How to Redeem Your SkyMiles on Virgin Australia Business Class
Mar 18, 2011, 10:27 am
#61
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL DM, AA PlatPro, Hilton DM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 1,532
I wish I had found this thread earlier! I just figured out how to sign up for a Velocity Rewards account and search for the business "reward" seat. I'm still figuring out dates but a test date I tried with the Diamond desk worked fine.
Jun 3, 2011, 8:50 am
#63
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA
Posts: 269
Thank you so much for the instructions! I booked 3 awards in Z on VA LAX-MEL 12/20-1/12 on Wed! It really took no time at all with the DL agent since I had already used the Velocity site to find availability. I was wary about it showing 3 available seats and was worried that it wouldn't come up on the DL end, but it went through just fine!
This was my first award booking and I was pleasantly surprised at how pain-free it was. (Except for seeing the 450k miles disappear!)
Many many thanks to Wiirachay for the walk-through that made the booking so quick! I am excited to try out VA for the first time and to spend 3 weeks down under!
This was my first award booking and I was pleasantly surprised at how pain-free it was. (Except for seeing the 450k miles disappear!)
Many many thanks to Wiirachay for the walk-through that made the booking so quick! I am excited to try out VA for the first time and to spend 3 weeks down under!
Jun 8, 2011, 8:50 am
#67
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA
Posts: 269
Parents flew VA on Saturday LAX-MEL and have reported wonderful things. They did say that they arrived at LAX 3.5 hours ahead and got the last exit row seats available. VA does not assign economy (prem. econ?) seating beforehand (I was able to call and have them assign seats to my Z awards, but they have yet to show online so we'll see). Check-in is supposed to open 3 hours before departure, but it seems in practice it actually opens before that. Probably because of the long lines you saw!
Jun 14, 2011, 6:35 am
#72
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Treasure Coast of FL (MCO/MLB/PBI)
Programs: AS MVP, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 844
This thread is making me re-think that trip. When I booked the above itinerary on literally the first day the flights were available for booking, I was "thrilled" to find mid-level availability in F/J for me and my wife (given the aforementioned lack of low availability). I'd been saving up my miles for 3 and a half years for the trip, so I had the SkyPesos to burn, though it definitely frosts me that we took the first F/J seats on all four flights and still had to pay medium mileage. That, however, is a topic for another thread...
Even though we're confirmed and excited for the trip, I'd be interested to hear how DL's 777 BE compares to Virgin's J. I'm not itching to switch (since I snagged both the domestic and int'l legs), but adding 180k back to my SM account could be too much to pass up. Anyone with experience flying both? Is the true flat-bed and 1-2-1 config worth it? Anyone ever done DL metal one-way and VA the other way? What did that trip price out at?
Thanks!
Jun 14, 2011, 7:31 am
#73
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: BNA
Programs: DL PM/MM, Hilton Diamond, *wood plat, UA 1kc
Posts: 921
Is there a max number of days from which VA will release inventory? I just created a Velocity account and was able to see 2 Biz awards from LAX-SYD for Mid-Feb 2012 but the Delta agent, who seemed very knowledgable (MN Accent so perhaps the North MN call center?) but she was unable to see the availibility.
Updated: I called a third time and found an agent who was able to make BNA-ATL-LAX-SYD-LAX work in F/Biz for 150k miles on the dates I listed above that the first two couldn't make work. This was her first VA booking and she called a manager in the "Int'l Depart" and I sat there as she received instruction.
The LAX-x-BNA, had I booked in F would have added 70k to it and Y 61.5k. I'll try and change that later or just buy an AA or SW ticket. Delta would have been 370k for the r/t. Thanks for this thread! btw - the agent was pretty hard on Delta for their mileage rates. Said she gets tired of hearing that plats and diamonds have so much trouble.
Updated: I called a third time and found an agent who was able to make BNA-ATL-LAX-SYD-LAX work in F/Biz for 150k miles on the dates I listed above that the first two couldn't make work. This was her first VA booking and she called a manager in the "Int'l Depart" and I sat there as she received instruction.
The LAX-x-BNA, had I booked in F would have added 70k to it and Y 61.5k. I'll try and change that later or just buy an AA or SW ticket. Delta would have been 370k for the r/t. Thanks for this thread! btw - the agent was pretty hard on Delta for their mileage rates. Said she gets tired of hearing that plats and diamonds have so much trouble.
Last edited by Air Brian; Jun 14, 2011 at 10:36 am
Jun 24, 2011, 7:34 am
#74
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Anyone know if we're allowed to redeem for AUH-SYD on VA? I can't get the Velocity Rewards booking engine to do a reward search for that route, but they appear to be flying it 3x weekly. Trying to see what my options are for doing LHR-SYD/MEL, and if I could get AUH-SYD on VA and link it up with LHR-CDG-AUH on AF, I might be a very happy camper.
Jun 24, 2011, 8:03 am
#75
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Home: Arlington, VA; Home airports: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: Active: AA, UA, DL
Posts: 4,095
Anyone know if we're allowed to redeem for AUH-SYD on VA? I can't get the Velocity Rewards booking engine to do a reward search for that route, but they appear to be flying it 3x weekly. Trying to see what my options are for doing LHR-SYD/MEL, and if I could get AUH-SYD on VA and link it up with LHR-CDG-AUH on AF, I might be a very happy camper.
