Virgin "enhances" redemptions, changes to points + pay

[wafliron]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

DJ publicly acknowledged it was not a fault or a bug, and they also mentioned it would eventually change. This was how it was going to be all along (and hence why I made good use of it whilst it lasted!).

Out of interest, when / where did they say that?

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

So they "fix" the J points + pay pricing and then drop the pricing of J fares by $50-$400 per flight......

Interesting

 

[Moopere]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

So they "fix" the J points + pay pricing and then drop the pricing of J fares by $50-$400 per flight......

Interesting

Pricing seems to be all over the place ... indicative of more change??

Given your post above, I did a quick sweep of my normal flight, PER-MEL. Up to June looks the same to me, $1300 each way. Moving into July theres a mix of $1300, but a trend towards $859 one way, $1718 return.

If this is the new pricing then I'm okay with it. Thats about what I reckon their J domestic is worth. Of course, we all want flights to be as cheap as they can be, and I'd be mightily impressed if the 737 transcon version of J on DJ was about $1400, but 1600-1700 seems realistic to me for the services offered.

[Edit: They might as well give up the ASA game though. Always unrealistically priced, the ASA price on the $859 full revenue flight is $1046 + 33,800 one way ... not even remotely competitive]

 

[alien]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I'd like to see VA allow upgrades with points for all fares.

 

[jazza1971]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

still noticed that if you travel on 30 Jun, on that day only, its still the old rates

 

[Bofter]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

The points for a business class redemption seem to have now increased, perhaps as a further "enhancement". MEL-PER was previously showing 30,800 if before June 30, or 31,300 if after. It is now showing 36,700 if before June 30 or 37,300 if after. I am not familiar with what the redemption rates were for other routes, so can't say if this is across the board.

 

[markis10]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

The points for a business class redemption seem to have now increased, perhaps as a further "enhancement". MEL-PER was previously showing 30,800 if before June 30, or 31,300 if after. It is now showing 36,700 if before June 30 or 37,300 if after. I am not familiar with what the redemption rates were for other routes, so can't say if this is across the board.

Welcome to the carbon tax!

 

[Moopere]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

MEL-PER was previously showing 30,800 if before June 30, or 31,300 if after. It is now showing 36,700 if before June 30 or 37,300 if after.

PER-MEL (the other direction from you) random dates APR through AUG is showing me 33,800 + small change right through.

 

[Bofter]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

It was previously 30,800 + $0, with the 500 odd points increase after June 30 (to 31,300 + $0) presumably representing the carbon tax

It is now 33,800 + $25 or 36,700 + 0; so the minimum point increase is 3000 with an extra $25 cash not previously required.

 

[markis10]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

It was previously 30,800 + $0, with the 500 odd points increase after June 30 (to 31,300 + $0) presumably representing the carbon tax

It is now 33,800 + $25 or 36,700 + 0; so the minimum point increase is 3000 with an extra $25 cash not previously required.

Fare Table for redemption indicates 33800 since J was announced!

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....k-your-j-rewards-before-34314.html#post513862

 

[Bofter]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

The fare table may have said 33,800, but the MEL-PER was 30,800 + $0 when you went to book it and going by this post below it was still so as recently as 30 March 2012.

Another 'enhancement' that appears to have been slipped in - redemption rates for J are increasing as of 1 July. Appears to be about 500 points each way, for the routes I've looked at (MEL-PER and MEL-BNE). E.g. MEL-PER increasing from 30,800 to 31,300. No mention of this on the Velocity website (still shows rates until 30 June), nor any notification received.

Whilst this increase is small, again, the lack of notice is disappointing.

 

[Insaneous]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

So what do people now think is the best value for burning velocity points? MEL/SYD - LAX J is 84,000 points 1 way which I guess is quite good?

How do you get this? I am new to FF points (probably not worth it as I dont really fly often enough), but I am flying to LAX next year and it seems points are always around the 500,000 mark one way... am I doing something wrong? i.e. i'd really still be out of pocket the $5000-$6000 it costs for business

You suggestion of 84,000 points for J indicates its around say $1000 each way? Thats really good value.

 

[Deewhy]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

How do you get this? I am new to FF points (probably not worth it as I dont really fly often enough), but I am flying to LAX next year and it seems points are always around the 500,000 mark one way... am I doing something wrong? i.e. i'd really still be out of pocket the $5000-$6000 it costs for business

You suggestion of 84,000 points for J indicates its around say $1000 each way? Thats really good value.

You've got to be looking nearly a year out for those cheaper points fares. Otherwise it will be 70billiongazillions (or closer to 500K)... Right now you can find Syd-LAX on 5 December = 94K +$418 or thereabouts.

 

[smit0847]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

You've got to be looking nearly a year out for those cheaper points fares. Otherwise it will be 70billiongazillions (or closer to 500K)... Right now you can find Syd-LAX on 5 December = 94K +$418 or thereabouts.

Yep - this.

 

[Water]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

If you had a business class fare booked for the 30th June at the reduced points rate, what would be the situation if you changed to another date given these are fully flexiable? would you be up for additional points?

 

[brad330]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I have been booking on June 30th then changing to my desiered date. Please delete your post and I will soon so VA dont see and change back.

 

[serfty]

As long as H class is available changes are free.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[greenfish]

I booked quite a number of J redemption fares back in January, before the advertised redemption levels changed. I've had no trouble re-dating these at no cost.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

If you had a business class fare booked for the 30th June at the reduced points rate, what would be the situation if you changed to another date given these are fully flexiable? would you be up for additional points?

Only if the there is a price difference, which in most cases would be unlikely.

 

[rotuma1]

30th June 6900 redemption rates - one day only

My father picked this one up last night.

For 30th June only at this stage Velocity have the old 6900 minimum redemption rates

I have just booked whole family for a day trip SYD-MEL in J to burn all my points.

It is across all destinations.

Hurry as will go fast or get pulled offline

Just missed out SYD-CBR 3380 + $0 in J

Wanted to do SY-PER-SYD but could not justify $900 on a day trip.