Spouse of staffer - any point to my points?

[lobo76]

Hey all,

I'm a basic Velocity member, no status and I have 230,000 Velocity points but my partner recently got a job at Virgin. Is there much I can do with my points? Obviously I can use them for one long haul round trip but they are severely devalued since I can get the trip at staff rates. I won't earn SCs on any staff travel and can't upgrade with points etc.

Anything smart I can do with them?

PS about 2 years ago I tried to make a round-the-world booking on points. It wasn't possible, has the situation changed?

 

[UP4014]

Use them on flights, it will at least give you a seat, staff travel doesn't promise to put you on the flight you want, even if you're at the airport waiting for it.

 

[mavrick9]

I think you can now book RTW or similar trips or now at least you can book codeshare on Singapore or ANZ etc, so you can travel further than you could before.

Are the staff rates good? (probably not as good as the old Ansett staff rates)

 

[lobo76]

I don't know the exact rates but they seem pretty good but there's obviously a lot of restrictions so you're not taking seats away from regular customers etc.

 

[Robert K]

how about two lovely mixers
https://shop.velocityrewards.com.au/Pages/SOR/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=31821

 

[drewbles]

how about two lovely mixers
https://shop.velocityrewards.com.au/Pages/SOR/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=31821

What a waste of points. You can buy one of these for under $400 online. $800 for 200k points? I'd rather burn them on some J seats (plus $800).

I'm in exactly the same situation as the OP. My other half just got a job at Virgin, and will have staff travel in 3 months (and i'll be the nominated other half).

I don't have the points, but now have the dilemma of 'do I do staff travel, and earn no points, or find cheap fares and keep earning points'. I guess keeping WP will require my share of rev fares, although with confirmed staff travel counting as rev fares, I will earn points and SC's.

(FYI there are two types of staff travel, standby and confirmed, the former being non rev, non earning and the latter being rev and earning from what I understand; ask me in 2 1/2 months!).

 

[ash.1111]

There's domestic/short haul/long haul standby as well as domestic firm (still not points/status earnable as far as I know).

Points WILL come in handy when traveling during peak periods or when you're sick of Y (only long haul offers standby Y+/J). Also look into reduced lounge membership and year-round travel insurance.

Please PM me if you have any questions!

Enjoy!

 

[lobo76]

What a waste of points. You can buy one of these for under $400 online. $800 for 200k points? I'd rather burn them on some J seats (plus $800).

I'm in exactly the same situation as the OP. My other half just got a job at Virgin, and will have staff travel in 3 months (and i'll be the nominated other half).

I don't have the points, but now have the dilemma of 'do I do staff travel, and earn no points, or find cheap fares and keep earning points'. I guess keeping WP will require my share of rev fares, although with confirmed staff travel counting as rev fares, I will earn points and SC's.

(FYI there are two types of staff travel, standby and confirmed, the former being non rev, non earning and the latter being rev and earning from what I understand; ask me in 2 1/2 months!).

Heheehe indeed. I'd be better off with $1500 worth of Liquorland vouchers!

I don't think we get SCs and points on firm fares with staff discount though.....?