New Velocity Points Table for Virgin Australia Domestic flights

[Mattg]

For what it's worth, this could be a positive change if Reward Seats that are currently available are kept at the same or lower pricing, and the "Tier 3" rewards which are more expensive are found on flights in higher demand where Reward Seats weren't previously available.

I don't know if that's how it will work - we'll have to wait and see.

 

[levelnine]

I can't help thinking that Qantas might now take this change as "permission" to introduce tiered Classic Reward pricing in its own program.

Edit: Looks like we both posted the same thing at the same time, @levelnine. Clearly I'm not the only one thinking this

My guess would be Qantas will go fully dynamic rather than a tiered structure.

Has some benefits for Qantas:
1. Allows removal of the two points options (classic & points + pay), which seems to be a regular source of confusion for customers.
2. Allows prices to be raised without notification to members (no table means no transparency).
3. Allows Qantas to flood the market with more points-earning opportunities due to point 2.

 

[TheInsider]

I can't help thinking that Qantas might now take this change as "permission" to introduce tiered Classic Reward pricing in its own program.

Edit: Looks like we both posted the same thing at the same time, @levelnine. Clearly I'm not the only one thinking this

As we all know Qantas takes years to implement these things. What's to say they aren't thinking about it!

 

[RooFlyer]

Business awards are unchanged. New tables here.

That's me sorted then.

 

[MooTime]

hmm 3 Tiers for economy rewards, yeah book early & save a few points, book late & you burn a few more points.

Assuming same quantity of reward seats (bar the current 1,000,000 extra seats promo) time will tell how often you'll require to pay Tier 1 or Tier 3.
Can only judge this in time if we save points or there's a points thief on bookings.

Doing few searches, it's not mentioned what tier you buy your reward seat for, there's just 3 levels of points potentially per flight..... if anything ppl could be confused why are 3 different point totals on the same destinations they search, even on same day this occurs.
Haven't managed to find a Tier 3 pricing yet, will keep searching.

Yes a minor move towards dynamic pricing.

Ah who cares, J stays the same.

 

[oz_mark]

I guess this is the "timely advance notice" the ACCC requires when there is a unilateral reduction in the redemptive value of points

More that the Velocity terms and coditions specifiy a 30 day notice.

If we make a change that is within our control, we’ll give you reasonable notice before that change starts applying. If we:

• make a significant change, e.g. a popular partner leaves or we increase the cost to you of redeeming Points for Rewards, we’ll give you at least 30 days’ notice through the email address recorded in your Velocity account and on the Velocity website. These changes will apply to you from the date we advise they’ll start applying.

 

[WilsonM]

Feels like a net-zero change overall though - obviously we don't know quite yet as to how many seats will be Tier 3, but the introduction of a lower tier is still good news - they could've simply introduced a higher tier for peak and had off-peak as current award rates. That being said, feels like Tier 1 is mostly marketing so that they can say they have the lowest award redemption rates.

Don't really feel like this is dynamic pricing yet though. Maybe because it's because I got into this after the 'good old days', but award charts seem to becoming the exception rather than the norm, so an effective commitment to an award chart, even with some variations in pricing (considering VA are unlikely to further change award pricing so quickly after this announcement) is a good thing imo.

 

[Tannin]

So as long as I never need to use Tier 3, not an issue. /puts reality hat back on

 

[GSP]

No to dissimilar to hotels and their points redemption. Hyatt have in the past couple of years introduced the tiered pricing representing off/on peak for their hotel categories (similar to the airline distances).

 

[Guvner]

This little gem appears in an email this morning:
“As a Platinum member, the Domestic Guaranteed Economy Reward Seat benefit will now be redeemed at the Tier 3 levels”.

 

[MooTime]

This little gem appears in an email this morning:
“As a Platinum member, the Domestic Guaranteed Economy Reward Seat benefit will now be redeemed at the Tier 3 levels”.

Anyone even used this perk?
I called up about it once and it was terrible, they can book you flights 3 days either side of the date of flights you require. Anytime of the day they like.

Can easy get reward seats 11 months out.
Big deal tier 3 here.

 

[dontwanttoregister]

Anyone even used this perk?
I called up about it once and it was terrible, they can book you flights 3 days either side of the date of flights you require. Anytime of the day they like.

Can easy get reward seats 11 months out.
Big deal tier 3 here.

I use it every year to book Fiji or other in demand seats at Christmas. Has been brilliant and have always got the days and flights I want. They push the 3-day rule if there are points seats avail on those days, which never happens for the high demand period I use it.

…so as a platinum I am definitely miffed about this enhancement!

 

[MooTime]

I use it every year to book Fiji or other in demand seats at Christmas. Has been brilliant and have always got the days and flights I want. They push the 3-day rule if there are points seats avail on those days, which never happens for the high demand period I use it.

…so as a platinum I am definitely miffed about this enhancement!

ok fair enough, good to know.
thanks

 

[liamsal]

Looks like a few ‘bargain’ international reward fares are floating around… (found on a VFF fb group)

 

[i0sam0i]

What has occurred with business reward seats? CNS - SYD biz reward is 35500 points and $410, travel in December.

 

[kerfuffle]

What has occurred with business reward seats? CNS - SYD biz reward is 35500 points and $410, travel in December.

Most likely the two Business Rewards seats are sold out and you're looking at full-price seats

 

[Harrison_133]

What has occurred with business reward seats? CNS - SYD biz reward is 35500 points and $410, travel in December.

35500 points is correct for a reward seat in Zone 3, but the fees are $41.36 not $410.

 

[AFF Editor]

Tier 3 pricing has now been in place for a few weeks, so I did some analysis to see whether Velocity members are better or worse off, overall.

In general, it seems that Velocity members are now better off when booking far in advance, as they're able to access cheaper reward seats on quite a lot of flights. But the cheaper reward seats dry up a bit as you get closer to the flight's departure date.

Details here:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/velocity-tiered-reward-pricing/