The Velocity Status Run Master thread

[QF WP]

I wouldn't expect to either - holiday travel will start from late November (as schools break up) and the cheap fares are taken.

Look for destinations that aren't holiday/tourist haunts. Why fly direct when you can connect.

 

[westsurf]

Well days after getting Gold I’m now a lazy 12 status points away from Platinum.

You are welcome and apologies for the delay in my response to this post. I'm between countries and haven't had time to sit down to type in my response



Good on ya so is mine. Although sometimes I do travel domestically for work meetings, all of my international travel so far has been personal.

In fact, I'm right now in India on personal work and I can smell the aroma of freshly made filter coffee that my mum's kindly making for me



I see. It is always helpful to know the differences between Sale, Saver and Flex fare (these are the categories that QF uses). Virgin uses something slightly different (Getaway, Elevate, Freedom, Business Saver, Business) to categorize fares into classes.

You can know more about which classes fall under which categories in this page : Status Earn Fare Class| Velocity Frequent Flyer

It's not a pretty page, but gives the information that is helpful

To see how many SC you'd earn, you first need to know the distance in miles between origin and destination.
You can visit this page to to calculate the distance : https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Earn/Airlines/mileage-calculator/

and then the number of SC's you'd earn from the tables on this page :

Virgin Australia

Earn Points with Virgin Australia and Partners, also earn status credit when travelling with eligible fare types. Offering include trans tasman flights, short haul and long haul flights and international long haul flights

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

Nice work accumulating 375K points in 10 months and good luck with your quest for Gold



I can understand your desire here. However, I have not done a RTW booking on Virgin so far. I'd guess that it's not that different from booking a RTW from OW/QF. To that effect, I can tell you that ;

1. Try and fly out of a less famous city - this is called "positioning". You fly from your home city to another city that isn't that busy in terms of finding award seats. As an example, if you're planning to do a reward booking to Europe, it helps to have the reward booking originating from Asia (Jakarta or Manila) as some cities in Asia have cheaper redemption options

2. Try and be as flexible as you can - this will help you sneak in a segment/city to your plan. You may consider doing a segment on road/rail/cruise. Gives you an opportunity to experience a the city on an alternate mode of transport to flying. Someone I know, chose to try the Euro Rail on their trip to Europe. Saved them some $$ and also got to spend some quality time

As always, the community here at AFF is vibrant and buzzing with knowledge and suggestions. Keep posting your questions and someone will help you with their thoughts

Well it's been an interesting set of flights but I now sit at 988 SC. Made Gold last Friday fortnight and got the remainder of the points on some short haul legs around the place.

My query now is ... Do I just sit on Gold and know that I have effectively two years up my sleeve and change my family pooling to get my wife to gold? Or do I take the plunge and get Platinum which would take nothing as I easily have made the legs and SC points with one simple flight?

I'm also wondering whats the best things to do with regards to the accompanying car rental / hotel group associated status matches? Upgrade now ... or when Platinum? Is one group better than the other in both cases?

Would anyone have any advice or threads I could go to?

Thanks

Westie

 

[QF WP]

Get Platinum first, then pool SC’s to your wife?

 

[westsurf]

Get Platinum first, then pool SC’s to your wife?

My concern would be being able to keep Platinum without my wife's SC.

 

[serfty]

I'm also wondering whats the best things to do with regards to the accompanying car rental / hotel group associated status matches? Upgrade now ... or when Platinum? Is one group better than the other in both cases?

If you fire up a Hilton benefit, do it in January - that way you have it for another 26 months.

 

[jase05]

If you fire up a Hilton benefit, do it in January - that way you have it for another 26 months.

Really?
Thanks for that. I’ve never activated mine.
We have 6 weeks in the US from next October and my Accor Plus Platinum looks worthless over there so might have to check it out

 

[daft009]

Really?
Thanks for that. I’ve never activated mine.
We have 6 weeks in the US from next October and my Accor Plus Platinum looks worthless over there so might have to check it out

accor platinum might work on fairmont properties? or is that integration still a work in progress?

 

[jase05]

accor platinum might work on fairmont properties? or is that integration still a work in progress?

Yeah it does but not a lot of them in the US

 

[westsurf]

If you fire up a Hilton benefit, do it in January - that way you have it for another 26 months.

With regards tot he various car / hotel programs:

• Is one better than the other? The only one I am a member of already is Eurocar.
• Can I take the "Gold" version of the worst one now & the Platinum version of the better one later?

 

[Ross B]

Car hire programs I haven’t seen too much value in although you do get a free weekend rental with Europcar if you do that one whilst Gold.

Yes, you can pick a different program once you reach platinum. I did this myself.

 

[serfty]

With regards tot he various car / hotel programs:

• Is one better than the other? The only one I am a member of already is Eurocar.
• Can I take the "Gold" version of the worst one now & the Platinum version of the better one later?

Hilton maybe better as both Gold and Diamond give complimentary breakfast at most properties. Diamond Gives excutive lounge access.

I am not sure if the IHG benefit provide breakfast?

 

[pbl22]

IHG benefit does not provide breakfast (or much at all, really, other than late check out and higher points earning).

 

[sapsol]

Hi flyers, I need 50 SC by Dec 16 or 110 SC by Dec 31 this year to hit Velocity Platinum. I'm ex Melbourne. Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[jase05]

Hi flyers, I need 50 SC by Dec 16 or 110 SC by Dec 31 this year to hit Velocity Platinum. I'm ex Melbourne. Any suggestions appreciated.

Probably a day trip to OOL, one way on a Freedom fare and the other on a Elevate fare is $475 and would net you 50SC’s

 

[Zanzara]

Really?
Thanks for that. I’ve never activated mine.
We have 6 weeks in the US from next October and my Accor Plus Platinum looks worthless over there so might have to check it out

The Virgin status with Hilton is definitely worth it. Particularly if you get to stay in Hiltons in Australia and overseas. Personally, I don't get too excited about the Hilton family of branded hotels in the USA. I think slightly posher than a Holiday Inn with mean and (generally) stingy service (where tips are still expected) and then I'm not disappointed.

Everywhere (outside the US) IMHO standards are much higher and hotels much more prestigious. A great Virgin status benefit.

From what I've witnessed, US Hilton Honours members think that have died and gone to heaven when they see what they get for free in non-US Executive lounges (free alcohol and canapés wow!!!) and full restaurant breakfasts. In the USA alcohol is often chargeable and breakfast can be just a muffin or stodgy mass produced bagel with a yogurt and nasty coffee. I've seen snacks in the Executive lounge (that are a glorified windowless cave) limited to only carrot sticks and pretzels.

But even that's still way better than what Accor and other hotels give you for similar status. With QF status you get no hotel or car hire partner status matching either.

 

[sapsol]

Probably a day trip to OOL, one way on a Freedom fare and the other on a Elevate fare is $475 and would net you 50SC’s

Thx, was hoping there was something cheaper but may have to stick with that one. Any ideas on the 110?

 

[FTac]

Hi all,
I'm looking to hit platinum next year for the first time. I'm based in the US so have plenty of SC but lacking eligible sectors. I'll be in Melbourne Feb 24 - March 9 and need 4 more sectors to make platinum. Best options for a day trip ex Melbourne?

Also would the cost of this trip even be worth Platinum? I fly a moderate amount with Delta and Gold seems to be good enough, although I do occasionally travel with more than one person so more guests into the lounge would be good...

Thanks!

 

[serfty]

@FTac ... Gold Coast via CBR/SYD each way can be reasonable. $330 via CBR r/t, $360 via SYD r/t (getaway).

Or Launceston - 2 x r/t from $320 ... (4 x $79+)

I don't think WP entitles you to extra Guests in a SkyClub.

 

[FTac]

@serfty

Thanks. I think you're right. Seems like the only reason for getting to WP would be for the soft landing to gold...

 

[Stealthflyer]

The Virgin status with Hilton is definitely worth it. Particularly if you get to stay in Hiltons in Australia and overseas. Personally, I don't get too excited about the Hilton family of branded hotels in the USA. I think slightly posher than a Holiday Inn with mean and (generally) stingy service (where tips are still expected) and then I'm not disappointed.

Everywhere (outside the US) IMHO standards are much higher and hotels much more prestigious. A great Virgin status benefit.

From what I've witnessed, US Hilton Honours members think that have died and gone to heaven when they see what they get for free in non-US Executive lounges (free alcohol and canapés wow!!!) and full restaurant breakfasts. In the USA alcohol is often chargeable and breakfast can be just a muffin or stodgy mass produced bagel with a yogurt and nasty coffee. I've seen snacks in the Executive lounge (that are a glorified windowless cave) limited to only carrot sticks and pretzels.

But even that's still way better than what Accor and other hotels give you for similar status. With QF status you get no hotel or car hire partner status matching either.

Yes, go the Hilton. I read the recommendation on Point Hacks and I’m glad I did. The breakfasts are a bit hit and miss in Australia and you only get a continental breakfast (the Curio in Sydney is particularly disappointing), but in Asia it’s terrific. I stayed at the Millenium Hilton in Bangkok a month back and got access to the full buffet extravaganza that caters for tastes around the world. Plus unlike Australia, the on-demand espresso coffee was included. It’s definitely worth signing up to.