Announcing our New Velocity Frequent Flyer Program

[awilcockson]

VFF, if a status match is done in the lounge, how long should it take to show up in the online account? I did mine yesterday, and was sort of hoping it would get processed overnight, got an upcoming trip and really want to get the hotel status sorted out asap

 

[LiamR]

*cough* on super discounted fares... I'm sure I could be a Gold from flying if I was in your shoes.

Ahhh. No Sam. No more super discount fares.

 

[straitman]

Question: looking at the website, upgrades only seem to be available for Virgin Australia and Pacific Blue. I dont see V Australia included in the upgrades????:?:

Remember that V Australia, in name, won't be around for much longer so it's probably not an issue for most people.

 

[Major]

What an amazing thread. About 400 posts yesterday and only a dozen so far today.

Obviously those posters all need to go back and finish yesterday's work.

I just love retirement.

 

[straitman]

What an amazing thread. About 400 posts yesterday and only a dozen so far today.

Obviously those posters all need to go back and finish yesterday's work.

I just love retirement.

I resemble that remark :!:

 

[anat0l]

I have asked the same Q in one of the posts above: <SilverKris Lounge Access> The Velocity Specialist rep is getting back to me about this...

If they do allow access to SilverKris then that'd be nice but you are really going to pi** off a huge number of people.

*Gs definitely will be annoyed by this move if it happens, especially since VA isn't part of *A. More annoyed will be SQ KF members (at least the non-PPS ones) because they too cannot access the SilverKris lounge unless they fly SQ J or F/R. Ironically it may convince many of them to give up their KF membership and switch to Velocity (if the value proposition now doesn't convince them anyway!)

I can definitely vouch that the SilverKris J lounge is an order of magnitude better than the KrisFlyer Gold lounge, but I can just see all the death stares at me as I waltz through on a mere Y ticket.



----------
This anat0l content, if it must be known,
Was sent via Aust Freq Fly app, but not from an iPhone.

 

[drron]

Well it looks like I am the odd one out again.Maybe I really am odd(insert shocked smiley-computer doesn't like them again today).
I jumped ship from QFF partially 9 years ago and completely 5 years ago.Yet it still would suit me better than VFF.
We are mainly leisure travellers and it is virtually always in premium cabins.So awards to be worth it for us have to be in premium cabins.
Not much domestic travel so ATA,premium boarding are unimportant.

So last night I could not sleep.Got up and did my research-after sending in our status match emails.After all why look a gift horse in the mouth?
So looked at BNE-LAX J award in february 2012.
VFF-834800 points or 67070 points+$5941(insert shock smiley)
QFF-96000+$378.Had to go via SYD or MEL.
AA-62500+ <$100.

SYD-AKL in december,J for vQF,PE for DJ
VFF-108900 points or 67600+$202
QFF-72000+$181
AA-35000+$70

So at this stage I will stick to AA and mrsdrron to QFF.

 

[Jack Melon]

Remember that V Australia, in name, won't be around for much longer so it's probably not an issue for most people.

Yes you have 4 months and 5 days to enjoy "V Australia and Pacific Blue". January 1st is when the come to the Virgin Australia brand.

 

[kamchatsky]

Dear VFF,


I have just booked return ticket last night SYD-ADL on DJ using the Virgin Credit Card 2 for 1 offer. Do my companion and myself still earn VFF points in the new program?


Also, if my status match application to Gold is approved, but the new card won't arrive by the date I will be travelling (21 Sept), can I still have access to the Lounge?


Also would ADL lounge been refurbished by then?

 

[LuisT]

Well, just submitted my status match request to plat. Was thinking of trying to maintain SG and get VFF Gold so this is good timing.

Quick question though - do VA have an equivalent of the Qantas JASA?

 

[markis10]

Quick question though - do VA have an equivalent of the Qantas JASA?

Points are not earned on any reward flights at this stage.......

 

[medhead]

QFF-96000+$378.Had to go via SYD or MEL.

I know you're very experienced at this stuff but was it J all the way?

Also would ADL lounge been refurbished by then?

I doubt it, 28-ish days from now and there is no sign of any work happening.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Dear VFF,

Just in regards to the "Fly Ahead" benefit - I have been told (about a month ago) by the lounge staff in MEL that you can request flight changes when using the priority check-in desk if you are travelling with checked baggage, and was able to do so in SYD (a couple of weeks ago). Your website now states that the benefit is restricted to "guests travelling with hand luggage only and subject to availability" - does this mean that it is no longer possible to switch flights when checked baggage is involved? ... or is that line simply to stop people from asking in the lounge after their baggage has already been checked? Also, DJ lounge staff have been kind enough to switch one of my flights to a later departure (I asked in BNE for my return SYD flight that day), so that I could have dinner in SYD before heading to the airport. Now that "Fly Ahead" is a published benefit, are we still able to change for a later flight if enough notice is given, or is this now also restricted to earlier departures only?

PS: I'm very happy that someone has clarified the Delta Sky Club access description - is used to say you had access when holding a VA AND a DL boarding pass, but now has been changed to say VA OR DL - makes my upcoming USA trip much less stressful!

 

[coyote25]

Okay the matching request has been forwarded. Let's see if they grant it (missed out last time too late).

Have to say I'm looking forward to trying out the VA program after everything that has happen at QF.

 

[Alanslegal]

And doing so will most certainly contribute to it's quick demise. why not use it as intended a convenience for the days when you fly? I can definately see a lot of comped status pax utilising the ATA without switching any of their flying to DJ, simply because they got it for free. It will put financial pressure on DJ to either cut the offerings within the lounge or to cut ATA. Both of which will be bad news for the actual DJ flyers. People have a tendency to abuse a privilege, sadly.

I disagree, because even with ATA most folks here (and the general public) would not go to the airport just to have a free sandwich and a beer. The time it takes to get there, travel costs, parking etc will outweigh any freebies on offer. Furthermore QF had ATA and from the QF thread over there, ATA was used only a handful of times and only by a very tiny % of QF WPs - that last place a very frequent flyer would want to be .... would be logically the airport. The BIGGEST complaint (from me anyway) is that Qantas said it was ENHANCING their program by removing Any Time Access because of crowding issues .... yet within weeks of that announcement, offered CHEAP Qantas Club memberships, and double Status Credit promotions which not only retained existing QP/SG/WPs but it also created BRAND NEW QP/SG/WPs meaning more people in their lounges.

With respect to ATA when flying someone else .... well those with status matches have other elite status (most likely QF SG/WP anyway) which would give them access to their respective lounges anyway, so thus probably a negligible afffect on numbers anyway, but that's my reasoning.

The only issue I can see with lounge access and potential crowding is: A Qantas Gold/Platinum status matches to Velocity Gold/Platinum and then chooses to fly Tiger :shock:

 

[Gold Member]

Well done Virgin on a great new program.

I've applied for Platinum status matching, however even if I am granted Platinum status with DJ I will still remain with QFF for the majority of my business/leisure travels. For my personal circumstances, my key reasons are:

- I have invested a lot of time and money into QFF and I have 1 million QFF points and 300,000 with AA.
- Without Platinum status with QFF I've got buckley's chance of actually being able to redeem my points on the exact flights I want in International premium cabins unless I spend twice as much on a costly ASA.
- QF offer a reasonable business product on most domestic services whereas DJ only offers it on SYD-PER.
- The Oneworld alliance has a much better story for International services.
- The QF First Class Lounges in MEL and SYD have won my heart and wallet

On the other hand, I do expect to bring some business to DJ because:

- I am grateful to DJ for offering Gold status match earlier this year and now again with their new Platinum status.
- I want to support some competition in the market. QFF's monopoly has been screwing over and diluting the benefits of their loyal/elite members for way too long.
- DJs attitude and customer service across all fronts of the business are outstanding. Some of the Stepford Wives on QF services need a wake up call.
- I am keen on the new Business product. I will use my upgrade certs on this route to extract a $1900 each way fare in business from a $380 spend on the underlying economy fare.
- Though I am already Hilton Gold, instant Diamond status is attractive. I could easily maintain for 12 months, but not likely thereafter given regular requalification rules. I can also use it as another form of evidence to status match top tier elite status in other hotel chains I don't already hold.
- There is definite value in the complimentary partner Gold status without the need to reach 3000 odd status credits.
- Priority boarding is properly managed and enforced.

Comparing apples with apples, i'ts fair to say that even if I didn't have such an investment in QF and AA already and I was starting from scratch as a Platinum in both, I'd still stick with QFF. When we get more details and harmonisation of DJs alliance partners and domestic business cabin availability, my loyalty will need to be revisited.

Now that QF has had a chance to review the new VFF offering, I think we might see some minor improvements in QFF in an attempt to retain member loyalty. Who knows, maybe some real 'enhancements' are on the cards. I doubt it'll be much though, because with a strangehold of ~90% of the corporate sector and the 'loyalty' of some 8 million members, there's little need for QF to discount the most profitable part of their business, QFF. Go get em Virgin!

 

[QF WP]

Fantastic summary, Gold Member. I found myself agreeing to many of your points. Had I been in your position (lots of points and Plat), then I would have made very similar decisions to you. I have been spending my QF and AA points (QF on JASA's and AA on my big trip earlier this year), so I have only ~ 25K left in each; which wasa contributing factor to help me make the jump.

My most frequent trip this year (3) is BNE/PER, so I am interested in doing a JASA one way and a VA the other, directly comparing everything - The lounges, service from staff, boarding, meals, etc. Happy to travel via SYD or MEL to try out VA Business if it suits - more likely it'll be PE. But having that cabin domestically was also a contributing factor for my interest in trying out VA.

I just hope I can do some justice to my DJ status when I get it, but having it 6 months after my QFF membership year has worked out well. Also, the lure of QF Lifetime Gold isn't as strong as it once was. Who would have thought :?:.

 

[MiLK_MaN]

Is the status match for people who aren't currently members of Velocity only? If I'm currently a VFF Silver, can I apply for a status match to Platinum against my QF WP?

 

[sweens]

As an aside, i didn't look yesterday but today is the first time i've seen more people on the AFF home page viewing the Velocity section than viewing the QF section. Probably a sign VA is doing something right

Yes the bottom line is that this really is a watershed moment...I took up the status match offer last night and for the first time ever I will now happly consider flying VA anywhere I go.

VA needed to make an impact on the many QFF's like me who basically did not consider flying with anyone but QF domestically and would stick to QF international unless it just was not pratical...they have now broken the QF shakles for me and no doubt many others.

Lets see what the QF response is...competition is great!

Well done VA!

 

[Justchecking]

With respect to ATA when flying someone else .... well those with status matches have other elite status (most likely QF SG/WP anyway) which would give them access to their respective lounges anyway, so thus probably a negligible afffect on numbers anyway, but that's my reasoning.

The only issue I can see with lounge access and potential crowding is: A Qantas Gold/Platinum status matches to Velocity Gold/Platinum and then chooses to fly Tiger :shock:

Or Jetstar....which many QFF pax do.