Velocity family pooling

[Chompy78]

Is there anything stopping or against the rules in regards to family pooling with velocity?

Eg, can I just pay someone to set their address the same as mine and pool all their status points to me?

Was thinking how to more easily maintain status level.

Sorry if already asked, didn't find any answers on a search.

 

[mooingchicken]

Yeah that's against the T&C's and all that, could have account cancelled etc etc.

In reality, will they know? no and I know of people who have done this before. I have got friends to sign up who have no interest and then just transfered the points

 

[Milefest]

They probably won't know. If they were to find out, it would be grounds for your account to be terminated along with a forfeiture of your points and SC's too.

 

[razors_girl23]

Doesn't really seem fair for those of us who do the right thing, but I doubt they'd ever know.

 

[Jurahn]

Doesn't really seem fair for those of us who do the right thing.

Exactly my thoughts as well - regardless of whether Velocity are able to find out or not, it's against the Ts & Cs not just of Family Pooling but of the entire Velocity scheme. Yes, it would certainly make my and my husband's lives a heck of a lot easier with trying to maintain status if we could just pool SCs from someone else who's not a family member and not living with us, but it's not the right thing to do and hopefully most people wouldn't even consider it (or even worse, do it). It would not only be a huge shame to lose a great benefit like Family Pooling if Velocity decided to withdraw it because people were abusing the scheme, but it would also be the end of gaining (or maintaining) status for a LOT of VFF members.

 

[VulpesVulpes]

Is there anything stopping or against the rules in regards to family pooling with velocity?

As others have said - its against the T&Cs but nobody will chip you.

Doesn't really seem fair for those of us who do the right thing, but I doubt they'd ever know.

But I'll play devil's advocate here, how is it unfair to you? Are you receiving less benefits or being disadvantaged if the OP did this?

 

[Jousams]

Hey guys, Let's not give velocity ideas on possible 'enhancements'...

 

[razors_girl23]

As others have said - its against the T&Cs but nobody will chip you.



But I'll play devil's advocate here, how is it unfair to you? Are you receiving less benefits or being disadvantaged if the OP did this?

I don't lose any benefits, but I've certainly poured money into the scheme in order to fairly receive those benefits. I could have chosen to fly other airlines, or chosen a cheaper airfare, but I don't, because I want the benefits that come with status. I also could have roped my parents into doing what's being suggested and saved myself some money, but it's not right.

 

[Quickstatus]

But I'll play devil's advocate here, how is it unfair to you? Are you receiving less benefits or being disadvantaged if the OP did this?

Im sure the OP was not the first either to think up this loophole. Explicitly playing against the rules may cause VA to change their program resulting in many FF being disadvantaged.

I support playing within the rules and will never support avtivities that are against the T&C.

 

[Jurahn]

I support playing within the rules and will never support avtivities that are against the T&C.

Same here.

I note the OP has asked the same question on OzBargain and on Whirlpool. As WP member TicTacToe has quite rightly quoted (in reply to the OP's post) from the Velocity Ts & Cs:

5.6 General Member Obligations
Members must act fairly and reasonably in all matters connected with their Application for, and Membership of, Velocity Frequent Flyer. This obligation includes that Members:

5.6.1 must not give Virgin Australia or VRPL any incorrect or incomplete information in connection with their Application or Membership and must promptly tell Virgin Australia or VRPL if any relevant information changes;
5.6.2 will not in any way sell, barter, attempt to transfer or otherwise deal with any Member Benefits (including Points, Status Credits and Rewards) connected with their Membership other than in accordance with the Terms and Conditions and will not abuse or misuse any Member Benefits;
5.6.3 must not engage in Inappropriate Conduct which is unlawful or illegal;

10.4.6 Should VRPL or ICLP suspect fraudulent or suspicious activity in relation to a Member’s Membership Account, VRPL may terminate or suspend the Member’s Membership Account at any time in accordance with clause 8.1.

 

[Chompy78]

I'm surprised that the question hadn't been asked before.

Also moving to the UK for a year so flying on virgin isn't really a choice thing for me. I understand that status points through partner airlines is drastically less. Made the choice to fly etihad there, didn't go with the Virgin codeshare as we have a baby, and our experience with Singapore Airlines codeshare was a nightmare. No online checkin, no ability to do requests.

To the point of someone pouring money in, it's not the money I'm short on - but time. Flying anywhere on Virgin (or anyone for that matter) from Perth is a massive time suck. Even if the points are good.

 

[Jurahn]

Flying anywhere on Virgin (or anyone for that matter) from Perth is a massive time suck. Even if the points are good.

You're not wrong there. We're doing a trip to Europe next year flying SQ and booked directly through SQ mainly for the issues you mentioned. The trip will leave us both 160 SCs short of requalifying and of course no eligible sectors, so we're currently working out what trips we can do (time permitting) to get the 4 eligible sectors before our respective review dates, and which aren't going to cost us an arm and a leg, seeing as you usually need to book Flexi fares to get a reasonable number of SCs on trips from/to Perth. We also don't have the multitude of flight options for status runs that those on the East Coast do, which can make maintaining status when living in WA an often time-cnsuming and expensive PITA!

 

[bartley69]

Ignoring the moral implications. If I was to add a friend to family pooling, then they take a flight, I get the points/SC's, then after they have been credited they change there address back, do I get to keep the points and SC's or do they go back with them? Thanks.

 

[Quickstatus]

Ignoring the moral implications. If I was to add a friend to family pooling, then they take a flight, I get the points/SC's, then after they have been credited they change there address back, do I get to keep the points and SC's or do they go back with them? Thanks.

Sorry can't ignore the moral implications as its against the T&C. Have never done it. Won't support it as the abuse of VA SC family pooling may cause VA to cancel the facility

 

[bartley69]

Fair enough, each to there own. If anyone wants to give an answer that would be great. PM me if that is more your style.

Cheers.

 

[Jurahn]

I'm surprised that the question hadn't been asked before.

It's not that the question hasn't been asked before. There's certainly been times when doing something like this has been mentioned, or hinted at, both on this forum and others but as it is in contravention of the Ts & Cs and could end up ruining the scheme for everyone else, it's something that (I would certainly hope) the majority of people here would neither encourage nor support the discussion of how to do it.

 

[777]

But I'll play devil's advocate here, how is it unfair to you? Are you receiving less benefits or being disadvantaged if the OP did this?

OK i'll bite. I can think of at least 2 reasons:

1. It is a dilution of benefits for everyone else (for example long haul upgrades have limited capacity and should be reserved to those who have actually earned them, finite amount of space in lounges, the front rows, etc).

2. The more a feature is abused the more likely it will be taken away or enhanced for everyone. I remember when anytime access was pulled most of us were upset because we used it within the spirit of the rule. At least one member on this forum (or maybe FT) complained because s/he used to go to the Gold Coast lounge daily and drink and eat on Virgin's dime. It only takes a very small number of people significantly abusing something before the bean counters decide to enhance it and it away. That's why we can't have nice things!

I won't lose sleep over it but it's risky. My advice to the OP is do so at your own risk. Expect that you will lose your status, FF points and accounts in the event that you're caught.

Also don't seek any help from the company reps around here for obvious reasons and don't do it at all if you are the guy with the same username on another website where you have logged in under your own name. It will take them 30 seconds to find what may well be your real name on another website if you google it (as i just did!).

Oh, and if you are trying to maintain a status you could try a status match. Virgin to Alitalia (gets you Etihad and Skyteam) to Avianca Brazil or Turkish (Star Alliance) would set you up for international travel at least for a while.

 

[cove]

Cheat and get caught might go badly. There is no reason why Velocity would not suspend or cancel a membership.

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

As has been discussed in thisthread, Velocity T&Cs regarding Family Pooling specifically state that:

13.6 The Beneficiary Account and ContributingAccounts must be held by Members of a family living at the same residentialaddress.

For the benefit of both ourcompliant members and the health of the Velocity business, we continuouslymonitor member accounts for evidence of non-compliant behaviours. Where thisoccurs, Velocity will take action to remedy the behaviour. Where Velocity’sterm and conditions have been breached, this action is typically thetermination of a members account with all Points being forfeit.

 

[Virgin Bart]

As has been discussed in thisthread, Velocity T&Cs regarding Family Pooling specifically state that:

13.6 The Beneficiary Account and ContributingAccounts must be held by Members of a family living at the same residentialaddress.

For the benefit of both ourcompliant members and the health of the Velocity business, we continuouslymonitor member accounts for evidence of non-compliant behaviours. Where thisoccurs, Velocity will take action to remedy the behaviour. Where Velocity’sterm and conditions have been breached, this action is typically thetermination of a members account with all Points being forfeit.

Welcome back VFF... It's a bloody shame you came back with a compliance issue rather than the dozens of problems people have reached out to you about recently on here.