Velocity Points a scam? [How to Optimise award search]

[serfty]

That is from FireFox, I tried on Chrome - same PC though, same result.

 

[Denali]

Im worried that Ive put all my points into the one basket but so far we've been able to use them, went through approx. 500K points last year for OS trips.

I am flexible on dates and places, if I cant get to USA, I then change our plans to another country and see whats available, this way we've been to a few countries I didnt really have plans to see.

Was looking at Manado (Indonesia) the other day for a dive trip (via SQ & Silk Air) and ended up searching how to get to Iceland (to dive the tectonic plates). Found a few options with SQ, even with the 1:35 ratio, Ive been able to use our points.

 

[bean]

That is from FireFox, I tried on Chrome - same PC though, same result.

I just tried through chrome and got the same result-no availability.

This is pathetic...

 

[bean]

And I just tried again through my mobile...still the same result-NOTHING....hmmmmmmm

 

[Mattg]

Or is this another example of a Virgin IT glitch.....?

Can anyone else verify that they are seeing availability on the 5th of June Bris-L.A?

FWIW, I just searched and can also see both Premium Reward and Business Reward seats on VA7 on 5 June 2017. But only one seat in each cabin - if I search for 2 people I don't get any availability.

 

[JohnK]

I would suggest converting over to Krisflyer, for better availability.

I agree though, Velocity has become a joke. I have 210,000 points which I'll try and burn ASAP - then switch to Krisflyer and Qantas.

Much better availability with KrisFlyer but a significant penalty to transfer the points over and a huge penalty regarding fuel surcharges as SQ has some of the highest fuel surcharges in the business.

In my limited experience researching award flights if you are not travelling to LAX or via AUH to somewhere then you have very little chance of succeeding in getting value for money. I have over 150,000 Velocity points which isn't a lot in the grand scheme of things but are very much useless for the time being.

At least with Qantas if I cannot get the direct SYD-BKK award then I can go via SIN/HKG/KUL/MNL without significant increase points increase.

 

[bean]

FWIW, I just searched and can also see both Premium Reward and Business Reward seats on VA7 on 5 June 2017. But only one seat in each cabin - if I search for 2 people I don't get any availability.

Can you please confirm this was ex Brisbane on the 5th?

 

[Mattg]

Can you please confirm this was ex Brisbane on the 5th?

Yes, BNE-LAX on 5 June 2017.

Well, I almost don't believe this but... when I tried searching for return flights, I couldn't see any availability. But for BNE-LAX one-way, it's there. Try searching for 2x one-way flights (BNE-LAX and LAX-BNE) and see what you get...

 

[bean]

Yes, BNE-LAX on 5 June 2017.

Well, I almost don't believe this but... when I tried searching for return flights, I couldn't see any availability. But for BNE-LAX one-way, it's there. Try searching for 2x one-way flights (BNE-LAX and LAX-BNE) and see what you get...

Wow, we have a winner!! Thank you so much for clearing this up for me



What an absolute joke their website is. Half a day wasted....thanks Virgin

 

[serfty]

Wow, we have a winner!! Thank you so much for clearing this up for me

What an absolute joke their website is. Half a day wasted....thanks Virgin

Maybe it's deliberate - but yes - I really only search one way so had forgotten that one (It's also MUCH slower, even when it returns results).

 

[mlob]

I got curious so had a look as well. Im seeing availability for June 5 as well. Both in a one way and a return search. I did June 5 back on June 26.

I'll add here too that I must say I have been loving burning through my 1,000,000 points on OS business travel.

 

[Jack_OC]

Maybe it's deliberate - but yes - I really only search one way so had forgotten that one (It's also MUCH slower, even when it returns results).

While frustrating, this is a useful example for anyone searching for award flights with any FFP. Most (all?) of them will show no availability unless there is an award seat available for every segment of your journey, so the more segments you include in your search, the lower the chances of finding something. Therefore, I agree, always start by searching one way on the longest segments. Even if you can't find award availability on a short connecting flight, you might be willing to pay cash for that.

By the way, aside from your search being scuppered by genuine lack of availability on just one segment, there can be inexplicable glitches too, and not just with VA. I've had this problem with QF and SQ too. For example, I was searching MEL-LHR with SQ and getting nothing, but then when I looked at MEL-SIN and separately SIN-LHR on the same day, I found lots of availability on both sectors. It's particularly annoying when there is a large difference in points required to make two separate bookings. However, you can always try phoning up to see if you can get around it when that happens.

 

[dajop]

Therefore, I agree, always start by searching one way on the longest segments. Even if you can't find award availability on a short connecting flight, you might be willing to pay cash for that.

By the way, aside from your search being scuppered by genuine lack of availability on just one segment, there can be inexplicable glitches too, and not just with VA. I've had this problem with QF and SQ too. For example, I was searching MEL-LHR with SQ and getting nothing, but then when I looked at MEL-SIN and separately SIN-LHR on the same day, I found lots of availability on both sectors.

One comment on this , some airlines do control availability based on origin/destination - not on individual sectors. This is commonly known as "married sectors". So in some instances MEL-SIN-LHR will be available, but not MEL-SIN, whilst at other times MEL-SIN & SIN-LHR will be available but not MEL-SIN-LHR. This definitely happens with SQ and CX. Although, they aren't the only ones the other day I was looking at SIN-LAX awards through QFF, and it came up with SIN-BNE-LAX on the booking engine, but when I just looked at BNE-LAX .. nothing.

Having said that, as a general rule married sectors seem to apply to intl-intl connections, but not for dom-intl connections.

 

[Jack_OC]

One comment on this , some airlines do control availability based on origin/destination - not on individual sectors. This is commonly known as "married sectors". So in some instances MEL-SIN-LHR will be available, but not MEL-SIN, whilst at other times MEL-SIN & SIN-LHR will be available but not MEL-SIN-LHR. This definitely happens with SQ and CX. Although, they aren't the only ones the other day I was looking at SIN-LAX awards through QFF, and it came up with SIN-BNE-LAX on the booking engine, but when I just looked at BNE-LAX .. nothing.

Having said that, as a general rule married sectors seem to apply to intl-intl connections, but not for dom-intl connections.

Good tip - thanks.

 

[CMak]

Had no difficulty in getting 2 J seats to LAX in October - booked them in March

 

[Buzzard]

I've learned a fair bit reading this thread

 

[bean]

I've learned a fair bit reading this thread

Me too! Which is great for the likes of us....but I do feel for all the otherwise disgruntled customers that may not know about this site, or have the time to research.

 

[Gold60]

Jesus after reading this my head is starting to ache. i think I'll just stick with my excellent TA.......

 

[roby]

We need to be careful when complaining about VA's lack of reward availability. Many years ago, NZ "solved" this problem by replacing kilometer as currency with Airpoints Dollars and told people that they no longer need to worry about reward availability because every seat for sale is available for redemption.

What they essentially did (if in Velocity terms) was simply reduce reward availability to zero and ask their customers to redeem all flights using Any Seat rates. And many consumers love it and praise them for the ease of using points. People with a little bit of FFP knowledge all know that it's quite the opposite. So that's why I will say as long as you plan ahead and be able to get some availability, I am still happy.

 

[clazman]

Looks like QFFF don't do well on product review either Qantas Frequent Flyer Reviews - ProductReview.com.au