Velocity points now worthless in 2023 (extreme stealth devaluation)

[dxwell]

Lack of availability is a devaluation if the availability was changed on purpose. The fact you can't see that is so ridiculous it hurts, lol...

Can you please stop your ad hominem attacks.

It is very disappointing to read this thread on an otherwise extremely constructive forum. At first I thought it an April Fools thread.

 

[RooFlyer]

but the people who are spamming me to "just transfer to KF" clearly aren't very focused on value lol

What's the value of an award seat to you? If I really want a particular 'reward' product and it isn't available in my usual store, I look elsewhere. OK, its available over the road, but 30% (or whatever) more expensive. If the other alternative is a paid airline ticket, then I have to decide if 1.3x the cost I usually pay is value compared to a $X,000 (or whatever) revenue ticket.

Sure, you are having to pay more than you used to, and it may be a deliberate manipulation of supply by either SQ or VA, but gosh, what's new?? You know about QF and QR, I'm sure. Exact same thing, only worse.

BTW, its not 'spam' - its simply replying to various points of view. FWIW I don't mind you describing a limitation of supply as a 'devaluation'; where I differ is that I think the situation you are describing is completely unremarkable - unfortunate, but not uncommon. And very short lived, for one of your initial complaints.

At least you DO have the option of converting to KF miles and have a better spread of award seats, albeit more expensive after conversion. That's a very rare privilege in the FF world and in your shoes, I'd take advantage of it, else pay for the seats wanted.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Talking about VAd, the capacity that they have now, is limited with only the 737s left.
Remember they used to have the A330 PER - east coast and vv, where we were spoilt for choice, as the planes could carry more people.
Now they have decided to go all narrow bodied, as in planes, even for their medium haul int ops, of course they would want revenue, so their award seats availability will be limited.
As far as CNS - HND, even that, they have decided on the 737-max 800, only 8 J seats, and 180 in Y.
As long as they have decided to only use 737s, its tight finding award/reward seating, yes of course.
Plus SQ, if they do not release award seats to VAi, then the only choice is to pay revenue fares, if you have to go where VAi does not fly, and collect the points for the "blender".
Talking about the collecting of points side, even that, is now more limited than pre covid.
VGW is gone, only way to collect points now from bank spends is by using true credit cards issued by the banks, for which credit check is needed, and interest charged if not paid by due date, and FB (Flybuys) travel is now not putting points to FB, which they should, but have decided not to, and I have complained both to FB and FB travel, and they are both ignoring my letters, and phone calls.
LCC is indeed the new motto of VAd and VAi, and getting as much $ as they can.

 

[RooFlyer]

Plus SQ, if they do not release award seats to VAi, then the only choice is to pay revenue fares, if you have to go where VAi does not fly, and collect the points for the "blender".

No, paying revenue seats is not the only choice. If you have enough, you can convert VA points to KrisFlyer, then select SQ reward flights direct. As I wrote above, you decide if its worth it for you, but it is an option.

 

[Viridis]

Extraordinary thread

my only two comments would be “why so angry?”

and to reiterate the old maxim … “if it’s a choice between a conspiracy and a cough-up, choose the cough-up every time’’

 

[Gold Member]

I believe the OP has created and is perpetuating stories and mistruths on this thread to defame Velocity due to competing interests with QFF and others. The OP created an account many years ago; probably as a keeper for just such purpose to present some level of credibility via established forum longevity despite very few posts until recently. Now all of a sudden very frequent and regular posts - does their language, attitude and frequency strike you as someone else masquerading on this forum? I’ve seen a couple of other accounts with similar activity and behaviour in the last 12 months.

Sadly, the more we try to understand the OP‘s motivation and rationale, the more attention is given to the perceived “Velocity points now worthless in 2023 (extreme stealth devaluation)”. This just what the OP wants and is Marketing 101. No more comments from me on this post.

BTW, how do I ignore someone?

 

[Vic]

Lack of availability is a devaluation if the availability was changed on purpose. [snip the insult] If Hilton suddenly decides to make standard rooms only limited to 1 standard room points redemption per date out of 8 rooms, that is a devaluation. If people simply booked out all 7 standard rooms and there is one left, that is NOT a devaluation.

And you know that this was changed on purpose how? Please present the evidence to support your claim.

In velocity's case it is the former, not the latter. Again, I would urge you to look up the definition of devaluation, as well as the definition of value, [snip]. Devaluation is used many times in hotel program context regarding factors that aren't even related to points, such as suite upgrades or reward pool availability. It doesn't have to relate directly to the points cost of a room or flight :/

In this thread you've specifically raised the value of the points. Your title says the points are worthless. Therefore, in this thread, YES it does relate to the points cost. Otherwise, the OP would have raised other issues.

Feel free to put up something that actually supports your opinion, any time.

 

[mingzie]

I believe the OP has created and is perpetuating stories and mistruths on this thread to defame Velocity due to competing interests with QFF and others. The OP created an account many years ago; probably as a keeper for just such purpose to present some level of credibility via established forum longevity despite very few posts until recently. Now all of a sudden very frequent and regular posts - does their language, attitude and frequency strike you as someone else masquerading on this forum? I’ve seen a couple of other accounts with similar activity and behaviour in the last 12 months.

Sadly, the more we try to understand the OP‘s motivation and rationale, the more attention is given to the perceived “Velocity points now worthless in 2023 (extreme stealth devaluation)”. This just what the OP wants and is Marketing 101. No more comments from me on this post.

BTW, how do I ignore someone?

So I created account 5 yrs ago to defame Virgin to defame velocity with.. the truth that J flights are being dripfed. I must work for Qantas and be a secret double agent. So secret that I myself don't even know who I am. I must also own all other 6 people in the other dripfeed thread and I am the ringleader? Also not posting during the pandemic when travel was not possible, COVID must also be fake.

 

[mingzie]

And you know that this was changed on purpose how? Please present the evidence to support your claim.


In this thread you've specifically raised the value of the points. Your title says the points are worthless. Therefore, in this thread, YES it does relate to the points cost. Otherwise, the OP would have raised other issues.

Feel free to put up something that actually supports your opinion, any time.

Again, you do not know the meaning of value or devalue or devaluation. You haven't really contributed anything but false info about Krisflyer redemption rate / fee and misunderstanding what devaluation means. Worth or value does not necessarily have to do with cost; this is basic English. You can have no worth as a human if you are a serial murderer. You can also place more value on a partner who supports you. In both cases, it doesn't mean you cost more or less ; the concept of value or worth is multifaceted and not just as simple as that. The lack of understanding of basic English is insane. Hilton points could be devalued if they suddenly make standard rooms not bookable. Currently, the policy is that if there is a standard room then you can use points to pay for it. If they change that policy to only allow 1 per date per hotel in the pool, that can be considered a devaluation, even if that room stays at 10,000 points. It's a really easy to follow and basic example..

 

[mingzie]

Sure, you are having to pay more than you used to, and it may be a deliberate manipulation of supply by either SQ or VA, but gosh, what's new??

Yes, it's a devaluation, and I am simply pointing it out. After all, isn't this forum a discussion forum about these programs? It's like going to a political forum and complaining someone is talking about politics and asking them why they care or are worried about bad changes to policy because "policy always changes" and "things always get worse, you should feel lucky"

The change isn't even short lived btw. Before the dripfeed change you could book four flights, then you could only book one, now you can only book 2.

This is useful info for people booking J redemptions. Can't say the same for you guys who seem to be obsessed with just attacking me and telling me to lose 50% value by transferring to KF. That's 3 people now.

 

[mingzie]

Extraordinary thread

my only two comments would be “why so angry?”

and to reiterate the old maxim … “if it’s a choice between a conspiracy and a xx_xx_, choose the cough-up every time’’

I like that quote but the difference is I don't really care if it's a xx_xx_ or deliberate, if the change is not reversed (which it still hasn't been) it's a change for the worse. If the Qantas website crashes and 404 error for 2 weeks then never comes back up, by then I really don't care if they accidentally took down the server on purpose or accident lol. If J bookings change from allowing 4 at a time to just 1, then only reverses to 2, I could care less if it's an IT mistake. Okay, it's an accident, and they're not correcting it? So what? If it's not corrected that makes my redemptions worse regardless. At the end of the day both defending this multimillion dollar company or attacking it are both stupid and ignorant options. There is no proof it was an accident either

And why angry? Well firstly, why don't you go to a forum about stocks and ask people why they care so much about stocks? Well, I own over 1m points and real money is involved.

 

[straitman]

Interesting thread except for the tangents that people are running. Some here need to remember that what they are saying is only an opinion unless it is supported by evidence and I cannot see very much evidence being disseminated but I can see a lot of opinion. ie stick to facts people if you want others to actually pay serious attention to and believe what you are saying.

As a side comment I have been watching VA, SQ and QF award availability closely for a reasonable period of time and cannot agree that it has been devalued or has dried up. It comes and goes which is very normal and that trend very often follows public holidays and school holidays. (Who would have thought?)

I have recently bought and cancelled a few VA, SQ and QF award tickets and cannot see any differing trends to normal. (I am cancelling SQ awards to IST this week if anyone needs some though who really knows if they will reappear)

Three other comments:
1. Mind the language folks or posts, not just words, will disappear,
2. Show some courtesy and respect for each other or the thread may be closed,
3. Attack the topic and not the other members.

 

[SydneySwan]

BTW, how do I ignore someone?

Just click on the poster and a few options appear at the bottom - follow, ignore, start conversation.

 

[RooFlyer]

Can't say the same for you guys who seem to be obsessed with just attacking me and telling me to lose 50% value by transferring to KF. That's 3 people now.

I don't think expressing a different opinion, or pointing out differences or logic flaws in other opinions is an 'attack'. But I think some of the language you have used against others here goes very close. As Mitsubishi said in 1992, "Please consider".

As to 'loss of value' by converting to KF - yes, that's been acknowledged, but I invite you to think about what I mentioned up-thread:

What's the value of an award seat to you? If I really want a particular 'reward' product and it isn't available in my usual store, I look elsewhere. OK, its available over the road, but 30% (or whatever) more expensive. If the other alternative is a paid airline ticket, then I have to decide if 1.3x the cost I usually pay is value compared to a $X,000 (or whatever) revenue ticket.

Its an imperfect world. Supply of reward seats changes all the time, across every airline that I've dealt with. Sometimes its good - like the big QF release recently - sometimes its bad, like you perceive now. Do you read One Mile at a Time? I've lost count over the years of the reports of award seat from Airline X disappearing suddenly from airline Y, around the world.

Oh, you might like to have a read of this from 8 years ago: What Happened To Virgin Australia Business Class Award Space?

 

[singledadtravels]

I agree with Straitman.

I'm looking to fly from Adelaide to UK, hopefully Manchester or to Switzerland next year. A few weeks ago I checked availability at the end of the calendar, there were dozens of Business Rewards. I checked 2 weeks ago and there was virtually nothing and I panicked.
I just did a random search on a day in February and a day in November, I just picked 2 random dates 2 minutes ago. There was Reward Business Adelaide to Zurich for 139k points on both days. Took about 3 minutes of checking the different flights on each day to find.

As Straitman says, it comes and goes.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @singledadtravels

 

[serfty]

...
“Velocity points now worthless in 2023 (extreme stealth devaluation)”. This just what the OP wants and is Marketing 101. No more comments from me on this post.

BTW, how do I ignore someone?

To "ignore" another member, touch/click their avatar to the left of their post and select/click "Ignore" in the pop up that appears.

 

[Happy Dude]

[Redacted. Please stick to the topic. ie discuss the topic not the other posters]


Within 1 minute, choosing a random date later in the year, I found for two pax:

 

[SydneySwan]

To "ignore" another member, touch/click their avatar to the left of their post and select/click "Ignore" in the pop up that appears.

I assume you must be ignoring me as I posted this info at post #73!

 

[mingzie]

Interesting thread except for the tangents that people are running. Some here need to remember that what they are saying is only an opinion unless it is supported by evidence and I cannot see very much evidence being disseminated but I can see a lot of opinion. ie stick to facts people if you want others to actually pay serious attention to and believe what you are saying.

As a side comment I have been watching VA, SQ and QF award availability closely for a reasonable period of time and cannot agree that it has been devalued or has dried up. It comes and goes which is very normal and that trend very often follows public holidays and school holidays. (Who would have thought?)

I have recently bought and cancelled a few VA, SQ and QF award tickets and cannot see any differing trends to normal. (I am cancelling SQ awards to IST this week if anyone needs some though who really knows if they will reappear)

Three other comments:
1. Mind the language folks or posts, not just words, will disappear,
2. Show some courtesy and respect for each other or the thread may be closed,
3. Attack the topic and not the other members.

I agree with Straitman.

I'm looking to fly from Adelaide to UK, hopefully Manchester or to Switzerland next year. A few weeks ago I checked availability at the end of the calendar, there were dozens of Business Rewards. I checked 2 weeks ago and there was virtually nothing and I panicked.
I just did a random search on a day in February and a day in November, I just picked 2 random dates 2 minutes ago. There was Reward Business Adelaide to Zurich for 139k points on both days. Took about 3 minutes of checking the different flights on each day to find.

As Straitman says, it comes and goes.

I also experienced this and would completely agree with you and not be concerned (which I wasn't); after all, being an avid collector and user of this route I am also used to ebbs and flows. This is until I was trying to book a domestic J for my family of 4, and saw that there was only a single flight available. I was willing to let go the SQ issues and chalk it up to temporary non-availability. But after I wasn't able to book my gold coast trip, I kinda got annoyed.

Furthermore I wanted to book a flight for my mother in law to Beijing; the entire route was disabled for the whole last three weeks, even economy or paid. It has only reappeared in the inventory.

As you can imagine, I ended up a bit peeved because 1) my SQ flights weren't appearing (which I was ok with as things come and go 2) the entire Beijing route fell off the face of the earth 3) I'm going to gold coast for family vacation and couldn't find more than 1 seat available for the whole of the year.

If it was just one or two of these issues, I would not have created this thread. But 3 at the same time is way too much. I'm still a bit peeved about the domestic J since I can't get more than 2 people (but used to be able to book 4s), but can't do much about that. Just have to hope it dripfeed back in after I book a 2 (and cancel for $70 if not)