Unfortunately not possible to upgrade a points flight using points. You can upgrade cash bookings with points but Virgin don’t fly internationally and you can’t upgrade partners. Availability is very hard to find. I tend to look starting 360 days in advance, often a flurry of seats land when a new flight is announced (eg maybe Qatar will get those extra flights approved later in the year)

I should add, sites like seats.aero are your friend!

Second this. I used this for a UA flight from San Fran to Melb later this year and got economy for 2 people for 80,000 points and $70 total.

You technically can - you just have to call velocity and cancel your original booking and then rebook immediately but buy the business seat instead. I did this last week when I noticed business availability with United Polaris after originally booking economy seats. They refunded my original points right then and there and issued me my new ticket.

I did this but I transferred my Velocity points to KrisFlyer for Singapore Airlines - maybe six months in advance? I flew business though

How many points did you use, Manchester or London, thanks in advance 🙏

I flew from Sydney to London, just over 200k velocity points for the one way (I did open jaw so flew back to Sydney from elsewhere(

Qatar or Singapore

Either, which one is recommended. I don't mind transit in either. Ideally land Manchester

Either.

Highly recommend seats.aero