Book your J rewards before 18th Jan, they are going up!

[markis10]

Looks like there will be an increase in points needed:

You can now redeem your Points for Business Class Reward Seats. Plus, building on our promise of great value, up until 18 Jan 2012, you can redeem a Business Class Reward Seat at Premium Economy Points redemption pricing*.

 

[oz_mark]

Indeed: .

***Virgin Australia Business Class Points Pricing
As part of our effort to improve your Virgin Australia experience, we are currently refitting our planes with a new Business Class product offering on Australian domestic services. From now until 17 January 2012, guests may travel on aircraft that has been refitted with Business Class seats, or on aircraft that has not yet been refitted and will therefore still provide our Premium Economy product. During this period, we will not offer Business Class priced redemption seats but will continue to offer Premium Economy and Economy seats*. On arrival at the airport, if your plane has been fitted with Business Class, you’ll be able to enjoy the new product at the Premium Economy Points price.

*Note: because all aircraft travelling to and from Perth are fitted out with our Business Class product, Business Class redemption seats will be offered on those routes.

 

[simongr]

Fair enough really - the product is better so I would expect to be more expensive.

 

[Fruitcake]

Does anyone recall how much the increase was in reward fares when east coast services went from PE to business?

EDIT: Never mind, I've found the tables, so it's fairly obvious what the changes will be:
https://www.velocityrewards.com.au/content/Redeem/Airlines/PointsTables/index.htm

 

[oz_mark]

Likely they went up in accordance with the redemption table (25,400 to 33,800):

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

0-600​

[/TD]
[TD]

6,900​

[/TD]
[TD]

10,400​

[/TD]
[TD]

13,800​

[/TD]
[TD]

20,700​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

601-1,200​

[/TD]
[TD]

10,900​

[/TD]
[TD]

16,400​

[/TD]
[TD]

21,800​

[/TD]
[TD]

32,700​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

1,201-2,400​

[/TD]
[TD]

16,900​

[/TD]
[TD]

25,400​

[/TD]
[TD]

33,800​

[/TD]
[TD]

50,700​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

2,401-3,600​

[/TD]
[TD]

23,900​

[/TD]
[TD]

35,900​

[/TD]
[TD]

47,800​

[/TD]
[TD]

71,700​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

3,601-4,800​

[/TD]
[TD]

28,900​

[/TD]
[TD]

43,400​

[/TD]
[TD]

57,800​

[/TD]
[TD]

86,700​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

4,801-5,800​

[/TD]
[TD]

35,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

52,500​

[/TD]
[TD]

70,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

105,000​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

5,801-7,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

41,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

61,500​

[/TD]
[TD]

82,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

123,000​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

7,001-8,500​

[/TD]
[TD]

47,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

70,500​

[/TD]
[TD]

94,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

141,000​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

8,501-9,500​

[/TD]
[TD]

55,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

82,500​

[/TD]
[TD]

110,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

165,000​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: last"]
[TD]

9,501-15,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

62,500​

[/TD]
[TD]

93,800​

[/TD]
[TD]

125,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

187,500​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[AdMEL]

Just did a few checks and came up with some interesting results:

MEL-SYD

December 9 - PE

6,650 + $49.15
10,400 + $20.00
13,300 + $0

March 9 - J

6,650 + $49.15
10,400 + $20.00
13,300 + $0

MEL-PER

December 9 - J
30,800 + $0
6,900 + $176.08

March 9 - J
30,800 + $0
6,900 + $176.08

- No difference between PE and J MEL-SYD
- No difference between J MEL-PER before and after full J implementation
- Points amount with no cash lower than J in table, incl. MEL-PER

From this, I can deduce:

- If you book before January 18 for any date, even business will be at the lower price
- Likely points/price increase for all routes for flights booked after Jan 18

Interesting that they promote J for PE price prior to Jan 18 if the plane is new/refitted, however I assume it will be J seats with PE service, rather than J (Some might argue not much difference).

 

[markis10]

The J levels come in After Jan 18, so book you flights post Jan 18 before then and save some points.

 

[AdMEL]

The J levels come in After Jan 18, so book you flights post Jan 18 before then and save some points.

That's what I was pointing out, which is not what the Virgin comments say/infer - they say/infer that the lower rate is only for flights taken prior to Jan 18, not those booked prior to Jan 18 but flown after Jan 18.

Does anyone recall how much the increase was in reward fares when east coast services went from PE to business?

EDIT: Never mind, I've found the tables, so it's fairly obvious what the changes will be:
https://www.velocityrewards.com.au/content/Redeem/Airlines/PointsTables/index.htm

As I pointed out above, it appears that the points did not increase when J was introduced from east coast to PER, but will increase from Jan 18.

 

[markis10]

That's what I was pointing out, which is not what the Virgin comments say/infer - they say/infer that the lower rate is only for flights taken prior to Jan 18, not those booked prior to Jan 18 but flown after Jan 18.



As I pointed out above, it appears that the points did not increase when J was introduced from east coast to PER, but will increase from Jan 18.

The Virgin comments that I quoted say you can redeem at a lower rate until Jan18, not that you have to fly before Jan18 to get the lower rate. It's on the latest statement.

 

[VMAN]

Is this increase for domestic flights or does it include international as well ?

I have 450k points and am thinking of a US trip next year in J

Do I need to book now so I don't pay extra?

Thank you to anyone who can help


Sent from my iPhone using AFF app

 

[markis10]

This covers only domestic with the move from PE to J.

 

[StevePER]

I wonder what is happening with the cost of upgrades?

 

[Wayne Herring]

Looks like there's some anomalies on international DJ services with the change to J. I priced a PE flight from SYD to DPS which came out as 35900 points + $109, but when J comes in it leaps to 35900 + $1507 - more than the cash price of $1407 on the same day! Bargain!

 

[elemist]

Note: because all aircraft travelling to and from Perth are fitted out with our Business Class product, Business Class redemption seats will be offered on those routes.

So does this mean that the price won't change on these routes since they're a guaranteed business class product already?

 

[AdMEL]

So does this mean that the price won't change on these routes since they're a guaranteed business class product already?

I think the price will change - see my posts in this thread (#6 & #8).

 

[Virgin Bart]

Hi all!

The deadline is approaching!

Just a quick question, hoping someone can answer.. Normal business rules state that you can change flight date and times without fees, is this the same for award redemption business? For example I'm thinking of buying a couple of MEL-SYD-MEL flights using Velocity points for an arbitrary time in say March, and then changing them once I know when I actually need to fly in June/July. Would this work, thoughts?

 

[Virgin Bart]

And I just thought of something.. When I changed the flight would they charge me the fare difference, ie a few thousand VFF points? Or does that not apply to business.

Any info much appreciated.

 

[AdMEL]

So does this mean that the price won't change on these routes since they're a guaranteed business class product already?

Noticed recently that the price for PER-MEL/SYD/BNE and v.v. has already increased!

 

[Moopere]

And I just thought of something.. When I changed the flight would they charge me the fare difference, ie a few thousand VFF points? Or does that not apply to business.

Any info much appreciated.

I'm pretty sure that all airlines want to charge fare difference upon change. I'm sure I read this in the T&C of my recent J award booking.

Note that I don't believe you will get a refund if you cancel an awards booking. I think points are lost if you request a refund. Cancellations are ok and points + cash will be held for future bookings. Its all on the website in the bookings area.

 

[Moopere]

Noticed recently that the price for PER-MEL/SYD/BNE and v.v. has already increased!

Is that right? I just checked now after reading this thread and things are still pretty cheap in my opinion.

PER-MEL return, 21-22nd January, $353.16 + 13,800 points in J

I find that incredibly good value. I think its cheaper in cash than my J rewards ticket at Christmas.

For me, valuing my VFF points at 3c each its an equivalent cost of $767. On a 737, even in J, thats probably getting close to my personal limit. I'd pay more for the A330 service.