30% Bonus with point transfers to Virgin Atlantic

[dajop]

An SQ redemption using Amex MR points would be ~46,250 Kris Flyer miles which is 55,000 - 15% online discount.

If you did not have any VS miles and the redemption needed was 55,000 miles then that would be ~42,300 Amex MR points.

For travel after 1 April that will become 50,000 miles - 15% discount = 42500. Easier to book SQ through SQ than through VS, which I tried once, and it was a PITA just finding out what availability was like. That was nearly 3 years ago now though.

 

[Hubbins]

Received email notification this morning :

Make the smartest move ever to reach Flying Club rewards sooner.

Simply transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Flying Club miles between 24 Feb – 31 March 2012, and receive 30% more miles as a bonus.

With a whole bundle of extra miles to spend, you can enjoy an even wider choice of fabulous rewards. Fly to London from 10,000 miles^. You could also upgrade, choose a CombiFare or Miles Plus Money fare. You may even want to spend your miles with our hotel and airline partners.

Can I really get to London for 10,000 miles or is that a typo?
30% Bonus seems to good to be true. Does anyone know why they are doing this ? Is this to upset Eithad offer of a Bonus 20% or Could they be in trouble financially ?
Interested in comments

 

[kamchatsky]

Can I really get to London for 10,000 miles or is that a typo?
30% Bonus seems to good to be true. Does anyone know why they are doing this ? Is this to upset Eithad offer of a Bonus 20% or Could they be in trouble financially ?
Interested in comments

Well infants can travel to London for 10K miles (10% of adult fare)!

 

[turtlemichael]

Can I really get to London for 10,000 miles or is that a typo?
30% Bonus seems to good to be true. Does anyone know why they are doing this ? Is this to upset Eithad offer of a Bonus 20% or Could they be in trouble financially ?
Interested in comments

Interesting. My email says 100,000 miles not 10,000 miles. I think 100,000 miles is the standard economy charge. VS have done this several times before but I seem to recall it was at a bonus rate of 20% not 30%. It is simply a marketing tool to get someone to try VS, like it and presumably buy a seat next time. Like most ff redemptions I'd expect the cost is factored into their operating costs and, in reality, is probably filling a seat that would otherwise be vacant. I have used previous bonuses for 4 Syd-HKG, 2 AKL-LAX on NZ, 2 SYD-LHR and 2 LHR-JFK. I don't think they are in any more trouble than any other airline. Their upper class product is acceptable though not at the top of the range.

 

[djchuckles]

Mine says :

With a whole bundle of extra miles to spend, you can enjoy an even wider choice of fabulous rewards. Fly to London from 10,000 miles^. You could also upgrade, choose a CombiFare or Miles Plus Money fare. You may even want to spend your miles with our hotel and airline partners.

 

[djchuckles]

Oh and they are doing it because BA/Avios are doing a 30% bonus and they would rather the miles get put in their scheme as it will likely drive future flights and revenue

 

[The Rok]

Interesting. My email says 100,000 miles not 10,000 miles. I think 100,000 miles is the standard economy charge. VS have done this several times before but I seem to recall it was at a bonus rate of 20% not 30%. It is simply a marketing tool to get someone to try VS, like it and presumably buy a seat next time. Like most ff redemptions I'd expect the cost is factored into their operating costs and, in reality, is probably filling a seat that would otherwise be vacant. I have used previous bonuses for 4 Syd-HKG, 2 AKL-LAX on NZ, 2 SYD-LHR and 2 LHR-JFK. I don't think they are in any more trouble than any other airline. Their upper class product is acceptable though not at the top of the range.

Mine definitely said 10,000 too. ???

Dear The Rok,

Make the smartest move ever to reach Flying Club rewards sooner.

Simply transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Flying Club miles between 24 Feb – 31 March 2012, and receive 30% more miles as a bonus.

With a whole bundle of extra miles to spend, you can enjoy an even wider choice of fabulous rewards. Fly to London from 10,000 miles^. You could also upgrade, choose a CombiFare or Miles Plus Money fare. You may even want to spend your miles with our hotel and airline partners.

.

^ Flying Club reward flights are free in terms of fare, however applicable taxes, charges, surcharges and fees are payable and this is advised at the time of availability which can be found in the booking engine or via the contact centre when booking your flight.

 

[turtlemichael]

Mine definitely said 10,000 too. ???

.

Triple checked. Definitely 100K. I guess it was a typo that someone eventually noticed.

 

[Hubbins]

Interesting. My email says 100,000 miles not 10,000 miles. I think 100,000 miles is the standard economy charge. VS have done this several times before but I seem to recall it was at a bonus rate of 20% not 30%. It is simply a marketing tool to get someone to try VS, like it and presumably buy a seat next time. Like most ff redemptions I'd expect the cost is factored into their operating costs and, in reality, is probably filling a seat that would otherwise be vacant. I have used previous bonuses for 4 Syd-HKG, 2 AKL-LAX on NZ, 2 SYD-LHR and 2 LHR-JFK. I don't think they are in any more trouble than any other airline. Their upper class product is acceptable though not at the top of the range.

Turtlemichael

How long ago did you fly on Air NZ ? and Can you remember what the taxes were ? and the availablity were you able to book the times you wanted ?

Cheers

 

[Hubbins]

Well infants can travel to London for 10K miles (10% of adult fare)!

That leads to an interesting question do Infants when paying and mum and dad are redeeming received SC and FF Points ?

This one I would really like some knowledge on

 

[tinkybelle]

so back OT
\does anyone who did not get the email think that it is actually targeted
I don't want to transfer and not get the bonus

 

[turtlemichael]

Turtlemichael

How long ago did you fly on Air NZ ? and Can you remember what the taxes were ? and the availablity were you able to book the times you wanted ?

Cheers

It's several years. Sorry, don't have a record of the taxes.

 

[Hubbins]

so back OT
\does anyone who did not get the email think that it is actually targeted
I don't want to transfer and not get the bonus

Just Test the water with a small Redeemption

 

[JohnK]

My email definitely says 10,000 miles as well but I did not notice until I read the posts in this thread.

 

[zig]

My email definitely says 10,000 miles as well but I did not notice until I read the posts in this thread.

Likewise - definitely 10,000 and I'm so unobservant I hadn't noticed it until I read the posts here.

 

[Hubbins]

I have approx 170000 miles in VS and I got the email. Will probably transfer to VS account then transfer to Hilton Honors.

I like K3nnis point as you receive 2 Hilton Honours points for 1 VS mile.
I also noticed that you can also exchange 1 VS mile for 1 PriorityClub point.
These exchange rates are better than transferring directly from membership rewards.

 

[markis10]

I like K3nnis point as you receive 2 Hilton Honours points for 1 VS mile.
I also noticed that you can also exchange 1 VS mile for 1 PriorityClub point.
These exchange rates are better than transferring directly from membership rewards.

Still pretty poor value, 40000 PC points is $240 worth, 40000 VS points is OW J to Hong Kong!

 

[Arnie]

I don't think this is targetted as it is shown on the Virgin Atlantic AU website. I can't post a link but :

VA AU website -> flying club -> flying club partners -> financial services -> american express AU -> offer listed on the right hand side

 

[kamchatsky]

Anyone has transferred the points to VS yet? Did you get the 30% bonus? My VS registration on Amex just got accepted ....

 

[k3nnis]

Are all of you transferring to VS intend to fly Upper Class from SYD-HKG-SYD?

SYD-HKG-LHR return has gone up to 200000 miles Not sure why.