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..?

 

[a330j]

Looking at rewards flights BNE to CBR between Christmas and New Year. 45600 pts + $64 one way . Effectively makes the points worthless. Standard 7800 + $50 on the way back.

 

[andye]

Looking at rewards flights BNE to CBR between Christmas and New Year. 45600 pts + $64 one way . Effectively makes the points worthless. Standard 7800 + $50 on the way back.

Thats not really a reward flight

 

[Mr H]

Thats not really a reward flight

A number of airlines have started to make any flight available on points for an exorbitant price.

 

[jakeseven7]

What cutbacks??

For our business specifically? -> The cutbacks that matter most to us in both routes and big reductions in frequency (which is understandable with the fleet being reduced so much, I get it) are going to be the pain points for our business. We fly people basically everywhere including regionally and Bain/VA2 have left routes and cut others by significant %'s, leaving flight times that aren't great for business. Therefore QF/QFLink are probably going to pick up those routes and connecting flights.

Another unknown is NZ routes and frequencies which we use a lot. Its not just about serving a port its the facilities and the frequencies that matter for our business.

Personally we don't care about the fun size muesli bar being reduced to nothing at all per your point - apart from the fact that it increases admin for us if employees have to BOB over allowable meal time periods. That is irritating.

But I totally get for other people just flying basic on the main trunk routes and are happy with the frequency and timings Bain/VA2 offer, it still might make sense for them although I personally am wary of investing too much of my own (personal) money in a business that will more than likely be sold again in about 5 years and the uncertainty that comes with that.

Our corporate TA still has VA2 flights blocked for booking though apparently that comes off next week, they were fighting with VA2 over our credits From there we are doing a review on what our flying arrangements will be in the new world!

Perhaps we will go REXJET exclusive

 

[kaycc333]

I like to support alt-Qantas but every trip Virgin cancel or rebook stuffing up connections.

No more flying with them.

Cash out all points.

 

[RAM]

The 'enhancement' announced by Q that every seat on all Q flights to/from NZ for the first 3 days of a NZ bubble - will be able to be booked as Classic Reward flights reminds me why I hope VA survives (& thrives)!

For a typical 'low priced' Q Classic rewards Y seat the fees & charges are over $160 each way. At the same time an all cash ticket is under $400 - doesn't put much value on the 36,000 QFF points required.

 

[BudgetFly]

I like to support alt-Qantas but every trip Virgin cancel or rebook stuffing up connections.

No more flying with them.

Cash out all points.

And how would you advise "cashing out"?

 

[BNEFlyer]

I like to support alt-Qantas but every trip Virgin cancel or rebook stuffing up connections.

No more flying with them.

Cash out all points.

I've spent 55,000 points on VA upgrades recently. Very happy with that, then again I haven't had any scheduling issues.

 

[Stealthflyer]

I've spent 55,000 points on VA upgrades recently. Very happy with that, then again I haven't had any scheduling issues.

Yeah, I’ve been happily using points to upgrade too. Now that I’m not saving for a RTW in business class, I don’t feel the need to hoard anymore. It’s very freeing.

 

[Tiki]

I only had 82k Velocity but after reading this thread I decided to send them to SQ. Most of my Velocity points come from Flybuys, a few from the NAB Visa. I figure I can always send more from Flybuys after the Covid issue is over if VA survives. But I have more confidence in SQ surviving and my future travel plans include Turkey, SIngapore and Indonesia so they will be used when the bans are lifted.

Just over a year later- between my Flybuys account, my husband's and my Westpac Rewards card I have enough points for 2 x RT BNE-NAN if the route ever comes back and is the same cost in points. We make good use of the emailed spend x/10k deals, use the card with the best offers and rotate between our Flybuys accounts. And I also do a fair amount of shopping at Woolies when they have good bonuses running.

The points will stay in Flybuys until VA and travel is reliable/no lockdown risks.

 

[cove]

Went looking at points flights in May and found Qantas points are currently close to worthless and Virgin points were easy to get business class in a couple of clicks. Very happy with Virgin availability when Qantas wanted hundreds of thousands of points. Was very happy to have kept a big stash of Virgin points.

 

[Rich]

Went looking at points flights in May and found Qantas points are currently close to worthless and Virgin points were easy to get business class in a couple of clicks. Very happy with Virgin availability when Qantas wanted hundreds of thousands of points. Was very happy to have kept a big stash of Virgin points.

Where are you trying to go? Qantas has been very handy for me lately. Any day I have wanted there has been heaps of award booking availability for domestic flights (economy and usually business) and they are fully flexible.

 

[cove]

I was looking at business class Perth-Sydney-Perth and Perth-Adelaide-Perth and in each case Qantas points required were in the hundreds of thousands each way. To go to Adelaide in business was just over 80,000 with nothing to pay. I voted for the saving.____

 

[jakeseven7]

I was looking at business class Perth-Sydney-Perth and Perth-Adelaide-Perth and in each case Qantas points required were in the hundreds of thousands each way. To go to Adelaide in business was just over 80,000 with nothing to pay. I voted for the saving.____

How strange I’ve been using QF points for trans con classic J and have had no issue finding avails recently. Better luck next time!

 

[MooTime]

I was looking at business class Perth-Sydney-Perth and Perth-Adelaide-Perth and in each case Qantas points required were in the hundreds of thousands each way. To go to Adelaide in business was just over 80,000 with nothing to pay. I voted for the saving.____

I'm a VA supporter, but you must be looking at 'Any Seat' type, there're standard 250k+ points or whatever.
Need to find "Award Seats' that go for same as VA, ~40k for Perth - Mel/SYD/BNE.

your better off going to Syd than Ade for 80k as it'll be the A330 not 737 to ADE.

I've snagged myself 3 MEL-PER J (A330) for early 2022. They are freely available, further ahead you book the increased likely hood, especially as a bronze nothing member.
I see your looking for May, that's rather short notice for these J transcon much desired tickets.

 

[cove]

Just getting brave enough to leave WA......Could score a bit of quarantine coming back due to our recently anointed Supreme State Leader having the controls.

 

[MooTime]

Just getting brave enough to leave WA......Could score a bit of quarantine coming back due to our recently anointed Supreme State Leader having the controls.

I reckon you'll be fine, great to get away absolutely. Enjoy & let us know your take on the revamped VA Biz meal deal.

 

[Must...Fly!]

@cove I can sympathize with the difficulty of Qantas awards. I have struggled with them quite a bit, but virgin usually not as barren. Perth routes seem difficult but others not so bad

 

[jonboixxx]

Just getting brave enough to leave WA......Could score a bit of quarantine coming back due to our recently anointed Supreme State Leader having the controls.

I wish we had a SSL. Oh that's right, we do. (QLD) We're booked for Perth January 2022, hopefully we get there.

 

[oz_mark]

Just getting brave enough to leave WA......Could score a bit of quarantine coming back due to our recently anointed Supreme State Leader having the controls.

Pfft. Why would you want to leave the Democratic People's Republic of Westralia?