Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2013?

[Deleted member 24491]

Hi AFF!
I have an observation that I'm attempting to validate (and problem that I'd like to solve).

Problem
I've been attempting to book a one-way Velocity EY/VA business class redemption flight from LHR/CDG (or similar in Europe) to MEL in late June for the past two months.
As some of you would be aware, this has become a challenging process since VA migrated to Sabre and you need to call each time to check availability.

Observation
Since mid-February, when I understand that EY migrated to Sabre, all EY "I" (Business) fare basis inventory appears to have disappeared from Expert Flyer.
This is the fare basis that the Velocity Redemptions team have advised that EY redemptions are booked under.
Searching multiple dates from today to December 2013, I can't find any "I" inventory listed in Expert Flyer.
I've also been unsuccessful when calling the Velocity Redemptions team (multiple times) and asking Velocity representatives to try seemingly endless dates for availability.

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

 

[vicsta]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

Ugh that's a real bugger! I've been saving my points for that as well (before Sabre, there were business class reward flights from London to Melbourne for some ridiculously low price like 120,000+$250... Although that's not so low compared to krisflyer). I think that if this doesn't get solved, I'm not going to be transferring any more points into velocity in the future, never mind that 15% bonus.

Anyone else got a solution to this?

 

[777]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

This is a very good "ask velocity" question!

When i spoke to them on the phone they flat out insisted that there was no problem with EY award availability. If this is true and this reflects the new status quo in terms of how much capacity we can expect to see available then i will definitely be directing my efforts elsewhere.

 

[Deleted member 24491]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

When i spoke to them on the phone they flat out insisted that there was no problem with EY award availability.

Yes, I've got the same line each time!

 

[rtyuiop]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

I've had similar issues with bad availability, will be watching this thread carefully!

Given that VFF is almost completely reliant on partners for decent long haul burn opportunities this is making me rethink whether it's worth steering my points earn to them (long haul J is basically the reason I collect points). Air NZ and SQ are both really poor value in J, I haven't been able to find *any* Virgin Atlantic availability in J, Etihad seems to have very little now, and VA themselves only fly to LA (OK, that's worthwhile) and AUH (unlikely I will ever want to go there, and they don't fly from BNE anyway).

Not very worthwhile (for me) at the moment, and as more time passes from the VA and EY Sabre cutovers my hopes that it'll be fixed go lower and lower...

 

[Anastascia]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

I am so glad this thread was created because I am having exactly the same issues and it is very annoying to say the least.

VA need to pull their finger out as their whole FF program is a joke. I have tried to book a way way trip Sydney to Istanbul on EY and they claim their is no availability. It is pathetic.

If I hadn't spent so long setting up my credit card, phone, etc to pool towards VA I would be giving them the massive flick. These are some of the issues I have had recently:

- Not being able to book a reward flight on Etihad to the Middles East
- Not being able to book a return paid ticket on Etihad via VA from the Middle East
- Having to call to see if there is availability. This is why the internet was created VA, so I can do this whenever and wherever I please!
- Not being able to book a flight from London to Sydney on VA website. Why?
- Not being able to do a multi city trip on their website

I am going to try calling back and asking them to tell me the first date a seat is actually available.

 

[Deleted member 24491]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

I am going to try calling back and asking them to tell me the first date a seat is actually available.

Good luck! I've tried this on three separate calls in the past fortnight alone without luck.
The Velocity representatives appear to be limited to searching for a day (+/- 2 or 3 days) and then take 5-10 minutes to search for availability over the 5-7 day period.

 

[EuroFlyer]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

The availability is fairly shocking alright. I regret that i didnt put all my eggs in the Qantas basket when i started off. i know their not perfect either but at least theres much better reward availability with them

 

[lukenet]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

What about up grades, does the same issues apply?

I want to use my points for a UK trip in J, but if VA realistically don't offer this, I am going back to QF as I am only about 40K in points of a return J with them..

 

[vicsta]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

As far as I'm aware, you can only upgrade VA flights (And only if flexi or premium) - although this might include some Etihad flights if there's a VA codeshare
Terms & Conditions | Velocity Frequent Flyer

 

[777]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

I have several direct earn velocity cards and if the situation doesn't improve i will definitely moving them over to ones that are convertible to other programs. No European J class availability significantly diminishes their value and the value of the whole program.

 

[markis10]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

I suspect its a case of softly softly during GDS changes for both.

 

[lukenet]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

I hope so markis10, but it does not appear to be improving.. It has been like this for months now..

 

[rtyuiop]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

And for quite a while now, the Velocity folks have been telling us that any problems are fixed and that it's normal availability at the moment...

 

[markis10]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

And for quite a while now, the Velocity folks have been telling us that any problems are fixed and that it's normal availability at the moment...

its only been 6 weeks since the switchover for Etihad, I would imagine award availability would be one of the last items on the to do list.

 

[rtyuiop]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

What worries me is that they're not saying it's broken but just can't give us an ETA - they're telling us that it's working just fine, and will therefore not be fixed because there's nothing to fix...

 

[markis10]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

What worries me is that they're not saying it's broken but just can't give us an ETA - they're telling us that it's working just fine, and will therefore not be fixed because there's nothing to fix...

Which is correct, same problem with availability as an Etihad Gold member using my points on their site, so it's not anything to do with VA.

 

[rtyuiop]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

I agree it may well not be a technical issue on VA's side, but it's certainly a problem with the VFF program. VA seem to have decided not to expand their own long haul international operations and rely on their partners, and this would be the downside of that - they need to fix it (presumably via negotiation with Etihad or SQ) or their FF program is kind of worthless for people like me.

 

[DaleS]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

I agree it may well not be a technical issue on VA's side, but it's certainly a problem with the VFF program. VA seem to have decided not to expand their own long haul international operations and rely on their partners, and this would be the downside of that - they need to fix it (presumably via negotiation with Etihad or SQ) or their FF program is kind of worthless for people like me.

It brings up a conundrum for me as I have a paid Etihad J flight to FRA in July. When I booked it I chose to allocate my points earn to Velocity thinking that it's always good to keep building points. Having requalified as Platinum after my recent US trip I am thinking of contacting Etihad to change them to Etihad Guest points as it seems that they will be more useful to me. I fly to Europe at least once a year and I am Etihad gold and so keeping that status will also be beneficial. Like rtyulop I can only really see my VFF points being of use for domestic as I have no forseeable plans to go back to the US. I don't have any problems with using points for domestic and I enjoy the platinum benefits but the lack of international uses for points is something to think about. SQ is always an option but it looks like you need zillions of points. Any suggestions would be welcome.

 

[quokka77]

Re: Velocity Redemptions on Etihad - No business class availability from Europe for 2

I too have been considering options around vff and availability. No doubt people will correct me if I'm wrong.

Vff transpac availability is (still) pretty good. As a non-elite it looked much better to me than Qantas' when I was considering which program to target.

Recent search for Aus - Europe return j redemptions on KrisFlyer, at least for the dates in March 2014 I wanted, showed as 320000 points return plus 1500aud tax for 2 passengers. Whilst that's more than some, it also seems to be less than vff used to charge (when they were available) which got me thinking maybe I had picked the wrong option.

I have no knowledge of Etihad's Guest program. If you're considering sending them more points maybe you should call them and ask if / when their j availability will return?