LHR - JNB October '16 - Flights for money but not miles ?

I am sure this happens all the time but just wondering - how is it that for the last few days I have been able to research flights for cash from LHR - JNB in UC for all October next year (they now go as far as Nov 2nd) but the flights for miles are not open after Oct 11th /12th out and return. ?

I have also noticed there are no 'miles only' flights at all during July and August either . As it is winter in SA I would have thought flight and seat availability would not be an issue.

We have previously flown LHR - CPT with VS, but now that route has been withdrawn we are looking at the Jo'burg options; so I am not familiar with how that route's flights are sold/arranged.

Thanks in anticipation. I know someone on here will know exactly what is going on !

Perhaps the loss of the CPt route is driving more pax onto the JNB route?

Also the aircraft type is now the 787 which has less seats than the 340 and can also be weight restricted leaving JNB.

After spending the last year looking at avaialability on this route I can say that two things have had a massive impact on availability:

1 - as you say the dropping of the CPT route which has meant all VS traffic now going through JNB
2 - The move from a 346 to a 787 which has meant less UC availability.

When I got my flights for December Virgin would generally release 1 UC and some EC seats as soon at the 355 day mark and then the following day release a PE seat.

I think now they have got to grips with the 787 the reward opening seems a little bit more random. You tend to get a couple of days a month where reward availability will open up including UCs.

I see relatively little availability from July onwards but that has happened before and then all of a sudden loads opened up so you just never know.. Keep looking and good luck. My First trip to SA is in around 2 weeks and I cant wait!!

Unlike BA VS has no discernible pattern in when it released reward seats. For the dates you are looking at they may have already been released and snapped up or not released at all.

They could have released say 2 but of you are looking for 3 it will say there are none available.

Yes it is winter in SA in July and August but it's the school holidays here and an opportunity for families to go at a quieter (and cheaper) period.

Thanks ! yes all good points. so as always - just I'll just keep on checkin' !!

A small correction. Virgin do NOT release seats (for miles or money) on a 355 day advance before flying. It's (I believe) 336. That's why at the start of Dec you can see flights at the start of November 16.
The whole issue is fraught with complexity and non standards. For example, BA allows you to book (miles or money) 350 days in advance. The strangest one (at least the strangest I've come across) is Asiana, who sell tickets (for miles or money) on a 350 day advance but only allow you choose seats 328 days in advance

Peter