Velocity Changes incl SC earn on ASAs, SC by sector and baggage changes

[Jama]

So I wonder if the SC's requirement for earning status and retaining it will suddenly go up as well. This could be a negative if you general fly single sectors and the SC requirements get increased.

 

[docjames]

Great that asa's earn SCs but not great that I booked a "classic" yesterday!

The Asa's seem nowhere near as good value compared to QF's asa's (speaking generally, I'm sure there's specific "cheap" examples somewhere)

 

[wob.geek]

Interesting developments...

I am about to book a status run (60 SCs to retain WP), will probably wait until the 13th now. Was considering PER-ADL, the return via MEL so will see how that affects the costs and SC earn. Will all be flexis as Mrs Geek doesn't do "steerage" any more, should have enough comp UGs to cover, unless they treat the ADL-MEL-PER as sepparate legs.

 

[Mackey]

Has this be confirmed at all by Virgin? The only mention we have seen is that PDF. Yes, it is hosted at the virginaustralia.com domain but I would still like to hear Virgin publicly announce the changes before I start booking.

 

[nitrocdh]

Has this be confirmed at all by Virgin? The only mention we have seen is that PDF. Yes, it is hosted at the virginaustralia.com domain but I would still like to hear Virgin publicly announce the changes before I start booking.

Hey Ben, the new earnings are on both pre existing and new bookings (spoke to the virgin ppl on the phone but they didn't seem too confident in their answer).

 

[kpro]

Re: Changes with Sabre

* SCs will be calculated by sector not by total distance!

Does this mean Eligible Sectors will also now be earned for each actual sector flown when theres a stopover, rather then only earning 1 sector from origin to destination?

 

[AdMEL]

Re: Changes with Sabre

Whilst there seems to be a number of positive benefits for us as flyers from change to calculation of SC's, I can't help but feeling we haven't yet been told the full picture and there will be further changes (QF style enhancements) that will erode all of these perceived benefits. I think there will be a very limited opportunity to take advantage of the SC per sector anomaly being discussed in this thread:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ity/new-velocity-status-run-master-46199.html

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

Hey Ben, the new earnings are on both pre existing and new bookings (spoke to the virgin ppl on the phone but they didn't seem too confident in their answer).

If it's not in writing then it is like a handshake.................worth the paper it's written on !

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

Re: Changes with Sabre

Whilst there seems to be a number of positive benefits for us as flyers from change to calculation of SC's, I can't help but feeling we haven't yet been told the full picture and there will be further changes (QF style enhancements) that will erode all of these perceived benefits. I think there will be a very limited opportunity to take advantage of the SC per sector anomaly being discussed in this thread:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ity/new-velocity-status-run-master-46199.html

I just reckon that Virgin/velocity have twigged how popular the JASA awards are and the points that it drives to the Qantas loyalty program and they ( Velocity) want to get on the gravy train

 

[Princess Fiona]

Whilst there seems to be a number of positive benefits for us as flyers from change to calculation of SC's, I can't help but feeling we haven't yet been told the full picture and there will be further changes (QF style enhancements) that will erode all of these perceived benefits. I think there will be a very limited opportunity to take advantage of the SC per sector anomaly being discussed in this thread:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ity/new-velocity-status-run-master-46199.html

I don't think this is an anomaly, the PDF in the OP by 777 explicitly states this with a map showing SC's earning on the mileage for each sector HBA-MEL-PER vs the old method of only calculating HBA-PER
I would expect if a fare is bookable on VA eg. NTL-BNE-MEL then SC's are going to be earned for each sector

 

[AdMEL]

I don't think this is an anomaly, the PDF in the OP by 777 explicitly states this with a map showing SC's earning on the mileage for each sector HBA-MEL-PER vs the old method of only calculating HBA-PER
I would expect if a fare is bookable on VA eg. NTL-BNE-MEL then SC's are going to be earned for each sector

What I am getting at, is the cheap status credit opportunities like the MEL-BNE-NTL will disappear because the price will go up.

 

[Princess Fiona]

What I am getting at, is the cheap status credit opportunities like the MEL-BNE-NTL will disappear because the price will go up.

I don't think so, the average joe ( aka me before Jan 13) has no desire to route through BNE to get to MEL and vv
VA's competition on this route is JQ and that will IMHO have far more influence on the price than cheap SC chasers
YMMV

And apologies I did misunderstand your first post which I quoted

 

[nitrocdh]

If it's not in writing then it is like a handshake.................worth the paper it's written on !

A handshake can be a legally binding document

 

[Mackey]

Hey Ben, the new earnings are on both pre existing and new bookings (spoke to the virgin ppl on the phone but they didn't seem too confident in their answer).

The Virgin Australia Facebook page confirmed that Status Points will be per sector from 13 January. Time to book and get the last 60 SC I need for WP!

 

[JessicaTam]

Looks like this little SFSC will be flying Virgin more often from now on.

Great news.

 

[Jama]

I don't think so, the average joe ( aka me before Jan 13) has no desire to route through BNE to get to MEL and vv
VA's competition on this route is JQ and that will IMHO have far more influence on the price than cheap SC chasers
YMMV

Agreed. Hence my comment that if they increase the SC requirements accordingly, the change will have a negative impact on the majority, since your average earn stays the same whilst the status requirement goes up. I don't think there is any reason to believe they won't take away with the other hand in time. This is what we have seen previously.

 

[MarkD]

Segment and sector are two different things

 

[Mackey]

Segment and sector are two different things

Sorry - I meant sector. Have updated my post above.

 

[anat0l]

Agreed. Hence my comment that if they increase the SC requirements accordingly, the change will have a negative impact on the majority, since your average earn stays the same whilst the status requirement goes up. I don't think there is any reason to believe they won't take away with the other hand in time. This is what we have seen previously.

It'd be hard not to think that there will not be any negative changes, which are not necessarily in 'response' to or are necessitated to counterbalance positive ones, though suffice to say VA still has plenty of growth to be able to take advantage of.

Don't forget that fares on VA have somewhat steadily increased, and yet people still fly them (and an increasing number at that). Bumping up the SC requirement I don't believe will raise a significant amount of ire (certainly not as much as, say, when "any time access" was silently withdrawn, though the latter was rather a non-event anyway). Particularly on this forum where those who are getting Platinum anyway (or even Gold for that matter) are finding it a piece of cake and then some. (As for other non-AFF elites, I'm sure they'll be fine.)

For this announcement alone, I'm prepared to take it in without looking for hidden weapons. It's certainly some interesting changes coming up. The modification of the "journey" rule to a simpler sector rule is quite welcome here (yes, it may 'destroy' some previously good status runs, but I really do prefer the simplicity; perhaps I'm biased because I loathed the similar rule (and then some others) that NZ used in counting status on Airpoints).

 

[djchuckles]

Great news on sectors.

Bit disappointed on baggage - i regularly used my 2 x 32kg for non business trips and in some cases this will be reduced to 2 x 23kg (if saver lite)