Velocity Member Survey Exclusive to Platinum and Gold Members

[justcallmeryan]

These would be on my wish list for improvements to Platinum:

Lifetime gold.
Change the 4 x confirmed complimentary fare upgrades per year, to 4 confirmed J upgrades from any class of Y booked and include short haul international (NZ, Fiji, Bali).
Throw in 1 or 2 x confirmed complimentary fare upgrades per year on long haul to LAX or AUH.
Some form of recognition on long haul J flights to LAX and AUH in Y or Y+. In J I never have a problem getting row 5 which is nice, but not sure what other benefits exist, if any?
Extending fly ahead to not just in the lounge or at check in, but up to a few hours before your flight. So you could call from your taxi on the way to the airport, or similar.
Maybe some really snazzy bag tags? Everyone seems to love them, but the old plastic ones are wearing a bit thin.

As far as I can tell the experience of flying VA with status domestically is pretty painless and I'm quite content with the lounges. I don't spend hours there, like I do in international versions and I think what they have in place is fine. They could, I guess, open an area exclusive for Platinums (upstairs in SYD, in a corner in MEL etc) but not sure that's necessary. Unless you're about to do an overnight flight from PER, I just don't see the need for full meal service, but again that's me.

My experience with bags has been mostly fine, so can't complain about that.

As for what NOT to remove, Fly-Ahead is the single reason I stick to VA over anyone else. It makes a massive difference for me, as most of my business travel is somewhat unpredictable from a timing perspective, so being able to buy the 8 or 9pm flights and then move it earlier when needed is absolutely perfect. It's also worked 95% of the time for me with the exception of the odd Saturday from MEL - SYD when with lesser flights they must have been fuller.

That's my two cents!

 

[Jousams]

i hope that if they do introduce lifetime status they count SC historically earned...

 

[ekys]

Also got the survey. I'm Plat with mostly J trips to either Europe on EY code shares or US on VA metal, with monthly domestic trips between SYD/BNE/NTL/MEL in Y (who needs J for a 1 hour flight?!).

Really I think they could take a tip from Delta with their view to handling high tier elites. Basically move every elite further up the front of every plane, platinum to J and gold to row 3 (at least domestically). It gives a visible incentive to reach top tiers.
I'd rather 2-3 random upgrades than the the 4 upgrade tickets for flexi-only bookings that I rarely use anyway.

Otherwise better lounge access/facilities for elites would be good.

 

[darrend]

Interestingly 4 in our family are Platinum and none of us have received the survey. My immediate thoughts are - Lifetime Platinum, more award space for Platinum (in fact any at all for anyone would be good - can't find anything in coming months to anywhere out of AUS) and automatic upgrades if higher class seats are available. I am also Senator on Lufthansa and they offer 50% reward tickets cost for partner when flying together which is kinda nice.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

i hope that if they do introduce lifetime status they count SC historically earned...

I think they'll alienate an awful lot of people if they don't and we do know they have those records as they made that song and dance about the guy who ticked over 1 million points or whatever it was a few years back.

 

[Shan ia]

I just hope like hell that Velocity do not do what Emirates did to their FF scheme. I pray that the lowere tier members do not pay to provide better benefits for high tier members.

 

[Teal747]

For myself without a doubt the additional 400SP required to maintain Platinum is better spent on a Qantas to maintain Gold
Not using the upgrades the additional benefits over Gold are very very small!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

For myself without a doubt the additional 400SP required to maintain Platinum is better spent on a Qantas to maintain Gold
Not using the upgrades the additional benefits over Gold are very very small!

I must admit, that's my current modus operandi as well. I'll be keeping a keen eye on VA developments both positive and negative, as I fear this whole questionnaire thing is VA looking for a way to "enhance" a few status extras. I fear for row 3 and fly ahead.

 

[Pilbaracommuter]

I agree that a better approach to the lifetime membership issue is well overdue. I've been travelling predominantly for work with QF for 20 years, so it's no surprise that my holiday travel has been biased to them due to the FF benefits. It's good business for the airline. But i have been lifetime gold with QF for several years with no prospect of any more lifetime benefits being added. Currently platinum (just) due to quantity of business travel, and have been for about 10 years, but in a few years retirement may be approaching and it would be nice to think I can continue to get the benefits when i am only travelling for leisure and unable to accumulate SCs at the same rate. One other possibility worth considering is to apply lifetime rewards progressively rather than in one big step - of the various benefits, my top four are lounge access, priority check in, better seat selection and increased baggage allowance, so I wouldn't object to these being added in steps rather than waiting longer to get everything. The only drawback i can see is the complications with staff checking your status.

I suppose VA, being a recent entrant to the market hasn't really had to deal with the lifetime issue until recently. But now they are an established operator, it is a reasonable expectation if they want to keep customers (individuals and companies) coming back. Lifetime platinum could be a useful carrot to differentiate from QF, but realistically there won't be too many members who have accumulated enough SCs to get there soon. This is really about keeping business in the long term.

 

[Jousams]

I don't even think they need lifetime [tier X]
I think it could just be 'lifetime member' tier which gives priority benefits (lounge, boarding, etc).

In terms of SC required, I think 10,000 would be reasonable, but I'd be eager to hear others thoughts on this.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I don't even think they need lifetime [tier X]
I think it could just be 'lifetime member' tier which gives priority benefits (lounge, boarding, etc).

In terms of SC required, I think 10,000 would be reasonable, but I'd be eager to hear others thoughts on this.

Member lounge access would be pretty much restricted to the domestic network. I think that may raise criticism and be contrary to what they're aiming for. 10000 would be OK with me, but what's QF...14000 or something like that for gold? Admittedly, QF has made the SC game somewhat harder and I'm guessing their level was pegged there because of that.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

The beauty of lifetime [gold/platinum] is that it gives us an incentive to keep racking up the SCs with VA, even if we surpass the required annual SCs for maintaining status.

It would take away the whole question of where to credit once I reach/maintain WP.

Obviously bringing in a new tier (a la P1) would achieve the same thing to a point.

I'd be interested to know if that's something the QF flyers out there factor in once they maintain their level.

 

[bean]

If you have earnt SC to reach a particular level why should that not count towards lifetime SC?
The whole thing is a loyalty bonus and the fact you have kept flying them and encouraged family to fly them is playing their game. Why is the money of one person better than two if they are paying the same fares? You may get to lifetime quicker by family pooling, but to be honest they will set it very high, if they implement it and most people will not get there ever.

You would think the whole thing is about loyalty...except if you can't make a flight at late notice, in which case they take all of your money, no refund (not that I would expect one) and don't award you any points!!!

Had this happen recently and it really upset me-I have paid for the seat, whether I sit in it or not is not relevant. Virgin have taken all of my money and should award me the relevant points. But their 'policy' is you have to actually fly. So I've paid for a flight, they have taken my money and yet I don't get the points I'm entitled to!

Disgraceful. Perhaps a passengers policy should be we only pay if they put us on the flight we have purchased-no bumping and no delays...seems fair.

 

[Milefest]

I don't understand your points Bean. When you book a flight you agree to the conditions of the fare, that includes forfeiting your points and SCs.

If you could gain points and SCs without flying, people could abuse that, they could buy ultra cheap flights that conflict with each other that are on different parts of the world and do a status run that wouldn't usually be possible, for example. Airlines provide points to reward you for flying, it wouldn't be very loyal of you to book a flight and not fly that sector, in turn wasting resources and seat availability for others.

 

[bean]

I don't understand your points Bean. When you book a flight you agree to the conditions of the fare, that includes forfeiting your points and SCs.

If you could gain points and SCs without flying, people could abuse that, they could buy ultra cheap flights that conflict with each other that are on different parts of the world and do a status run that wouldn't usually be possible, for example. Airlines provide points to reward you for flying, it wouldn't be very loyal of you to book a flight and not fly that sector, in turn wasting resources and seat availability for others.

I dont think you are following me correctly. I booked a flight but due to illness was unabel to make it. From Virgins perspective they still recieved the full fare as I didnt get a refund. If anything they would have benefited due to having a spare seat freeing up capacity and or weight.

So why shouldnt I recieve the status points associated with the flight I have paid for?

And the points at the end of the day are a 'reward' for me choosing to spend my money with them rather than a compeitor. I spent my money with them but recieved no 'reward'....

 

[bean]

it wouldn't be very loyal of you to book a flight and not fly that sector, in turn wasting resources and seat availability for others.

Also how am I wasting resources-Ive paid for that seat and accordingly everything that goes with it. If I then am then unable to make the flight how is Virgin disadvantaged? They still recieve the full fare, all of their 'resources' are paid for in accordance with my airfare. The whole thing stinks IMHO.

In an instance where you are unable to make a flight but still have to pay the full fare I would think the least they could do is award you the points as a recognition of your financial loss.

 

[serfty]

I dont think you are following me correctly. I booked a flight but due to illness was unabel to make it. From Virgins perspective they still recieved the full fare as I didnt get a refund. If anything they would have benefited due to having a spare seat freeing up capacity and or weight. ...

I am pretty sure it have been a very similar case if you had booked with Qantas, or most other airlines.

Now, back on topic ...

 

[thegurio]

I am mostly whY, BFOD type of VA flyer, and no I didn't receive the invitation... Going by what has been said, I'm all for the upgrades and spare seat, but not at the expense of anything else. I'd like to see table service, as I'm moodily there around dinner time, and tend to spend 2 or 3 hours there at a time waiting for flights, so yes that would be good. I agree there isn't much differentiation between the tiers. The only reason why I went for WP and not QF SG is because my flying patterns need family pooling to get there, and of course QF don't have this...

 

[theevilmuppet]

The ability to access more reward seats online would be wonderful (as per the survey detail that has been shared in this thread), but I think this points to deficiencies in the program as it currently stands:

* Being able to book and upgrade in one interaction online would be wonderful as to secure the reward seat immediately, especially for long-haul international flights.
* Having more than a few days visible online for reward availability should be possible (plenty of other airlines do it)
* For those flying in First or higher on partner airlines, an additional SC earn tier would surely be appreciated - especially if a tier above Platinum or benefits are awarded once enough SCs have been earned past Platinum re-qualification
* The ability to be able to actually upgrade flights on partner airlines using Velocity points, whether online or not is something sorely missing
* The fact Premium Economy and Business Reward long-haul upgrades come out of a shared allocation with general Reward seats in those classes negates the Gold/Platinum status benefit of being able to use points to upgrade - this is a major gripe of mine at present.
* The lack of SC earn with a major European partner for non-codeshare flights is frankly a bit of a joke and should be addressed.
* The 4 complementary upgrades for Platinum members is nice, but reworking this into a system of upgrade credits would be good. For example, each year a Platinum member gets 4 upgrade credits with a domestic leg requiring 1 credit to upgrade from Flexible Economy, short-haul international requiring 2 credits and long-haul international requiring 4. Being able to roll over these credits would also be a nice touch.
* Being able to purchase points should there be a shortfall between points required for a fare and those available (as other airlines allow) would be an example of simply catching up to many other programs
* The TWO41 and American Express perks that tie in with VA should be bookable online, surely. It costs an awful lot less to have these interactions done online than to tie up call centre agents.

 

[Bolthead]

Just received a followup to this survey asking for further information relating to my international travel behaviour... no doubt others have received the same. Haven't filled it out yet...