Experience redeeming VX miles on International Partners
Sep 26, 2016, 1:18 pm
#76
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
I just got back from a trip to Australia. I booked my flight out the day before I left, and then my flight back just after landing. Use delta.com to check for availability before calling the burn desk. Use expertflyer to predict which flights will be available. I booked business class, and if a flight had >=12 seats available, it ended up becoming reservable with points anywhere from 1-6 days ahead of time. Mid-week is much more likely, but I did see weekend availability with as few as 4 seats showing as available in business (but only released the day before).
FYI, 90,000 points return (since I ended up having to book 2 one-ways), plus $100 or so in fees. I booked separate Virgin domestic flights to get to LAX.
FYI, 90,000 points return (since I ended up having to book 2 one-ways), plus $100 or so in fees. I booked separate Virgin domestic flights to get to LAX.
i had another thought on using my VX points to redeem emirates, but when i called the burn desk, they told me it is even harder compared to redeeming it for VA flights to Australia. according to this burn desk guy, he said VA flights can be redeem 1-3 months out, while emirates and singapore airlines are really elusive / non-existent.
so i guess i am back to using my VX points for the Australia plan. what a pain. i dont think i want to accrue points in VX after this.
Sep 26, 2016, 4:40 pm
#77
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 114
When I could actually get through the team there was super helpful. My advice is plan a trip about a month out and check the flight inventory for rough dates. Where you can, figure out the availabilities on your own without calling the burn desk, as it'll save you a lot of time (e.g. the Delta.com trick I mentioned above).
There was a bit of anxiety on my end flying out on a one-way ticket, but it all worked out great, and was a fantastic use of points.
There was a bit of anxiety on my end flying out on a one-way ticket, but it all worked out great, and was a fantastic use of points.
Sep 27, 2016, 3:30 pm
#79
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
i was frankly surprise to hear the burn desk guy say 1-3 months out for VA, since everybody is saying how difficult it is to score it. it could be that he's referring to Y then. though, our whole conversation was abt J - since that's what i was asking for .
Sep 27, 2016, 3:32 pm
#80
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
When I could actually get through the team there was super helpful. My advice is plan a trip about a month out and check the flight inventory for rough dates. Where you can, figure out the availabilities on your own without calling the burn desk, as it'll save you a lot of time (e.g. the Delta.com trick I mentioned above).
There was a bit of anxiety on my end flying out on a one-way ticket, but it all worked out great, and was a fantastic use of points.
There was a bit of anxiety on my end flying out on a one-way ticket, but it all worked out great, and was a fantastic use of points.
i have been advised to book another award tix while waiting for this VA to show up. so if it really show up, then i cancel the other one and take VA. still annoying cos i would need to pay for the cancellation fee no matter whcih award tix it is esp so close to departure
Sep 27, 2016, 5:06 pm
#82
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,398
Oct 18, 2016, 10:41 am
#83
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, VS Gold
Posts: 95
I had no problem finding availability through VX for Virgin Australia domestic flights. After making the booking, I needed to change the dates. Paid the redeposit fee and was told it would take up to 72 hours to get the points back. It's now 9 days and despite several phone calls and emails, there has been no action on redepositing the points. Very frustrating.
Dec 16, 2016, 9:26 am
#84
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 173
Singapore Y availability - how far in advance?
I'm trying to book a one-way award from JFK to FRA on SQ in Y for Nov 18, 2017 (11 months and 2 days out from today). Both ANA and Aeroplan websites show award availability.
First agent on the partner desk said that there was nothing available, better to check about 6 months out. I asked her to check a week earlier, and she said still nothing, check again closer to the departure date.
I called back and got a seemingly more knowledgeable agent who said that the schedule only went out to Nov 12, 2017. Definitely not an SQ limitation, perhaps this is a VX limitation. Anyways, I asked her to check Nov 11 for me, and she said there was no partner availability for even one seat in any class on that flight. I can see at least 5 lowest award level seats in Y on when checking availability on ANA and Aeroplan for that date too.
Does anyone know whether this is a VX IT thing and the availability shows up later? Or does Singapore provide different availability to *A partners vs. VX? How far in advance have people been able to book?
Thanks!
First agent on the partner desk said that there was nothing available, better to check about 6 months out. I asked her to check a week earlier, and she said still nothing, check again closer to the departure date.
I called back and got a seemingly more knowledgeable agent who said that the schedule only went out to Nov 12, 2017. Definitely not an SQ limitation, perhaps this is a VX limitation. Anyways, I asked her to check Nov 11 for me, and she said there was no partner availability for even one seat in any class on that flight. I can see at least 5 lowest award level seats in Y on when checking availability on ANA and Aeroplan for that date too.
Does anyone know whether this is a VX IT thing and the availability shows up later? Or does Singapore provide different availability to *A partners vs. VX? How far in advance have people been able to book?
Thanks!
Dec 16, 2016, 3:59 pm
#85
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,850
SQ availability with VX points is non existent and since it is looking more and more like elevate will be wrapped up as quickly as AS can get rid of it, you will probably just have to hope for a good transfer rate to MileagePlan and redeem on one of AS's partners.
Dec 16, 2016, 8:01 pm
#86
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CGK/LAX
Programs: KF,JMB, OZ, SPG,AA,UA,AS
Posts: 1,163
I'm trying to book a one-way award from JFK to FRA on SQ in Y for Nov 18, 2017 (11 months and 2 days out from today). Both ANA and Aeroplan websites show award availability.
First agent on the partner desk said that there was nothing available, better to check about 6 months out. I asked her to check a week earlier, and she said still nothing, check again closer to the departure date.
I called back and got a seemingly more knowledgeable agent who said that the schedule only went out to Nov 12, 2017. Definitely not an SQ limitation, perhaps this is a VX limitation. Anyways, I asked her to check Nov 11 for me, and she said there was no partner availability for even one seat in any class on that flight. I can see at least 5 lowest award level seats in Y on when checking availability on ANA and Aeroplan for that date too.
Does anyone know whether this is a VX IT thing and the availability shows up later? Or does Singapore provide different availability to *A partners vs. VX? How far in advance have people been able to book?
Thanks!
First agent on the partner desk said that there was nothing available, better to check about 6 months out. I asked her to check a week earlier, and she said still nothing, check again closer to the departure date.
I called back and got a seemingly more knowledgeable agent who said that the schedule only went out to Nov 12, 2017. Definitely not an SQ limitation, perhaps this is a VX limitation. Anyways, I asked her to check Nov 11 for me, and she said there was no partner availability for even one seat in any class on that flight. I can see at least 5 lowest award level seats in Y on when checking availability on ANA and Aeroplan for that date too.
Does anyone know whether this is a VX IT thing and the availability shows up later? Or does Singapore provide different availability to *A partners vs. VX? How far in advance have people been able to book?
Thanks!
Dec 17, 2016, 9:56 am
#87
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 35
Hi Guys,
I managed to request EK booking for two from MEL-SIN in business. Oddly enough, the agent told me the taxes were $60.4*2 for two of us, although according to website it should have been $245*2. She proceeded to charge my CC and gave me a booking reference. I am still waiting for it to be ticketed (been less than 24hrs). Any idea if the agent was wrong or are the taxes really so low ? Should I call them to re-confirm?
I managed to request EK booking for two from MEL-SIN in business. Oddly enough, the agent told me the taxes were $60.4*2 for two of us, although according to website it should have been $245*2. She proceeded to charge my CC and gave me a booking reference. I am still waiting for it to be ticketed (been less than 24hrs). Any idea if the agent was wrong or are the taxes really so low ? Should I call them to re-confirm?
Dec 18, 2016, 5:47 am
#88
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,211
Hi Guys,
I managed to request EK booking for two from MEL-SIN in business. Oddly enough, the agent told me the taxes were $60.4*2 for two of us, although according to website it should have been $245*2. She proceeded to charge my CC and gave me a booking reference. I am still waiting for it to be ticketed (been less than 24hrs). Any idea if the agent was wrong or are the taxes really so low ? Should I call them to re-confirm?
I managed to request EK booking for two from MEL-SIN in business. Oddly enough, the agent told me the taxes were $60.4*2 for two of us, although according to website it should have been $245*2. She proceeded to charge my CC and gave me a booking reference. I am still waiting for it to be ticketed (been less than 24hrs). Any idea if the agent was wrong or are the taxes really so low ? Should I call them to re-confirm?
Dec 19, 2016, 11:35 am
#90
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185