The Virgin Australia Newbie Questions Thread

[MooTime]

Another newbie question: I've booked a family of 4 trip to OOL in Economy. Is it possible to go on an upgrade list to Business for only the Mrs & I? (FYI Kids are 15 & 17).
If so, how is this done?
Thanx all! ;-)

you'd have to call & separate the booking. no issue doing that, easy to the call center.

are their J rewards available for that day/flight?
if not, you'll be offered a waiting list & find our day or so before flight.
or go the offer a cash amount to be upgraded, also you'll find out day or so prior.

 

[simmomelb]

Another newbie question: I've booked a family of 4 trip to OOL in Economy. Is it possible to go on an upgrade list to Business for only the Mrs & I? (FYI Kids are 15 & 17).
If so, how is this done?
Thanx all! ;-)

In addition to MooTime's comments...Do you have a standard Choice fare or above?
Lite fares cannot be upgraded (no UpgradeMe).

 

[keepitcivil]

Hey all, newbie here and relatively new to making the most of my VFF membership (despite having had one for years). I just chalked up Silver thanks to a J flight during the recent DSC promotion, and am trying to figure best uses of the perks/ways to level up.

I normally travel with an under 2 infant in arms - if I were to use one of my two free Lounge passes next time I fly (assuming I fly Y with him), do I have to use the other one to get him in (and then they're gone)? Or can he get in free with me and I can keep the second pass?

I'm thinking it's worth putting a concerted effort into getting Gold for that reason - lounge access for every trip. I currently have 275SC and fly BNE-MEL maybe 4-6 times a year with him, plus the odd trip elsewhere where my partner comes too. Once he turns two later this year I'll pinch SCs from both of them via Family Pooling, and with the odd cheeky J flight thrown in and some Flybuys SCs topping things up, I think I should be able to hit Gold by the end of the year without too much effort.

Do Child fares accrue SCs at the same rate as adults? The additional SCs (when he starts needing a paid seat) will be key to helping me get/retain Gold I think.

Thanks for your help, and looking forward to being a part of things here.

 

[simmomelb]

I normally travel with an under 2 infant in arms - if I were to use one of my two free Lounge passes next time I fly (assuming I fly Y with him), do I have to use the other one to get him in (and then they're gone)? Or can he get in free with me and I can keep the second pass?


Do Child fares accrue SCs at the same rate as adults? The additional SCs (when he starts needing a paid seat) will be key to helping me get/retain Gold I think.

Passes are used for all ages from 2 years old and up (no infants allowed in the lounge).

"Where children are permitted access, the children must be aged between 2 and 17 years."

Under 18 accrue the same points and status only in a paid for seat.
As such, infants travelling on an adult's lap and not in their own seat, will not earn Velocity Points or status credits, as they're not flying on their own paid fare.

 

[MooTime]

Passes are used for all ages from 2 years old and up (no infants allowed in the lounge).

"Where children are permitted access, the children must be aged between 2 and 17 years."

Under 18 accrue the same points and status only in a paid for seat.
As such, infants travelling on an adult's lap and not in their own seat, will not earn Velocity Points or status credits, as they're not flying on their own paid fare.

We've definitely taken our infant , under 2 many times in the lounge.

You couldn't ban infants from lounge, imagine the backlash, wooa!

 

[simmomelb]

We've definitely taken our infant , under 2 many times in the lounge.

You couldn't ban infants from lounge, imagine the backlash, wooa!

Ah yes, of course it's up to the discretion of the staff, I've just given the conditions of entry, from the VA website.
Not sure there would be that much backlash, it's my safe haven away from crying infants, most of the time

 

[svensk]

Does status open up more reward availability?

 

[MooTime]

Does status open up more reward availability?

That's a hard NO.

Not sure there would be that much backlash, it's my safe haven away from crying infants, most of the time

I hear you. Yes infants, always an experience taking them onboard & in lounge. Was told off once for having them barefoot, not that they can walk far, but I understand.

 

[keepitcivil]

That's a hard NO.

I hear you. Yes infants, always an experience taking them onboard & in lounge. Was told off once for having them barefoot, not that they can walk far, but I understand.

Yeah, I took the young man with me on that last J flight I did, he got his boarding pass scanned as well as mine to enter the Lounge. Got looks from my fellow passengers of "isn't he cute"/"what is this baby doing here" in equal measure. Fortunately he was well behaved for the flight (and boy it's a lot more comfortable flying with a baby on you in the lovely business seats).

The etiquette of taking babies/kids in business could be a whole other debate I'm sure...

Good to know he will accrue full points/SCs once I have to start paying for him. I've very much enjoyed being able to fly him for free so far, but once I do have to start paying for him at least I can make the most of the points/SCs he will earn. It's a huge advantage of VFF vs QFF being able to do Family Pooling and having others help you get/retain status, especially for us semi-frequent fliers who appreciate the perks like Lounge access when we do fly.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[MooTime]

Yeah, I took the young man with me on that last J flight I did, he got his boarding pass scanned as well as mine to enter the Lounge. Got looks from my fellow passengers of "isn't he cute"/"what is this baby doing here" in equal measure. Fortunately he was well behaved for the flight (and boy it's a lot more comfortable flying with a baby on you in the lovely business seats).

The etiquette of taking babies/kids in business could be a whole other debate I'm sure...

Good to know he will accrue full points/SCs once I have to start paying for him. I've very much enjoyed being able to fly him for free so far, but once I do have to start paying for him at least I can make the most of the points/SCs he will earn. It's a huge advantage of VFF vs QFF being able to do Family Pooling and having others help you get/retain status, especially for us semi-frequent fliers who appreciate the perks like Lounge access when we do fly.

Thanks for the advice!

Great post

Yes we have a nearly 2 & 4yo atm and it's bit of a circus in J, the boys play and go from mama to tata, sometime's balls or toy cars involved, crayons dropped, ah all fine & fun, crew been fine and yet to get another pax who is upset.

The extra room we find so useful in row 1.
Eco X is really great too.

The lounge gets good use of the ramps especially in MEL. Running up n down.

Do it all again early June, last freebie as young one turns 2yo soon after.

I did read some time ago that a Japanese (I think) airline was going to place a baby or young child marker in the seat map, which thought was a great idea for all pax.

 

[tdimdad]

I did read some time ago that a Japanese (I think) airline was going to place a baby or young child marker in the seat map, which thought was a great idea for all pax.

At least JAL has been doing this for at least a couple of years now. I like the idea (and have duly selected my seat accordingly).

 

[Dan_]

Can I bring a guest into the lounge if they are flying Jetstar and I’m VA?

 

[Milefest]

Can I bring a guest into the lounge if they are flying Jetstar and I’m VA?

Yes

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes

Indeed… from VA’s status page (gold tier)

• Your invited guests need not be travelling with you, but must enter the lounge and be accompanied by you.

 

[sogai]

I notice not all SQ destinations are available to book via the Virgin website. Does anyone know if these destinations can be booked by calling up or is it only what's available on the Virgin site?

 

[Becb18]

Question about what happens when I don't qualify for Gold. I'm about 80 status points and 4 segments short of gold, (review date is 1 June). I tend to travel to USA a bit but not much in Aus. Had my first trip since covid last month which was on United (so no segments) and I'm trying to figure out if it's worth a status run or what happens next. I wanted to check a couple of assumptions. Is the 4 segments actually segments, is if you fly via somewhere that counts as 2 segments?
Also if I don't make it to gold, I will drop back to silver and need to get to 500 SC to get there again? I expect to probably have 2 flights to the US this year, first one likely about 1-2 months after my review date and at ~ 120SC each way will I be up to Gold again after the first trip or does it start back at 0 SC?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Question about what happens when I don't qualify for Gold. I'm about 80 status points and 4 segments short of gold, (review date is 1 June). I tend to travel to USA a bit but not much in Aus. Had my first trip since covid last month which was on United (so no segments) and I'm trying to figure out if it's worth a status run or what happens next. I wanted to check a couple of assumptions. Is the 4 segments actually segments, is if you fly via somewhere that counts as 2 segments?
Also if I don't make it to gold, I will drop back to silver and need to get to 500 SC to get there again? I expect to probably have 2 flights to the US this year, first one likely about 1-2 months after my review date and at ~ 120SC each way will I be up to Gold again after the first trip or does it start back at 0 SC?

A segment is any flight with a separate flight number, so most trips ‘via somewhere’ will be two flight numbers and two segments (or more). The exceptions are like QF9 which stops in SIN, but continues to LHR.

My understanding is that you are ‘soft landed’ to silver.

Hopefully someone else can chime in with the re qualification. VA operates in a different sort of ‘rolling monthly’ system that I’m not totally across.

 

[simmomelb]

Question about what happens when I don't qualify for Gold. I'm about 80 status points and 4 segments short of gold, (review date is 1 June).

Do you mean 'Sectors'? You need 4 Sectors per year to maintain Gold, so if you still need 4, this means you haven't flown on one Eligible Sector in the last 11 months if your review period is in 1 month. An Eligible Sector is any flight beginning with a VA flight number, that is not a Reward Seat or Economy Lite fare.
Eg, Sydney to Melbourne is 1 sector, a return is 2 Sectors or Melbourne to Brisbane via Sydney are 2 Sectors (2 flights) MEL to SYD then SYD to BNE and a return on the same route would be 4 Sectors (4 flights)

If you are Gold now, you will drop back to Silver, to get back to Gold you'd need 500 Status Credits and 4 Eligible Sectors.
In summary, if you aren't flying on VA flight number with a minimum of 2 return flights within the 12-month window (by your 12-month review date), you won't maintain your status.

Hope this info helps.

More here: VELOCITY MEMBERSHIP STATUS Enjoy benefits that are tailored to your Velocity membership level.

 

[Becb18]

Do you mean 'Sectors'? You need 4 Sectors per year to maintain Gold, so if you still need 4, this means you haven't flown on one Eligible Sector in the last 11 months if your review period is in 1 month. An Eligible Sector is any flight beginning with a VA flight number, that is not a Reward Seat or Economy Lite fare.
Eg, Sydney to Melbourne is 1 sector, a return is 2 Sectors or Melbourne to Brisbane via Sydney are 2 Sectors (2 flights) MEL to SYD then SYD to BNE and a return on the same route would be 4 Sectors (4 flights)

If you are Gold now, you will drop back to Silver, to get back to Gold you'd need 500 Status Credits and 4 Eligible Sectors.
In summary, if you aren't flying on VA flight number with a minimum of 2 return flights within the 12-month window (by your 12-month review date), you won't maintain your status.

Hope this info helps.

More here: VELOCITY MEMBERSHIP STATUS Enjoy benefits that are tailored to your Velocity membership level.

Thankyou for your answer. Yes I meant Sectors
I realise I need to fly on Virgin itself, and I often fly to the US ~ 4 times a year in Prem econ, usually try to do 1-2 times on Virgin depends on prices and how late notice they are!

I was also wondering will all the status points go back to Zero so I need 500 from 1st of June, or is it a rolling 12 months so it will include status credits from my recent trip? It's not clear from the info which is why I asked here, I assume it's a rolling 12 months as it says they are valid for 12 months, but wasn't sure.

 

[simmomelb]

I notice not all SQ destinations are available to book via the Virgin website. Does anyone know if these destinations can be booked by calling up or is it only what's available on the Virgin site?

The same applies to Qatar Airways
Virgin Australia and other airlines can only sell flights on which they have codeshare agreements, which are subject to regulatory approval.