Hi all, I want to book a velocity reward business class trip from ADL to LHR around christmas (before or after, not during the silly season).
When I use the velocity website to search for reward flights there are very very few flights to choose from that fall into the 'reward seat' category (im talking maybe 1 per month, and even then it is with SQ with the VA domestic flight in business and the SQ flights in economy) other than this, there are the anyseat flights, which are around 700k points each way.
Does anyone have any ideas how I could maximise my use of points to yield the best reward, whether it be booking departure from another city, choosing a different route to get there etc? If im flying business, then journey duration is not an issue.
I would suggest calling VA, and asking them to look up the availability for the dates you want. I know this can be tedious over the phone, but they should be able to look at any of the EY availability too, which should be better than the availability for VA on SQ flights.
Their website when it comes to doing anything to do with the partner airlines still needs work.
You might be doing this already, but often it helps to split up your trip when searching for awards. e.g. search for ADL-SYD, SYD-AUH and AUH-LHR or ADL-SIN and SIN-LHR, or even try BNE as EY flies from there to SIN and onwards. In many occasions it will yield better results. I agree with calling VA will most probably be best, it is good if you can spoonfeed the flights you might want however (or give suggestions) as agents often will also only look at more direct options rather than checking individual segments.
Agreed - call. They can see more options over several dates.
The bottle neck may be from Oz to Abu Dhabi. Last time I checked, Velocity had limited access to seats on flights ex AUS to Abu Dhabi on Etihad. I was all poised to move from Qantas to Velocity, and called Velocity first just to check on avails out of Oz for next 10-11 months. They could not get 2 seats in business from MEL, SYD or BNE to Abu Dhabi - Velocity told me (this was 8 months ago) that they only have access to 2 seats in business per Etihad flight, and once a single seat had gone getting a pair on a flight was impossible.
After Abu Dhabi to Europe there was avail as I guess the Velocity 2 seats limit was diluted over many destinations. Since Virgin Atlantic have left Oz it has somewhat diminished the avail seats out of the country, unless of course you try for SQ, but that requires considerably more points. Hopefully they have upped the limit from 2 seats by now in light of this.
Reward redemptions from MEL to AUH (or DXB with Qantas) are pretty tight with both schemes (for J and F). I think this reflects paid fare pricing (you can pay just as much, sometimes more, for a flight to AUH/DXB as you can for the same carrier to LHR/Europe!), which is quirky for Middle East stops.
I agree that phoning is best, once you have tried a few online searches.
Agreed - call. They can see more options over several dates.
The bottle neck may be from Oz to Abu Dhabi. Last time I checked, Velocity had limited access to seats on flights ex AUS to Abu Dhabi on Etihad. I was all poised to move from Qantas to Velocity, and called Velocity first just to check on avails out of Oz for next 10-11 months. They could not get 2 seats in business from MEL, SYD or BNE to Abu Dhabi - Velocity told me (this was 8 months ago) that they only have access to 2 seats in business per Etihad flight, and once a single seat had gone getting a pair on a flight was impossible.
After Abu Dhabi to Europe there was avail as I guess the Velocity 2 seats limit was diluted over many destinations. Since Virgin Atlantic have left Oz it has somewhat diminished the avail seats out of the country, unless of course you try for SQ, but that requires considerably more points. Hopefully they have upped the limit from 2 seats by now in light of this.
Thanks for your advice! As per KG's suggestion, I tried looking at individual segments, which doubled the Business Reward price, and there were no options on the SIN/AUH-LHR leg at all, not even as an AnySeat Reward.
Given what RR has said about poor availability of EY Business seats out of Aus, do you think it would be a feasible option to take the long way around, say ADL-SYD/BNE-LAX on VA, and then LAX-LHR on VS or DL?
Has anyone on here done a similar route before that can comment?
Just trying to get all my ducks in a row before I call Velocity, as I imagine the phone call will be like pulling teeth, and I will need to do most of the work for them.
jonno88 Whilst looking at individual segments it might appear as if you have to pay more miles, once you call the call centre to book the segments if you find availablility they should just charge you the cost from e.g. SYD-LHR (as opposed to pricing it seperately per segment). There might be a slightly higher tax amount if you travel through more airports.
With regard to availability to LHR, as this is a busy destination, you might be better of trying to fly into DUS, CDG, MAN or AMS and make your way over to LHR on a separate (bought) ticket.
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jonno88
jonno88
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 27 Jan 2015
Total posts 25
Hi all, I want to book a velocity reward business class trip from ADL to LHR around christmas (before or after, not during the silly season).
When I use the velocity website to search for reward flights there are very very few flights to choose from that fall into the 'reward seat' category (im talking maybe 1 per month, and even then it is with SQ with the VA domestic flight in business and the SQ flights in economy) other than this, there are the anyseat flights, which are around 700k points each way.
Does anyone have any ideas how I could maximise my use of points to yield the best reward, whether it be booking departure from another city, choosing a different route to get there etc? If im flying business, then journey duration is not an issue.
Thanks all for your help
Gian
Gian
VA Platinum
Member since 26 Mar 2014
Total posts 88
I would suggest calling VA, and asking them to look up the availability for the dates you want. I know this can be tedious over the phone, but they should be able to look at any of the EY availability too, which should be better than the availability for VA on SQ flights.
Their website when it comes to doing anything to do with the partner airlines still needs work.
jonno88
jonno88
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 27 Jan 2015
Total posts 25
Thanks for the tip! I will give them a call.
KG
KG
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 May 2011
Total posts 249
You might be doing this already, but often it helps to split up your trip when searching for awards. e.g. search for ADL-SYD, SYD-AUH and AUH-LHR or ADL-SIN and SIN-LHR, or even try BNE as EY flies from there to SIN and onwards. In many occasions it will yield better results. I agree with calling VA will most probably be best, it is good if you can spoonfeed the flights you might want however (or give suggestions) as agents often will also only look at more direct options rather than checking individual segments.
RR
RR
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 17 Aug 2012
Total posts 45
Agreed - call. They can see more options over several dates.
gippsflyer
gippsflyer
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 Jan 2013
Total posts 162
Reward redemptions from MEL to AUH (or DXB with Qantas) are pretty tight with both schemes (for J and F). I think this reflects paid fare pricing (you can pay just as much, sometimes more, for a flight to AUH/DXB as you can for the same carrier to LHR/Europe!), which is quirky for Middle East stops.
I agree that phoning is best, once you have tried a few online searches.
RR
RR
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 17 Aug 2012
Total posts 45
Agreed - call. They can see more options over several dates.
jonno88
jonno88
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 27 Jan 2015
Total posts 25
Thanks for your advice!
As per KG's suggestion, I tried looking at individual segments, which doubled the Business Reward price, and there were no options on the SIN/AUH-LHR leg at all, not even as an AnySeat Reward.
Given what RR has said about poor availability of EY Business seats out of Aus, do you think it would be a feasible option to take the long way around, say ADL-SYD/BNE-LAX on VA, and then LAX-LHR on VS or DL?
Has anyone on here done a similar route before that can comment?
Just trying to get all my ducks in a row before I call Velocity, as I imagine the phone call will be like pulling teeth, and I will need to do most of the work for them.
KG
KG
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 May 2011
Total posts 249
jonno88 Whilst looking at individual segments it might appear as if you have to pay more miles, once you call the call centre to book the segments if you find availablility they should just charge you the cost from e.g. SYD-LHR (as opposed to pricing it seperately per segment). There might be a slightly higher tax amount if you travel through more airports.
With regard to availability to LHR, as this is a busy destination, you might be better of trying to fly into DUS, CDG, MAN or AMS and make your way over to LHR on a separate (bought) ticket.