Is it a competition or not?

[clipped_wings]

Hi all, a funny thing happened on the way to booking our latest holiday:

My facebook timeline featured a post from Velocity Frequent Flyer about a 1 of 3 Guaranteed Prizes if we booked an eligible flight between 10 and 12 January, 2018. Naturally, I was intrigued and brought our travel plans forward post haste, so that we could book and pay before the competition cutoff date.

Whilst on the phone yesterday with Virgin, I asked about the competition and was told it was a scam and was being investigated.

What the????

I began messengering Velocity on fb and they assured me all was legitimate. However after another call to Velocity, I was told "don't pay any attention to it, we have NO promotion of this description".

I booked and paid anyway, as we wanted to secure our seats to LAX. However this morning, I looked through Velocity's website. And there it is. Right there at the bottom of the page. Inviting me to be in the draw.

Lucky for me, the prize winners are drawn late January from Velocity's office in Erina NSW.

I live in Erina NSW. How utterly convenient

 

[Falcs]

Probably a typical lack of internal communication between departments

I assume it's the one where 1 person gets a flight to HK, 50 people get a business class upgrade, and everyone else gets a $50 VA Holidays voucher

 

[docjames]

Pic shot below. Email received Wednesday. Came from "velocity AT e.velocityfrequentflyer.com" (@ removed)

Terms and Conditions

*Virgin Australia: Full competition terms and conditions can be accessed at https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content//Specials/virgin-australia-everyonesawinner/. The competition commences at 12:00pm AEDT on 10 January 2018 and ends at 11:59am AEDT on 12 January 2018 (Promotion Period). Entry is open to eligible Australian residents who are Velocity Frequent Flyer members and 18 years or older, except employees of the Promoter, Velocity employees and agencies associated with this promotion and their immediate families (Entrant). Entrants will automatically receive one (1) entry when they book a Virgin Australia marketed and operated flight during the Promotion Period (Eligible Booking). Entrants must enter a valid Velocity membership number at the time of booking and they must have either a contact phone number or email address on their Velocity account to be eligible. There is a limit of one (1) prize per customer, however multiple bookings can be made during the Promotion Period which will result in extra entries. All winners drawn at Anisimoff Legal, Suite 5, Erina Plaza, 210 Central Coast Highway, Erina NSW 2250. The Winners will be notified after 12pm AEDT on 24 January 2018 directly by phone or email. Average total prize value is $124,686 AUD (excluding GST). The prize is not exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash. The prize pool consists of; one (1) return Economy Class flight for two (2) people flying Virgin Australia departing from any Australian capital city to Hong Kong, twenty-five (25) Domestic Business Class Upgrades for one (1) person on a pre-existing booking flying Virgin Australia and twenty-five (25) Short haul International Business Class Upgrades for one (1) person on a pre-existing booking flying Virgin Australia. Members who book during the Promotion Period and who do not receive one of the fifty-one (51) prizes as listed above will receive a $50 Virgin Australia Holidays gift voucher for use on any holiday package purchase with Virgin Australia Holidays. The Velocity Member Terms and Conditions apply, available at https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/TermsConditions/. The Promoter is Velocity Frequent Flyer Pty Ltd (ACN 601 408 824) of registered address 56 Edmondstone Road, Bowen Hills, Queensland 4006. Authorised under NSW Permit No. LTPS/17/20892, ACT Permit No. TP17/02662, SA Permit No. T17/2474.

 

[AIRwin]

I also received the email and my name, Velocity status, points and membership number appeared in the header so it seems legitimate...

 

[CPMaverick]

Coincidentally, I booked two flights between 12:00 noon and 12:15p on Jan 10th. Is there any confirmation you are part of the promotion? Or you just wait until the drawing?

 

[clipped_wings]

Coincidentally, I booked two flights between 12:00 noon and 12:15p on Jan 10th. Is there any confirmation you are part of the promotion? Or you just wait until the drawing?

I got nothing in terms of confirmation that I was in the competition. However, the T&C's state that the draw is local to where I live, I know the office building well. I'm thinking of being there in person on the day, as I believe you are allowed to witness these kind of promotional draws. I'll keep you updated....