Virgin Australia UpgradeMe pricing and success

[Must...Fly!]

One increment above the minimum and see how you go

 

[CaptJCool]

One increment above the minimum and see how you go

That’s a $5 difference

I note poor moves to fair at $175

However 3 seats left retailing at $635 (Y minimum now $299 6 seats left) so lucks a fortune in getting the original seat for under $100!

So the bottom offer would make it around 35% of J tic price

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

The other little trick is to check at T-48 how many seats are remaining in the J cabin. If there's 6-8 seats left then minimum + $5 will probably suffice. If not, feel free to increase. The system also makes offers at any time within the T-48 space....sometimes T-24, sometimes T-12.

 

[Solid]

Successful on SYD-PER today bidding $335 - $5 more than minimum. Cleared 24 hours before.

 

[mel-world]

Do these offers, and their success rate, depend on a person's VA seniority or the cost of their original Y ticket - Lite, Choice or Flex? Or simply random and offered to most Y pax?

 

[luckypierre]

Do these offers, and their success rate, depend on a person's VA seniority or the cost of their original Y ticket - Lite, Choice or Flex? Or simply random and offered to most Y pax?

Not sure about lite or flex (other than Plat. upgrades)fares , but certainly on choice under the trip booking management “customise “ there is an upgrade to Business , submit a bid or upgrade with points option. I’m sure this is irrespective of status.

 

[CaptJCool]

The other little trick is to check at T-48 how many seats are remaining in the J cabin. If there's 6-8 seats left then minimum + $5 will probably suffice. If not, feel free to increase. The system also makes offers at any time within the T-48 space....sometimes T-24, sometimes T-12.

Ah yes
With 4 left
I got this email
So minimum plus $5 isn’t sufficient

 

[MooTime]

Ah yes
With 4 left
I got this email
So minimum plus $5 isn’t sufficient
View attachment 349146

So how would they go with 4 left, are there other bids / point upgrades that haven't been notified yet, VA seeing if you'd up the ante and overtake their bids? Or just VA trying to squeeze another $10 $20 out of you.
Of course it's better to have the seat occupied at min bid than not.

Reasonings all in the confines of airline back rooms.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Ah yes
With 4 left
I got this email
So minimum plus $5 isn’t sufficient
View attachment 349146

This is what they want you to think.

Re-read the email. Nowhere does it say your bid is insufficient.

 

[CaptJCool]

This is what they want you to think.

Re-read the email. Nowhere does it say your bid is insufficient.

Yes

So while I could be the lowest bid
It only matters if there’s 4 more then. Me

I could be the lowest bid of 4 or less (and outbid)

It’s magicians distraction !
Poker bluff

I’ll hold my nerve and sit tight

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Yes

So while I could be the lowest bid
It only matters if there’s 4 more then. Me

I could be the lowest bid of 4 or less (and outbid)

It’s magicians distraction !
Poker bluff

I’ll hold my nerve and sit tight

I'll be interested to see how you go here. I've done plenty of upgrade bids at minimum or +$5-10, however never received the email myself.

 

[CaptJCool]

Yes I’ll report back the outcome once I’ve flown Y (or J)

Still 4 open J seats

 

[CaptJCool]

Yes I’ll report back the outcome once I’ve flown Y (or J)

Still 4 open J seats

Only 2 left
And price has pushed up by $300

Interesting
I’ll summarise the process later but in the midst of back and forwards at the moment

 

[CaptJCool]

One J seat left at the (inflated up) price

I left my original bid to “swing in the wind”

And an intriguing interlude


So I used the Scan card feature as last time I did it manually

Then the reply


The process of “if there’s seats still available at the time we get payment details that actually work”

 

[Lost Redditor]

I upgraded from Flex to Business on today's MEL-NTL for $95, $5 over the minimum. Work paid for the flex fare so I didn't mind handing over the $90. Leaving my workmates behind in Y though

 

[CaptJCool]

One J seat left at the (inflated up) price

I left my original bid to “swing in the wind”

The process of “if there’s seats still available at the time we get payment details that actually work”

For the finale I took one for the tram


As it turned out
The flight was full
It ended up being barely 1.5 hours
Tail winds
And I sat next to two regular commuters on the route, one of whom knew my uncle as they were both on teaching staff at a High School!! Small world
They like it because it’s direct and relatively cheap

Apparently QF are prone to randomly cancel Mel-Launceston and charge 3-6 times as much anyway

 

[Fifa]

Choice fare HBA-SYD and I offered the minimum bid of $85 x 2 pax.
Upgrade email arrived exactly 25 hours before the flight.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

I have a BNE-MEL flight in 2 days (0600 departure) and received the "you've been outbid" email this morning. I've bid Minimum + $5.
Currently 5 seats available in J - will be interesting to see how this one shapes up.

 

[PERLHR]

I have a BNE-MEL flight in 2 days (0600 departure) and received the "you've been outbid" email this morning. I've bid Minimum + $5.
Currently 5 seats available in J - will be interesting to see how this one shapes up.

Ewww exciting..are you holding your nerve on this one or adding another 5 dollars to see what it says?

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Ewww exciting..are you holding your nerve on this one or adding another 5 dollars to see what it says?

Holding my nerve, as I already have 3A sewn up for the morning trip. Wouldn't mind the J upgrade as that would save me rushing to the lounge for breakfast though.