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

[serfty]

Is that same for being on SQ metal? Even if booked before 02 April but flying in October, I think the new point system is applied?

The reduced earn on SC fot flown Parter Airline segments kicks in for flights flown from October 1st, irrespectiven of when purchased. Partner SC earn remains distance zone based.

 

[trisreed]

I have the exact same table in my FF account that is what's causing my confusion, my interpretation is if you make the 8 sectors and 800 SC before the 1st Oct you would have deemed to have requalified.......

I would read it that way too, but wouldn't be surprised if it isn't the case because it isn't "reviewed" until (in my case) March 2026. That being said, it is written (in my post) to suggest that 8 sectors and 800SC by Feb/March 2026 will yield a renewal, which a reading of the new terms suggest it is not - it will need to be 400SC on VA + 400SC from anywhere with the sectors irrelevant.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

So basically if Platinum, for renewal of 800SC you need 400 SC on VA metal all flown by individual, 400 additional can be achieved by pooling or with partners (good luck with that with the partner earning reductions). Does that sum it up or am I missing something?

By "metal" do you mean "actual VA marked planes"? Because I understood it to be VA flight numbers, regardless of who operated them. eg VA8000 SYD-LAX operated by United.

 

[MH_fan]

It would be interesting to see what happens in October. I currently have enough flights booked to requalify for WP before October (my review date is in Feb), which should trigger the "you have retained platinum" message. I'd be mighty upset if that changes and I need more after the new system kicks in from October (as would many people, I'm guessing)!

 

[PERLHR]

It would be interesting to see what happens in October. I currently have enough flights booked to requalify for WP before October (my review date is in Feb), which should trigger the "you have retained platinum" message. I'd be mighty upset if that changes and I need more after the new system kicks in from October (as would many people, I'm guessing)!

My review date is April. I have already received the message that you have retained Platinum and require no further credits or flights. Quite what that means looking forward I dunno!!

 

[vitagen]

My review date is April. I have already received the message that you have retained Platinum and require no further credits or flights. Quite what that means looking forward I dunno!!

Maybe I'll just hedge my bets and do both

 

[JohnK]

I have the exact same table in my FF account that is what's causing my confusion, my interpretation is if you make the 8 sectors and 800 SC before the 1st Oct you would have deemed to have requalified.......

That's just stuffed my SC allocation and I need to decide soon if I'm going to bother flying VA/SQ for some upcoming trips or just continue with QF and aim for plat. I have sent an email to VA to clarify hope they do before the end of the DSC program.

In the past if you've requalified early that was fine. Surely that's not changing and now have to wait until renewal date to determine whether you've qualified or not?

Anyway wife should make Platinum by 31 March this year. My Gold renewal is towards end of Oct and if we're only going to earn 1Sc for every $12 I don't think I'll make Gold again. (I can chase status but I'm not sure it's worth it.)

Going forward we'll have to reconsider flights to Thailand on SQ if we cannot earn status as easily. It was good while it lasted but I'm still struggling to understand these changes.

 

[ben95]

My review date is May and have already requalified for next year (so Plat sorted until May 26). With a new bub I have the option to use parental pause.

Does that mean my next review date will be pushed back till Nov 26?

 

[PERLHR]

My review date is May and have already requalified for next year (so Plat sorted until May 26). With a new bub I have the option to use parental pause.

Does that mean my next review date will be pushed back till Nov 26?

Would be nice would it not? ,

 

[ben95]

Would be nice would it not? ,

I think it’s better than I thought. If I understand the terms correctly it’s a 6 month pause where my review date shifts to Nov from May, then I retain Plat for another 12 months after the pause.

If I apply right before my review date in May 26 my plat status is effective guaranteed until Nov 27.

 

[stm1sydney]

Going forward we'll have to reconsider flights to Thailand on SQ if we cannot earn status as easily. It was good while it lasted but I'm still struggling to understand these changes.

Same boat. It's the SQ flights (mainly Y) which have me requalifying as VA WP each year, and I need that status in order to make flying int Y bearable. As a consequence, I also choose to fly VA domestically where possible. So it's self-defeating.

 

[PERLHR]

Same boat. It's the SQ flights (mainly Y) which have me requalifying as VA WP each year, and I need that status in order to make flying int Y bearable. As a consequence, I also choose to fly VA domestically where possible. So it's self-defeating.

Yes certainly the SQ earnings are going to be woeful. The positive side I guess if there is any that the lite of standard Y fares on SQ ex Australia and via SIN for some Asian destinations are really very good. I can hardly believe that PER to SGN or HKG or BKK can be under 800 dollars return. Not always easy to get that flying across Australia!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What would be really really useful would be for Virgin Australia to link with Virgin Atlantic. With a benefit being that instead of gifting platinum you could get gold or whatever with VS for yourself. And double platinum or P Plus could get VS’s equivalent top tier.

 

[simmomelb]

What would be really really useful would be for Virgin Australia to link with Virgin Atlantic. With a benefit being that instead of gifting platinum you could get gold or whatever with VS for yourself. And double platinum or P Plus could get VS’s equivalent top tier.

You can already use Virgin Atlantic lounges with Velocity status when flying with them.
I don't see it going any further than that, more chance of that happening with Qatar now and probably more useful for those in Australia?
Not that I don't agree it would be a nice to have feature for a few travellers, for sure, just would have thought a bigger benefit (to far more AU flyers) on QR.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You can already use Virgin Atlantic lounges with Velocity status when flying with them.
I don't see it going any further than that, more chance of that happening with Qatar now and probably more useful for those in Australia?
Not that I don't agree it would be a nice to have feature for a few travellers, for sure, just would have thought a bigger benefit (to far more AU flyers) on QR.

True. But VA/VS for ultra top benefits or tiers would at least give consistency for skyteam.

Yes yes, i know that’s not consistent with QR or SQ etc, but it wouod be nice as an option to take on reaching milestones.

 

[jase05]

What would be really really useful would be for Virgin Australia to link with Virgin Atlantic. With a benefit being that instead of gifting platinum you could get gold or whatever with VS for yourself. And double platinum or P Plus could get VS’s equivalent top tier.

I’m going to go the other way and credit all my domestic VA flights to VS. VS Gold will give me most of the benefits I currently get as a VA Platinum plus it gives me SkyTeam Elite Plus

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’m going to go the other way and credit all my domestic VA flights to VS. VS Gold will give me most of the benefits I currently get as a VA Platinum plus it gives me SkyTeam Elite Plus

Yes. That’s what i should have done too, instead of chasing the 5000 SC target