Additional Benefit on Velocity Earning Cards: 40K Points, 6 Months Gold or $300 Travel Bank

[Mr H]

Thank you for your reply. Any idea what actually triggers the exclusive benefit? I called velocity and was told the trial gold will only start once 4x bonus point has been received. Does it mean that even if I wasn't automatically upgraded to trial gold, I can still call velocity and told them I've already got 4x 25K bonus points and ask for a manually upgrade?

Nobody knows. I think some people have had trial gold triggered after the first dose of points. Maybe the system is triggered by a particular code that accompanies a bonus allocation of points (which may not be there for a manual adjustment). This would seem to explain the allocation to people who got the cards before the promotion started. If I were you, I would wait a while after getting next month's statement before chasing it. You don't want to draw attention to the fact you did not actually comply with the requirements.

 

[odysseus]

Thank you for your reply. Any idea what actually triggers the exclusive benefit? I called velocity and was told the trial gold will only start once 4x bonus point has been received. Does it mean that even if I wasn't automatically upgraded to trial gold, I can still call velocity and told them I've already got 4x 25K bonus points and ask for a manually upgrade?

I wouldn't be surprised if you actually get credited on the first points crediting through your Flyer card. Wait and see whether it comes through either on this manual one or the next automatic one. Then if it hasn't you can start planning alternative scenarios.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Thankyou, I'll wait a few more days for an email or similar, and will check the VFF portal in the interim too.

If nothing turns up, then I'll call up.

Still kicking myself that I didn't opt for the extra 40k points, as that would have saved me a few hundred dollars from topping up.

I guess I could still use the $300 for a domestic trip though, so not all is lost I guess.

So, I've now received an email with a Travel Bank Account Number, and am now able to login using my VFF number and password, however the travel bank balance is still showing $0.

On the phone with them now, hopefully they can resolve it.

 

[MooTime]

So, I've now received an email with a Travel Bank Account Number, and am now able to login using my VFF number and password, however the travel bank balance is still showing $0.

On the phone with them now, hopefully they can resolve it.

haha you'll get there.
why can't it all be straight forward easy peasy.

 

[HSB44]

Thank you for your reply. Any idea what actually triggers the exclusive benefit? I called velocity and was told the trial gold will only start once 4x bonus point has been received. Does it mean that even if I wasn't automatically upgraded to trial gold, I can still call velocity and told them I've already got 4x 25K bonus points and ask for a manually upgrade?

So if you selected the Trial Gold option, you need to wait 4 months? This is what I conservatively assumed - but it still seems inconsistent, based on comments in here that people are receiving the 100k bonus after only one month.

 

[odysseus]

So if you selected the Trial Gold option, you need to wait 4 months? This is what I conservatively assumed - but it still seems inconsistent, based on comments in here that people are receiving the 100k bonus after only one month.

Personally I would not expect that it would need to wait 4 months, as that would be systematically more complicated (and also it's not a requirement that you need to get 4x months bonus to have the card e.g. you might miss a month, there is no term on either Velocity's or Virgin Money's side that you have to get every month). It would make more sense that it would be triggered after the first bonus is received.

 

[RaRa]

So if you selected the Trial Gold option, you need to wait 4 months? This is what I conservatively assumed - but it still seems inconsistent, based on comments in here that people are receiving the 100k bonus after only one month.

My card was approved on 31 May, and the welcome letter is dated 03 Jun. I suppose I’ll find out in week’s time when I receive my first statement ( I expect my statement month to be 03 Jun - 02 Jul). I’ll revert back here and provide an update, just in case.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Received my 40k bonus 3 days after my first batch of 25k from the Velocity flyer.

 

[Pele]

Received my 40k bonus 3 days after my first batch of 25k from the Velocity flyer.

Exactly the same for me.

 

[RaRa]

My card was approved on 31 May, and the welcome letter is dated 03 Jun. I suppose I’ll find out in week’s time when I receive my first statement ( I expect my statement month to be 03 Jun - 02 Jul). I’ll revert back here and provide an update, just in case.

Just a heads up, received my first virgin flyer card statement over email this morning. 25k bonus points have also appeared in my velocity account! Happy days. Still no signs of trial gold status though

 

[Mr H]

Got my first statement today and the 25k points shortly thereafter. I'm expecting my bonus 40k on Tuesday or Wednesday going by others' experience.

Just by the bye, does anyone else get way less of a feel good factor when four blocks of 25k points trickle in as compared to when a slab of 100k (or even 60-70k) gets delivered?

 

[Pele]

Got my first statement today and the 25k points shortly thereafter. I'm expecting my bonus 40k on Tuesday or Wednesday going by others' experience.

Just by the bye, does anyone else get way less of a feel good factor when four blocks of 25k points trickle in as compared to when a slab of 100k (or even 60-70k) gets delivered?

For me the answer is no. The reasons being 1. The total bonus of 140k points is huge compared to most other cards especially considering the low $6k credit limit required and low annual card fee; and 2. Fo me the points are posting punctually with no phone call follow ups required.

If all credit card applications/bonus points processes were this smooth i would be laughing.

 

[Mr H]

For me the answer is no. The reasons being 1. The total bonus of 140k points is huge compared to most other cards especially considering the low $6k credit limit required and low annual card fee; and 2. Fo me the points are posting punctually with no phone call follow ups required.

If all credit card applications/bonus points processes were this smooth i would be laughing.

Don't get me wrong - I appreciate the total points, and all the more for the low fee (IDR - was it even free?), the absence of a 12 month lock-out period and the simplicity of the application process.

I'd just rather get the 140k as a slab rather than in bits and pieces.

 

[odysseus]

4 months still isn't that long (given many 1 year lock out periods), and it also makes the purchase amounts more easily manageable.

While I could manage $6k at once, I'm comfortable with the format of the 4x25k offer.

BTW, the offer has changed now to 2 months x 30k points.

 

[Zanzara]

For me the answer is no. The reasons being 1. The total bonus of 140k points is huge compared to most other cards especially considering the low $6k credit limit required and low annual card fee; and 2. Fo me the points are posting punctually with no phone call follow ups required.

If all credit card applications/bonus points processes were this smooth i would be laughing.

I agree, I had the same experience

 

[PointsLife1]

re $129 voucher, I've had the High Flyer card for years & on requesting the $129 voucher you just have to do it each new anniversary year after your 1st purchase that year.
Takes about 5 days from requesting it from memory.

@MooTime do you recall how to use the voucher? Had the card for years also but with covid have not used it and can't remember. On hold now for 90 minutes they say and just want to book online.

 

[Happy Dude]

@PointsLife1 scroll up a few pages and you'll find a link that @MooTime provided. Click on it and from there it's pretty straightforward. Once you confirm your details, you'll get a confirmation email, then a week later you get another letting you know that the money has been added to your VA travel bank. You can then use it for you next VA purchase.

 

[PointsLife1]

@PointsLife1 scroll up a few pages and you'll find a link that @MooTime provided. Click on it and from there it's pretty straightforward. Once you confirm your details, you'll get a confirmation email, then a week later you get another letting you know that the money has been added to your VA travel bank. You can then use it for you next VA purchase.

I have the credit but it's a different travel bank number to my one.

 

[MooTime]

Applied & received the Westpac Platinum Altitude card.
Reached the $4k spend within a month & on the 1st statement my 75k points landed & couple days later bonus 40k landed & titled
"Direct Earn Westpac 40,000
Bonus Points"

Now to pay the balance by due date & cancel the card as already have the Velocity High Flyer card which gives 1 point per $1, not the 0.5 point like this new card.

Note I was charged the $49 reduced annual fee which is waived for current Westpac customers (opened a basic everyday account), quick phone call to get it refunded.

Next Card.......

I have the credit but it's a different travel bank number to my one.

yeah that can happen, I found this issue of different travel bank numbers, differing from your velocity number, think happened due to Standard Credits & Future Flight credits & the huge number of refunds given back when pandemic grounded all flights.

When you book your flights & go to pay, you just opt for the pay with Travel Bank option, fill in the details & your credit will show up as payment, hope that's clear & works for you.

 

[AussiePom]

Update on my situation: Applied in May (selected gold), got CC in May (Westpac Plat - 75k points), met spend criteria in first month, got credited with credit card promotion points on 19th Jun but did not get the VA promotion gold. Emailed virgin with screenshots, called their team. Was told that i need to wait 30 days for it to be activated according to the terms and conditions. Something tells me I'll be calling them after 30 days.

They caught me out. I'm flying again on Tuesday. I ordinarily would have flown Qantas as I'm WP, but went Virgin on the assumption I would have lounge access, so i could test out their product. Looks like I've paid for a virgin flight which will not contribute to the challenge and I won't have lounge access. As much as I sound (and feel while writing this) like such an appallingly entitled *expletive deleted*; it gets me thinking about Matt's latest podcast with Mark Ross-Smith. It seems that Virgin's processes are so poor that they miss the opportunity to convert frequent flyer. Their service desk team have been trained to cite Ts and Cs instead of trying to solve the problem for the prospective frequent flyer... Looks like the loyalty team could do a better job of interacting with the the customer service team.

Its worth mentioning that VA was the cheaper flight ($100 cheaper).

In the meantime can anyone guest me into Virgin lounge this coming Tuesday (12th July) morning VA909 and / or Tuesday (12th July) evening VA978?