Using Velocity Poins - Underestimated the amount needed

[joshuaross]

Hello,

Tried a search but nothing really concrete that I could find an answer for. I have nearly 250,000 velocity points and I'm looking to use them for flights, but when I go onto the virgin website and use the "View in Points" thing, flights are ALWAYS so much more than what others have quoted.

On point hacks it says 100,000 points is enough for return trip to Paris from Aus, and I've seen people say they've flown Perth to east coast twice at a cost of 23000 points. I can barely get one way Perth to Syd for 20,000 points. Perth to LAX for 170,000 points :/

Is this sort of a.... "on one day of the year if you book 12 months in advance you can get X to Y for Z points" it seems everyone is getting much better value from their points but me

 

[joshuaross]

From the point hacks website

Direct Quote:

• 100,000 Velocity point sign up bonus - enough for 6 one way Business Class flights between Sydney and Melbourne, or 3 one way Business Class flights East - West Coast Australia

 

[glasszon]

you need to search for economic rewards seat, you probably are looking at the point value for the saver seat after the reward seats sold out.

As you found out, it isn't a good idea to use points to book for saver seats, might as well use cash for those given the horrible redemption rate.

 

[blackcat20]

Sounds like you are looking at an "any seat" price rather than a standard reward seat price.

 

[Denali]

From my experience, OS reward seats usually go for about 100+K points one way but buying a seat outright with points, because there are no reward seats available, is 300K+ points.

 

[Revolio]

From the point hacks website

Direct Quote:

• 100,000 Velocity point sign up bonus - enough for 6 one way Business Class flights between Sydney and Melbourne, or 3 one way Business Class flights East - West Coast Australia

maybe pointhacks just plucks these claims from thin air ((to attract interest, traffic); just another obscure website that isn't accountable to anyone or anything. no bricks and mortar address; just a stream of zeroes and ones in the Ethernet somewhere - I wouldn't be inclined to rely on the accuracy of the information they provide.

 

[Jordan613]

maybe pointhacks just plucks these claims from thin air ((to attract interest, traffic); just another obscure website that isn't accountable to anyone or anything. no bricks and mortar address; just a stream of zeroes and ones in the Ethernet somewhere - I wouldn't be inclined to rely on the accuracy of the information they provide.

I have found Point Hacks to be quite good, actually. I would be concerned if such a service did have a brick and mortar address.

I think the issue is that Point Hacks would be using Reward tickets (e.g. MEL-SYD 13,800 would be 6 flights for 100,000) but the original poster might be looking at the 'anytime' seats which is 94,900 + $82.74 one way MEL-SYD.

No need to jump to conclusions that someone is misleading people in this instance.

 

[Revolio]

'someone' - might just be a significant word. I just have trouble taking a website without an ABN too seriously. It's too easy to be selective, scant and unaccountable in third-party land. To each his own.

 

[BillytheFIsh]

Joshuaross - If you look at this image (I picked SYD-PER on a random date next month to demonstrate):



The flights you want to make the most of your points are the "Business Reward" seats. Don't use points for Saver, Flexi or Business Class - as you've worked out, they're terrible value.

It's 33,800 points + $17.47 which is how pointhacks gets the 3x one way east to west coast figure. The other figures that site quotes are accurate, subject to award availability of course.

The availability of Reward seats are restricted. You need to be flexible with times, dates (and carriers) to maximise value, but that's all part of the game.

If you get stuck and you're specific about where/when you want to go, people around here are generally pretty helpful, but I encourage you to read a lot more around here first, as the answers are around.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

'someone' - might just be a significant word. I just have trouble taking a website without an ABN too seriously. It's too easy to be selective, scant and unaccountable in third-party land. To each his own.

I also find points hacks to be quite good, plenty of general info and items of interest.

This is from the website if you are needing the ABN

Terms & Conditions

The website pointhacks.com.au (“Website”) is owned and operated by Keith Mason, ABN 76161153603 (“Point Hacks”). In these terms, Point Hacks, “us” or “we” refers to the owner of the Website and “you” refers to the user or view of the Website. By accessing and using the Website, you agree to these terms, if you do not agree to the terms you should immediately cease using the Website. Point Hacks reserves the right to amend these terms without prior notice to you.

 

[Revolio]

Thanks CJENMAC. My cynicism is off the mark in this specific instance - good to see yourself, Billy and Jordan use this site productively. If nothing else, point hacks has increased their exposure to AFF members ever so slightly as a result of this thread. Measured responses, nice work.

 

[ninja-tim]

maybe pointhacks just plucks these claims from thin air ((to attract interest, traffic); just another obscure website that isn't accountable to anyone or anything. no bricks and mortar address; just a stream of zeroes and ones in the Ethernet somewhere - I wouldn't be inclined to rely on the accuracy of the information they provide.

Pointhacks, I assume, is being paid from these companies to advertise their products and hence would need to use factual information? Isn't there a law in regards to advertising false information?

I don't know if any blogger has a bricks and mortars store?

 

[burmans]

Pointhacks, I assume, is being paid from these companies to advertise their products and hence would need to use factual information? Isn't there a law in regards to advertising false information?

I don't know if any blogger has a bricks and mortars store?

Ah you guys, happy to use Pointhacks as a way of avoiding doing the research yourselves but as soon as he gets it wrong once all this mention of the law!

 

[ninja-tim]

Ah you guys, happy to use Pointhacks as a way of avoiding doing the research yourselves but as soon as he gets it wrong once all this mention of the law!

I actually haven't checked any of the info he posted on his site, but did he actually get something wrong?

Maybe my post didn't seem like it but my mentioning law was actually trying to back him saying he should have no reason to lie and more reason to have factual information, than needing to fake numbers to attract likes/clicks etc. Hasn't he been around a while? Having all those sponsors for ads would make it seem like his doing something right.

My bad if he has actually posted, on purpose, incorrect figures to attract likes.

 

[Mattg]

I think that the assertions made by the website you're referring to are generally fair, though I do notice one figure that is inaccurate.

A Velocity redemption Business class flight from Sydney to Melbourne costs 13,800 points + $21.11 in taxes. You need to look for a Business Reward price. Point hacks could have mentioned that it is subject to Business Reward availability (which is not available on every flight) and that taxes are payable in addition to the points. On the VA wesbite, 17,100 is the more prominent figure for a Business Reward. This amount takes the regular points price (13,800) and then converts the taxes to points at a (poor) rate of around 0.7, adding this to the final points cost. I would never recommend paying the taxes with points and honestly find it cheeky that Virgin display this amount most prominently. Nonetheless, 6x 13,800 points x 6 = 82,800 - less than 100,000. So that stacks up.

However... SYD-PER redemption costs 33,800 points + $17.47 in Business Class. 3 redemptions will cost 101,400 + $52.41. So, 100,000 points is not actually enough for 3 east-west coast flights. But it is close.

 

[andye]

I've found it be accurate. Occasionally a genuine mistake creeps in but is then corrected. Some good info on there-I found the recent Lifemiles article an excellent intro for someone like me who has never considered them before

 

[SponsorSFC]

Using a referral nets you 110,000 so that is enough for 3 PER-SYD redemptions.

Also if you add in the points earned from the min $1,000 spend then you should have very close if not more than the 101,400 needed, hardly a big issue or intentionally misleading statements there.


I have found Point Hacks a great resource to use when teaching people the game, it is great for an overview from an Australian perspective.

 

[burmans]

I've found it be accurate. Occasionally a genuine mistake creeps in but is then corrected. Some good info on there-I found the recent Lifemiles article an excellent intro for someone like me who has never considered them before

Yes, that how I'd categorise too. And to say he's misrepresenting because it costs 101,400 rather than 100k is drawing a fairly long bow for me.

I think Keith offers a fair bit of value for no cost to your average punter, even as a fairly experienced AFFer I think he's a good reference site. But I also think we are all ultimately responsible for your own research, if you don't feel you are up to that and want to be spoon fed, personally I think you are in the wrong game!

 

[Eggsbenedict]

Yes, that how I'd categorise too. And to say he's misrepresenting because it costs 101,400 rather than 100k is drawing a fairly long bow for me.

I think Keith offers a fair bit of value for no cost to your average punter, even as a fairly experienced AFFer I think he's a good reference site. But I also think we are all ultimately responsible for your own research, if you don't feel you are up to that and want to be spoon fed, personally I think you are in the wrong game!

Well said! Personally I think it's a great "free" site full of information. I have contacted Keith directly before an he has been very helpful. It's free and its useful, sometimes it gets things wrong (pretty rarely) from what i've found. Get over it if it happens! They are also very good at mentioning when articles are paid Ad's.