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

[jase05]

like QFF where platinums get first go at premium awards before they are released to lower tiers.

Only on QF metal.
For all others it’s open slather and you don’t need to be high tier

 

[antycbr]

Only on QF metal.
For all others it’s open slather and you don’t need to be high tier

That explains it, thanks. Not as familiar with QFF. But familiar enough to have used QFF for SCL and TPE in J, and to LDH!

 

[odysseus]

I don't see why some say I'll drain my velocity points now that I can't retain whatever status I have under the changes. Heard this theory a few times in this thread.

I have ~800k velocity points, have no intention using them for sake of using them as my status will stop in time
Plan to use in couple years, regardless of status. Maybe they'll be avois by then, ha!

Used a bunch recently on return trip to Fiji, 6/8 seats in J.
Rewards points, be it VFF or QFF or other o/s airlines are very handy regardless of status.

I'm not going to get rid of my balance just for the sake of it.

But the value has dropped away; earnings reduced and redemption cost increased, in conjunction with limited availability and extra charges means that I'll no longer prioritise earning as I used to, including with partners. It'll be more opportunistic - if I was buying it anyway, fine, but I'm not going to choose a Velocity partner in preference to others, or chase offers so much. So I expect the balance will run down over time.

 

[n7of9]

I don't see why some say I'll drain my velocity points now that I can't retain whatever status I have under the changes. Heard this theory a few times in this thread.

If I can retain status by paying for some flights, I'll pay for them. If I can't pre-plan my SC earn, and if my partner status is worth less, then I'll ignore status earn and use my large cache of points for redemption flights.

I just booked reward SQ J SYD-SIN-FRA. Previously I would have purchased Y+ and used points to upgrade to J. But now that I don't care about the SC earn I can use 100% points. I can churn enough cards in the year to fund my 1 annual overseas trip, and any domestic flights, of which there will be less now because I don't have to concern myself with segments, will be BFOD.

So my money now will go to credit cards offering the best benefits for me, and to non-VA partners. I started my VFF SC earning when they offered The Business, and flew to LAX, HK and AKL. Now that they seem to have doubled-down on their commitment to be a mid-tier domestic airline with no lie-flat seats, a domestic airline that doesn't fly Sydney to Broome direct, or to Coffs Harbour or Port Macquarie at all, their use to me has greatly diminished.

Obviously, my use-case isn't everyone's, but as I've said before, VFF is a frequent flyer loyalty program - some fly frequently, some are loyal in their spend. The changes will remove a lot of loyal members which will diminish VA and VA partner income. Actual frequent flyers are 'happy' there will be less leisure flyers in the lounges, but forget that leisure flyers don't use the lounges very often - and lounge access is a lot cheaper than status earn/retain.

 

[drron]

I just came across a novel way to boost SC earn on SQ.
We normally redeem J awards on flights from SIN -BNE. However coming back from Europe next year we are in the middle of school holidays and saver awards were already waitlisted. So resigned to paying. but checked out BKK-SIN-BNE. now using the multi city I was able to buy 2 flights in lite business for BKK-SIN-BNE for ~ $A 5600 or $A2800 each.
Buying the same flight SIN-BNE was not available as a lit fare and was $A3222 each. The only lite fare available was on the midnight deparure at $A2900.
So pay less to go further. even though our flights are just after 0cober 1st so our SIN-BNE flight will nett 100Scs as against 120 now. However we will get an extra 50 Scs for the BKK-SIN flight.
retaining gold will be a cake walk.

 

[elanshin]

I just came across a novel way to boost SC earn on SQ.
We normally redeem J awards on flights from SIN -BNE. However coming back from Europe next year we are in the middle of school holidays and saver awards were already waitlisted. So resigned to paying. but checked out BKK-SIN-BNE. now using the multi city I was able to buy 2 flights in lite business for BKK-SIN-BNE for ~ $A 5600 or $A2800 each.
Buying the same flight SIN-BNE was not available as a lit fare and was $A3222 each. The only lite fare available was on the midnight deparure at $A2900.
So pay less to go further. even though our flights are just after 0cober 1st so our SIN-BNE flight will nett 100Scs as against 120 now. However we will get an extra 50 Scs for the BKK-SIN flight.
retaining gold will be a cake walk.

Its often the case that indirect is cheaper. I don't think it'll be of use to you as you won't go to Japan anymore, but there were definitely sub 2k one way J tickets on SQ from Japan to Aus.

I find it amusing that CX is often cheaper for Aus - HKG - SIN by a solid amount than SQ, but SQ is cheaper than CX for AUS - SIN - HKG.

 

[moa999]

Competition from direct carriers.
Similarly CX fares from TPE used to be miles cheaper than HKG.

 

[elanshin]

Its often the case that indirect is cheaper. I don't think it'll be of use to you as you won't go to Japan anymore, but there were definitely sub 2k one way J tickets on SQ from Japan to Aus.

I find it amusing that CX is often cheaper for Aus - HKG - SIN by a solid amount than SQ, but SQ is cheaper than CX for AUS - SIN - HKG.

Oh this applies to award tickets sometimes as well (depending on the airline). I just booked KUL -SIN - HND and the same SIN - HND award flight did not exist on its own but shows up when you start at KUL.

I remember see similar for DRW - SIN - KIX but SIN - KIX didn't have availability.

 

[AussieTravelLover]

Does anyone know if you earn another year of status the current way before next October (but your membership review is not til December), will you get extended?

 

[oz_mark]

Does anyone know if you earn another year of status the current way before next October (but your membership review is not til December), will you get extended?

The extension would happen at your review date as normal.

 

[kevrosmith]

Yeah I take the changes to mean that you’ll be assessed on how many status credits you earned at your next review date, not necessarily how you earnt them (notwithstanding the new rule about how many you earnt individually), and that the number of sectors won’t be a factor considered at all.

 

[Jusrus]

Hey Jusrus,

I think the chat link only appears during business hours?
I was able to find the chat bubble on my next attempt, but during AEDST business hours.
Good luck.

Thank you. I suspect definitely due to my location - I checked at 4pm, even with a VPN, and no joy. Will have to wait until I'm back in AU I think!

Post automatically merged: Nov 4, 2024

Yeah I take the changes to mean that you’ll be assessed on how many status credits you earned at your next review date, not necessarily how you earnt them (notwithstanding the new rule about how many you earnt individually), and that the number of sectors won’t be a factor considered at all.

I will re-qualify for Platinum before October 1, but won't have flown the 8 sectors, so I hope this is correct - I will try and get an answer on chat/phone when I'm next on with them.

 

[kamchatsky]

With the significant reduction of Flex prices going live today, it explains why VA is changing to spend structure for elite tiers. It will keep a lot of companies to stick with VA given their cheap Flex prices.

I really don't know if QF will follow suit.

 

[BrianQQ]

Seems like the AMEXs have been refreshed, unlimited lounge access for all VA flyers with Platinum card.

Making status harder, but letting people in lounges with a $450 annual fee? Hmm...

 

[levelnine]

Seems like the AMEXs have been refreshed, unlimited lounge access for all VA flyers with Platinum card.

Making status harder, but letting people in lounges with a $450 annual fee? Hmm...

Emulating the US model of running a loyalty scheme.

 

[PERLHR]

Emulating the US model of running a loyalty scheme.

So not really a good thing then ..

 

[MooTime]

Emulating the US model of running a loyalty scheme.

Which specific US model loyalty scheme you referring too?
Curious as there's quite a few over the Pacific that run quite differently to each other, they not all the same.

 

[elanshin]

Which specific US model loyalty scheme you referring too?
Curious as there's quite a few over the Pacific that run quite differently to each other, they not all the same.

Any of them. They've all more or less switched to no lounge access on dom flights for status pax unless you have cc with the perk. Then at the same time, the lounges are overrun because of how many people have the cc's

 

[SYD]

Any of them. They've all more or less switched to no lounge access on dom flights for status pax unless you have cc with the perk. Then at the same time, the lounges are overrun because of how many people have the cc's

Generally, US airlines have never let status PAX into lounges on purely Domestic routes because they’ve had a pay to play model (paid lounge membership like QP). The CC access is just an extension of that.

Still, a potentially slippery slope for other airlines to follow. At least AA has Flagship Lounges. VA only has a single tier lounge for the regular punter.

 

[PERLHR]

So I stand by...."not really a good thing". US lounges are weird at best with silly drink vouchers and stuff. Occasionally some AA are fine (flag) as BA Gold.