Earn Velocity status credits on a boat

[Mattg]

Just noticed that VA flight numbers are available on launch boat transfers between Hamilton Island Airport and Hayman Island. Looks like you can even earn points & status credits, although it appears you can only book these in conjunction with a flight to/from HTI.

Is this a new thing?




Unfortunately, you can't redeem a Reward Seat on a VA50xx launch boat service.

 

[Thibault]

I was able to choose those one back in mid-2020 if I remember correctly but the pricing was always more expensive than buying a separate boat ticket, so never pulled the trigger.

 

[Quickstatus]

Looks like you can even earn points & status credits

Yes. As far back as I can remember.

The points and SC depend on the actual fare - lite,choice,flex,bus.

Yes, points and SC only accrue if an actual flight is attached to the booking.

A separate boat ticket is always cheaper though and unlikely to be worth the points and SC. However does it become a married booking in that a delay in the boat sector will be visible to the airline?. And would it make a difference?

 

[henrus]

Something tells me you won't earn anything, as the Velocity website says...

"Status Credits can only be earned on eligible flights, marketed and operated by Virgin Australia and/or a Velocity airline partner. "

A quick google search reveals they've been selling through fares since 2009 (although has started/stopped a few times since then).

 

[Mattg]

Something tells me you won't earn anything, as the Velocity website says...

"Status Credits can only be earned on eligible flights, marketed and operated by Virgin Australia and/or a Velocity airline partner. "

A quick google search reveals they've been selling through fares since 2009 (although has started/stopped a few times since then).

The booking portal certainly implies that status credits will be earned. E.g. if you search for a BNE-HTI Choice fare, the website says you'll earn 15 status credits. But if you book BNE-HTI-HIS, it says you'll earn 30 status credits for Choice.

 

[odysseus]

Something tells me you won't earn anything, as the Velocity website says...

"Status Credits can only be earned on eligible flights, marketed and operated by Virgin Australia and/or a Velocity airline partner. "

A quick google search reveals they've been selling through fares since 2009 (although has started/stopped a few times since then).

This ferry trip is exceptional to their model, so I'd say that was written as standard text when not thought about. For example, now you can also earn status credits on Coles shopping, credit cards and a few other means which also would be excluded by that text. But people have gotten those SCs.

 

[henrus]

This ferry trip is exceptional to their model, so I'd say that was written as standard text when not thought about. For example, now you can also earn status credits on Coles shopping, credit cards and a few other means which also would be excluded by that text. But people have gotten those SCs.

That text is on the bottom of the "Virgin Australia" partner page of the velocity website. There is different text on the bottom of each of the partner pages.

Regardless I asked VA via twitter today and received this response:
"Unfortunately you are unable to earn points and status credits on ferry transfers"

I'm sure it's just a bug with the booking portal given VA has offered ferries before (and buses with EY to DXB) and none of them have offered status credits (otherwise there would have been an AFF article about it ).

There was briefly some AFF discussion about it in 2009 plus a SMH article. After the cycle in 2017 the VA codeshares on ferries resumed in 2019 but back then the booking system never showed the points/status credits earn hence my guess is when VA codeshares on ferries resumed it was never configured correctly.

 

[ozstamps]

QF used to grant points and sectors on some bus transfer in the Pilbarra. Presumably from a mine site to airport. It had a specific QF flight number, and a QF FF number could be added, just like with a regular flight. I think it was all bookable on QF website.

That one COULD book stand alone, for something quite low - $10-$20 or so a ticket as I recall. Seems like after it was booked no-one checked if a passenger was on the bus - or not.

One creative FT member 'Kahow' booked 50 or 100 bus trips a year and racked up enough SC to get and retain QF Plat, despite never leaving his home down south.

It got aired on FT and QF not only cancelled his Plat card but froze all his points as I recall.

A phrase gained very wide usage at the time 'Don't mention the BUS!' Serfty and others with good memories I am sure will recall this infamous matter.

So sometimes these out of the box ideas are not so bright long term.

 

[oz_mark]

Did someone mention the bus?

 

[AIRwin]

It got aired on FT and QF not only cancelled his Plat card but froze all his points as I recall.

Hope he managed to get a status match before then...

 

[Quickstatus]

enough SC to get and retain QF Plat,

Did those bus rides also qualify for the “~”

 

[Ktan89]

Can someone share a link where I can book a boat transfer separately please.
IC Hayman wants to charge $210 per pax one way.

 

[jpp42]

Can someone share a link where I can book a boat transfer separately please.
IC Hayman wants to charge $210 per pax one way.

That is the correct price, it's the same launch. It looks like the pricing through the VA site on the "codeshare" is currently identical at $210 per person each way. This is the cheap way, noting that it's $880 per helicopter (2A/1C)!. I believe you need book with your accommodation (if not with VA), it's not available separately. (As per the web site, "To book your transfer or make an enquiry, please reach out to our reservations team on +61 7 5501 9992 or [email protected]")

Also in an follow-up to the discussion last year, the booking engine still shows extra SC's for the HTI-HIS boat transfer, i.e. 5 extra credits for lite, 15 extra for Choice, etc. Regardless of the Twitter agent's reply, it would be interesting to know if that's actually correct. @Ktan89 are you planning on flying VA, maybe you could let us know if you do get these?

 

[Ktan89]

Thanks for the reply @jpp42. Looks like there is no way to avoid paying the $420 return fee.
I haven't booked anything yet and will look into VA if the price makes sense for us and will report back on the SC's.

That is the correct price, it's the same launch. It looks like the pricing through the VA site on the "codeshare" is currently identical at $210 per person each way. This is the cheap way, noting that it's $880 per helicopter (2A/1C)!. I believe you need book with your accommodation (if not with VA), it's not available separately. (As per the web site, "To book your transfer or make an enquiry, please reach out to our reservations team on +61 7 5501 9992 or [email protected]")

Also in an follow-up to the discussion last year, the booking engine still shows extra SC's for the HTI-HIS boat transfer, i.e. 5 extra credits for lite, 15 extra for Choice, etc. Regardless of the Twitter agent's reply, it would be interesting to know if that's actually correct. @Ktan89 are you planning on flying VA, maybe you could let us know if you do get these?