Booking award over phone with US CC
Jan 8, 2016, 7:51 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 959
fOK. I am a USA based Velocity member who used a mates OZ address to sign up for my Velocity account. I plan on making a large points transfer from SPG and want to make sure there are no hiccups when booking with Velocity.
Jan 8, 2016, 10:19 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
Jan 9, 2016, 5:04 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: KYE
Posts: 4,156
So better call VA and check they can see - and book- availability for the flights you're after before you send your SPG points into the abyss.
Last edited by edy4eva; Jan 9, 2016 at 5:13 pm
Jan 9, 2016, 5:37 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 959
I second that as well. VA are among the worst in lining up award availability with partner airlines. wysiNwyg. I've had my share of failed attempts for DL, SQ, SA, NZ and EY. The worst is redeeming for VX flights where they see a reward seat available, select it but comes back as unconfirmed. In the case of DL, they're limited to the options that can be seen through VA own website, don't even hope they'll find a seat for a simple LAX-SFO or LAX-JFK despite being available from DL side.
So better call VA and check they can see - and book- availability for the flights you're after before you send your SPG points into the abyss.
So better call VA and check they can see - and book- availability for the flights you're after before you send your SPG points into the abyss.
Jan 9, 2016, 6:25 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: KYE
Posts: 4,156
If you can't find availability on VA website it's a gamble.
Jan 9, 2016, 6:37 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: KYE
Posts: 4,156
Gotta add, why not just transfer to EY?! If you can see it on EY website, it's probably best to use EY miles, no hassles no risks no worries. Best of, you'll earn some miles back for the cash component. They also allow 1 free change, and charge only 2k EY miles for cancelling/refund. Also AA might be better value to transfer to than EY.
With VA they charge a 60 dollar credit card fee if the taxes are more than 50, and for each change/cancellation.
With VA they charge a 60 dollar credit card fee if the taxes are more than 50, and for each change/cancellation.
Jan 9, 2016, 8:28 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 959
Gotta add, why not just transfer to EY?! If you can see it on EY website, it's probably best to use EY miles, no hassles no risks no worries. Best of, you'll earn some miles back for the cash component. They also allow 1 free change, and charge only 2k EY miles for cancelling/refund. Also AA might be better value to transfer to than EY.
With VA they charge a 60 dollar credit card fee if the taxes are more than 50, and for each change/cancellation.
With VA they charge a 60 dollar credit card fee if the taxes are more than 50, and for each change/cancellation.
Carrier Charge (YRF) AED 370
Also, I have had no luck pulling ANY EY awards up on the Velocity website??
Jan 9, 2016, 8:42 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: KYE
Posts: 4,156
EY wants to charge me an absurd $300 surcharge (see below) to book at the Guest Seat level for the award I want (AUH-SEZ) in Business. This "YRF" charge is not imposed on the OpenSeat award. Plus, the Velocity award is only 33,800 miles compared to 40,000 EY miles.
Carrier Charge (YRF) AED 370
Also, I have had no luck pulling ANY EY awards up on the Velocity website??
Carrier Charge (YRF) AED 370
Also, I have had no luck pulling ANY EY awards up on the Velocity website??
Actually not true what you said. It's 39020 EY miles and It's 450AED (about 122USD).
Jan 9, 2016, 8:50 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: KYE
Posts: 4,156
AUH-SEZ with 75/25 miles/cash costs 29157 EY miles and ~211USD in cash/surcharges/taxes, certainly not the figure you quoted. I would book this directly with EY as you'll only need 24157 SPG points instead of 28.8k for VA. You know the value of those 4643k SPG points.
Also AED is NOT AUD. AED is UAE Dirhams, for which 1USD=3.67AED.
Also AED is NOT AUD. AED is UAE Dirhams, for which 1USD=3.67AED.
Last edited by edy4eva; Jan 9, 2016 at 9:00 pm
Jan 9, 2016, 9:13 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
You seem to want to take a high risk gamble to possibly save a few $$$
Jan 9, 2016, 10:33 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 959
AUH-SEZ with 75/25 miles/cash costs 29157 EY miles and ~211USD in cash/surcharges/taxes, certainly not the figure you quoted. I would book this directly with EY as you'll only need 24157 SPG points instead of 28.8k for VA. You know the value of those 4643k SPG points.
Also AED is NOT AUD. AED is UAE Dirhams, for which 1USD=3.67AED.
Also AED is NOT AUD. AED is UAE Dirhams, for which 1USD=3.67AED.
