Major changes to Velocity Frequent Flyer announced 17/10/24

[JohnK]

I think they are okay changes, provided they vastly improve the product (lounge & onboard), that is the big question!
Even on DSC for many who were chasing status, this is a huge drop when on a discounted fare.
I posted an example of this yesterday, such as the current $319 J MEL-OOL currently earns 80 status credits, under the new $ based earn, this will be 26 status credits.
Even under DSC (52), it's still far less than the current 80 without DSC.
Many will find it impossible to maintain their status after these changes, but that is clearly the plan, they want to award status to genuine high $ customers.

These sweet spots just like Qantas Any Seat awards 10-12 years ago are the cause of the problem that Virgin is now trying to fix.

I recently booked OOL-SYD return for 3 of us for $750 earning 90 SCs which is only marginally more than the one you mention above. I'm not even going to try and work out many SCs that would be in the new system.

Note that Qantas has had a few similar changes over the years that have neither imqproved lounges or onboard product. I cannot see that happening with Virgin either and all they'll manage to do is make loyal customers angry.

 

[QF WP]

Asked for my lifetime SC earn (since 1 Feb 2013) via Chat this morning and got response within 4 hours.

"Your Status Credits earned from 01 February 2013 up to today's date is at 6,929"

Didn't get the split up of Partner earn (as don't think I have flown any of their partner airlines - all our overseas travel has been on VA metal), or Family pooling (which wouldn't be a significant amount).

Still got a bit of flying to do. Back on the plane this Saturday. Got a new goal (other than finishing LTG with QF)

 

[SYD]

Still got a bit of flying to do.

Especially for QF LTP!

Back on the plane this Saturday. Got a new goal (other than finishing LTG with QF)

The DSC will help with one if those.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I'd be curious to learn if any Virgin Elites are pursuing the recent double status credit promotion on Qantas, and whether they will do a status match with them? For the latter, it's my understanding that one simply needs to call Qantas Frequent Flyer and ask for the status accelerator to match against their Virgin Gold. At which point it's just 200 status credits to earn Qantas Gold which sounds like a lot until you realize there is that double status credits promotion meaning in effect you only need to earn 100 base status credits with Qantas.

-RooFlyer88

 

[elanshin]

I'd be curious to learn if any Virgin Elites are pursuing the recent double status credit promotion on Qantas, and whether they will do a status match with them? For the latter, it's my understanding that one simply needs to call Qantas Frequent Flyer and ask for the status accelerator to match against their Virgin Gold. At which point it's just 200 status credits to earn Qantas Gold which sounds like a lot until you realize there is that double status credits promotion meaning in effect you only need to earn 100 base status credits with Qantas.

-RooFlyer88

Qantas won't do a SM to virgin. They'll offer a fast track (maybe more visibly) but not SM. They know their tiers are significantly more valuable. Unless they offer a match doing VA WP > QF SG and VA SG > QF PS. But that doesn't quite sit well I'd imagine from optics

 

[justinbrett]

I'd be curious to learn if any Virgin Elites are pursuing the recent double status credit promotion on Qantas, and whether they will do a status match with them? For the latter, it's my understanding that one simply needs to call Qantas Frequent Flyer and ask for the status accelerator to match against their Virgin Gold. At which point it's just 200 status credits to earn Qantas Gold which sounds like a lot until you realize there is that double status credits promotion meaning in effect you only need to earn 100 base status credits with Qantas.

-RooFlyer88

I would hazard a guess* Qantas wouldn’t grant these during a DSC promo


*I believe the North American phrase is Venture a guess.

 

[simmomelb]

I'd be curious to learn if any Virgin Elites are pursuing the recent double status credit promotion on Qantas, and whether they will do a status match with them? For the latter, it's my understanding that one simply needs to call Qantas Frequent Flyer and ask for the status accelerator to match against their Virgin Gold. At which point it's just 200 status credits to earn Qantas Gold which sounds like a lot until you realize there is that double status credits promotion meaning in effect you only need to earn 100 base status credits with Qantas.

-RooFlyer88

I assume many VA status chasers will be doing the opposite, given these changes aren't coming into effect for new bookings until 2nd April 2025 and with the current sale fares, including J, it might be the last time (or potentially second-last time) for many to secure another 12 months of status on the cheap.
Perhaps 12 months later, it might be a different story.

 

[QF WP]

Especially for QF LTP!

The DSC will help with one if those.

Not trying for QF LTP - a bridge too far. LTG is the only goal I have with QF.

The VA J sale fares at the moment will help to push me past Plat renewal numbers by 28/02/25 (along with family pooling on upcoming Japan trip).

I'd be curious to learn if any Virgin Elites are pursuing the recent double status credit promotion on Qantas, and whether they will do a status match with them? For the latter, it's my understanding that one simply needs to call Qantas Frequent Flyer and ask for the status accelerator to match against their Virgin Gold. At which point it's just 200 status credits to earn Qantas Gold which sounds like a lot until you realize there is that double status credits promotion meaning in effect you only need to earn 100 base status credits with Qantas.

-RooFlyer88

Yes, just trying to use DSC to get those last 130 SC’s - have got 12 months to do it.

Those who have their desired status level in the bag by renewal (VA or QF) will probably be looking to switch flying to the other carrier so they can achieve double elite status.

Accelerator wouldn’t really help me even as (currently) Silver - seating on short haul QF flights isn't an issue. If I buy whY, I'm always looking to upgrade to J, but I'm not fussed with a narrow seat for east coast triangle flights.

 

[HS-TQE]

Looks like the MSAM (Main Stream Aviation Media) is now advertising the pending VA termination of the EY agreement and the cutback of the SQ agreement pending QR financial stake, some of the smaller blogs are doing click-baity titles of "Virgin agreement with Singapore will be cut!" (or similar along those lines)

 

[justinbrett]

Looks like the MSAM (Main Stream Aviation Media) is now advertising the pending VA termination of the EY agreement and the cutback of the SQ agreement pending QR financial stake, some of the smaller blogs are doing click-baity titles of "Virgin agreement with Singapore will be cut!" (or similar along those lines)

It’s not really click bait, as cut can mean both remove or reduce. It’s objectively one of those things.

Surprised it’s taken this long. Even AFF haven’t done an article about it.

 

[JohnK]

There needed to be a culling of status but they probably could have found other ways to do.

Yes many ways without getting out sledge hammer.

Gold 600SCs to attain and 450SCs to retain or even 650SCs to attain and 500SCs to retain. Platinum 1100SCs to attain and 900SCs to retain.

Stop silly, gimmicky, double SCs and triple SCs promotions.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Yes many ways without getting out sledge hammer.

Some would argue this doesn’t represent a major change to the program and makes it simpler and fairer for travellers as they can instantly see how many status credits they’ll earn. No need to plug in the flights to GCMap or elsewhere to compute distance to derive SC. And since Virgin has an extensive domestic and international route network why shouldn’t they demand half of the SCs be earned on their flights?

Gold 600SCs to attain and 450SCs to retain or even 650SCs to attain and 500SCs to retain. Platinum 1100SCs to attain and 900SCs to retain.

Virgin has lower requirements to earn status precisely because their status is less valuable than status on Qantas or United. Both in terms of benefits when flying them but equally so benefits when flying partners. Don’t believe? Compare the Qantas benefits from earning Gold versus the Virgin benefits. No comparison!

Stop silly, gimmicky, double SCs and triple SCs promotions.

Gimmicky? Certainly but no doubt it drives forward bookings. Quite a few of my fellow travellers are making a mad dash of bookings and rebookings to take advantage of the current DSC promotion with QF. Heck even yours truly is considering making a speculative awards booking to Europe.

With that being said I hope one of these days the airlines have a 10x status credit promotion. That’s how you truly reward loyalty!

 

[jase05]

That’s how you truly reward loyalty!

Rewarding loyalty?
The people who are actual frequent flyers don’t rely on gimmicks to retain status, they have status because of the shear amount of flying they do. They are the loyal customers that should be rewarded not the ones who fly a few flights a year and then get their status from waiting until DSC’s and the like

 

[simmomelb]

With that being said I hope one of these days the airlines have a 10x status credit promotion. That’s how you truly reward loyalty!

How on earth is giving 10 X status rewarding loyalty? It's the complete opposite, allowing an infrequent flyer to get a load of status.
Perhaps you meant something else?

 

[RooFlyer]

Rewarding loyalty?
The people who are actual frequent flyers don’t rely on gimmicks to retain status, they have status because of the shear amount of flying they do. They are the loyal customers that should be rewarded not the ones who fly a few flights a year and then get their status from waiting until DSC’s and the like

Right on!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I recently booked OOL-SYD return for 3 of us for $750 earning 90 SCs which is only marginally more than the one you mention above. I'm not even going to try and work out many SCs that would be in the new system.

Just divide by 12. so 62 SCs all up.

 

[JohnK]

Just divide by 12. so 62 SCs all up.

I didn't think it was that simple. This is family pooling which gets punished with the new changes.

 

[RooFlyer]

I didn't think it was that simple. This is family pooling which gets punished with the new changes.

good thing too. An airline needs to reward a person's flying with the airline, not anyone else’s.

 

[33kft]

An airline needs to reward a person's flying with the airline, not anyone else’s.

Why though? It's the revenue that matters to the airline. Why not be recognised for paying for 4 people's fares instead of 1?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Yes many ways without getting out sledge hammer.

Gold 600SCs to attain and 450SCs to retain or even 650SCs to attain and 500SCs to retain. Platinum 1100SCs to attain and 900SCs to retain.

Stop silly, gimmicky, double SCs and triple SCs promotions.

Short-term wins on both seats and bringing booking windows forward.
The hangover of those offers is felt via Jaded members looking for more 6-12 months later.

This is why both airlines continually run bonus SC promos the way they do.

Easy to setup.
Nobody in management questions the cost of short-term gains.
Small groups like the ease of earn/retaining status.

The pain is felt tomorrow.
Unless, of course, you run another bonus SC offer.

Like an endless debt cycle...