Domestic Flight Upgrades at the Virgin Australia lounge

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Here is some good news.
Following on from the trial, Velocity Members with lounge access can now upgrade your domestic Flexi Fare flights at any Lounge (for flights marketed and operated by Virgin Australia).
Members can use Points or available Complimentary Fare Upgrades and can request an upgrade from 3 hours before the flight with requests closing 40 minutes before the flight.
Of course you can still request Flight Upgrades through the Membership Contact Centre any time after you have booked your flight, up to 4 hours before the scheduled departure.
(All upgrades are subject to availability. Find out more at the website)

 

[smit0847]

I assume there's no way to upgrade from a Saver to Biz with just points is there? You would have to pay to change the Saver to a Flexi?

 

[drewbles]

Are there any plans to extend points upgrade to other category of fares (ie, non flexi)? I tend to do my upgrades on my flexi over the phone (nice and easy, great folks on the platinum desk). Would be nice to randomly burn a few points at the airport after I may have been indulging in a few glasses of vino blanco to move to the pointy end if i'm on an el-cheapo fare

 

[smit0847]

Are there any plans to extend points upgrade to other category of fares (ie, non flexi)? I tend to do my upgrades on my flexi over the phone (nice and easy, great folks on the platinum desk). Would be nice to randomly burn a few points at the airport after I may have been indulging in a few glasses of vino blanco to move to the pointy end if i'm on an el-cheapo fare

I am in exactly the same position. Double points required for Saver to Biz upgrades would still be v attractive to me....

 

[Gerardf]

This is most excellent! Even I'm happy.....which is saying something!!

 

[Milboo]

I'd like to be able to upgrade from Saver to Biz too. I have to book Saver under work travel policy but happy to spend my own points to upgrade.

 

[Burrito]

+1 for saver to business

 

[KCMil]

Saver to J upgrades to me seem a must do next step. Likewise have to choose best fare of day, but more than happy to burn my points to upgrade.

 

[jmphoto]

Are there any plans to extend points upgrade to other category of fares (ie, non flexi)? I tend to do my upgrades on my flexi over the phone (nice and easy, great folks on the platinum desk). Would be nice to randomly burn a few points at the airport after I may have been indulging in a few glasses of vino blanco to move to the pointy end if i'm on an el-cheapo fare

I'm in two minds about upgrades from Saver to J. I book a combination of Savers and Flexis throughout the year, and I nearly always upgrade the flexis. If you could upgrade saver to J then perhaps there would be a little less inventory kicking around? I've never had an upgrade knocked back, and I'd hate for that percentage to drop.

 

[Mogul]

Saver to J upgrades for Gold and above.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Saver to J upgrades for Gold and above.

I'll raise that to Plat

 

[Mogul]

I'll raise that to Plat

Not yet another 6 weeks or so and I would agree.

 

[smit0847]

Saver to J upgrades for Gold and above.

I think this should be a WP only benefit - I think SG get too much and WP dont get enough.

 

[Flywithd]

I think this should be a WP only benefit - I think SG get too much and WP dont get enough.

I agree with saver - J for WP's, maybe say 4 upgrades per year

 

[LiamR]

What is the deal with catering? If VA order catering for a flight at T-3, and I request an upgrade at T-1, will catering be assured or will I be picking from the left overs?

QF Brains - What happens on Qantas in this scenario?

 

[williamsf1]

What is the deal with catering? If VA order catering for a flight at T-3, and I request an upgrade at T-1, will catering be assured or will I be picking from the left overs?

QF Brains - What happens on Qantas in this scenario?

I understand that the catering cut off is closer to departure for airports that have onsite catering and they carry extra anyway .

When you do a upgrade in the lounge on QF it says " catering not assured" on the BP

If catering is the reason you are upgrading, you can always do it before arrival at the airport.

I noticed a number of AFF people have done a upgrade in the lounge- any reports of no catering ??

 

[KCMil]

I have used this quite a few times already and never missed on catering. Even had an option each time as well.
The standard loading is 2 above whatever is registered at the time of loading the carts at the caterers depot.
According to internal sources catering do have the ability to load additional up to -40 though I guess that would
be affected by the intensity of ops at the time.