Velocity FF often have various points promotions, but are any of them worth it?
After having a quick look around, I think the answer must depend on your VA and hotel status. Here's an example:
At the moment there is a "stay 2 nights at a Starwood hotel and earn 1000 velocity points". Looking at, say, Sheraton on the Park in Sydney for next week you can book the cheapest room on the Starwood site on that deal for $365/night. If you have status with SPG and are interested in earning Starpoints, then maybe this isn't too bad. If you convert the starpoints to VA points at 1:1, you end up with an additional 1118 points bringing your total to 2118. Without the offer the normal price is $327/night which can be converted to 1004 VA points.
However, if you don't care about SPG then you can get the same room on the Velocity version of Agoda for $334/night which will earn even a bottom tier VA member 1002 points. VA platinum will net 2004 points.
Of course, if you don't worry about VA points at all and just look for the best price, you might find the room a bit cheaper (eg $318/night on laterooms dot com).
VA 1000 points offer: will net at least 2118 VA points @ $0.34/point.
Best rate on hotel website: 1004 VA points @ $0.65 (but a cheaper room price)
VA Red Agoda/velocity booking: 1118 VA points @ $0.60
VA WP Agoda/Velocity booking: will net 2004 VA points @ $0.33/point
This doesn't include the credit card used, which may or may not earn points, of course.
So which is better? Depends on status. If you have VA WP and also SPG platinum and so can get upgrades, then you'd earn about the same as via Agoda but might get a nicer room for that (very high) price. If no VA status then the 1000 points deal is best. If you don't care about VA points at all, definitely don't bother with any of the deals.
Main conclusion is that any of the above seem to be quite expensive way to earn points. Other conclusion is that I just spent 15 minutes on this and am not much the wiser as a result.
YMMV.
Or have I missed something?
After having a quick look around, I think the answer must depend on your VA and hotel status. Here's an example:
At the moment there is a "stay 2 nights at a Starwood hotel and earn 1000 velocity points". Looking at, say, Sheraton on the Park in Sydney for next week you can book the cheapest room on the Starwood site on that deal for $365/night. If you have status with SPG and are interested in earning Starpoints, then maybe this isn't too bad. If you convert the starpoints to VA points at 1:1, you end up with an additional 1118 points bringing your total to 2118. Without the offer the normal price is $327/night which can be converted to 1004 VA points.
However, if you don't care about SPG then you can get the same room on the Velocity version of Agoda for $334/night which will earn even a bottom tier VA member 1002 points. VA platinum will net 2004 points.
Of course, if you don't worry about VA points at all and just look for the best price, you might find the room a bit cheaper (eg $318/night on laterooms dot com).
VA 1000 points offer: will net at least 2118 VA points @ $0.34/point.
Best rate on hotel website: 1004 VA points @ $0.65 (but a cheaper room price)
VA Red Agoda/velocity booking: 1118 VA points @ $0.60
VA WP Agoda/Velocity booking: will net 2004 VA points @ $0.33/point
This doesn't include the credit card used, which may or may not earn points, of course.
So which is better? Depends on status. If you have VA WP and also SPG platinum and so can get upgrades, then you'd earn about the same as via Agoda but might get a nicer room for that (very high) price. If no VA status then the 1000 points deal is best. If you don't care about VA points at all, definitely don't bother with any of the deals.
Main conclusion is that any of the above seem to be quite expensive way to earn points. Other conclusion is that I just spent 15 minutes on this and am not much the wiser as a result.
YMMV.
Or have I missed something?
