Virgin Business and Velocity upgrades - I don't understand

[Jama]

I can understand not getting points on an out and out reward flight, but also not for points + pay is a bit rough given there is still money coming out of your pocket. SC's are supposed to recognize the miles your actual travelling with VA and this is happening in both cases. SC's should apply for both, at least for points + pay.

I was going to use points and pay to try out a business class flight but it will actually penalize me. At least a cheap flight still gives me SC's.

What I don't understand is how it is that using points to upgrade from a Flexi still leaves you eligible for SC's. How is this any different from points + Pay.

 

[random111]

I'm a little confused, does this mean you dont earn SC's and points if you purchase velocity any seat award tickets?

What is the point of paying the premium in points if this is the case?

Or is it only if you purchased a reward ticket and/or used points + pay to purchase a reward ticket?

 

[markis10]

I can understand not getting points on an out and out reward flight, but also not for points + pay is a bit rough given there is still money coming out of your pocket. SC's are supposed to recognize the miles your actual travelling with VA and this is happening in both cases. SC's should apply for both, at least for points + pay.

I was going to use points and pay to try out a business class flight but it will actually penalize me. At least a cheap flight still gives me SC's.

What I don't understand is how it is that using points to upgrade from a Flexi still leaves you eligible for SC's. How is this any different from points + Pay.

Getting points and SCs for an award of any sort is only fairly new from QF (April last year), and I would not be surprised if DJ move their any seat awards to a similar earning position!

 

[Jama]

Getting a reward (points) based on a reward doesn't make a whole lot of sense I agree. However, SC's are a different matter as they are an acknowledgement of your time in the air with VA not a reward as such. Points + Pay though should be getting points at least based on the monetary component and always full SC's.

I have no knowledge of what Qantas do. I only fly VA and have earnt my status with VA.

 

[airtraveladdict]

I hope so Marksis, maybe they will announce those changes when they unveil the ability to redeem upgrade with points on international flights.

anyway I agree with Jama, if you are redeeming a ticket with points ONLY, then sure i can understand not getting SC and miles, but when its points + pay, i think that is abit unfair.

Domestically, if you buy Flexi fare and use your points to redeem upgrade to a J/PE, do you still get SC and miles for the flexi ticket you purchased?

Based on the calculation on the first page by Moopere, it seems the flexi fare and points upgrade system might be a small sacrifice to make, just so I don't miss out on SC and miles, most importantly SC, because i want to reach for platinum.
So the scenario is:
1. $309 flexi fare + redeem 9900 points one way upgrade, which gets you SC and miles for the flexi fare.
2. J/PE reward seat 6,900 points + $384 pay, which doesn't give you SC or miles at all.

Is that right? or have i got it wrong?

 

[mr_osborne]

Domestically, if you buy Flexi fare and use your points to redeem upgrade to a J/PE, do you still get SC and miles for the flexi ticket you purchased?

Based on the T&Cs, it quite clearly states you get SC's for the original class purchased.

"Members will earn Points and Status Credits based on the original fare class purchased"

Flight Upgrade Terms| Velocity Frequent Flyer

although, it should also be said, I believe there were reports of people earning business SC's on PE Tasters...

 

[airtraveladdict]

Based on the T&Cs, it quite clearly states you get SC's for the original class purchased.

Flight Upgrade Terms| Velocity Frequent Flyer

Thanks very much appreciate that. I've being trawling the T&C on Virgin's site but could not find it.

 

[mr_osborne]

Thanks very much appreciate that. I've being trawling the T&C on Virgin's site but could not find it.

Take note of my later edit though, I think it's a case of Dont expect anything, but you may get a plesent suprise. (althought I suspect this will be less liely in the future)

 

[random111]

Getting points and SCs for an award of any sort is only fairly new from QF (April last year), and I would not be surprised if DJ move their any seat awards to a similar earning position!

You learn something new everday!!

Im still a noob at all this...why would anyone book the any seat tickets over reward tickets? Are there other incentives I havent noticed?

 

[Jama]

Rewards seats are limited to a small pool designated as such and are available as long as they last. Any seat is available down to the last seat, but you pay for the privilege of availability.

You learn something new everday!!

Im still a noob at all this...why would anyone book the any seat tickets over reward tickets? Are there other incentives I havent noticed?

 

[random111]

Re the points + pay, can I actually select a ticket and go to the points + pay screen on velocityrewards website without purchasing the tickets?

I just tried it and it asked me to check the box for terms and conditions before it went to the next page, which i assumed was the points + pay one, but I was too affraid to as I thought it would actually sell the tickets to me by doing that.

Can I play around with the points + pay without purchasing the tickets?

At what point are the tickets purchased?

Thanks

 

[markis10]

Re the points + pay, can I actually select a ticket and go to the points + pay screen on velocityrewards website without purchasing the tickets?

I just tried it and it asked me to check the box for terms and conditions before it went to the next page, which i assumed was the points + pay one, but I was too affraid to as I thought it would actually sell the tickets to me by doing that.

Can I play around with the points + pay without purchasing the tickets?

At what point are the tickets purchased?

Thanks

You can play around with points and pay before purchasing as part of the normal process, your not committed until you decide how much you want to use.

 

[random111]

You can play around with points and pay before purchasing as part of the normal process, your not committed until you decide how much you want to use.

On which screen/page can you play around?

I might have missed it...or I haven't gone far enough into the process as I was concerned I would be purchasing the tickets if I did...

 

[markis10]

On which screen/page can you play around?

I might have missed it...or I haven't gone far enough into the process as I was concerned I would be purchasing the tickets if I did...

After you agree to the terms and conditions and put in the pax details:

 

[random111]

After you agree to the terms and conditions and put in the pax details:

and you haven't purchased the tickets at this screen?

 

[markis10]

and you haven't purchased the tickets at this screen?

How could you when the cost is still to be finalised in terms of points or cash, no you have not purchased anything, just holding them for the session (5 minutes)!

 

[random111]

How could you when the cost is still to be finalised in terms of points or cash, no you have not purchased anything, just holding them for the session (5 minutes)!

hahaha i know im just a sceptic!!

Thanks markis10, always very helpful!

 

[Moopere]

I might have missed it...or I haven't gone far enough into the process as I was concerned I would be purchasing the tickets if I did...

Thankfully no, as Markis10 has explained. Its a huge PITA though when you are ticket surfing to have to repeatedly plonk in your details. Far better in my view to have the PAX details immediately prior to CC payment and have the final price and whatnot before the details.

 

[elemist]

If your doing this via Velocity then it's not too bad given it prefills most of your personal details. Then on the passenger details just select "i'm travelling" and it prefills your details again. Only pain is if your travelling with an extra person - but even then only a couple of details which is pretty good.

And just to re-assure you, definitely no tickets purchased until you enter your credit card details and hit the pay button, you can go to the screens below with no problems - have been doing it quite a bit over the last couple of weeks!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Only pain is if your travelling with an extra person - but even then only a couple of details which is pretty good.

When just "fare surfing", I use only one person (me) to find the price/points and when buying then try all parties and if there's seats available, complete the purchase (look at the tabs along the top of the page to see where you are in the process).