Virgin Velocity points

Lroddo on 11/08/2015 - 02:44

Hello!

Just been browsing the Virgin Australia site, whilst logged in. I have 6000 points but was wondering where I could go with my 110 000 haul from my credit card, once it comes through.

I was unable to find a single flight that I could use points for with the economy saver selection – international or domestic.

This doesn't seem to be just because of my lack of points – the selection for the "economy reward" is always greyed out, whilst the "saver" fare (about twice as expensive) is available to select.

I have tried international and domestic, and many dates that range from October this year to June next year…

Is it hard to redeem an "economy reward" or "business reward" flight, or is there a way to search for "economy reward" fares that are available?

Cheeers

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Comments

  • modsec802 on 11/08/2015 - 07:21
    +3

    Welcome to the world of flight redemptions that are almost impossible to find.

  • Jayphen on 11/08/2015 - 08:20

    There seem to be plenty of flights to London in October (75-80k points each way). Where are you looking?

  • carwashhair on 11/08/2015 - 08:26

    ^exactly as juicedpixels says. Although reward redemptions are generally easier to snag with Velocity than with QFF.

    the selection for the "economy reward" is always greyed out, whilst the "saver" fare (about twice as expensive) is available to select

    The reward fare is the one you're after, since the 'economy saver' points fares are effectively the cash value fares offered for sale but converted to points. Very poor value redemptions, as you've noted.

    If you're not seeing any 'economy reward' availability, try different dates. Reward/award seats are released approximately 330 days out, are limited, and will get snapped up quickly for desirable dates (e.g. school holidays) and destinations (e.g. tropics in winter). You can still get lucky as sometimes more reward seats are released closer to the flight, but it's not something you can plan a whole trip around.

    If you wanna get serious on redemptions, head over here and read up http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/virgin-a…
    there's a wealth of info to sink your teeth into

  • Ndiddy on 11/08/2015 - 08:43

    Hey roddo,

    Redemption availability is a bit of hit and miss but the further out you book the greater your chances. The other option you have is to xfer your velocity points to Singapore Airlines. Again depending on class of travel, destination and date the redemption availability is generally quite good.

    Do note that you will pay more taxes on SQ than you would on Virgin from what I've seen.

  • vvti85 on 11/08/2015 - 09:02
    +1

    I did some research about a month back and found a business class flight on Etihad from Melbourne to Londhon Heathrow for 106K points plus taxes of $1xx.

    These were fares which were in may 2016 though. You may have to look quite far out for award redemptions

    As Ndiddy mentioned you can transfer you Velocity points to Singapore Krisflyer at a rate of 1.35:1 netting 81481 KF points (enough to get you to Amsterdam, Athen, Copenhagen or Rome in Singapore Business class one way.

    • Paul Atreides on 11/08/2015 - 10:49

      should be 125k points

      EDIT: **normally, 106200 was during the 15% off reward redemptions

      • vvti85 on 11/08/2015 - 11:03

        Fair enough - it was a while ago I did that research.

        I also forgot singapore airlines has 15% off online award redemptions so you could actually get further. (MEL-LHR in J class one way is possible)

  • sagrules on 11/08/2015 - 15:43

    How do you transfer the velocity points to SQ?

  • roddo on 12/08/2015 - 02:00

    Earlier I was seeing possibility of redeeming points but now it's been greyed out again. Might have something to do with my red sewer dwelling status, or my account not having enough points to book a flight. I'll check back when I get my 110000 points…

    Tried those dates suggested above and no luck.

    Cheers, I'll be back.

  • anna10 on 13/08/2015 - 11:10

    Anyone know approx how many VA points needed to go to SQ for a suite or F, return SYD-SIN-HKG? ;)

  • nimnomnimy on 13/08/2015 - 22:15
    +1

    Using your points to buy fares is a waste of money, you are better off buying premium tickets and upgrading to business or first class.

    The value of those seats is far greater and it will cost you less points.
    Example - I am a velocity gold and I fly from Melbourne to Sydney fairly often.

    If I fly cheapo 1 way, I get around 1750 points, then buy Flexi fair economy on the way back will give me around 3000 points (total 4750 points). I upgrade my return flight to business for 250 points and I have paid an extra $150 and 250 points for a seat worth $450 more meaning that my 250 points are now worth $300

    Same applies to international flight, book a Flexi ticket and pay 25k points to upgrade to business. The seats are worth triple and the points you'll make will mean that you have to accrue very little to fly business again.

    I have enough points now that I can pretty much upgrade every time to business for the foreseeable future.

    The inverse I guess if you only fly very infrequently in which case the cost of paying for a Flexi fare is never going to make sense for you.

    Just my 2c

    • Paul Atreides on 14/08/2015 - 13:50

      so you paid $175 + $300 = $475 for a return flight melb to sydney

      you use 250 points to upgrade the return leg to sydney

      so total cost of flying is $475 + $2.50 (250 points) = $477.50 - your surplus of 4500 points so $45 = $432.50. am i missing something, because this doesnt seem like its good value to me.

      • Paul Atreides on 14/08/2015 - 13:52

        take away $175 for the cost of the first flight then its $257.50. looking at your equation, you seem to think the return flight will cost $150, so paying $107.50 extra to fly business and 20 status credits.

        appreciate it if you can explain if this is the case or not, as im genuinely curious.

      • vvti85 on 14/08/2015 - 14:03

        Where are you getting $175 and $300 from?

        He didn't mention the cost of the outbound flight but has mentioned the inbound flight is $150 more than the outbound.

        • Paul Atreides on 14/08/2015 - 14:04

          hang on calced on 10pts/$1, where it should be 8.75 (5/$1 x 1.75, gold members get a 75% bonus on points)

          1750 points means you paid 1750/8.75=$200 for a saver fare
          3000 points means you paid 3000/8.75=$343 for a flexi fare
          250 points to upgrade to business means your net position is 250points=$2.50+$200+$343=$545.50 for a economy + business flight

          4500 points leftover so $45 so $545.50 - $45 = $500.50

        • Paul Atreides on 14/08/2015 - 14:07

          @madmouse58: reward flight can be had for 6900 points + 13800 points + 42.22 in taxes

          so $69(6900) + $138(13800) + $42.22 taxes = $249.22 if you get reward flights

          at this moment, it seems like its an extra $251.28 not to book an award flight. someone correct me if im wrong

        • vvti85 on 14/08/2015 - 14:15

          @madmouse58:

          It's 4900 points to upgrade from a flexi fare to business: https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Redeem/FlightU…

        • Paul Atreides on 14/08/2015 - 14:17

          @vvti85: okay, so its even worse then, i just took his word for it when he said:

          "I upgrade my return flight to business for 250 points"

          1750 points means you paid 1750/8.75=$200 for a saver fare
          3000 points means you paid 3000/8.75=$343 for a flexi fare
          4500 points to upgrade to business means your net position is 4500points=$45+$200+$343=$588 for a economy + business flight

          $588-$2.50 (250points left over) = $585.50

          so $585.50 - $249.22 = $336.28 more expensive

          EDIT, actually i shouldnt be including the 4500 points in the equation since he gets it. so $291.28 more expensive.

        • vvti85 on 14/08/2015 - 14:29

          Yeah I think you might be getting yourself confused a bit lol.

          I take it that your point acquisition cost is 1 cent per dollar? or are you just assuming that each point costs 1 cent?

          Bear in mind everyone has a different 'value' on how much a point is worth to them.

        • nimnomnimy on 16/08/2015 - 10:45

          @vvti85:

          Okay let me try to clarify,
          The average saver fare mel > Sydney is $149
          On average the Flexi fare is $339
          The business class tickets are almost exclusively $699

          So buying a saver and a Flexi + 250 points (you get the rest of the points from the tickets you bought for this flight)
          You fly economy one way and business the other way for $489 instead of $848 which is its value.

          I do this so I can fly business class one way everytime but if you don't care about business class… Then you've never flown business class ;)

    • lovetravellinginbiz on 02/10/2015 - 15:39

      Hey mate..

      I'm prob in the same shoes as you, fly fortnightly Melb-Syd return.

      Just wondering if you could give me a bit more info into what you do here. So it's saver one way, then flexi for the return. Using your velocity points, u upgrade the flexi fare for 250 points?? Is that right?

      Also, what do you end up with in terms of net points and status credit after each flight? Have you found availability for upgrade easy to come along on most flights?

      Thanks!

      • nimnomnimy on 05/10/2015 - 07:48

        That's right.
        Benefit depends on your status, at platinum - it's like net neutral
        On gold- net it costs you approx 250 points to upgrade a Flexi to business. Upgrading is super easy, you can do it right after you book by calling or at the lounge.

        You can make up the points if you have a virgin credit card or refuel at BP

        Status credits you will get I think 30 per trip - if you are flying fort nightly, you will get platinum in about 9 months. Generally the best way to get platinum is to fly a couple of cheap internationals each year.

        What I do is more targeted towards business people who have work flying them around and want to get a little more luxury out of it

  • anna10 on 14/08/2015 - 06:56

    Yes, quite so and useful info IF you actually pay for tickets. But, if you don't buy tickets there is nothing to upgrade, just an option of a straight purchase of a seat.

    I just wondered what VA to SQ approx points required SYD - SIN in F/ suite.

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