Booking Complimentary Fare Upgrades for Platinum Velocity members

[arraitch]

Some of the information in this thread is redundant due to changes in the T&C's. Here is some more relevant information:

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You need a Flexi booking to upgrade and requires Q class availability.

There are at lease two simple ways to see if Q class is available:

1 - Call Velocity Premium and ask before completing your flexi booking, or

2 - Take a punt - if H class is showing availability that's reward Business and does tend to indicate Q class. (J>..>Q>..>H)

See these threads:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.c...tml#post624481 (Upgrades to Virgin Business)

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.c...tml#post664941 (Rewards booking codes for DJ?)

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.c...tml#post652674 (Complimentary Upgrades)

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From the Velocity T & Cs (emphasis added):

14.14 In each Total Benefits Period, Platinum members are entitled to redeem a complimentary fare upgrade from a Flexible Fare to a Premium Economy or Business Class fare on four (4) Virgin Australia domestic sectors (Complimentary Fare Upgrade).

14.15 Complimentary Fare Upgrades can be redeemed by calling the Velocity Frequent Flyer Membership Contact Centre, either at the time of booking or to upgrade an existing booking. Complimentary Fare Upgrade requests must be made anytime up to 24 hours prior to the departure of the nominated flight.

14.16 Complimentary Fare Upgrades will expire if not redeemed, by making a booking in accordance with clause 14.15 before your next Review Date. The travel dates for Complimentary Fare Upgrade flights are not required to be within the current Total Benefit Period.

14.17 Platinum Members may choose to redeem a Complimentary Fare Upgrades for a guest who is travelling with them.

14.18 Complimentary Fare Upgrades are subject to the availability of a Premium Economy Class or Business Class seat and on-board catering cannot be guaranteed.

14.19 Platinum Members will earn Status Credits and Points for Complimentary Fare Upgrade flights based on the original fare class booked.
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Does anybody have any experience of requesting a Complimentary Fare Upgrade yet? From perusing some DJ flights on FlightStats, I could see J fare class availability, but no other biz fare classes. Have I not looked hard enough, or does this mean that DJ do not have separate fare buckets for upgrades and that the statement in 14.18 may be taken literally? Surely that's too much to hope for!

 

[markis10]

There is a fare bucket for rewards, however I am not sure if thats applicable in this case.

 

[SeaWolf]

From the way it says "on board catering cannot be guaranteed" it makes it sound like the upgrade is likely to happen at the last minute. Possibly at the gate.

 

[simongr]

Doesnt this relate to the 4 upgrades you get as a Plat?

I would expect them to work like points upgrades on QF.

Looking at expert flyer I can see the following SYD-PER next week on a random flight:

J7 O7 H6 Y7 I7 D7 N7 B7 M7 S7 T7 A7 U7 X7 R7 L7 P7 C7 E7

J, C, D and I are designated business.

All the others apart from O are designated "coach".

O has no designation.

On QF I find that I availability would lead to ODUs being available.

 

[LiamR]

I was under the impression that if there was a Business class seat for sale, and you want to use one of your upgrade vouchers. Then it's yours.

None of this I fare bucket stuff.

 

[VMAN]

I was under the impression that if there was a Business class seat for sale, and you want to use one of your upgrade vouchers. Then it's yours.

None of this I fare bucket stuff.

I booked an upgrade tonight and asked about availability. Was told that if a seat was available for sale I could upgrade with either points or use a upgrade credit. Was also told that if I ever wanted to check before calling to look on the web and if a paying ticket was available then call to process the upgrade

Based on this, one would think that there isn't a bucket system in place

Let's hope this is correct! I will ask again on my next upgrade to confirm or if a VA rep sees this post maybe they can confirm


Sent from my iPhone using AFF app

 

[N860CR]

I did the same this arvo (although with a points upgrade... just a sad old Gold here ). Upgraded without question, availability was showing in the standard booking engine. 4600 points for a flexi to Y+ upgrade on a 2 stage flight (SYD-BNE-ROK) is pretty good value (in my eyes).

 

[arraitch]

OK, thanks all for your input. It'd be good to hear the official version, but it is looking as though upgrade fare buckets à la QF may not exist on DJ. If so, it makes booking a ~$380 fare SYD-PER or vv where J fares are available a very tempting proposition!

BTW simongr, looking at varying routes with varying dates on FlightStats, I'm seeing O class availability listed under coach.

 

[pshepvic]

I was under the impression that if there was a Business class seat for sale, and you want to use one of your upgrade vouchers. Then it's yours.

None of this I fare bucket stuff.

Correct. And I believe it's confirmed at the time of booking, which has to be at least 24 hours before the flight, so I don't understand how there could possibly be no catering!

If QF can do ODU upgrades in the lounge on points and still provide catering, surely DJ can with 24 hours notice. The only time I've ever had QF not confirm catering is on a domestic Op-Up.

 

[markis10]

If QF can do ODU upgrades in the lounge on points and still provide catering, surely DJ can with 24 hours notice. The only time I've ever had QF not confirm catering is on a domestic Op-Up.

I am sure they will bring that in soon enough, upgrades are only new to DJ, the ways to do them even newer, and of course QF and DJ use different departure systems, where the flight is handed over to airport control.

 

[oz_mark]

If QF can do ODU upgrades in the lounge on points and still provide catering, surely DJ can with 24 hours notice. The only time I've ever had QF not confirm catering is on a domestic Op-Up.

I've seen 'Catering not assured' on a boarding pass after an ODU.:shock: I suspect that the normal plan is to only offer ODU's if there is catering available.

 

[TheInsider]

I've seen 'Catering not assured' on a boarding pass after an ODU.:shock: I suspect that the normal plan is to only offer ODU's if there is catering available.

Catering not assured it meant to always be put on when an ODU, points upgrade is done on the day of departure, or change of flight to an earlier one. Rarely is the case that they will run out of meals, but they put it there just in case.

 

[asdf]

Forgive me if I've missed it in the T&C's - is there any chance that a Platinum VA FF could redeem upgrades for a companion travelling as well? Is it available for domestic flights only, or anything with a DJ flight number?

Cheers

 

[arraitch]

Forgive me if I've missed it in the T&C's - is there any chance that a Platinum VA FF could redeem upgrades for a companion travelling as well? Is it available for domestic flights only, or anything with a DJ flight number?

Cheers

Yes, see post #1 in this very thread.

 

[asdf]

Thank you.

 

[arraitch]

Thank you. Any idea if it is available for international flights as well?

Yes, see post #1 in this very thread ... again.

 

[simongr]

Hi - just to bump this - do you need to book through Virgin to be able to use the upgrades - I am flying to Perth and am thinking of switching to Virgin for that flight and upgrading (although the timing are a bit worse).

 

[arraitch]

Hi - just to bump this - do you need to book through Virgin to be able to use the upgrades - I am flying to Perth and am thinking of switching to Virgin for that flight and upgrading (although the timing are a bit worse).

So it would appear:


To request a Complimentary Fare Upgrade, call 131 875 if within Australia, 0800 230 875 if calling from New Zealand and +61 2 8667 5924 if calling internationally.

 

[moa999]

I booked an upgrade tonight and asked about availability. Was told that if a seat was available for sale I could upgrade with either points or use a upgrade credit. Was also told that if I ever wanted to check before calling to look on the web and if a paying ticket was available then call to process the upgrade

Based on this, one would think that there isn't a bucket system in place

Not my experience tonight trying to upgrade a SYD-MEL flight in 3-days showing J4.
No upgrades available.


Also s an interesting concept:
http://www.virginaustralia.com/Personal/Bookings/Feessurcharges/ViewAll/index.htm
Why is the cancel fee for a Flexi fare MORE than for a Saver....

Really encouraging you to book the Flexi!

 

[Verde]

Hi.

How has everyone gone through the complimentary upgrade process?

I booked a flexi flight BNE-NTL for December, then phoned up to ask for the complimentary upgrade today. I was told it'd take a few minutes and I'd get e-mailed a new itinerary and I didn't need to wait on the line (he said there was availability). The new itinerary arrived, but it doesn't mention Premium Economy anywhere that I can see, looks exactly the same as the original booking (except it has 24th Oct instead of 22nd Oct in one spot).

Are things likely correct? Is there any easy way to check, or do I need to phone back and find out what the problem is?