International Upgrades with points?

[dandandan]

12. BENEFITS FOR GOLD AND PLATINUM MEMBERS

Upgrades Using Points - Virgin Australia International Long Haul Flights
12.3 Flight Upgrades on Virgin Australia international long haul flights may be available by redeeming Velocity Points at the rates set out in the table below. VRPL reserve the right to alter, at any time and at its discretion, the number of Points required to redeem an Upgrade Using Points.
[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TH="width: 30%, bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: left"]

From​

​

[/TH]
[TH="width: 30%, bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: left"]

To​

​

[/TH]
[TH="width: 40%, bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: left"]

Points needed to redeem upgrade​

​

[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Economy Saver
(L, K or H)​

​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Premium Economy
(P)​

​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

45,000​

​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Economy Flexi
(Y or B)​

​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Business
(Z)​

​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

45,000​

​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Premium Economy Deal
(O or R)​

​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Business
(Z)​

​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

45,000​

​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Premium Econmy Flexi
(S or W)​

​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Business
(Z)​

​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

25,000​

​

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

12.4 Flight Upgrades may be requested only on international long haul flights marketed and operated by Virgin Australia, with a Virgin Australia flight number (VA).
12.5 An Upgrade Using Points can be redeemed by a Member for your own use or for the use of an eligible family member.
12.6 Flight Upgrades on Virgin Australia international long haul flights are subject to capacity controls and availability is limited. Flight Upgrades will be allocated to the Member based on the availability at the time of booking.
12.7 Members must have sufficient Points in their Velocity Account for the requested Flight Upgrade at the time they request the Flight Upgrade. Points will be deducted from the requesting member's Account at the time of processing the upgrade.
12.8 Flight Upgrades are not available on:

12.8.1 Reward Seat fares,
12.8.2 Virgin Australia codeshare flights (i.e. Flights operated by another carrier with a VA flight number or flights operated by Virgin Australia but marketed by another carrier),
12.8.3 any Virgin Australia flight issued on another airline’s ticket stock,
12.8.4 fares ineligible to earn Points, a travel industry reduced fare ticket, a prize ticket, or any other promotional offer.
​

12.9 If a Flight Upgrade is requested on two or more individual segments shown on a ticket, the Points required will be quoted separately for each segment.
12.10 The following conditions apply to the use of Flight Upgrades:

12.10.1 Flight Upgrades cannot be used in conjunction with an open dated ticket;
12.10.2 Flight Upgrades will only apply to Virgin Australia international long haul fares booked in Economy Flex, Economy Saver, Premium Deal and Premium Flexi;
12.10.3 Flight Upgrades may only be used to obtain an upgrade as follows:

12.10.3.1 Economy Saver to Premium Economy class,
12.10.3.2 Economy Flexi to Business class,
12.10.3.3 Premium Economy Deal and Premium Economy Flexi to Business class.
​

12.10.4 Points and Status Credits will be earned at the rate applicable to the original purchased fare;
12.10.5 The fare rules applicable to the fare originally purchased will apply up until departure, irrespective of upgraded class of travel;
12.10.6 Special meals may not be available in the upgraded class of travel;
12.10.7 Any additional services purchased as part of the original purchased fare will be forfeited and are non-refundable.
12.10.8 Once an upgrade is confirmed, you are unable to revert to the original fare if you choose to cancel the upgrade.
​

12.11 Upgrade Using Points can be redeemed by calling the Velocity Frequent Flyer Membership Contact Centre between 7 days and 24 hours prior to the desired time of departure.
12.12 If you make any changes or cancellations to your flight after you have redeemed an Upgrade Using Points, any difference in Points owing to you, less any applicable fees, will be refunded to your Velocity Frequent Flyer Account.
12.13 If a Flight Segment is cancelled or changed, the Flight Upgrade request will be cancelled, and a new Flight Upgrade request must be made.

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​

 

[bullerdude]

Looks like we may finally be getting a real "enhancement" that many people seem to want - I would certainly call this a plus.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

So Silver and non-status members can't request int'l upgrades, even if they're in a flexible booking class... seriously??

The only advantage is that the upgrades appear to be confirmed and not waitlisted as is the case with QF - but there are always JASAs that earn J SCs.

(yes, I am VA SG, but I'm sure I won't always be - at least you can request int'l upgrades at any status level with QF... a little surprised they don't even offer this to Silvers...)

 

[dandandan]

If you want the benefit all the more reason to get to Gold at least. Why be the same as QF?

So Silver and non-status members can't request int'l upgrades, even if they're in a flexible booking class... seriously??

The only advantage is that the upgrades appear to be confirmed and not waitlisted as is the case with QF - but there are always JASAs that earn J SCs.

(yes, I am VA SG, but I'm sure I won't always be - at least you can request int'l upgrades at any status level with QF... a little surprised they don't even offer this to Silvers...)

 

[leemin]

I got excited for a minute there...

12.4 Flight Upgrades may be requested only on international long haul flights marketed and operated by Virgin Australia, with a Virgin Australia flight number (VA).
...
12.8 Flight Upgrades are not available on:
12.8.2 Virgin Australia codeshare flights (i.e. Flights operated by another carrier with a VA flight number or flights operated by Virgin Australia but marketed by another carrier)

It's alright if you fly to the USA, but otherwise not much chop.

A VFF member can't use points to upgrade a code share flight and VA's (almost) whole international network uses code share agreements.. that makes sense...

 

[dandandan]

Yes, hopefully it can eventually be worked through to codeshare partners, maybe that will happen if Virgin join an alliance. It's a start.

I got excited for a minute there...



It's alright if you fly to the USA, but otherwise not much chop.

A VFF member can't use points to upgrade a code share flight and VA's (almost) whole international network uses code share agreements.. that makes sense...

 

[mannej]

If you want the benefit all the more reason to get to Gold at least. Why be the same as QF?

Why not offer them to lower status members?

The terms do state capacity controls, so you can limit the availability to lower status members. Not everyone can fly enough to get to the lofty heights of gold

 

[dandandan]

Maybe those people that do not fly a lot will not be in the position to have enough points to upgrade. I suppose Virgin also does not want to be in the position anyway where it's too hard to get an upgrade like QF unless you are a higher tier member.

Why not offer them to lower status members?

The terms do state capacity controls, so you can limit the availability to lower status members. Not everyone can fly enough to get to the lofty heights of gold

 

[777]

Im sure im the only one on this forum who doesn't know this but do qf do point upgrades on partner metal?

 

[Justinf]

Great news. Now I just need 10k points between now and end of November. Silly me for only having 35k points available.

 

[mannej]

Im sure im the only one on this forum who doesn't know this but do qf do point upgrades on partner metal?

No they don't. Has to be QF marketed and operated.

 

[mannej]

Maybe those people that do not fly a lot will not be in the position to have enough points to upgrade. I suppose Virgin also does not want to be in the position anyway where it's too hard to get an upgrade like QF unless you are a higher tier member.

In the day and age of Airline Credit Card points, I disagree.

 

[dandandan]

Well people who get all their points from Credit Cards are not valuable Virgin customers are they, they may never fly with Virgin and only try to do so once they have earned enough through points. They still have the benefits of being able to redeem an award flight anyway and I think many would go that route over buying a fare than using points to upgrade that fare to PE or J.

In the day and age of Airline Credit Card points, I disagree.

 

[mannej]

Well people who get all their points from Credit Cards are not valuable Virgin customers are they, they may never fly with Virgin and only try to do so once they have earned enough through points. They still have the benefits of being able to redeem an award flight anyway and I think many would go that route over buying a fare than using points to upgrade that fare to PE or J.

They do hold some value to Virgin, as there is a source of income.
Like I have stated, it is quite clearly stipulated that there are capacity controls, so it would not be a free for all for the lower tiers of the upgrade chain.

 

[pshepvic]

QF awards upgrades starting with P1's 7 days out, then WP at T-48, then the rest after that, so the reality is on QF anyone below WP or SG will have a much lower chance of an upgrade anyway. Would be nice to be able to request more than 7 days out though, although I generally don't book less than J for long haul, so it's unlikely I'll ever use this option with VA.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[serfty]

It's a shame there's no provision to upgrade from discount economy to business ...

 

[Deewhy]

I think this is a step in the right direction. By only looking 7 days out, they obviously are only looking at getting rid of excess seats rather than having a specific allocation available from the start. And by only providing Gold+, they are limiting it to their most loyal customers. I guess in a way it'll deter lower tiers from getting false hope that they may get an upgrade (ala Qantas) when indeed there is no hope at all.

Also interested in what the "cancellation fee" is if you decide to withdraw the upgrade once confirmed.

 

[Deewhy]

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TH="width: 30%, bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: left"]

From​

[/TH]
[TH="width: 30%, bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: left"]

To​

[/TH]
[TH="width: 40%, bgcolor: #E9E9E9, align: left"]

Points needed to redeem upgrade​

[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Economy Saver
(L, K or H)​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Premium Economy
(P)​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

45,000​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Economy Flexi
(Y or B)​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Business
(Z)​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

45,000​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Premium Economy Deal
(O or R)​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Business
(Z)​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

45,000​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Premium Econmy Flexi
(S or W)​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

Business
(Z)​

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

25,000​

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

Back to top​

So how does this compare to QFF? I assume long haul is 3601miles+

If you look at SYD-LAX at 7491 miles it makes it 45K to upgrade from PE to Biz on both VFF and QFF. So that eg. is equal to Qantas.

But anything under 7001 miles VFF is more expensive.

[TABLE="class: basic"]
[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5"]QFF Points needed for a Flight Upgrade Award to Business Class[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Zone[/TD]
[TD]One-Way Miles[/TD]
[TD="width: 20%"]Discount Economy^[/TD]
[TD="width: 20%"]Economy[SUP]#[/SUP][/TD]
[TD="width: 20%"]Premium Economy[SUP]+[/SUP][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TD="width: 10%"]1[/TD]
[TD]

0-600​

[/TD]
[TD]

8,000​

[/TD]
[TD]5,000[/TD]
[TD]5,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]

601-1,200​

[/TD]
[TD]

12,000​

[/TD]
[TD]7,500[/TD]
[TD]7,500[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]

1,201-2,400​

[/TD]
[TD]

16,000​

[/TD]
[TD]10,000[/TD]
[TD]10,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]

2,401-3,600​

[/TD]
[TD]24,000[/TD]
[TD]15,000[/TD]
[TD]15,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]

3,601-4,800​

[/TD]
[TD]40,000[/TD]
[TD]25,000[/TD]
[TD]25,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]

4,801-5,800​

[/TD]
[TD]48,000[/TD]
[TD]30,000[/TD]
[TD]30,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]

5,801-7,000​

[/TD]
[TD]56,000[/TD]
[TD]35,000[/TD]
[TD]35,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]

7,001-8,400​

[/TD]
[TD]72,000[/TD]
[TD]45,000[/TD]
[TD]45,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]

8,401-9,600​

[/TD]
[TD]80,000[/TD]
[TD]50,000[/TD]
[TD]50,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]9,601-15,000[/TD]
[TD]96,000[/TD]
[TD]60,000[/TD]
[TD]60,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


If you look at Saver/Discount E to PE then it's 45K on QFF and 45K on VFF. Same again, except less than 7001 miles and QFF is less.
[TABLE="class: basic"]
[TR]
[TH="colspan: 4"]QFFPoints needed for a Flight Upgrade Award to Premium Economy[SUP]+[/SUP][/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Zone[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]One-Way Miles[/TD]
[TD="width: 20%"]Discount Economy^[/TD]
[TD="width: 40%"]Economy[SUP]#[/SUP][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TD="width: 10%"]1[/TD]
[TD]

0-600​

[/TD]
[TD]

5,000​

[/TD]
[TD]2,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]

601-1,200​

[/TD]
[TD]7,500[/TD]
[TD]3,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]

1,201-2,400​

[/TD]
[TD]10,000[/TD]
[TD]4,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]

2,401-3,600​

[/TD]
[TD]15,000[/TD]
[TD]6,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]

3,601-4,800​

[/TD]
[TD]25,000[/TD]
[TD]10,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]

4,801-5,800​

[/TD]
[TD]30,000[/TD]
[TD]12,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]

5,801-7,000​

[/TD]
[TD]35,000[/TD]
[TD]14,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]

7,001-8,400​

[/TD]
[TD]45,000[/TD]
[TD]18,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]

8,401-9,600​

[/TD]
[TD]50,000[/TD]
[TD]20,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]9,601-15,000[/TD]
[TD] 60,000[/TD]
[TD] 24,000[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[dandandan]

Yes they get a bit of income from Credit Cards but I suspect more from paid tickets. Lower status members can still redeem tickets anyway and they are most likely lower status as they do not fly a lot, buy cheaper fares or a combination of both. Whilst there is capacity control, if it's a free for all it would still limit the availability for this who have higher status and revenue spend with Virgin.

They do hold some value to Virgin, as there is a source of income.
Like I have stated, it is quite clearly stipulated that there are capacity controls, so it would not be a free for all for the lower tiers of the upgrade chain.

 

[dandandan]

Totally agree with you comments on why it is for higher status only.

I think this is a step in the right direction. By only looking 7 days out, they obviously are only looking at getting rid of excess seats rather than having a specific allocation available from the start. And by only providing Gold+, they are limiting it to their most loyal customers. I guess in a way it'll deter lower tiers from getting false hope that they may get an upgrade (ala Qantas) when indeed there is no hope at all.

Also interested in what the "cancellation fee" is if you decide to withdraw the upgrade once confirmed.