Velocity introduces Forever Gold lifetime status tier

[kamchatsky]

I’ve just tried to reconcile my statement against the numbers quoted by Velocity FF service centre. I’m only 65 SC from maxing out the Pool/FB/Partner Flights category, but am 3k off on VA metal according to my calculations. VFF said I’m 1.7k off. I know which one I’d prefer.

who knows?

Please VA put this online now you’ve announced it so we can have some idea where we stand.

I think this is against what the VA wants. VA wants us to book all the flights now with VA to get more SCs, hoping we reach FG sooner, even though you may already have reached it.

 

[SYD]

I think this is against what the VA wants. VA wants us to book all the flights now with VA to get more SCs, hoping we reach FG sooner, even though you may already have reached it.

That was the point of QF’s “Simpler & Fairer”. Halved the partner earn and actually increased the SCs earn on some QF fare classes.

 

[NM]

I had no issues at all determining my current progress towards FG.

Member since = 2005
Lifetime SC earned = 75
Lifetime SC on VA Marketed Flights = 75
Family Pooling = 0
Eligible Sectors = 4
Lifetime points earned = 0
Lifetime Status = Red
Time to reach FG = beyond my anticipated lifetime

 

[kevrosmith]

I logged into my Velocity account Tuesday night and submitted a query through the "Submit Feedback" option under Contact us and had a reply within 12 hours. (Not sure what all the shouting is about.)

As per @Mattg, they told me the total points earned "for your flights with Virgin Australia" (13,640) and total earned on Partner airlines (200).

I can reconcile the numbers they provided me, with the following interesting observations:

1. It included DSC promotions when the Status credits and double status credits were posted as a single entry - for example, "Mar-2014, Sydney-Cairns, 60". I have entries like these up until Feb-2022.
2. It did not include recent DSC where the DSC posted as a separate line item, e.g. "24-Aug-2024, Choose your reward Double Status Credits, 80" or "26-Nov-2023, Double status credits July 2023, 80"
3. It did include SCs that I had pooled to my wife between Dec-2023 and Feb-2024 (the only time I've ever pooled out to someone else)
4. (As expected) It did not include SCs that had been pooled to me from anyone
5. (As expected) It did not include any Flybuys SCs.
6. (As expected) SCs from Credit cards or other bonuses did not count, including
   • American Express 100 Status Credits Bonus
   • Pay day - VA Status Credit BONUS
   • Status Credit Gift
   • Virgin Australia High Flyer Status Credit Bns (from May-2024)

Even if they work out a way to exclude the DSCs from line item 1 above, I should still be above the 13K mark.

The email reply included a lovely comment: Kindly take note that for you to be eligible to Forever Gold status, you must earn a total of 12,000 Status Credits, with a minimum of 9,000 Status Credits earned on eligible Virgin Australia marketed flights, flown by you. In this instance, I'm happy to let you know that you will be eligible for Forever Gold status once it's launched.

 

[moa999]

Point 3 is interesting

 

[SYD]

Point 3 is interesting

and contrary to some angst earlier.

 

[oz_mark]

I got my figures, and a bit further to go than I thought....

 

[MH_fan]

Got my numbers today and I'm about 72% of the way to FG. I've maxed out the 3000 non VA flights (which surprised me) and had less than I thought on VA flights. Might take me another 4 years at my current rate of travel to reach FG.

 

[MooTime]

Got my numbers today and I'm about 72% of the way to FG. I've maxed out the 3000 non VA flights (which surprised me) and had less than I thought on VA flights. Might take me another 4 years at my current rate of travel to reach FG.

remembering the 4 years expected time line to go, does that incorporate the less SC you'll earn post 2nd April 2025 bookings?
Maybe 6 years?

 

[Rebus]

You literally jump on the live chat and they will give you all the information in seconds.

Could someone please be so kind as to show me how to access the live chat function? I am signed in to my account on Firefox but there is no icon for me to click on. I also can't see any option within the VA or Velocity apps.

 

[enigma]

Could someone please be so kind as to show me how to access the live chat function? I am signed in to my account on Firefox but there is no icon for me to click on. I also can't see any option within the VA or Velocity apps.

Hi Rebus,
I couldn't find the chat link either. Howerver, once you log into your VFF account, scroll all the way down (go past your recent transactions) to the page and click on Contact Us link (under Help and Support)
You can then write to them via the form requesting your statement of acocunt. Trust this helps.

 

[enigma]

Hi all,
As much as I don't want to add fuel to what is already an engulfing fire in this thread, I thought I'll run this by everyone.

I wrote to VFF support simply asking if they can confirm whether I will qualify for FG based on what I have earnt so far (I couldn't be bothered receiving a statement and doing the calcs)

I received the attached reply. I have highlighted a line that threw me off.

I assumed that one can keep adding SCs to their tally from 1 Feb 2013 and when they meet VFF's criteria they will be eligible for FG.

May be I'm overthinking it or missing an obvious point which has already been discussed here..

 

[RooFlyer]

May be I'm overthinking it or missing an obvious point which has already been discussed here..

Sounds like their reply is being made a bit more generic as the calculation of eligible SCs doesn’t seem to be straightforward.

 

[SeaWolf]

Sounds like their reply is being made a bit more generic as the calculation of eligible SCs doesn’t seem to be straightforward.

It's probably also getting a bit time consuming for their people, with a heap of queries about something that doesn't happen for almost a year.

 

[MooTime]

They should've just included the GF Tally in the recent app update.
Simple.
Taken a few extra days before releasing the app to get this all complete.
Simple, or did I say that already?

 

[MH_fan]

remembering the 4 years expected time line to go, does that incorporate the less SC you'll earn post 2nd April 2025 bookings?
Maybe 6 years?

Yes, I've factored that in, as I'm planning a number of J flights under the old system to be booked before the change in April next year. My aim is to book enough flights (if I can plan that far in advance) to retain WP for the year to Feb 2026 (which means I'll have WP until at least Feb 2027) and have enough to reach at least 90% to FG by then.

 

[hakkinen5]

Hi, One of my first (perhaps the first) post here but long time reader. Running some strategy options by the brains trust here.
I just used the chat function to Velocity and they told me my Lifetime status credits are 7595 however only 3138 are from VA marketed flights so I'm not going to get LTG. I'm way closer to LTG on Qantas than that. Given I'm currently VA platinum, and will likely retain by my anniversary date at end of April, I'm thinking that an upcoming United Airlines business flight to the US I should just credit those to my United account right? As I'm already maxed on the partner airlines flights. It's kind of just a waste of the status credits (yes I'm aware about gifting gold status after 1300 SC's - I did that last year). I could achieve Star Alliance gold from this upcoming trip which I don't already have. Do you people agree with this assessment?
Thanks

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to posting @hakkinen5 .

I agree with a strategy in not crediting to velocity, but have you considered star alliance FF programs other than United? Or perhaps you already have some status there?

if you credited to SQ Kris flyer, you could at least transfer some of the points back to Velocity. A meagre dividend, but you’ll get something out of the flight.

 

[hakkinen5]

Thanks @RooFlyer. My main turn off with SQ is the points expiry period. I could take the haircut and transfer to velocity I suppose. I don't have status with United but I do have a stash of points there, which can also be used for Virgin Australia rewards flights.

 

[MarthaWolf]

Received my activity statement.
It's my total only (no pooling), without DSC & the one TSC.
Although I have a few transactions where SCs listed are above the standard table amount. Have to think how / why that's the case.

Still only halfway so I won't get there with the changes.

Same (though I didn’t get an activity statement) despite 12+ years of status - rather than gifting gold, once I maintained plat I always pooled to my partner so apparently all those SCs aren’t counted, although my chat agent reiterated three times that they are still in the “enhancing and changing phase” of their Ts&Cs