Is it Time to transfer/withdraw points from Velocity?

[Bibendum]

Hi All,

I need some advice from the brains trust on this forum.

I, like many on here, have hundreds of thousands of points sitting with velocity. With the current COVID-19 situation and virgins financial position I’m concerned that if the airline was declare bankruptcy points may disappear..

What’s the likelihood of this happening and should I withdraw my points by purchasing gift cards to get some cash value at what I have..?

am I making a mountain out of a mole hill.. or is there a real threat to my velocity points been wiped out..?

 

[tomlee1986]

You are definitely not alone, I've been helping family members redeem and ZERO confirmation letters from Collinson group orders.

We did get some for Wine orders though.

Sorry for my ignorance... what on earth is Collinson group?

 

[TheInsider]

Sorry for my ignorance... what on earth is Collinson group?

This is the company running the Velocity Store, so it's not Virgin running it - a separate company all together.

 

[malmac]

I still have not received my points credited for the month from Virgin Money. Always credited by 14th of month or earlier. Anyone else have a delay in crediting.

I received my points on the 4th April for last months statement, which was on time.

 

[Lomandriel]

I hope you can get that confirmation email soon

Is the confirmation email the "Thank you for shopping with the Velocity Rewards Store" email that seems to come out instantly to my junk - it just states your contact detials, delivery adddress and the gift card item summary and points paid?

Or are you guys referring to another actual confirmation where they then are processing/honouring the initial order? I have got the former, but if the latter is meant to come then even my orders from Tues, Wed have not received anything =/

My order on the wine store after midnight also came through with a summary of items confirming, but yes, do wine orders also get another confirmation to confirm it's been accepted/processed?

I'll probably ring up anyway as the email states i have the 4 pillars gin, the ink gin and the half dozen wine. Yes when my order went through on the web browser the confirmation page only showedthe ink gin for say 13k points,nothing else but a sub total of circa 48,000 points. Obviously glitched as the 4 pillars and half dozen red case had disappeared off the site... but they've hit me for the full amount, and the confirmation email shows the full - so hoping it will be honoured - otherwise it is going to be painful waiting for a points refund or sorting out.

 

[mickfrombris]

Is the confirmation email the "Thank you for shopping with the Velocity Rewards Store" email that seems to come out instantly to my junk - it just states your contact detials, delivery adddress and the gift card item summary and points paid?

Or are you guys referring to another actual confirmation where they then are processing/honouring the initial order? I have got the former, but if the latter is meant to come then even my orders from Tues, Wed have not received anything =/

My order on the wine store after midnight also came through with a summary of items confirming, but yes, do wine orders also get another confirmation to confirm it's been accepted/processed?

I'll probably ring up anyway as the email states i have the 4 pillars gin, the ink gin and the half dozen wine. Yes when my order went through on the web browser the confirmation page only showedthe ink gin for say 13k points,nothing else but a sub total of circa 48,000 points. Obviously glitched as the 4 pillars and half dozen red case had disappeared off the site... but they've hit me for the full amount, and the confirmation email shows the full - so hoping it will be honoured - otherwise it is going to be painful waiting for a points refund or sorting out.

I haven’t received any email whatsoever. A confirmation of the order placed would be reassuring. The points have been deducted though so at least I have a reference for the order.

 

[theblank]

For those who are betting on the future of the airline and keeping points in there... do you really think airlines will increase award seat availability in the future when demand picks up? It's going to be about cash-cash-cash-cash.

A reedemed ticket with VFF points is actual income revenue for Virgin Australia.

 

[Lomandriel]

I haven’t received any email whatsoever. A confirmation of the order placed would be reassuring. The points have been deducted though so at least I have a reference for the order.

I get them instantly. No doubt its auto generated. I doubt it even guarantees the gift card being processed, i am just hoping with Virgin recommencing flights as per govt deal yesterday that they continue to run the velocity store redemptions (buys us more time). For peace of mind i'm continuing my daily cash out. Check your junk mail or perhaps rule filters (are they set on high)? It should be instant. Both wines and gift cards kept instantly generating for me and also my parents who I have been ordering gift cards for too.

My main worry/concern was if others were getting further 'processed' or dispatched etc. emails from the wine store ? Supposedly my order went through (rang) - but one wine was out of stock hence why it may have been taken down from store. Still my orders in the system with all 3 items so even with the glitch im hopeful. 2 weeks delivery they said (from dispatch) so I'd say a good 3 or 4 weeks for us in WA given the warehouse will probably be slow to dispatch, and lengthy delays in the post.

Supposedly they wont knock or ring the doorbell (per my instruction). Abit worrying as i sent it to the parents address incase we return to the office working arrangements, but they're less likely to leave the front door open or check regularly if someone's left a box outside. At least there is less people 'walking around' to pilfer it, but still - never liked how wineries have started not doing signature for deliveries (in this case obviously covid 19... - but if a parcel goes missing? then how...)

 

[tomlee1986]

Is the confirmation email the "Thank you for shopping with the Velocity Rewards Store" email that seems to come out instantly to my junk - it just states your contact detials, delivery adddress and the gift card item summary and points paid?

this is the email confirmation we are talking about

 

[pagan]

Well Virgin Marketing Management appear to be totally asleep at the wheel in recent weeks.

Airline is collapsing around their ears (not of their making) but not a sign of a 50% Off Points promos, universal Double SC promo, or anything even resembling a fare sale - worse deals than 2019 - Management appear in a time warp dream word that things will improve by MAGIC DUST.

Filling the far fewer planes still flying SOMEHOW, should be Priority #1, #2 and #3 in there now.

It is not, and planes are flying at 25% capacity on many routes, bleeding red ink in rivers.

Feds here gave airlines a few table scraps today, that will not touch the sides.

Another couple months of this, tops, and Virgin are gone - sadly.

I lost a million miles in the Ansett crash, and have a million plus in Virgin now. And only fools do not learn from history.

Unless someone in there comes out of their dream coma this week, and looks like creating revenue and filling seats in a big way, they are kaput sadly – and all mine are getting used somehow.

I also lost 500,000 Ansett Golden Wing points (yes, I'm old) - for what its worth I say get something back while you can ! Once bitten twice shy...

 

[MToTheFrame]

Hmm, any ideas on redeeming reward seats with external airlines for say next year / end of this year?
Any routes?

Otherwise it's time to tank the 1 gift-card a day.
Still hoping Virgin somehow pull through this.

 

[jakeseven7]

this is the email confirmation we are talking about

Haven't got any email from anyone period (Except for wine).

 

[tomlee1986]

Haven't got any email from anyone period (Except for wine).

That I don't really know... hope you get your email soon..

 

[kyle]

Still have nothing from the order to be fulfilled by Popink from 3 April 2020. Exactly two weeks today.

 

[mickfrombris]

Still have nothing from the order to be fulfilled by Popink from 3 April 2020. Exactly two weeks today.

Keep fingers crossed then. If you check the website it says you can call the contact centre to follow it up - except when you click the link it advises the contact centre in the Phillipines is temporarily closed due to Covid19. So not sure what avenue you have to actually follow anything up regarding store orders for now. Anyone got ideas ?

 

[RaRa]

How long did it take to receive the email confirming the order ? I ordered yesterday. Would have thought confirmation email would have been automatic. ?

I didn't receive any email however I checked both velocity point history, and order status on store straight after I made my purchase just to confirm. Also note, the order status was still 'pending' when ipad was delivered. Hope this info helps. Hang in there, as the entire eco system of velocity, partners, and AusPost appear to be overwhelmed. All the best

 

[trippin_the_rift]

A reedemed ticket with VFF points is actual income revenue for Virgin Australia.

The internal amount Velocity pays for seats is similar to what staff would pay ~90% discount from the listed price.
The inventory appears to be sub-classified under cheap fare buckets. Meaning rev man controls inventory for award seats.

Income for Virgin Australia - but it's all left-pocket-right-pocket.
It's not new external cash coming into the group -- and that's what they'll be looking for to survive.

 

[Must...Fly!]

The internal amount Velocity pays for seats is similar to what staff would pay ~90% discount from the listed price.
The inventory appears to be sub-classified under cheap fare buckets. Meaning rev man controls inventory for award seats.

Income for Virgin Australia - but it's all left-pocket-right-pocket.
It's not new external cash coming into the group -- and that's what they'll be looking for to survive.

INdeed and very true, I have looked at revenue & award inventory very closely and it appears to match with lower fare buckets, but occasionally where revenue seats are high you can pick up the odd points seat. But it's rare and only one will pop up, which I think is also linked in with revenue sales (i.e. sell one revenue, then the award seat is no longer available).

 

[kyle]

Keep fingers crossed then. If you check the website it says you can call the contact centre to follow it up - except when you click the link it advises the contact centre in the Phillipines is temporarily closed due to Covid19. So not sure what avenue you have to actually follow anything up regarding store orders for now. Anyone got ideas ?

There's a "partner" address and phone number for contact. I might wait another week and see what happens so it's after the stated 14 days (I take that as business days).

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

I also lost 500,000 Ansett Golden Wing points (yes, I'm old) - for what its worth I say get something back while you can ! Once bitten twice shy...

I like to think of myself as having lifetime Ansett Australia Global Rewards platinum status, with enough points to redeem for two RTW Star Alliance tickets in the afterlife.

For the same reason, my Velocity balance has been cleaned out.

 

[SOPOOR]

I dont know if this was there a few days ago, but under my shipment tab,
I now have a shipment number, which is very similar to my order number

gut feeling is that its an internal shipment number and not a postal tracking number