When to book??

[cssaus]

I need to book international travel for next year (not award), to be precise SYD-JFK return in J and SYD-LHR return in J.

I'm just wondering if I should book now or should I wait until the new year for the likelihood that VA might be offering sales on tickets.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Is VA your only option?

Different airlines offer different promotions at different times.

Exactly when are you planning to travel?

 

[cssaus]

Is VA your only option?

Different airlines offer different promotions at different times.

Exactly when are you planning to travel?

Yes, my wife is traveling on VA award flights corresponding to the dates I want to travel and I will also need the SC's and eligible sectors to requalify for Platinum.

SYD-JFK travel is in July and the SYD-LHR is August/September

 

[Jack_OC]

Yes, my wife is traveling on VA award flights corresponding to the dates I want to travel and I will also need the SC's and eligible sectors to requalify for Platinum.

SYD-JFK travel is in July and the SYD-LHR is August/September

So do you want to get on the exact same flights as your wife on each sector? In my experience, paid J fares with VA to either Europe or the US (except maybe LAX) are almost never cheap. I have been travelling to both the EU and US regularly with work for the past 7 years or so, and I have never travelled on a VA ticket, as on every occasion there were other options that were significantly cheaper (usually numerous cheaper options). I don't think I've ever seen particularly great sale J fares from VA to anywhere other than LAX.

However, you might well find that you can book with EY to LHR and get on the same flights as your wife for less than what VA charge (I assume she's on EY metal at least from AUH-LHR-AUH anyway). I have flown more often with EY (by far) to Europe than with any other airline, as they almost always have competitive fares, with regular sales making them even cheaper. They generally seem to be significantly cheaper than VA, even though in many cases both airlines are selling seats on the same flights (at least from MEL - might be different from SYD since VA fly from there on their own metal). To the US, for some reason, VA has generally been the most expensive option of all IME. For example, I have a trip to the US in January, which cost less than $7k with QF. I could have got similar fares with AC or UA, or just slightly more for NZ, but the VA option would have been $11k!

 

[Jurahn]

I don't think I've ever seen particularly great sale J fares from VA to anywhere other than LAX.

To the US, for some reason, VA has generally been the most expensive option of all IME. For example, I have a trip to the US in January, which cost less than $7k with QF. I could have got similar fares with AC or UA, or just slightly more for NZ, but the VA option would have been $11k!

I was able to get PER-SEA (going via LAX of course) in J for just over $6K for my upcoming trip in March, which I was quite happy with - I booked well ahead though (back in May).

 

[n7of9]

I scored SYD-LAX-SYD J for $4500 last year, excellent sale price! I usually start planning trips a year in advance and then jump on a price I like

 

[Jack_OC]

I was able to get PER-SEA (going via LAX of course) in J for just over $6K for my upcoming trip in March, which I was quite happy with - I booked well ahead though (back in May).

That's a pretty good deal alright. Maybe they have better deals for the West Coast in general, rather than just LAX. Virtually all of my trips have been to the East Coast and/or Mid-West.

 

[cssaus]

I was hoping that maybe VA will be releasing some international specials in the coming weeks, that's what I was hoping for.

 

[Bagpuss]

I need to book international travel for next year (not award), to be precise SYD-JFK return in J and SYD-LHR return in J.

I'm just wondering if I should book now or should I wait until the new year for the likelihood that VA might be offering sales on tickets.

Normally, mid-end Feb & end of September/start October (the latter ties in with Early Bird and Velocity birthday)