think the DL codeshare doesn’t exist. No flights to Denver. VA’s phone support said the same thing, until I explained that I’ve done it before on a VA ticket. Then they came back with an itinerary and price. Mysterious.

Thank you for your ideas and suggestions.

Kind regards,

SBD

PS - please feel free to re-categorise, moderators; it's been years since I've posted and this may not be in the right place.

 

[SBD]

Thank you very much, Bolt -- especially for the Air NZ idea.

An extra stop on such a short trip may be prohibitive, but that's a decent saving they're offering...

Kind regards,

SBD

 

[docjames]

I think if you "must" travel in J, then purchasing will be the way to ensure that happens. The other "strategies" based on upgrades are challenging and you may end up n Y.

Purchasing a Y+ fare and bidding for upgrade may be a good compromise as "worst case" you end up in Y+ which is still pretty decent.

AirNZ doesn't really add much to the travel time (short plane change only stopover) and would be worth considering, as would trying to look at fares on FJ via NAN (depending on the connection times as they can be long).

 

[SBD]

Thanks, docjames.

Much obliged.

Kind regards,

SBD

 

[SBD]

A quick follow-up question for Bolthead...

The calculator you mentioned at (5) above - is that on this website or the VA one?

Kind regards,

SBD

 

[clipped_wings]

Hi SBD, I'm sorry for being ignorant and upfront, but can I ask a silly question:

Why must you fly J?

 

[SBD]

Hi clipped_wings,

Nobody *must* fly J.

I fly all classes.

If I make this trip it will have me in Denver for one day, followed by a return to Sydney and my office straight from the airport.

Flying J is the only way I can be sufficiently functional at both ends.

Kind regards,

SBD

 

[clipped_wings]

Wow mate, that's a heck of a schedule. It all makes sense now. Hope you find an airline that caters to your needs.

Does any business class passenger ever REALLY arrive refreshed and as good looking as those models on the website? We flew J SYD-LAX-SYD last year and I STILL arrived home looking like Lindsay Lohan in 30 years time.......

 

[kevrosmith]

If you are a Business and eligible, VA's Accelerate offers discounts on fares, including Business, and I think they've just announced some deal to include DL (and SQ) flights in the discount as well. I think there is an additional promotional discount period running at the moment as well. https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/corporate-travel/accelerate/

 

[Marty_]

If you must fly business then you should purchase business. The chances of missing out on an upgrade are too high. You would only do it if they were negligible, but they are much higher than that.

 

[andyhui01]

Good evening,


(3) Is there value in booking the fare, then trying to upgrade when the seats become available? Or am I just tying myself to the VA 1 and VA 2 option, closing off the VA 7 and VA 8 option?

This may not work for you because you must fly J but you can call up and change flights if the other becomes available. I have done that a couple of times. I normally book VA7 and check both and hope for Z fare ~30 Days out. I don't have to be in J so it works for me, I even buy the cheaper Y ticket and only pay for the difference + penalty when I see Z fares come up.

 

[Bolthead]

Sorry, have been away from the world hence my tardiness. The VA calculator on their website.

A quick follow-up question for Bolthead...

The calculator you mentioned at (5) above - is that on this website or the VA one?

Kind regards,

SBD

 

[SBD]

Thanks, all, and especially Bolthead.

Have booked on Air New Zealand SYD-LAX return, with a DL LAX-DEN return as well, so all points and SCs should end up in my Velocity account.

An additional stop in Auckland is slightly less than ideal, but for the saving it is easily worth it.

Kind regards,

SBD