HotelClub to leave Velocity

[markis10]

I'm still confused. HotelClub run the Virgin booking portal - and it seems points are available through there, and they seem to throw up the same availability and price as the HotelClub website.

Were there more points from using HC over the VA portal? Am I missing something here?

I suspect there will be changes after June 27 when they leave.

 

[TerryW]

I have just come back from a week in Melbourne,booking accommodation through Virgin/Hotel Club,as of yet the points have not been posted.However the retro claims time does not start until after the closing date.Does anyboby have any ideas on my options.Thanks Terry.

 

[Ausbt]

Sorry don't quite get you TerryW, are you saying you have checked out but you still can't lodge a retro claim? I've found the claims are able to be lodged the day after checkout. My strategy, and I'm waiting on a claim from Hotelclub now, is simply to lodge a couple a days after and then lodge weekly. Some claims I have lodged 5 or 6 times and a few that are say two months old I've lodged three claims for the same booking in a day. It works, ...eventually.

 

[TerryW]

Thanks for your reply,Ausbt,i was under the impression that you could not put in a retro claim until after a six week? period if the points have not been allocated.However I shall now put in a claim for the points as you suggested and keep chasing them up.Thanks Terry.

 

[Ausbt]

Thanks for your reply,Ausbt,i was under the impression that you could not put in a retro claim until after a six week? period

Definitely don't wait too long TerryW, claim early-and-often. If you waited 12 weeks - they may not even grant you the claim at all!

 

[TerryW]

Hello Ausbt,i have tried making a retro claim as advised,however all I get is a message saying(You cannot claim points for this activity as it was completed more than 3 months before todays date.)Booking was from the 30may-5june,any ideas as to what to do next.Thanks Terry.

 

[iambents]

I suspect there will be changes after June 27 when they leave.

Would seem fairly irresponsible for them to still be advertising points on future bookings via their website (and the Velocity website) which they know they won't be honouring after June 27.

 

[Ausbt]

Hello Ausbt,i have tried making a retro claim as advised,however all I get is a message saying(You cannot claim points for this activity as it was completed more than 3 months before todays date.)Booking was from the 30may-5june,any ideas as to what to do next.Thanks Terry.

Are you sure you didn't accidentally enter the incorrect year? It's very easy to do with those drop-down selectors. I'd give it another go. I actually just made my sixth claim for the same booking that occurred on 21 May 2013 and it gave me a claim number successfully. No points yet though, obviously. This week I'll be entering it daily until they credit those points, let me tell you! Presumeably by month end we will not longer see Hotelclub listed in among the providers, it will be a case of chasing by phone then :shock:

 

[Blackswan]

Yeah, I was able to make my fourth claim today. I'm going to also start harrasing them each day (subject to having spare time). They may start cracking down on the time it takes for the partner points to post . . .

 

[TerryW]

Thanks for all your replies,i have now successfully submitted a claim and have received a claim no( I was probably too eager in the first one as you suggested and input the incorrect details).I shall now follow it up every day until I receive them,"look out Velocity if they don't come through".Thanks again;Terry.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Would seem fairly irresponsible for them to still be advertising points on future bookings via their website (and the Velocity website) which they know they won't be honouring after June 27.

I agree, if that's what happens. I booked a nite thru VA/Hotelclub for 7-7-13 so we'll see what happens.

 

[bass_ke]

Unsure if Agoda have even been a part of velocity, but when searching for hotels only on the Virgin Australia Holiday's website I got redirected to Agoda with a Trusted partner of Virgin Australia Banner

Sign of what's happening on the 27th?

EDIT: Just clicked the hotels link from the Virgin Australia website and also got redirected to Agoda

 

[Ausbt]

Clearly Agoda, with its logo in the top left and "a trusted partner of Virgin Australia" in the right. Tell you what Agoda, prove your trust by crediting points within a reasonable timeframe, say oh 4 weeks or so huh?

 

[clarkkent]

Hm I quite like Agoda, for many destinations they were usually the cheapest on HotelsCombined (but now not indexed there?). Hope they stay competitive after the tie-up - I've never seen HotelClub come out cheapest.

 

[iambents]

Doesn't look like any points earn on Agoda in this portal (unless it all changes later in the week). The 'trusted partner' Agoda site only refers to their own 'Agoda Rewards' program (same as on their normal site). Looks to me like Virgin have signed up with Agoda as an Enterprise partner as a quick and easy replacement to the hotel booking gap HotelClub leaves - but without any point earn as part of the deal. Of course all might change later in the week.

 

[Clivem]

Well .......just did a double check .... and yes .....today is June 27 ...... And the Velocity Hotel 'Earn' page is still referencing the HotelClub tie up and earn rate ........ Can the 'somewhat confused' please form a line to the left and the 'totally confused' form a line to the right...........

 

[iambents]

The Agoda trusted partner site now has added a 'Earn 3 Points Per $1 spent' to the search box.

 

[iambents]

Agoda has now replaced HotelClub on the Velocity website including status bonus.

 

[clarkkent]

Hm is it better to earn Velocity points or Agoda reward points? Obviously the latter are restricted in their usefulness. Agoda says they're worth 4-7%, so if you value a Velocity point at 1-2%, earning 3x puts you in a similar ballpark.

 

[iambents]

Just got this response from Velocity's social media team:

Hi iambents, if you booked before 27 June, you will still earn Velocity Points, regardless of when your stay is. An email was sent out to Velocity Members advising them of the changes in late May. If you didn't receive this email, please check your details are correct by logging in to your Account.​

I don't remember seeing the email (and my contact details are all good). Does anyone else remember seeing it?