Changes to earning on Pacific/Polynesian Blue

[sydstar]

Just recevied my Velocity statement e-mail and noticed this down the bottom of the statement:

"As of 1st July, the method by which you earn Points with Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue will change. From this date, Points will be calculated based on miles and fare class flown".

I guess the part of most interest will be cabin and status bonus/multipliers. Obviously must have something to do with NZ alliance, hopefully the pittance of *0.25 miles for 'Promo' and heavily discounted tickets is not copied, a la V Australia.

This will leave Aust domestic operations as the only $spend accrual method, which surely will be streamlined into miles in line with all other VA ops and partner earnings (one would think)??

 

[777]

Well spotted. I've just been doing some rough maths on this.

Current flights bookable now for about a month out and how many points/ SCs you'd get under the current system as a Red member (i.e. Price x 5):

Go! Fare = $179 (895)
Blue Save = $219 (1095)
Full Fare = $549 (2745)

In miles the same distance is 1643.

Basically means at 1:1 points to miles you'd be worse off at full fare, at 50% (821.5) you'd be roughly the same on a Go Fare and a fair bit behind on a BS.

However, on the upside, is does introduce the joy of the crazy circuitous route into the equation. MEL-BNE-AKL at 2285 mi and MEL-SYD-AKL at 1783 mi which are both similarly priced would earn quite a few more points.

Will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[openseat]

Nice find status_seeker

This may be completely wrong as a predictor, but VS has the following rates of earning on DJ:

Promotional Economy Class (R, V, X) mileage* 25% miles flown
Discounted Economy Class (A, B, C, E, G, H, J, K, M, P, Q, S, T, U) mileage* 50% miles flown
Full Economy Class ( N, Y ) mileage* 100% miles flown
Premium Economy Class (O, W) mileage * 125% miles flown

Virgin Atlantic Airways - Popup

 

[pshepvic]

I noticed this in the email I received today as well. My first stop was the Velocity site to see if the change was noted there, which it wasn't. Second stop was AFF to post this but I was beaten to it!

Will be interesting to see the earn rate. If it's 25% though I think they'll shoot themselves in the foot considering QF is a base rate of 1 for even the cheapest fares (and considering you get this rate on JQ now if you pay for it).

I'd also be disappointed if they go to a miles based model for domestic as most of my flying with them is in Full Y class so MEL-SYD return I get about 5000 points. But will have to wait and see what happens. I guess on QF I only get 2000 points MEL-SYD return on full Y as Platinum anyway.

 

[pshepvic]

Actually, if we're going to try to guess what the earning rate will be, I'd guess it will be the same as V Australia.

 

[Gremlin]

Actually, if we're going to try to guess what the earning rate will be, I'd guess it will be the same as V Australia.

Actually, if we're going to try to guess what the earning rate will be, I'd guess it will be the same as Air New Zealand given recent confirmation of the tie up...

 

[pshepvic]

Actually, if we're going to try to guess what the earning rate will be, I'd guess it will be the same as Air New Zealand given recent confirmation of the tie up...

Why would they make the earn rate the same as a DIFFERENT airline??

Would make much more sense to align it with their other international airline (V), especially considering they will both be re-branded as Virgin Australia by the end of the year. Then you'd assume that VA would be the same for both domestic and international. Which for domestic isn't something I really want, as the points per $ system works better for me at the moment. I'm not going to whinge about it if they change it though, unlike everyone over on the other thread about QF...

 

[DJ 1D]

I think it's quite likely they will move to a miles-flown based program, which unfortunately would make it harder for folks like me - extremely frequent short-haul fliers - to earn as many points. Even with all the bonuses it will be near impossible for me to earn the 3000+ points that I currently do in Premium Economy on a 500 mile flight. Unless of course I'm missing something, which is certainly possible since we're all just wildly speculating!

Of course, if they give me a lifetime platinum it'll all be moot.

 

[Gremlin]

Why would they make the earn rate the same as a DIFFERENT airline??

...because their tie up implies "product neutrality" across the Tasman. And if they offer fundamentally different earn rates then this won't lead to product neutrality.

 

[777]

...because their tie up implies "product neutrality" across the Tasman. And if they offer fundamentally different earn rates then this won't lead to product neutrality.

I largely agree with you but neutrality in that sense really only means that you will earn the same on nz metal as on va. I can't really see va adopting nz style air points dollars for example.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using AustFreqFly App

 

[pshepvic]

I think it's quite likely they will move to a miles-flown based program, which unfortunately would make it harder for folks like me - extremely frequent short-haul fliers - to earn as many points. Even with all the bonuses it will be near impossible for me to earn the 3000+ points that I currently do in Premium Economy on a 500 mile flight. Unless of course I'm missing something, which is certainly possible since we're all just wildly speculating!

Of course, if they give me a lifetime platinum it'll all be moot.

Yeah agree - I hope miles based isn't the case, but I think it will be. A combo of miles + price would be good though (or if miles base, a "cabin" bonus for Full Y fares).

LTP would be lovely thanks Virgin Australia!

 

[777]

The key issue with miles is whether there is a minimum and if so what will it be.

I havent done the detailed maths but with a thousand mile minimum miles and status credits a la QF and what I lose on the swings ill probably gain on the roundabouts.

 

[sydstar]

With VA publicly stating that they are 'not abandoning the leisure market' I can't really see 'cheap' fares becoming unable to accrue points/SCs, and with QF/JQ still offering 1:1, surely they won't drop to ridiculous lows?

Also to remember that Pacific Blue is intended to be rebranded as Virgin Australia anyway, so it could be assumed that this new earning table will then be transferred over to domestic ops as it will be the one airline?

I can see Discount Y earning at 0.5, full Y at 1 and J (when launched) at 1.5, with status bonuses then being applied, and hopefully a minimum earn (like QFs 1000)

With most TT routes being around 1200-1500 miles (I think?), that will still earn around 600-800 points (at 0.5), which would be the same earn as current sale/promo fares at ~$150, which is *similiar* to current earn.

Just remember EY offers 1 point/mile on numerous Y classes, whereas the likes of V Australia and VS,VX etc offer ridiculous 0.25, 0.5, 0.75!!, 1 etc - Virgin need to seriously ensure some consistency on accraul, as well as allowing for status to be accrued on all *MAJOR* partners - NZ, DL, EY

My 2 cents worth...

 

[pshepvic]

If they do adopt that sort of model, for someone on a Full Y fare, they will drop from around 2300-2800 points for a MEL-SYD one way (depending on the fare they are paying and the corporate arrangements/discounts) to 1000 points (give or take, depending on the earn rate and minimum point guarantee).

As most of my fares with DJ are for work, I don't mind too much though. Might take a bit longer to get a redemption, but if I'm not paying for the fares in the first place it doesn't really matter. Might make it harder to retain Gold though (depending if they keep the same SC model).

 

[wyvern]

Just remember EY offers 1 point/mile on numerous Y classes, whereas the likes of V Australia and VS,VX etc offer ridiculous 0.25, 0.5, 0.75!!, 1 etc - Virgin need to seriously ensure some consistency on accraul, as well as allowing for status to be accrued on all *MAJOR* partners - NZ, DL, EY

I agree. I point per mile for most Y fares is also pretty common in Star Alliance carriers who are one of VA's main competitors on longhaul routes. When I am booking a longhaul Y flight I take care to ensure that it is going to earn full miles and points. 0.25 and 0.5 is only going to put people off, and the fares are never discounted in the same proportion as the points are. It is not very joined up that booking Y on EY you get full points but booking Y on VA you do not.