A Velocity Suggestion

[777]

Just a suggestion for Velocity.

I'm Velocity Gold and was trying to book a ticket from MEL-NCL next monday mornng only discover that the flight is booked out. Unfortunately this a route where DJ only offers one flight per day (QF offer none and JQ offer 2 or 3 but they're booked out for sunday and monday as well).

I figured there was a reasonable chance that DJ would have one or more pasengers drop out between now and next monday so i tried ringing the call centre to see if was possible as a Gold FF to be notified or put on some sort of waiting list if a seat became available. Apparently it couldn't be done.

I know some airlines actually offer the privelige of letting Top Tier FF book onto to otherwise booked up flights - probably too much to ask. But it would be great if Velocity/ DJ could set up some sort of alert for seats as they become available on flights like this for Golds. As it turns, i've been manually riding the refresh button for a couple of days and managed to snag a v. expensive corporate plus fare about 1/2 an hour ago. But it wouldn't be too hard for DJ to automate this for their FFs?

777.

 

[crazydave98]

Thanks for the suggestion 777. I'm actually working on something that would deliver a benefit very like what you describe (albeit not quite the same mechanism).
cheers
CrazyDave98

 

[777]

Thanks for the suggestion 777. I'm actually working on something that would deliver a benefit very like what you describe (albeit not quite the same mechanism).

Thanks Dave as always. It would be nice to have some sort of option in these circumstances.

 

[`X']

Thanks Dave as always. It would be nice to have some sort of option in these circumstances.

Qantas allow the waitlist function because Amadeus allow the function in the res system.

I think the biggest hurdle for Virgin would be getting the system to allow it. But obviously if its in the process its their somewhere

 

[Lonely Flyer]

What about allowing family transfers!!

 

[dajop]

What about allowing family transfers!!

What about it? From the Velocity FAQs:

You are eligible to make four transfers per year which are easy and free to do online (a fee applies if you transfer through the Membership Contact Centre). Simply log in to Your Account and click on the ‘Points Transfer’ button on the left hand side of your screen. Ensure your transfer is to an eligible family member (** as stated in the Terms and Conditions) and is a minimum of 5,000 Points, but no more than 100,000 Points. So why not transfer today!

 

[Lonely Flyer]

What about it? From the Velocity FAQs:

Damn 10 years and 1 hour behind

 

[sampson]

Any chance that red can be given 2 years to get to silver?

How about the main breadwinner getting the family's status credits - I fly more often than the kids. We've each missed silver at least twice now so we're flying on other airlines simply because of price, luggage limits, non-stop direct routes and arrival/departure schedules. Cripes, we're even given Tiger a go.

 

[ejb]

Any chance that red can be given 2 years to get to silver?

How about the main breadwinner getting the family's status credits - I fly more often than the kids. We've each missed silver at least twice now so we're flying on other airlines simply because of price, luggage limits, non-stop direct routes and arrival/departure schedules. Cripes, we're even given Tiger a go.

If everyone can get Silver then it is worth less.

Status is meant to be hard to obtain. IMHO QF Plat is too easy to obtain and has devalued the status.

ejb

 

[UP4014]

Any chance that red can be given 2 years to get to silver?

How about the main breadwinner getting the family's status credits - I fly more often than the kids. We've each missed silver at least twice now so we're flying on other airlines simply because of price, luggage limits, non-stop direct routes and arrival/departure schedules. Cripes, we're even given Tiger a go.

Hmm, you want the status without doing the flying, interesting concept. But it would make a mockery of any sort of status system.

 

[sampson]

So if the 'nearly silvers' shouldn't get a upgrade, the 'nearly gold' people shouldn't get a comp gold pass either.

But I thought the point of status is to tie customers' wallets to a product, ie by offering gold to the 'nearly golds'. So I'd have thought the nearly silvers might get silver.

 

[dajop]

But I thought the point of status is to tie customers' wallets to a product, ie by offering gold to the 'nearly golds'. So I'd have thought the nearly silvers might get silver.

How do you define "nearly" though? One thing that could be done for status is allow people to apply for status based in previous 12 months - so if someone has achieved status requirements within 12 months that don't align with their membership year - cut them a bit of slack if they go to the effort of asking about it.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

So if the 'nearly silvers' shouldn't get a upgrade, the 'nearly gold' people shouldn't get a comp gold pass either.

But I thought the point of status is to tie customers' wallets to a product, ie by offering gold to the 'nearly golds'. So I'd have thought the nearly silvers might get silver.

Evidently Golds are worth more than Silvers.

Secondly, it's a one-off promotion by the sounds of it. Not some institutionalised system where infrequent flyers can pool their flights to allow someone access to benefits they wouldn't otherwise qualify for.

Allowing easier qualification is only going to result in requirements being raised.

 

[alien]

so if someone has achieved status requirements within 12 months that don't align with their membership year - cut them a bit of slack if they go to the effort of asking about it.

This would be good but I can't see it being implemented. I've come close to gold the last few years and still silver. If your suggestion was implemented I would be gold for sure.

I've raised a similar point in a previous post about upgrading people to gold if they come close to the next membership level 2 years in a row.

I believe it would be something to encourage members to stick with booking virgin flights rather thant searching other airlines given the competition with budget flights and current financial situtation.

I've actually started to look at other airlines given I can't get the status past silver. I'll be basing my bookings on $$ savings now once I get past the silver retain status.

 

[sampson]

Likewise, Alien.

I'd like to see cash upgrades allowed on rewards seats. There's a p.e seat on my flight just begging to be sold, but they won't sell it.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I'd like to see cash upgrades allowed on rewards seats. There's a p.e seat on my flight just begging to be sold, but they won't sell it.

Wouldn't this just become a "points plus cash" system? As reward ticket points costs on DJ are tied to the fare class, then any booking into a higher class would require corresponding more points or some kind of co-pay.

 

[sampson]

My existing family's reward seats can't be upgraded for cash
even though there are vacant p.e seats on the plane.

According to Velocity and Vaustralia staff. VA's computer doesn't know how much extra to charge for the upgrade so that's why they don't do it.

Maybe a programmer could cure that and make V more attractive.