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

[ozstamps]

I like one suggestion somebody made in this thread and that is to just go after the cheap domestic seats and purchase annual lounge access. Then maybe just go for (if possible) cheaper Business or Preminum Economy seats when flying international.

That will save you heaps of $$$ and give you much more flexibility. A no brainer really (and it's what I am doing). Velocity have priced themselves out of the market.

Agree, as I posted earlier - THE dumbest time in HISTORY to heavily mess negatively with their FF plan when they are hoping to float, and offer buyers an apparent loyal and stable rusted on FF core base.

They are driving MASSES of folks to Jetstar and Qantas, and share buyers will see this when market share figures keep rolling out giving less of the market pie each month to Virgin, as will most certainly occur. Heaps of part interested flyers still are not totally aware of the New Deal earning regime, and will vote woth their wallets I am sure.

They are the clear #2 out of #2 airlines, and this year was the one to ENGENDER and reward loyalty, and not actively drive it away.

Not to give me pretty measly Lifetime Gold after 10 years as Platinum, simply as I booked many revenue Biz trips to Europe direct with Etihad, as they offered more and faster options, is just insulting. This crazy system that a large chunk of SC needs to have been booked via Virgin we knew nothing about 5 years back - prices were the same - it was never an issue.

We both have lifetime United Gold, so get access to Virgin lounges, extra baggage, priority boarding, and check in etc already, and am Virgin Plat for another 12 months, and in a year will gift my wife Platinum so will have Economy Plus seats for years anyway.

I'll use Velocity points, or book Lite fares etc. Indeed, I have about a million Qantas points I never touch - they'll get a workout for Biz domestic redemptions from now on. And for overseas, we will book whichever revenue carrier is lowest priced I can get some kind of points on. Money loss on all 3 counts to Virgin. Genius management. And many will follow suit, as the posts above prove.

And to top it off, appoint yet another AMERICAN to head the Company at this time in history. Quite a few folks out there will book Qantas as a protest if fares are similar - or indeed cheaper as Jetstar is. Do not underestimate the way the politicial winds are blowing lately. Albo is talking up BUY AUSTRALIAN and many will heed it. The Flying Kangaroo is about as ozzie as it gets to many. Talk about being tone-deaf in all arenas.

They have shot themselves in BOTH feet with all this raft of very heavily NEGATIVE changes, at THE very worst time possible to do it.

Dumber than dirt.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not to give me pretty measly Lifetime Gold after 10 years as Platinum, simply as I booked many revenue Biz trips to Europe direct with Etihad, as they offered more and faster options, is just insulting.

How awful that they can’t see the merit in rewarding you for flying another airline. The peasants!

Dumber than dirt.

Have you sent your CV into Bain ? Obviously in need of a bit of expert help.

 

[ozstamps]

You are not reading or understanding the point. Or both.

Etihad flights booked via Virgin all count - 100%.

Etihad flights booked via Etihad for same money and flights do not, in their wackadoodle new Math announced years AFTER they were booked and flown.

Dumber than dirt.

 

[RooFlyer]

I

You are not reading or understanding the point. Or both.

You’re possibly correct. I’m reading it that you booked and flew with Etihad, years ago, booking direct with EY, with no involvement in Virgin. And Virgin didn’t give you gold.

And then something to do with the fact that Virgin changed it’s frequent flyer earning regime recently?

Right?

 

[jeppetto367]

I


You’re possibly correct. I’m reading it that you booked and flew with Etihad, years ago, booking direct with EY, with no involvement in Virgin. And Virgin didn’t give you gold.

And then something to do with the fact that Virgin changed it’s frequent flyer earning regime recently?

Right?

They're saying that for 11 years (2013-2024) VA were saying you could fly on any airline they're partnered with and your Status Credits would be treated the same for the purposes of status/loyalty (whether VA/EY/etc).

Now VA is going ahead and saying we'll reward your loyalty, but we're introducing this new metric that we never told you about these past 11 years, so your credits are now not as valuable. Had customers (like the above poster) known they most likely would have booked VA flights.

Interestingly if you booked VA coded partner flights (EY/DL/etc) you were actually worse off as you couldn't select seats and easily modify your booking (and this is the same even now). So many (such as the above poster) would have avoided VA coded flights due to this.

It's just a kick in the teeth for people who have followed the rules and are now being told the hard earned cash they spent wasn't good enough.

 

[MooTime]

They're saying that for 11 years (2013-2024) VA were saying you could fly on any airline they're partnered with and your Status Credits would be the same (whether VA/EY/etc).

Now VA is going ahead and saying we'll reward your loyalty, but we're introducing this new metric that we never told you about these past 11 years, so your credits are now not as valuable. Had customers (like the above poster) known they most likely would have booked VA flights.

Interestingly if you booked VA coded partner flights (EY/DL/etc) you were actually worse off as you couldn't select seats and easily modify your booking (and this is the same even now). So many (such as the above poster) would have avoided VA coded flights due to this.

It's just a kick in the teeth for people who have followed the rules and are now being told the hard earned cash they spent wasn't good enough.

What about the new deal that VA have introduced Life Time Gold?

You didn't know that for just dozen years.

Just moving forward your int flights garner few less SC's, always been in the T&Cs that can give notice and these things can change just another devaluation in the airline business, a expected over time.

 

[jeppetto367]

What about the new deal that VA have introduced Life Time Gold?

You didn't know that for just dozen years.

Just moving forward your int flights garner few less SC's, always been in the T&Cs that can give notice and these things can change just another devaluation in the airline business, a expected over time.

Yeah I understand re the change to less credits moving forward, things like this are expected and I'll probably still maintain VA Platinum so doesn't really bother me.

What annoys me is that they decide to offer LT Gold and then split your previously earned credits into two piles based on a metric they never told us about. If it just affected all credits moving forward it would be understandable, but no one was ever told they'd be penalised in the future for booking the wrong type of fare.

 

[MooTime]

Yeah I understand re the change to less credits moving forward, things like this are expected and I'll probably still maintain VA Platinum so doesn't really bother me.

What annoys me is that they decide to offer LT Gold and then split your previously earned credits into two piles based on a metric they never told us about. If it just affected all credits moving forward it would be understandable, but no one was ever told they'd be penalised in the future for booking the wrong type of fare.

Ok I understand your point.

But considering there was never a LTG prospect in the past, tough to be critical of this aspect.some of ones flying doesn't count in full context for a new LTG offer.

I don't see this as being too outrageous, but understand some see it differently.
Many past SCs cut in value.

 

[HS-TQE]

You are not reading or understanding the point. Or both.

Etihad flights booked via Virgin all count - 100%.

Well, the "international 'codeshare' passengers" aren't VA's market anymore though, even if passengers flew VA in the past to get said status to access for their international codeshare network.

In a way, VA are listening by saying "we're a (primary) domestic airline now!" by pulling out of most international (through their own flying and ways of redeeming them), so it's a bit of a be careful what you wish for.

They're still offering International Partnerships, but Bain choose to take that risk by putting in the rule that 50% of the flying has to come from VA in their primary market as a "domestic carrier".