Velocity Frequent Flyer launches partnership with DiDi

[oz_mark]

I haven't heard anything about Didi, but I did hear that with Ola there were issues around the airport pick up levies being passed on to the airports.

 

[kamchatsky]

I used Didi twice last month when I used it at MEL to CBD and back. I have to say it is on par with Uber in terms of driver availability and definitely cheaper when they provided me with $15 off + 20% off vouchers for my trip.

Looks like I will continue to use Didi sometime in the future.

 

[dk4]

I used Didi twice last month when I used it at MEL to CBD ... on par with Uber in terms of driver availability ...

If you normally use MEL T4 Uber pick up, then comparing wait times between Uber (where you walk to the Uber pick up area on the other side of the T4 parking) and DiDi (where you have to walk over to T2 Rideshare pick up area) and then in both cases wait for your allocated driver to arrive, are about the same, I agree.

BUT... if you use MEL T2 Uber pick up, there is basically no wait time - as you just receive a PIN and walk straight up to any car waiting in the dedicated Uber kerbside pick up area, show the driver your PIN and go, whereas with DiDi you still need to cross the road (to the T2 Rideshare pick up area) and wait for your designated car to arrive.

Large price differenial at the moment though, I agree, with heavy DiDi discounting.

 

[mrflyby]

Yes, can’t get the Chinese Didi app in the Australian app store which is rather strange.

Works a treat though as a mini program inside WeiXin (WeChat) which is readily available and accessible from Australia. Translates automatically into English as well which is a godsend and payment via WeChat pay and connected Aussie credit card also works a treat these days.

Late response.

That means installing WeChat which is not a safe thing to do. Too many security risks it creates and further opens yourself up to the very prolific team of CCP sponsored hackers who along with Russia are largely responsible for a fair share of the world's IT security breaches these days.
A person's phone now controls access for just about everything and having any software on there that you can't specifically know what it does behind the scenes is not worth contemplating.

I'll continue to use cash on my China trips for the future until that's not possible any more. If it then comes to having to use WeChat, then that will be installed on a burner phone using an account seperate to everything else I use.

 

[kamchatsky]

If you normally use MEL T4 Uber pick up, then comparing wait times between Uber (where you walk to the Uber pick up area on the other side of the T4 parking) and DiDi (where you have to walk over to T2 Rideshare pick up area) and then in both cases wait for your allocated driver to arrive, are about the same, I agree.

BUT... if you use MEL T2 Uber pick up, there is basically no wait time - as you just receive a PIN and walk straight up to any car waiting in the dedicated Uber kerbside pick up area, show the driver your PIN and go, whereas with DiDi you still need to cross the road (to the T2 Rideshare pick up area) and wait for your designated car to arrive.

Large price differenial at the moment though, I agree, with heavy DiDi discounting.

I was flying VA so it arrived at T3. So the direction is that I was using T4 pickup area which was outside as you say. I think the Didi driver who picked me up was actually from the MEL T2 queue. The wait was about 3 mins and the weather was fine.

So, based on my experience in MEL and Mel CBD, there are definitely enough Didi drivers to hire quickly. Then again I was using it on non-peak hours.

 

[aaa99]

Just had this come up in my email.

 

[Tiki]

Mine is 250 points each for next 3 rides.

 

[BrettV]

Mine is 250 points each for next 3 rides.

Same for me too.

 

[SYD]

Don’t recall it being mentioned before but the points for each ride post very quickly. Handy if someone has neglected their VFF account and needs a quick heart starter.

Ride to the airport today posted in the time I dropped off my bag and got to the lounge. Possibly immediately but I wasn’t looking.

 

[jase05]

Don’t recall it being mentioned before but the points for each ride post very quickly. Handy if someone has neglected their VFF account and needs a quick heart starter.

Ride to the airport today posted in the time I dropped off my bag and got to the lounge. Possibly immediately but I wasn’t looking.

Yep, every time I’ve used them the points have credited very promptly

 

[AIRwin]

speeDiDi!