V-Flyer

Hi all,

I am trying to see if I can use points to upgrade the LHR-HKG leg of my trip in May next year. I originally booked K Class seats in PE. I rang Virgin today to see;

a. Can I (and how much is it) to change my K class to W/S class (upgradeable)?
b. Is there availability in UC to upgrade (G Class seats)?

Answers: a - yes, only $325.00 (bargain) and b - no, no G Class available.

Fair enough, some may become available later on - but how can I find out?

I have checked flightstats.com (only lists availability in UC for codes J9, D9, I8 & Z2) and I also checked expertflyer.com (J9, D9, I9 & Z9). They don't list G! How can I keep an eye out and pounce if one becomes available!?

Do I have to ring every week? Does anywhere else list G Class (even if it currently says G0)?

I'm flying on VS200 at 22:30 from LHR to HKG on 29/05/12.

Many thanks!

All of the VS reward fare buckets do not show up anywhere.

Your only option is to keep trying to book a reward flight online usng the VS website on the dates your want. Extra G fares may or may not become available.

I've seen a G fare become available (and which I also managed to bag) 60 minutes before departure whilst waiting in the LHR CH (that was also a LHR>HKG flight) so G fares can be released anywhere between now and your departing flight closing!!!

Flights to HKG and back are often full in Upper though so no further G reward fares may become available at all.

Many thanks, much appreciated!

Ever since VS dropped their second HKG flight G's have become near enough impossible, except last min seat filling, mainly due to the route having double needs as also the SYD route..
The days of G''s to SYD have long gone..
And even HKG from my recent enquiries

Although some people recently reported G's to HKG, so they're not impossible, just difficult.

AFAIK the only tool that says it can report on redemption availability on VS is the KVS tool, but you have to pay a Diamond subscription to use it, see here. I have no experience of it, nor have I heard of anyone using KVS ...

If you are flexible on dates, looking well ahead and persistent in checking, Gs to Hong Kong are available. This is today's availability for next August, not the most popular month for HKG I agree, but plenty of seats nevertheless.


If you can be flexible very near the date and don't mind the risk of not getting anthing B) , you can look for the unsold seats they release in the 10 days running up to departure.

slinky09 wrote:AFAIK the only tool that says it can report on redemption availability on VS is the KVS tool, but you have to pay a Diamond subscription to use it, see here. I have no experience of it, nor have I heard of anyone using KVS ...

I have tried it out and it is an excellent tool. Its coverage of awards/rewards etc is second to none, especially on the Star Alliance airlines. The feel of it is different from ExpertFlyer, but I was very impressed.

The VS availability thing doesn't tell you anything that you couldn't find out from the VS booking engine, but it is MUCH quicker and it gives you the reward availability for all three cabins at a time. I found it quite useful.

Many thanks to you all for your help. I've had a look at May (can't be very flexible unfortunately) and of course the 30th and 31st have G availability! I'm now considering trying to change my award flights (HKG - BNE) which may be possible and then trying to change to the 30th from LHR to HKG.

Or I might just wait! PE isn't too bad actually so it's no disaster if nothing eventuates.

Mitchja - I assume when you did your upgrade 60 mins before the flight you did it through the VS desk at LHR? (or CH desk)? I'm just trying to be prepared in case it happens to me!

Actually G on the LHR-HKG route are not that difficult but I agree harder than to the USA because there is only one flight and that has about half the pax continuing to Oz.

Go Tue,Wed or Thu. This will dramatically increase your chances.
Pay for the fare increase now (k to s)otherwise there will be a lot of faffing if you want to do it when the G becomes available and the w/s fare may no longer be available.
Check regularly via the VS website for seats. They come and go (very quickly) so don't think about it. Grab it - they will not hang around.
Never give up trying even on day of departure and at check-in. Some here have had success upgrading in the lounge. This may be possible but in LHR my experience is that if it has not happened when you leave check-in it will not happen.
You will never get a G at the gate so don't be fobbed off with that one. Also don't be put off woth the 'the flghts full' spiel. Who cares if it is booked full (they always over book anyway). What counts is if it checks in full !!

kingt wrote:Mitchja - I assume when you did your upgrade 60 mins before the flight you did it through the VS desk at LHR? (or CH desk)? I'm just trying to be prepared in case it happens to me!

He will come along and confirm later but I rather think that he did it in the CH since, as a Gold he would have been entitled to be there

slinky09 wrote:... the only tool that says it can report on redemption availability on VS is the KVS tool, ... I have no experience of it, nor have I heard of anyone using KVS ...

I just started using it this week so will let you know in a few weeks if it is any good.

kingt wrote:Mitchja - I assume when you did your upgrade 60 mins before the flight you did it through the VS desk at LHR? (or CH desk)? I'm just trying to be prepared in case it happens to me!

He did EC to PE at the check-in desk and then PE to UC in the clubhouse. It was back in 2007, but his Trip Report still tells all!

Can you still do miles upgrades in the CH ?
There was a bit of a power struggle going on between check-in/CH/gate last time I checked.

I recently did a Y to PE upgrade at check-in, and then PE to UC in the CH. Didn't seem to be a problem at all.

Hi all - just an update. Managed to snag upgrades on both legs HKG - LHR 04/05 and LHR - HKG 29/05. A lot of G's were released on 2 April so there was availability for about 50% of the dates in May. Best of luck to all other points upgrade searchers, I looked everyday since December!!!

kingt wrote:Hi all - just an update. Managed to snag upgrades on both legs HKG - LHR 04/05 and LHR - HKG 29/05. A lot of G's were released on 2 April so there was availability for about 50% of the dates in May. Best of luck to all other points upgrade searchers, I looked everyday since December!!!

Fab news, enjoy the flights!

Well done, I love a happy ending y)