How to Redeem Your SkyMiles on Virgin Australia Business Class
Aug 22, 2010, 12:20 pm
#32
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Aug 22, 2010, 12:45 pm
#33
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Aug 22, 2010, 11:15 pm
#34
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I'm starting to see that DL does not always have access to VA Z class awards even when they show as available on KVS or EF. Say the week of Oct 24th-31st, all flights from SYD to LAX show 4 seats available in Z yet DL does not see any. On the brighter side, they have no problem finding seats from MEL. Has anyone managed to corner this yet?
UPDATE: I am not sure that this whole thread is correct. I've been trying all day and none of the Delta agents can find any Z Class seats the whole October from SYD or MEL. My reservation which was booked into Z from MEL-LAX-MEL was mysteriously changed to F overnight. Has anyone manged to get a Z Booking using their DL miles?
UPDATE: I am not sure that this whole thread is correct. I've been trying all day and none of the Delta agents can find any Z Class seats the whole October from SYD or MEL. My reservation which was booked into Z from MEL-LAX-MEL was mysteriously changed to F overnight. Has anyone manged to get a Z Booking using their DL miles?
Last edited by damaxer91; Aug 23, 2010 at 6:35 am Reason: UPDATE
Aug 26, 2010, 8:46 pm
#35
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Unfortunately folks, damaxer91 is correct. After being alerted by a subscriber that something wasn't right, a few phone calls and velocityrewards.com.au website searches later, we have found that VA doesn't at all publish F/P/Z inventory into any GDS. What we're seeing can best be described as "ghost" classes.
On EF, this will manifest itself as showing F4 P4 Z4 all the time due to the way we search for the classes. On FlightStats (the website KVS gets its data from for the FS method), it will manifest itself as both false negatives and false positives totally at random. For example on FlightStats 08-Nov from MEL-LAX (to see VA 1 SYD-LAX) doesn't show Z class, however on velocityrewards there is availability. Conversely on 12-Nov MEL-LAX (to see VA 7 BNE-LAX) shows Z4 when velocityrewards says there is no Z availability on VA7.
Sorry folks, wish I had better news.
On EF, this will manifest itself as showing F4 P4 Z4 all the time due to the way we search for the classes. On FlightStats (the website KVS gets its data from for the FS method), it will manifest itself as both false negatives and false positives totally at random. For example on FlightStats 08-Nov from MEL-LAX (to see VA 1 SYD-LAX) doesn't show Z class, however on velocityrewards there is availability. Conversely on 12-Nov MEL-LAX (to see VA 7 BNE-LAX) shows Z4 when velocityrewards says there is no Z availability on VA7.
Sorry folks, wish I had better news.
Sep 5, 2010, 12:19 pm
#37
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Sep 5, 2010, 5:14 pm
#38
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Yes, I've been doing quite a lot of research on the matter and it seems that the award availablity on www.velocityrewards.com will be the same as what Delta can offer you. Often, the agent will mistakenly book it into F (Economy Class) even after you tell them that you need Z (Business Class). Make sure to stay on the line with then until after you have recieved the E-Ticket to confirm that it is in fact a Z class ticket
Sep 5, 2010, 7:26 pm
#39
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I put in the Hilton address. If you have a good sense of humor, put down the address of VA's corporate HQ. 
- Pat
Sep 5, 2010, 8:08 pm
#40
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Yes, I've been doing quite a lot of research on the matter and it seems that the award availablity on www.velocityrewards.com will be the same as what Delta can offer you. Often, the agent will mistakenly book it into F (Economy Class) even after you tell them that you need Z (Business Class). Make sure to stay on the line with then until after you have recieved the E-Ticket to confirm that it is in fact a Z class ticket
Sep 6, 2010, 2:10 am
#41
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Sep 11, 2010, 9:38 pm
#42
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Actually 600k miles for 4 and taxes AND Wiirachay if I see you at the Chicago DO or at a DC DO, we can add the cost of a few beers in your honor to it as well. I have been using my DL miles at a rate faster than my AA miles! 3 MM in less than 6 months. Anybody who can't use their skypesos, in the future, if we ever get a 100% transfer bonus, send 'em to me.
There you go. ....burn 450k miles in one day for 3 business class tickets.
Sep 12, 2010, 7:33 am
#44
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Oct 21, 2010, 8:22 am
#45
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I just tried and no luck. I went and picked flights out first that I saw had the avail. I thought I had gotten lucky. Confirmed it was for 150k. I get the confirmation, and they have charged my card 9000. I call back and have that voided, and try again. They still can't see the seats. Most of the agents don't even know who V is.