Velocity Offer 'that's out of this world'

[Nigelinoz]

A very close friend is currently undertaking training to be a captain with
V Australia and he swears that the campaign is all to do with the launch
of their services to the US.,He wouldn't (or couldn't) give me
any concrete details but mentioned something about major bonuses for
all v group flight bookings made using the NAB Velocity credit card as a
celebration of the launch of V Australia.
BUT I AM UNABLE TO COMFIRM ANY OF THIS.We will have to wait and see.Personally when I got the email I thought it was something to do with
galactic flights as well,but if you look at the graphic in the ad it clearly shows lines linking Australia with the rest of the world so maybe they have been able to tie up a star alliance link,but that's just guess work on my part.

 

[oz_mark]

I also wondered if the lines had any significance, but thought they might indicate areas where they already have partners on those routes. Even if it is related to galactic (and given the graphic name had galactic in it, sould be) I wondered if there was some kind of bonus promo coming with it!

 

[pauly7]

I can't really see DJ fitting well into STAR alliance in this region.

They have too much overlap with NZ.

Ie

Trans Tasman
NZ Domestic
NZ - Pacific Islands (Ie Samoa, Raratonga)

I can't see Pacific Blue shutting up shop just to join STAR.

I don't know, Pacific Blue in the scheme of things DJ is pretty damn small, and I think (if that was the only stumbling block) they would give it up for sure.

I was at an industry lunch before Xmas and some DJ staff were commenting that PB numbers were being 'massaged to look more healthy' because they use 'PB' aircraft to service 'DJ' routes, if CDave is around would love to know if this is true....

Having said that I don't think it is star alliance anyway (unfortunately)! It would have leaked by now... Just another promotion (I am completely sick of both Qantas and Virgin promotions - why not invest the $ back into guaranteed rewards instead of 1 in a million chances to win).

 

[beardoc]

I know that NZ probably doesn't want DJ in *A, but I still believe that *A is shooting itself in the foot by not having a carrier (low cost or otherwise) for domestic travel in Australia. All those people that want RTW fares that include Australia don't have any options except for OW.

 

[drron]

I know that NZ probably doesn't want DJ in *A, but I still believe that *A is shooting itself in the foot by not having a carrier (low cost or otherwise) for domestic travel in Australia. All those people that want RTW fares that include Australia don't have any options except for OW.

So could it be Skyteam now that Delta are planning to crash QF's party?

 

[simongr]

It might be a combo thing - some other changes plus the chance to win the galactic flights.

I think it is 2 million rather than 5 million Virgin Atlantic flying club points per this link.

 

[medhead]

Not sure how one can get galactic or maybe every *A out of the promo.

It starts with a direct reference to QF direct earn CCs and the incentive. It ends with wait until Feb when we'll launch a offer of our own. IMO this means that it has to be a CC offer to match (and better) the QF CC offer. Well, yes, maybe it will be to win a flight on galactic instead of 1 million points.

Personally, I'd rather get the rights to operate Galactic flights in Oz.

 

[ANstar]

I don't know, Pacific Blue in the scheme of things DJ is pretty damn small, and I think (if that was the only stumbling block) they would give it up for sure. .

I thought they had about 7-8 aircraft now so this would be a fair chunk of their fleet ie 10%+

And no one is going to admit an LCC. So it isn't going to happen...

DJ arenty really a LCC anymore.

BMI operate as a LCC on most routes in Y as do United & US Airways with their BOB domestic services, so I dont think that is the stumbling block.

 

[crazydave98]

I don't know, Pacific Blue in the scheme of things DJ is pretty damn small, and I think (if that was the only stumbling block) they would give it up for sure.

I was at an industry lunch before Xmas and some DJ staff were commenting that PB numbers were being 'massaged to look more healthy' because they use 'PB' aircraft to service 'DJ' routes, if CDave is around would love to know if this is true....

Sorry I don't know to what the staff were referring about using PB aircraft to service VB routes - in fact on some PB routes such as BNE-DPS we are using VB aircraft to service PB routes (everything international is a PB route). So I suggest that the staff were speaking out of their hats and if you would like to tell me the conference I will ensure that the staff are appropriate re-educated

PB numbers are what they are. We transfer price at arms-length rates the equipment and services from VB group that PB uses (e.g. the aircraft, res systems) but most of its costs (fuel, pilots, flighties, ground crew, landing charges, nav charges etc.) are incurred directly by PB as is its revenue. AirNZ was putting out a line in the NZ domestic press that our PB domestic NZ services were losing $30m when in fact in the period Nov07-Jun08 it lost only $4m and was projected to break even a few months later (then the world markets and economy crashed). We don't need to cook the books as our costs are just so much lower than theirs.

cheers
CrazyDave98

 

[crazydave98]

I thought they had about 7-8 aircraft now so this would be a fair chunk of their fleet ie 10%+.

Actually now 10 aircraft so not an insignificant portion.

DJ arent really a LCC anymore. BMI operate as a LCC on most routes in Y as do United & US Airways with their BOB domestic services, so I dont think that is the stumbling block

On your note about us not being a Ryanair or Tiger-style LCC any more, I (naturally) think you are spot on. Interestingly if you compare our Premium Ecomonomy product to the short haul "business class" product of Star Alliance partners such as Lufthansa, BMI and South African on criteria such as:...

• 2-abreast seating
• seat pitch
• individual IFE
• food & beverage (range and quantity)
• Lounge access
• priority check-in queue
• loyalty program points relative to ecomomy fares
• checked baggage allowance

...I think we compare very favourably. e.g. BME + SAA both have 2+3 seats, LH use the same seats we do, BMI has only 32" and others 34". None have individual IFE. All have pretty average food and limited beverage services. etc. etc.

Of course AirNZ doesn't even have a domestic business class or even 2-abreast seating domestically. Imagine the stir if we put Premium Economy into PB?

Anyone travelled UA domestic (other than its p.s. trans-continental service)? You have to buy your coughpy little tucker box and watch their Qantas-style shared drop-down video screens. I think our economy product and service is significantly better than theirs.

So I don't think that product differences would be the reason that Star would reject us IF we chose to apply. There are obviously many advantages to us of membership, but also significant costs and obligations. All I can say in a public forum is that we certainly actively consider alliance membership costs and benefits and that these also change over time.

cheers

CrazyDave98

 

[oz_mark]

So I don't think that product differences would be the reason that Star would reject us IF we chose to apply. There are obviously many advantages to us of membership, but also significant costs and obligations. All I can say in a public forum is that we certainly actively consider alliance membership costs and benefits and that these also change over time.

I do recall reading early 2008 time frame that Star Alliance did not think the business model of DJ fit within the alliance. I havealso heard that AirNZ is less than enamoured with the idea.

 

[SeaWolf]

I havealso heard that AirNZ is less than enamoured with the idea.

But surely every airline in the alliance doesn't hold veto power over new members?

 

[pauly7]

But surely every airline in the alliance doesn't hold veto power over new members?

But isn't Air NZ a founding member?!?

 

[SeaWolf]

But isn't Air NZ a founding member?!?

No, the five founders were Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS, Thai Airways, and United. Air NZ and Ansett joined two years later I think.

 

[JohnK]

Cleverly marketed promotion. Appears to be related to some sort of credit card offer.

I would hope it involves Amex, not NAB, and possible bonus points for transfers to Velocity....

 

[vet]

Cleverly marketed promotion. Appears to be related to some sort of credit card offer.

I would hope it involves Amex, not NAB, and possible bonus points for transfers to Velocity....

I hope the cards don't limit transfers to 'blocks of 15k only'. (I've dumped Citi Plat. I feel that if I hjave 39,999 points I should be able to use them all, not just 15k of them).

The globe shows Japan (I think) and other destinations (including maybe Florida and Sth America). Japan and Sth America has great powder snow!!!.

The ad says Qantas offered an incentive. I think Qantas offerred 20k bonuses. I'd like to see at least the 50% bonus they offerred last year.

My gut feeling is that there are more cards joining V.

I just want the rest of my Amex bonii before I fly out in mid Feb so I can transfer them to V.

 

[flying1977]

Typical Virgin promo, offering really nothing... If they had something to offer, they would offer it now instead of making people wait. Velocity need to change their marketing team.

QF will be getting all my points due to the fact it's much easier to use my points on QF and their huge number of partners.

 

[SeaWolf]

Typical Virgin promo, offering really nothing... If they had something to offer, they would offer it now instead of making people wait.

QANTAS is keen on doing this too, look at their much trumpeted announcement about a deal with Woolworths. Or at least there will be a deal, sometime, maybe, and perhaps it will earn points directly or perhaps not and maybe it might give some sort of bonus somehow or something at some point.

 

[markis10]

QANTAS is keen on doing this too, look at their much trumpeted announcement about a deal with Woolworths.

With Woolworths about to annouce their own viritual mobile phone network and mobile plans at least you will be able to earn points on phone services with QFF for the first time .

 

[SeaWolf]

With Woolworths about to annouce their own viritual mobile phone network and mobile plans at least you will be able to earn points on phone services with QFF for the first time .

But Optus has been a partner for ages:
Frequent Flyer - Earning Points - Retail & Entertainment - Communications
And again, who knows what form this point earning will take? Going back to the announcement it could well not be points earned on QFF at all, it could earned into a FlyBuys like scheme that you can then use to get QFF seats.