Velocity Platinum Complimentary Upgrades

[muppet]

It's just another example of a benefit which sounds fab but isn't.

Yep. Not to mention half the time Flex Y can be close to or more expensive than Discount J. Good for corporate pax who cannot book J I guess.

Not sure if it was a mistake, but last time I redeemed it to CNS I was able to upgrade both legs despite Business Rewards seats only showing one-way.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks for the clarification. Indeed it sounds fab but hardly usable. Guess it’s time to find other alternative frequent flyer program

The less competition for these rare upgrades (that I have had the benefit of), the better

 

[ben95]

Does VA allow you to wait list for these upgrades at the airport for short-haul international?

Looking to utilize these for a trip to Fiji but could only find 1 J rewards on those flights. If I lock in one upgrade for the CEO and another one doesn’t get released would I still be able to request an upgrade at the airport to grab whatever’s unsold like with domestic?

 

[PERLHR]

Does VA allow you to wait list for these upgrades at the airport for short-haul international?

Looking to utilize these for a trip to Fiji but could only find 1 J rewards on those flights. If I lock in one upgrade for the CEO and another one doesn’t get released would I still be able to request an upgrade at the airport to grab whatever’s unsold like with domestic?

How much is a full flex fare to Fiji? I think this. "Perk" is anything but. Better taking the chance of buying a cheapo down the back and then bid for upgrade. Certainly so far for me..95 percent success rate.

 

[ben95]

How much is a full flex fare to Fiji?

It’s only ~80 more than choice now they’ve turned on the “optimization”

 

[PERLHR]

It’s only ~80 more than choice now they’ve turned on the “optimization”

View attachment 414121

Yes that is good.

 

[Tasman]

Hi all, as a new Platinum member I launched into trying to use the complementary upgrades provided for a trip I knew I needed to book.

The website says that you can “Request an upgrade any time after you have booked your flight”. I checked that reward seats were available, booked a flex fare, and rang to use the complementary upgrades. I was told that I can’t request this early (one month out) and need to wait until about a week before the flight to request. The point being that they wouldn’t be deciding upgrades until then.

I have been thinking that a request can be made at any point, and that they were confirmed immediately if any reward seats were available at the time of that request? Have I got that all wrong? Very interested to know what you think.

 

[PERLHR]

Hi all, as a new Platinum member I launched into trying to use the complementary upgrades provided for a trip I knew I needed to book.

The website says that you can “Request an upgrade any time after you have booked your flight”. I checked that reward seats were available, booked a flex fare, and rang to use the complementary upgrades. I was told that I can’t request this early (one month out) and need to wait until about a week before the flight to request. The point being that they wouldn’t be deciding upgrades until then.

I have been thinking that a request can be made at any point, and that they were confirmed immediately if any reward seats were available at the time of that request? Have I got that all wrong? Very interested to know what you think.

Yep been told the same. The whole Platinum upgrade thing is a joke with VA. Not sure if it will get better or, most likely, worse under the new changes coming for Velocity FF.

 

[henrus]

I was told that I can’t request this early (one month out) and need to wait until about a week before the flight to request. The point being that they wouldn’t be deciding upgrades until then.

Concerning and disappointing change if true.

 

[Gold Member]

I made several Flex transcontinental Flex bookings earlier this week (timed for the 11% cashback offer at ShopBack) and applied my 4x complimentary Platinum upgrades minutes after ticketing. The phone agent checked for underlying reward space and confirmed all four upgrades a couple of minutes later. The process was seamless and just like any other time I’ve applied them in the past 10 years.

Two very recent data points with the same commentary here on AFF could simply be a temporary glitch. But it also wouldn’t surprise me if Virgin have recognised that the new optimised Flex pricing is too generous for the Platinum upgrades and are now imposing measures to restrict usage. If this measure is indeed deliberate, it’s possible they deem the current 9,900 point upgrade from Flex to Business as too generous as well and close that loophole ahead of the published change due November 18th.

 

[Lemon_Party]

Now they seem to be actively trying to fill the J cabin with the bid upgrade system it’s better to call around 3 days before the flight to see if the call centre can upgrade you - I’ve had the best success around that time when no reward space shows as available.

 

[trisreed]

Another data point - booked two two-sector tickets from CNS to PER in the very early new year yesterday, called up beforehand and it was confirmed over the phone that there was reward availability and it would be possible to use the upgrades. Purchased them, called back afterwards (same agent) and the upgrade was confirmed.

 

[JK1964]

Also used two yesterday for a flight OOL-MEL for May 2025. Actioned by call centre agent immediately, wasn’t told I had to wait.

 

[Tasman]

Called again and got the same answer, you can't use your upgrades this far out. Suggest trying 24 hours before! Their next suggestion that I try for a points upgrade was even less helpful. Flights are MEL-DPS if that makes a difference.

 

[henrus]

Suggest trying 24 hours before! Their next suggestion that I try for a points upgrade was even less helpful. Flights are MEL-DPS if that makes a difference.

Are you sure there are business reward seats on the flight in question?

 

[Gold Member]

Called again and got the same answer, you can't use your upgrades this far out. Suggest trying 24 hours before! Their next suggestion that I try for a points upgrade was even less helpful. Flights are MEL-DPS if that makes a difference.

Virgin pulled Business awards on most short-haul Int’l 1-2 years ago. Perhaps the agents are confusing lack of underlying award availability with something else and you received a throw away response.

 

[henrus]

Virgin pulled Business awards on most short-haul Int’l 1-2 years ago

This is not true. On the Bali flights yes but on other short haul destinations you can still get J reward seats.

I have a feeling the OP has mistaken the anyseat prices as actual reward seats hence the agents giving the response to call back within 24 hours because normally if there are any J seats left within 24 hours they make it available for a business class upgrade. On a route like DPS the chance of this is next to none.

 

[Cessna 180]

I was WP again last year. I used three of the four.

On a flex ticket, you need to ring up within 24 hours. Even better chance on the morning of departure if an afternoon flight.
This was on MEL PER and PER MEL in November last year. It seems if there are a couple of unsold seats they open them up. Pretty much the same as an ODU from the lounge.

The other time was on departure at the BNe lounge from memory.

I have never been successful on the wait list for either points or complimentary upgrade with Virgin.

A nice benefit if it works but pretty hit and miss in my limited experience.

 

[Gold Member]

This is not true. On the Bali flights yes but on other short haul destinations you can still get J reward seats.

Whenever I’ve searched non-Bali short-haul Int’l biz awards I’ve come up empty. Granted, they weren’t flexible searches for every day of the year but enough to conclude my assertion based on my experiences. Good to know it’s not across the entire International network.

 

[henrus]

Good to know it’s not across the entire International network.

Nope and there is quite a lot, I just punched in random dates in March and found the following:


To Vila there are stacks and even Fiji if you’re a little date flexible.