Announcing our New Velocity Frequent Flyer Program

[oz_mark]

There used to be an extended grace period of 3 months (I think), but I'm unsure if that applies all the way up through the tiers or just for the poor sods dropping off silver back to red.

The T&C's still mention a grace period, but I haven't found anything that defines how long that is anymore.

 

[JohnK]

Maybe you can drop into the BNE "Lounge" tomorrow?

Dropped into the BNE "Lounge" yesterday.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

My old boomerang style Velocity card listed a grace period of two months before benefits expire.

On my newish Velocity card states I have a grace period of one month before benefits expire.

Good thinking Liam! When in doubt, look at the card. My boomerang silver card gives 2 months grace. Seems like this is a QF style enhancement, two months down to one month grace. Since Liams old one was gold and my old one is silver, it seems the grace period is through all tiers, but now 1 month!

EDIT......I'd love to tell you what my nice new gold card says, but it ain't here yet

 

[JohnK]

As I posted up thread earlier this eveing, you might like to drop in to BNE and do one before heading to SYD. :idea:

Yes I did it yesterday. Relatively easy to setup and I have a temporary VA Platinum card.

There was a lot to digest a couple of days ago but now most things seem to be quite clear and again I have to say that these changes look good.

I wanted to jump onto the status match quickly in case it was not offered for too long but now need to decide what I will do with my flying patterns. I still value QF Platinum quite highly but VA Platinum will also give me incentives that were not there before.

 

[Noob]

Yes I did it yesterday. Relatively easy to setup and I have a temporary VA Platinum card.

There was a lot to digest a couple of days ago but now most things seem to be quite clear and again I have to say that these changes look good.

I wanted to jump onto the status match quickly in case it was not offered for too long but now need to decide what I will do with my flying patterns. I still value QF Platinum quite highly but VA Platinum will also give me incentives that were not there before.

Another set of handcuffs?

 

[LiamR]

Another set of handcuffs?

I'd say it's the other way around. Virgin have just unlocked the Golden (Erm, Platinum?) handcuffs.

 

[pshepvic]

Just to be a little nitpicking, the life of the VFF plat would appear, potentially at least, shorter than QFF WP status.

VFF runs from the date of qualification or re-qualification. QFF starts from when you qualify and runs through to 12 months from your next anniversary date. As I read it, that means WP could last for almost 2 years, versus only 12 months for VP.

.

In some ways this isn't such a bad thing. Let's say you were in the middle of a trip from MEL-LAX return, and on the flight over you achieved the SCs for an upgrade to Platinum. Your renewal date would reset to 12 months from the month you hit platinum (technically 13 months of benefits with the 1 month grace). That would then mean that the SCs earned on the way back would go towards your requalfication. If you were flying QF they would be wasted, unless of course your renewal date happened to coincide with the middle of your trip. On QF you wouldn't have hit Platinum at the same point either, as you would have needed more SCs!!

The Velocity system now means that whilst you are still climbing the FF ladder none of your SCs are wasted. Any SCs earned count towards both a higher status AND towards renewal of your current status.

Obviously once you're Platinum though the renewal date stays the same, and anything above the requal amount during that time only goes towards partner gold/platinum.

 

[pshepvic]

My old boomerang style Velocity card listed a grace period of two months before benefits expire.

On my newish Velocity card states I have a grace period of one month before benefits expire.

Back in the thread that had all the commentary about the changes to SCs, I asked what the grace period would be with the changes.

From memory VirginAustralia confirmed that it was one month, and that was to allow time for your new card to arrive (if for example you only just requalified for your status in the last few days of your renewal year).

This is also confirmed with the new cards showing one month as well as Liam mentioned.

 

[anat0l]

In some ways this isn't such a bad thing. Let's say you were in the middle of a trip from MEL-LAX return, and on the flight over you achieved the SCs for an upgrade to Platinum. Your renewal date would reset to 12 months from the month you hit platinum (technically 13 months of benefits with the 1 month grace). That would then mean that the SCs earned on the way back would go towards your requalfication. If you were flying QF they would be wasted, unless of course your renewal date happened to coincide with the middle of your trip. On QF you wouldn't have hit Platinum at the same point either, as you would have needed more SCs!!

The Velocity system now means that whilst you are still climbing the FF ladder none of your SCs are wasted. Any SCs earned count towards both a higher status AND towards renewal of your current status.

Obviously once you're Platinum though the renewal date stays the same, and anything above the requal amount during that time only goes towards partner gold/platinum.

For some who have experienced or looked at other FFPs around the world, some of this isn't unusual (it just has a different name and is explained a bit differently).

For example, the system that VFF uses to count up your status is pretty much spot on with BA and BD. The difference is that the two programs mentioned reset your status points to 0 when you hit a status milestone, but VFF just keeps counting up - all the same. (Of course, there's also no problem with VFF w.r.t. BA's infernal "excess earn after reset" problem, a rather nefarious and unjust problem if you ask me).

 

[pshepvic]

For some who have experienced or looked at other FFPs around the world, some of this isn't unusual (it just has a different name and is explained a bit differently).

To be honest I had never really looked at any other FF's seriously at all, but it's interesting to hear this. It's something QF really need to look at.

 

[pshepvic]

Not sure if this has been posted in one of the many threads around the new VFF, so apologies if it has.

Under the new "Upgrade to Platinum/Gold/Silver" section there is a Show Detail link:



It displays a excellent view to show how many SCs are required to upgrade to the next level by future dates (it looks like the dates are based off each date where previous SC's will drop off):



Great work VA - I know we'd given feedback when the new SC method was introduced, saying it's complicated to work out how many SCs you need to upgrade and by when, so not only have you listened, but you've also thought about it and worked out a great way to show this information!

 

[connieguy]

I'd say it's the other way around. Virgin have just unlocked the Golden (Erm, Platinum?) handcuffs.

You never unlock Golden Handcuffs. All that VA have done is to offer us another set of VA Golden Handcuffs, so we can explore the options available by the VA group and their alliance partners without losing our QF WP benefits.

 

[JohnK]

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:

How did you know my plan?

 

[JohnK]

A question re the status match for someone that is only QFF PS!

I've sent off my request to be status matched to VA Silver, and it appears that I will be given 12 months as a new expiry date. Am I then reading this correctly in that I will only then need to get 300 status points to get to Gold in the next 12 months?

As you do not already have VA Gold then I believe you will need 500 status points to qualify and 400 status points to maintain VA Gold.

 

[AdMEL]

.....

• Can you vary the balance of points and cash with a reward? I assume points and cash only applies to Any Seat Any Time rewards.

....

Yes, you can vary the points/cash for all rewards, not just any seat. Points can be reduced from the stated amount to a min. of 6,900, with an increased cash payment. There was another thread about PE/Business rewards a few weeks ago started by markis10 which detailed this.

 

[777]

It displays a excellent view to show how many SCs are required to upgrade to the next level by future dates (it looks like the dates are based off each date where previous SC's will drop off):

View attachment 3598

Great work VA - I know we'd given feedback when the new SC method was introduced, saying it's complicated to work out how many SCs you need to upgrade and by when, so not only have you listened, but you've also thought about it and worked out a great way to show this information!

This is indeed a great feature BUT it stops working once you hit platinum. I have just tipped over into partner Gold and would love to see how many more SC's i need to get by which date to hit partner platinum. Any chance of adding this VA?

 

[pshepvic]

This is indeed a great feature BUT it stops working once you hit platinum. I have just tipped over into partner Gold and would love to see how many more SC's i need to get by which date to hit partner platinum. Any chance of adding this VA?

Great idea! Maybe PM Velocity Rewards (or have they changed their screen name to VFF?) and let them know so it doesn't get lost in the thread if they're taking the day off!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

As you do not already have VA Gold then I believe you will need 500 status points to qualify and 400 status points to maintain VA Gold.

I think this is correct as well. You'll have to achieve 200 SCs in the next 12 months to retain silver, achieve 500 SCs in the next 12 months to attain gold or achieve 1000 SCs in the next 12 months to attain Platinum.

The status match is simply formally recognising your status with another carrier, not giving you SCs for free! The higher status members do currently get a soft landing, but for silver matches, all you'll get is the 1 month extra grace period.

 

[markis10]

Great idea! Maybe PM Velocity Rewards (or have they changed their screen name to VFF?) and let them know so it doesn't get lost in the thread if they're taking the day off!

I dont think they get days off judging by the posts on AFF by the reps.

 

[KitKat]

I dont think they get days off judging by the posts on AFF by the reps.

I think it may also be due to their commitment to their company.... being proud of it, striving to make it better
Committed staff is hard to find.