15-25% bonus Velocity points on transfers (Feb-March 2019)

[firstclasser]

What is the current transfer ratio between VA and SQ?

1.55:1

 

[lewyVA]

There is also a flybuys 15% transfer bonus active from today until end of Feb. Doesn't seem to be widely published yet, but is appearing on the velocity website.

 

[Denali]

Thanks, been waiting for a bonus offer. Just tested with 2000 Flybuys and instant inc bonus.

 

[lewyVA]

Thanks, been waiting for a bonus offer. Just tested with 2000 Flybuys and instant inc bonus.
View attachment 154561

Yep so was I! I do love the flybuys instant posting + bonus!

 

[Oubline]

Does anyone know how long a transfer from Amex to Velocity takes these days, in practice?

 

[CJB83]

Can you combine two explorer points accounts into one velocity? My wife and I both have Amexs and was thinking I'd cancel the cards to become eligible in 18 months for another bonus. Didn't know if the velocity accounts needed to have the same name as the amex.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Can you combine two explorer points accounts into one velocity? My wife and I both have Amexs and was thinking I'd cancel the cards to become eligible in 18 months for another bonus. Didn't know if the velocity accounts needed to have the same name as the amex.

What you could do is to each transfer your own AMEX points into your own Velocity accounts, and then use Velocity family transfer (or family pooling) to merge all the points into a single account.

That doesn't help if you'd only qualify for a higher transfer bonus by sending everything you have across in one chunk, however, as the bonus requires everything to be in one transaction (and doesn't consider the points other people transfer to your Velocity account).

Could be worth one of you calling AMEX and seeing if that person's AMEX points could be directly transferred to the other person's Membership Rewards account, and then doing one big transfer to maximise the bonus, but I don't think MR points can be transferred between cardholders (doesn't hurt to ask, though).

 

[awaywithfairies]

There is also a flybuys 15% transfer bonus active from today until end of Feb. Doesn't seem to be widely published yet, but is appearing on the velocity website.

I received an email this morning about this offer. Seems to be the same deal - 15% transfer bonus until 28 February.

I transferred some points a short time ago and the points and bonus are already in my account.

 

[firstclasser]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone taken up the platinum status offer deal yet?
As a platinum charge card holder, I already get lounge access so I need to question it’s value. Since I will have a haul of velocity points (1.5 mill), I would like to start using my points to redeem flights, therefore I don’t believe I can fully maximise the platinum status as most benefits require you to purchase the airfare (eg upgrade to business class, maintain status, and possibly complimentary economy x?)

 

[jch]

What is the current transfer ratio between VA and SQ?

1.55 either way

 

[Monya Meow Meow]

Does anyone know how long a transfer from Amex to Velocity takes these days, in practice?

Just did the transfer earlier this week, took around 2 business days for me

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone taken up the platinum status offer deal yet?
As a platinum charge card holder, I already get lounge access so I need to question it’s value. Since I will have a haul of velocity points (1.5 mill), I would like to start using my points to redeem flights, therefore I don’t believe I can fully maximise the platinum status as most benefits require you to purchase the airfare (eg upgrade to business class, maintain status, and possibly complimentary economy x?)

I've been sitting on the fence about this one, figuring that I still have a couple of weeks to decide. If not transferring to Velocity, I'd have probably sent my MR points to KrisFlyer, so a few quick sums assuming a transfer of 500,001 MR points (the minimum required for Platinum status):

• 500,001 MR = 500,001 SQ miles
• 500,001 MR = 625,000 Velocity points (=403,225 SQ miles when converting Velocity to SQ at the new 1.55:1 rate)

So, 'net loss' through Velocity of 96,776 SQ miles, in exchange for three years of VA status (Platinum in year 1, Gold in year 2, Silver in year 3 via Velocity's soft drop each year).

Silver has little benefit beyond international priority check-in, Gold isn't that much better because it gives VA lounge access with 1 guest - same as presenting the AMEX card - although Platinum includes those 4 business class upgrades (which are worth about 10,000 Velocity points each when used on a flight to Perth, for example), and VA Platinum also gives you Hilton Diamond status for a year (versus HH Gold via AMEX - the biggest difference being guaranteed exec lounge access at hotels that have it), so I guess there's a little bit of value there too, and when accessing VA lounges, you get 3 guests instead of just 1 with VA Gold or AMEX Plat. You also get VA lounge access on arrival (as VA Gold also gets).

My biggest concern with getting the Velocity Platinum though is that I mainly travel internationally, and that's where Velocity Gold has mostly disappointed me in the past - there would be plenty of times when I'd be flying on partner airlines and would have access to no lounge at all, instead relying on one of the lounge perks from my AMEX Platinum card instead (e.g. no lounge access flying Hawaiian, which I'm planning to do again later this year, and then limited access with most other partners that excludes third-party contract lounges, other than when flying Etihad - so fly SQ from Paris, no lounge, fly HK Airlines from Auckland, no lounge, and the list goes on... that, and the lounge VA elites can use in Singapore when flying SQ is also disappointing.)

They've made some very small improvements on that front with Virgin Atlantic (now get lounge access again in HK before the London flight, and VA Plats can now use the Revivals Lounge at LHR on arrival), but there are still some very big holes, and other than the Etihad first class lounge in AUH when flying Etihad, there aren't many lounges that VA Plat can access that VA Gold cannot, and the lounges that VA Gold can access are often available by other means (via AMEX), or are in airports where there are acceptable alternatives.

Moreover, the fact that VA still doesn't have lounges in all their international ports is laughable. I recently flew VA from Vanuatu: no lounge access at all for business class/Gold/Plat. Had to whip out my Priority Pass card for access to the small lounge in the corner, which was much nicer than the crowded terminal but nothing flash, but if VA can't even get the lounge access right when flying VA metal, I have little hope when flying with partner airlines!

As much as I'd like to get 'free' Platinum, I'm not sure I'd get enough back in return versus the 'loss' of miles which could be sent elsewhere. Still have a week or two to ponder, but I'm probably 60% likely not to do it. The other 40% is still weighing it all up!

 

[andye]

I've been sitting on the fence about this one, figuring that I still have a couple of weeks to decide. If not transferring to Velocity, I'd have probably sent my MR points to KrisFlyer, so a few quick sums assuming a transfer of 500,001 MR points (the minimum required for Platinum status):

• 500,001 MR = 500,001 SQ miles
• 500,001 MR = 625,000 Velocity points (=403,225 SQ miles when converting Velocity to SQ at the new 1.55:1 rate)

So, 'net loss' through Velocity of 96,776 SQ miles, in exchange for three years of VA status (Platinum in year 1, Gold in year 2, Silver in year 3 via Velocity's soft drop each year).

Silver has little benefit beyond international priority check-in, Gold isn't that much better because it gives VA lounge access with 1 guest - same as presenting the AMEX card - although Platinum includes those 4 business class upgrades (which are worth about 10,000 Velocity points each when used on a flight to Perth, for example), and VA Platinum also gives you Hilton Diamond status for a year (versus HH Gold via AMEX - the biggest difference being guaranteed exec lounge access at hotels that have it), so I guess there's a little bit of value there too, and when accessing VA lounges, you get 3 guests instead of just 1 with VA Gold or AMEX Plat. You also get VA lounge access on arrival (as VA Gold also gets).

My biggest concern with getting the Velocity Platinum though is that I mainly travel internationally, and that's where Velocity Gold has mostly disappointed me in the past - there would be plenty of times when I'd be flying on partner airlines and would have access to no lounge at all, instead relying on one of the lounge perks from my AMEX Platinum card instead (e.g. no lounge access flying Hawaiian, which I'm planning to do again later this year, and then limited access with most other partners that excludes third-party contract lounges, other than when flying Etihad - so fly SQ from Paris, no lounge, fly HK Airlines from Auckland, no lounge, and the list goes on... that, and the lounge VA elites can use in Singapore when flying SQ is also disappointing.)

They've made some very small improvements on that front with Virgin Atlantic (now get lounge access again in HK before the London flight, and VA Plats can now use the Revivals Lounge at LHR on arrival), but there are still some very big holes, and other than the Etihad first class lounge in AUH when flying Etihad, there aren't many lounges that VA Plat can access that VA Gold cannot, and the lounges that VA Gold can access are often available by other means (via AMEX), or are in airports where there are acceptable alternatives.

Moreover, the fact that VA still doesn't have lounges in all their international ports is laughable. I recently flew VA from Vanuatu: no lounge access at all for business class/Gold/Plat. Had to whip out my Priority Pass card for access to the small lounge in the corner, which was much nicer than the crowded terminal but nothing flash, but if VA can't even get the lounge access right when flying VA metal, I have little hope when flying with partner airlines!

As much as I'd like to get 'free' Platinum, I'm not sure I'd get enough back in return versus the 'loss' of miles which could be sent elsewhere. Still have a week or two to ponder, but I'm probably 60% likely not to do it. The other 40% is still weighing it all up!

I wouldn't do it either
Howver a consideration is that if you were essentially happy with Gold, you could use your year as Plat to family pool to someone else and build up their status

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I wouldn't do it either
Howver a consideration is that if you were essentially happy with Gold, you could use your year as Plat to family pool to someone else and build up their status

Could be handy for some, but not relevant for me: I'm unlikely to earn enough status credits in VA to get anywhere near Gold or Platinum these days (given the lounge options included via AMEX directly when flying with any airline and the ability to use my points with many different airlines, so most of the time I'm either flying using points or travelling with the most logical or best airline for each trip, rather than going out of my way to choose one airline or alliance over another), and my partner already has VA lounge access and Priority Pass through AMEX Platinum anyway (and if not, would otherwise just be my guest as she doesn't do much travel herself).

Everyone is different, of course!

 

[ozstamps]

I know Amex told me my point balance will double when the new deal occurs, as I have had a very active Amex card for 40 years, so can't see getting this bonus is worth it.

It may well be after many accounts are doubled that in future, some juicy transfer deal is offered.

 

[travelnutjohn]

I've been sitting on the fence about this one, figuring that I still have a couple of weeks to decide. If not transferring to Velocity, I'd have probably sent my MR points to KrisFlyer, so a few quick sums assuming a transfer of 500,001 MR points (the minimum required for Platinum status):

• 500,001 MR = 500,001 SQ miles
• 500,001 MR = 625,000 Velocity points (=403,225 SQ miles when converting Velocity to SQ at the new 1.55:1 rate)

So, 'net loss' through Velocity of 96,776 SQ miles, in exchange for three years of VA status (Platinum in year 1, Gold in year 2, Silver in year 3 via Velocity's soft drop each year).

Silver has little benefit beyond international priority check-in, Gold isn't that much better because it gives VA lounge access with 1 guest - same as presenting the AMEX card - although Platinum includes those 4 business class upgrades (which are worth about 10,000 Velocity points each when used on a flight to Perth, for example), and VA Platinum also gives you Hilton Diamond status for a year (versus HH Gold via AMEX - the biggest difference being guaranteed exec lounge access at hotels that have it), so I guess there's a little bit of value there too, and when accessing VA lounges, you get 3 guests instead of just 1 with VA Gold or AMEX Plat. You also get VA lounge access on arrival (as VA Gold also gets).

My biggest concern with getting the Velocity Platinum though is that I mainly travel internationally, and that's where Velocity Gold has mostly disappointed me in the past - there would be plenty of times when I'd be flying on partner airlines and would have access to no lounge at all, instead relying on one of the lounge perks from my AMEX Platinum card instead (e.g. no lounge access flying Hawaiian, which I'm planning to do again later this year, and then limited access with most other partners that excludes third-party contract lounges, other than when flying Etihad - so fly SQ from Paris, no lounge, fly HK Airlines from Auckland, no lounge, and the list goes on... that, and the lounge VA elites can use in Singapore when flying SQ is also disappointing.)

They've made some very small improvements on that front with Virgin Atlantic (now get lounge access again in HK before the London flight, and VA Plats can now use the Revivals Lounge at LHR on arrival), but there are still some very big holes, and other than the Etihad first class lounge in AUH when flying Etihad, there aren't many lounges that VA Plat can access that VA Gold cannot, and the lounges that VA Gold can access are often available by other means (via AMEX), or are in airports where there are acceptable alternatives.

Moreover, the fact that VA still doesn't have lounges in all their international ports is laughable. I recently flew VA from Vanuatu: no lounge access at all for business class/Gold/Plat. Had to whip out my Priority Pass card for access to the small lounge in the corner, which was much nicer than the crowded terminal but nothing flash, but if VA can't even get the lounge access right when flying VA metal, I have little hope when flying with partner airlines!

As much as I'd like to get 'free' Platinum, I'm not sure I'd get enough back in return versus the 'loss' of miles which could be sent elsewhere. Still have a week or two to ponder, but I'm probably 60% likely not to do it. The other 40% is still weighing it all up!

Awesome post my friend!
im going to ask another basic maths question, if you dont mind, since I failed yr 10 maths
we want to focus our points on kris points,

with the current 25% bonus from AMEX MR to velocity, how much worse off we since I know the ratio of velocity to kris isnt 1:1

we have no interet in status as we already feel we get all the benefits of status that come bundled when flying J or above?

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Awesome post my friend!
im going to ask another basic maths question, if you dont mind, since I failed yr 10 maths
we want to focus our points on kris points,

with the current 25% bonus from AMEX MR to velocity, how much worse off we since I know the ratio of velocity to kris isnt 1:1

we have no interet in status as we already feel we get all the benefits of status that come bundled when flying J or above?

Let's say you have 100,000 MR points. Convert direct to KrisFlyer from Ascent or Ascent Premium and that's 100,000 KrisFlyer miles.

Convert to Velocity with the 25% promo and that's instead 125,000 Velocity points. Convert 125,000 Velocity points to KrisFlyer at a 1.55:1 rate and that becomes 80,645 KrisFlyer miles. So, if your intent is KrisFlyer, convert direct for max value.

(Obviously, you need to transfer a minimum of 500,001 to get the 25% bonus - that's just illustrative.)

 

[travelnutjohn]

Let's say you have 100,000 MR points. Convert direct to KrisFlyer from Ascent or Ascent Premium and that's 100,000 KrisFlyer miles.

Convert to Velocity with the 25% promo and that's instead 125,000 Velocity points. Convert 125,000 Velocity points to KrisFlyer at a 1.55:1 rate and that becomes 80,645 KrisFlyer miles. So, if your intent is KrisFlyer, convert direct for max value.

(Obviously, you need to transfer a minimum of 500,001 to get the 25% bonus - that's just illustrative.)

Thank you for that.

Also over been reading this
Virgin Australia unlocks Singapore Airlines first class rewards

Near the end it says $300 sector charges except first class on kris

So if you book business class you have to pay the sector charges???

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Thank you for that.

Also over been reading this
Virgin Australia unlocks Singapore Airlines first class rewards

Near the end it says $300 sector charges except first class on kris

So if you book business class you have to pay the sector charges???

No, the extra fees are for Etihad bookings. SQ you just pay the actual taxes etc.

 

[travelnutjohn]

No, the extra fees are for Etihad bookings. SQ you just pay the actual taxes etc.

ahhh thanks, must have misread,

can I assume the points required are the same too? eg 210k from syd to LHR for example return