Does a higher status with Virgin Australia open more seats up to reward availability?

7 replies

Bigbird

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 17 Jun 2015

Total posts 40

Going from Bronze to Silver soon with VA and am looking to take the family to the USA with Business Reward seats. Once I'm silver will I see more available reward seats? 

freshthoughts

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 08 Aug 2016

Total posts 112

highly doubt silver will do anything as its not even really "higher status" also haven't seen any reports that even platinum helps in opening up J award seats like it does on QF

virgin have pretty good availability everywhere but to the USA.

your best chance would be booking about a week or less out from departure as they will release some of what isn't sold, however its very unlikely you'll ever find enough seats for the whole family in J both ways

Last editedby freshthoughts at May 29, 2017, 09:53 PM.

Neil R

Member since 28 Feb 2014

Total posts 55

Hi - I'm platinum with VA and it was just near impossible to book rewards points for AU-LAX..  I just returned from holiday last week with my partner.  When I attempted to book the flight last August, no rewards seats were available (We deliberately attempted to do the flights mid week in both directions for to avoid busy weekend flights).  In the end, I has to book 2 high end economy tickets, and while the SYD-LAX flight was upgraded in August, we were put on to wait list for the return sector.  As soon as the MEL flights were announced, I rang velocity to see if we could change to the LAX-MEL flight for an upgrade, and told no seats were available.  

Checking in at LAX last week, I asked the check in agent about the upgrade, and she  advised there were 7 seats left in business, but only 1 seat available for upgrade.  I joked that my points are worthless as I can never use them, and she just laughed.  Good look with your booking

Doubleplatinum Banned

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum

Member since 07 Feb 2013

Total posts 431

Negative, not for a status that can be achieved by around 3 return economy flights to perth!

julius-grafton

Member since 23 May 2012

Total posts 10

It has become incrementally harder and is now impossible to fly to/from LA in business for two people. Period. The program is broken. I am a Plat of 7 years standing, and have been flying or trying via Velocity for ten years. - Julius Grafton

Last editedby julius-grafton at May 30, 2017, 06:48 PM.

xtfer

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 14 Mar 2017

Total posts 159

TL;DR

Availability for reward seats doesn't seem to depend on tier, and there's none to the USA anyway. As a Silver, you will be upgraded after Plat, Gold as well, so probably no luck there either.

You'd probably have better luck with a PE seat (which look okay) and bidding for an upgrade instead.

Boof

Member since 29 Aug 2013

Total posts 33

TL;DR

Availability for reward seats doesn't seem to depend on tier, and there's none to the USA anyway. As a Silver, you will be upgraded after Plat, Gold as well, so probably no luck there either.

You'd probably have better luck with a PE seat (which look okay) and bidding for an upgrade instead.

Sadly Silver status with VA doesn't give access to long haul upgrades so you won't be able to upgrade at all. Best option is to look ex BNE for reward seats as they spring up a bit on that route especially the odd timed flights (VA9 & VA6). 

BJ01

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 07 Dec 2015

Total posts 57

Never had any success securing an award J Class seat to the USA with VA - no matter how hard I have tried. I've given up now. Clearly Platinum provides no extra benefit in this regard!

Have however had success with points upgrades from PE to Business 24 hours from departure. I can't recall a time when J has not been chockers on BNE-LAX-BNE. Great product!

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