Upgrading on Virgin Australia
May 23, 2017, 11:16 am
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,052
Last time I flew Y on VA they still used *A lounge at LAX. I asked at check-in for a lounge invite. Was not turned down.
May 23, 2017, 11:04 pm
#32
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
I use my DL number or VA number on the LAX departures depending on what credit I need (keep status with both). The NZ lounge refused to accept me before I got VA Gold. The VA check in agents told me I 'could try', but I wasn't entitled. Even after I got VA Gold, if my DL number was on the boarding pass, the NZ lounge refused me until they brought my card in (without me) and got my BP reissued with the VA number attached. I had to phone in afterwards and swap it back.
Now that VA uses the EY and EK lounges at LAX, they go off a pre-printed list. if I use my DL number, I don't get on the list. But at EK at least they let me in showing my VA card.
Oct 3, 2017, 3:29 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,626
Its been almost 2 years -- on 12/30/15, I upgraded a VA PE ticket BNE-LAX for AUD$1000 -- about US$750 or so at the time.
I looked back at my mileage earned for the whole ticket which was DCA-DTW-LAX-NRT-SIN/BNE-LAX-ATL-DCA. Based on my MQM bonuses I think I managed to book split fares -- discounted coach DCA-DTW, discounted business from DTW to SIN. Permium economy (W) from BNE-LAX and discounted FC LAX-DCA. The whole ticket earned $2513 MQDs, of which $865 went for the BNE-LAX leg.
This was a paid ticket on 006 stock -- I think I planned it our using ITA matrix, then called and worked with a agent who was able to make it work. (I transferred Chase Reward points to UA and flew Thai from SIN-BNE.)
tom
I looked back at my mileage earned for the whole ticket which was DCA-DTW-LAX-NRT-SIN/BNE-LAX-ATL-DCA. Based on my MQM bonuses I think I managed to book split fares -- discounted coach DCA-DTW, discounted business from DTW to SIN. Permium economy (W) from BNE-LAX and discounted FC LAX-DCA. The whole ticket earned $2513 MQDs, of which $865 went for the BNE-LAX leg.
This was a paid ticket on 006 stock -- I think I planned it our using ITA matrix, then called and worked with a agent who was able to make it work. (I transferred Chase Reward points to UA and flew Thai from SIN-BNE.)
tom
Oct 4, 2017, 1:12 am
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 99
Mar 22, 2018, 6:09 pm
#37
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Wollongong (WOL)
Programs: QFF (Bronze), Velocity (VA WP)
Posts: 12
It sounds like UpgradeMe is still possibly a cheaper option than upgrade at the gate, assuming your bid actually wins.
Is there any difference though where an upgrade (through upgrademe) still only earns you the original class of SC/points - but an upgrade at the gate with cash will actually change your booking to give you the new (e.g. Z/J) SC rate ?
I'm looking at SYD-LAX - expertflyer shows a number of seats still open in both J and PE but it's still looking pricey to upgrade (with cash) and of course no points upgrade has been available for a while (didn't worry about getting on the waitlist as that's never worked out for me in the past - though I've seen others who said it has worked..)
It looks cheaper to think about a paid upgrade from LAX-SYD as there's a 20% discount available at the moment on UpgradeMe bids minimum.. the upgrade cost for 2 on the one leg back would still be more than the entire return trip ticket costs currently though :-)
Is there any difference though where an upgrade (through upgrademe) still only earns you the original class of SC/points - but an upgrade at the gate with cash will actually change your booking to give you the new (e.g. Z/J) SC rate ?
I'm looking at SYD-LAX - expertflyer shows a number of seats still open in both J and PE but it's still looking pricey to upgrade (with cash) and of course no points upgrade has been available for a while (didn't worry about getting on the waitlist as that's never worked out for me in the past - though I've seen others who said it has worked..)
It looks cheaper to think about a paid upgrade from LAX-SYD as there's a 20% discount available at the moment on UpgradeMe bids minimum.. the upgrade cost for 2 on the one leg back would still be more than the entire return trip ticket costs currently though :-)
Mar 23, 2018, 12:05 am
#38
Join Date: May 2004
Location: formerly Gold now Diamond, formerly MSY, now LAX, formerly NW, now DL
Programs: Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Delta Diamond/1MM
Posts: 4,635
You can only buy up to the seats with extra legroom ($140 or so each leg) which VA can do for you but going to PE is a completely different booking so you'd have to pay the change fee and the fare difference.
Mar 23, 2018, 2:56 am
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,033
It sounds like UpgradeMe is still possibly a cheaper option than upgrade at the gate, assuming your bid actually wins.
Is there any difference though where an upgrade (through upgrademe) still only earns you the original class of SC/points - but an upgrade at the gate with cash will actually change your booking to give you the new (e.g. Z/J) SC rate ?
I'm looking at SYD-LAX - expertflyer shows a number of seats still open in both J and PE but it's still looking pricey to upgrade (with cash) and of course no points upgrade has been available for a while (didn't worry about getting on the waitlist as that's never worked out for me in the past - though I've seen others who said it has worked..)
It looks cheaper to think about a paid upgrade from LAX-SYD as there's a 20% discount available at the moment on UpgradeMe bids minimum.. the upgrade cost for 2 on the one leg back would still be more than the entire return trip ticket costs currently though :-)
Is there any difference though where an upgrade (through upgrademe) still only earns you the original class of SC/points - but an upgrade at the gate with cash will actually change your booking to give you the new (e.g. Z/J) SC rate ?
I'm looking at SYD-LAX - expertflyer shows a number of seats still open in both J and PE but it's still looking pricey to upgrade (with cash) and of course no points upgrade has been available for a while (didn't worry about getting on the waitlist as that's never worked out for me in the past - though I've seen others who said it has worked..)
It looks cheaper to think about a paid upgrade from LAX-SYD as there's a 20% discount available at the moment on UpgradeMe bids minimum.. the upgrade cost for 2 on the one leg back would still be more than the entire return trip ticket costs currently though :-)
Mar 23, 2018, 5:32 am
#40
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Wollongong (WOL)
Programs: QFF (Bronze), Velocity (VA WP)
Posts: 12
In a slightly amusing coincidence, am actually going to be flying DL metal on one of the legs back to SYD in 2 weeks codeshared as VA and had almost the exact reverse of this forum thread (how can a VA FF get DL to do an upgrade based on VA status.. )
Mar 23, 2018, 7:01 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,995
How soon is the trip? Within about 7 days award seats (Z class) can become available if there are a few seats left - these use the same fare bucket that is used for upgrades.
When (If) you see that, you can call and get upgraded on the spot.
Of course, this is only relevant if you have booked flex/PE.
When (If) you see that, you can call and get upgraded on the spot.
Of course, this is only relevant if you have booked flex/PE.
Last edited by serfty; Mar 23, 2018 at 7:14 pm
