Velocity Program Main Features

[dajop]

ON QF.
Syd-Mel = 8,000 pts
8,000 pts = 8 x Syd-Mel flights (under 1,000 pts min guarantee) = $656

To be pedantic, for the more frequent flyers, Syd-Mel actually earns either 1,111 or 1,222 points (due to status credit bonus where 1 SC = 11 pts)!

 

[NM]

One part in the T's and C's particulalry intrigued me

1.3 Points for air travel will be calculated on the basis of the amount paid to Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue Aust, Pacific Blue NZ or Polynesian Blue as required, for the booking, including base fare, taxes, surcharges and fees. For bookings, payment by all major credit cards commonly recognised in Australia at the time of booking will be accepted. Cheques or cash payments will not be accepted.

Does this mean the fare has to be paid using a CC?

According to that condition, if you don't make the payment to Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue Aust, Pacific Blue NZ or Polynedian Blue, then you don't get points. So if you make you payment to the TA or conference organiser, then no points. But if the TA or conference organiser then pays one of those listed Virgin group companies using a credit card, then they may be eligible to score the points based on your ticket purchase. Could be quite a scam for TAs and conference organisers 8) .

 

[icarus]

Im not hugely impressed with this. I've joined because it's free, but of course Virgin withdrew from CBR in a fit of pique last year so it's doubtful if I'd ever use it.

Icarus has inadvertantly highlighted why many consider Virgin has been struggling to attract the higher loads that Qantas relies on ie: public service travel.

Well, that wasn't entirely inadvertent. I too have suffered years of public service travel with no FF points but the small compensation of status credits. And yeah, if I have to get up at a stupid hour and get home at a different stupid hour to push stupid initiatives on a stupid public sector salary, then I'd like to be comfortable, please.

I was also pretty peeved at the way Virgin chucked their hissy fit in CBR, Basically it was "you should all be supporting us even if we're not competitive because we're the little guy." But they had flights scheduled at intermediate times which weren't much use - so where Qantas might have flights at 6am, 8am, 10am and 12 noon, Virgin would try to split the difference and fly CBR-SYD at 10am and have one return flight at 3pm in the afternoon. This meant they were never "best fare of the day", because that calculation includes the cost to the taxpayer of waiting time - ie, if I am hanging around until 3pm when my meeting finished at noon, then a $20 saving on the fare is not worth the cost of my time.

Virgin just did not recognise that most travel out of CBR is public service travel, that it is driven by different factors than holiday travel, and that value for money is not solely about the price of the fare. (Incidentally, business class travel and lounge membership is part of the standard senior executive remuneration package, so most senior executives, who travel a lot, would never have been interested in Virgin, which offered neither.)

 

[dajop]

According to that condition, if you don't make the payment to Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue Aust, Pacific Blue NZ or Polynedian Blue, then you don't get points. So if you make you payment to the TA or conference organiser, then no points.

Well this may not be as bad as it seems, unless you're going into the the local TA and paying cash. When we buy QF tickets from our corporate TA, it always comes through on the Amex as a "Qantas Airways" purchase (except for the service fee from the TA which comes through as a separate line item). Same deal for Rex & SQ flights. Haven't booked any DJ flights yet, but can't see why it would be any different.

 

[oz_mark]

Why should the form of payment make any difference to whether you get points or not. As it is, they charge you $2 a sector for using the card, as apparently using the card is more expensive for them.

 

[N860CR]

With domestic flights a travel agent will generally sit on the DJ/QF/JQ/ZL websites and book it with your credit card, basically the same as doing it yourself (so that shouldn't be a problem).

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

This came in from EK Skywards overnight.

As a Skywards member resident in Australia, you will be pleased to hear that Emirates is entering a frequent flyer partnership with the Virgin Blue group. The benefits are being rolled out in phases and will soon bring you the opportunity to earn and redeem Miles on a much wider selection of domestic and international routes.

The launch begins with the introduction of Virgin Blue's new loyalty programme, "Velocity" and will be followed by new benefits for Skywards members on the Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue, and Polynesian Blue networks. In the coming months you will receive further updates, helping you get the most from this new partnership.

We look forward to bringing you even greater benefits and rewards with Skywards.

---End---

Cheers
DJ737

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Welcome to AFF DJ737

Be interesting to see what earn & burn rate Skywards offers for VB/PB/PB flights.

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

Thanks KF i have been lurking for awhile.

It seems that Velocity will be rolled out in phases, expect further announcements in the next month or so, especially regarding lounge access, which may or may not be coupled with some kind of status level, as it is no secret that Virgin Blue maybe moving away from the current Blue Room system. :wink:

Cheers
DJ737

 

[Mal]

Hi there

Thanks KF i have been lurking for awhile.

It seems that Velocity will be rolled out in phases, expect further announcements in the next month or so, especially regarding lounge access, which may or may not be coupled with some kind of status level, as it is no secret that Virgin Blue maybe moving away from the current Blue Room system. :wink:

Cheers
DJ737

I posted this in August. It may still be relevant...

"I'm wondering whether it might be worthwhile for some to take a gamble and get a DJ Blue Room annual pass. It could turn out to be a great "investment" if the Blue Room format changes significantly to something nearly identical to the Qantas Clubs.

If they are revamping the scheme to turn it into something more like the Qantas Club, then they would likely have free snacks, comp/ heavily discounted booze and more office equipment for use. (as opposed to the current purchased meals, normal prices for booze, and limited office equipment). Maybe the scheme would be for 2 free drinks on entry or something like that.


Subsidised/free booze and snacks and computer access would have to cost a lot more than $199 per year. So the prices would have to go up, and they might want to start restricting access to only those who are on the higher tiered tickets.

The current annual $199 price gets you entry for you and a friend at any time, $50 worth of food/drink vouchers, and some other perks. More details http://www.virginblue.com.au/products/blueroom/index.php?section=Passport

Anyways, for someone in Adelaide who doesn't have Qantas Club access rights, this could definately be worth investigating... People in other capitals may also see some benefit, but only if the relauch of the Blue Room moves quickly to the other centres.

As another bonus, being a current member would help with renewal if the scheme changed locking out new members or making it harder to join..."

 

[swissbignose]

I've just received a survey from Qantas Market Research asking specific questions about Velocity. What do I like. What don't I like. How does it compare to QFF.

Dipping toes in the water methinks.

Anyone else received one?

 

[NM]

Anyone else received one?

Not yet, but I will be keeping my eyes peeled and will be sure to respond.

 

[browski]

Hi there

This came in from EK Skywards overnight.

As a Skywards member resident in Australia, you will be pleased to hear that Emirates is entering a frequent flyer partnership with the Virgin Blue group. The benefits are being rolled out in phases and will soon bring you the opportunity to earn and redeem Miles on a much wider selection of domestic and international routes.

Cheers
DJ737

This is fantastic news, I was beginning to wonder if it was going to only be a one-way thing with the velocity program. I think this augers well - for keeping Skywards and forgetting Velocity altogether.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

But if anything like the other Skywards partners will be 1 point per mile with no minimum. Skyward miles are worth more than Velocity miles (dont need as much for long haul redemption and larger range of ways to use them).

On short VB/PB/PB flights get more earning Velocity miles.

 

[Yada Yada]

I fly at the whim of Premier Pete extensively throughout the State and do not accrue FF points, but am grateful for the SC's. Give me the CIP on the BP I regularly get from Qantas/Sunstate rather than the "get on - sit down - squeeze in - shut up and let us sell you something" that Govt officers have consistently avoided, until and unless comparable service is provided.

My experience is the complete opposite. Over the past 6-8 months I have flown DJ almost exclusively, and never has the service been "get on - sit down - squeeze in - shut up and let us sell you something".

I am approx 185cm tall and fit more comfortably into DJ's 737s than I did a few weeks back between SYD-ADL on a QF 737. It seems to be only a matter of 3 or 4cm but it makes a world of difference. On QF my knees were touching the seat in front.

And to boot, the QF service on the flt to ADL was very poor. On the way back it was better but still not as friendly. The only reason I flew with them was because the DJ schedule was not great, something that CBR seemed to suffer from as mentioned above.

If using cheaper fares, QF is better.

Perhaps if you can get them. I am always booking flights one or two weeks beforehand. I can never get a cheaper fare on QF unless I am willing to take QF2 from T1 for a SYD-MEL flight. Who wants to get up an hour earlier and check-in through T1?

Marketing hype = Branson. Nothing more to say.

QFF = Marketing hype too. That's exactly what the program is all about. It is trying to find ways to keep you flying with them. They don't really care about you that much! The whole issue with status credit is that it plays to the ego. They can devalue the rewards (as they do consistently) and know that they have you on the hook because you really want to re-qual for Gold.

IMO, DJ's Velocity appears to be a more honest approach. However it may not work that well because it lacks the things that appeal to the ego - the restricted access club lounge and the status. Perhaps they have not been conniving enough!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

IMO, DJ's Velocity appears to be a more honest approach. However it may not work that well because it lacks the things that appeal to the ego - the restricted access club lounge and the status. Perhaps they have not been conniving enough!

Perhaps.

But maybe DJ is holding something in reserve to counter any changes that QF may introduce. Interesting times.

 

[icarus]

I've just received a survey from Qantas Market Research asking specific questions about Velocity. What do I like. What don't I like. How does it compare to QFF.

Dipping toes in the water methinks.

Anyone else received one?

Yep, got one yesterday.

The main thing I highlighted was the greater availability of seats on Velocity. That's a big advantage and something QFF would do well to emulate!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

2 out of 3 "local" FFPs now have any seat able to be purchased as an award. However it does come at a cost of significantly more miles. Use up points faster but more flexible. Hard to say if thats more valuable or not - probably depends on each member's circumstances.

 

[icarus]

IMO, DJ's Velocity appears to be a more honest approach. However it may not work that well because it lacks the things that appeal to the ego - the restricted access club lounge and the status. Perhaps they have not been conniving enough!

Then again, if flying for business, as I usually am, the status thing is sometimes the only benefit. Public Servants don't accrue frequent flyer points (or if they do, can't legally use them) for work-related travel. The same applies generally to business travel - unless you have a specific agreement with your employer, you can't use frequent flyer points accrued from work-related travel for your own personal use.

So many of those who might join a FF programme to get some benefit from work-related travel will effectively get nothing from DJ, because it only offers FF points, whereas at least with QFF they get status benefits.

Also, the lack of opportity to accrue points other than by flying greatly limits the value of Velocity to business travellers, for the reasons above. I tend to have a good status level with QFF (usually Gold; will requalify next week), but I don't accrue that many FF points through travel, because most of it is for work. Gold status gives me lounge membership, preferential check in and priority baggage, and means I get a cabin bonus on the points I do accrue through personal travel, and I can accrue points in other ways, through bonus partners and using my platinum m/c.

DJ will give me bog standard points on personal travel. It's not much of a competitor.

I was surprised to read that DJ had been lurking here for a year or so to get the QFF perspective. I thought they'd have developed something that was both innovative and more attractive.

 

[JohnK]

The same applies generally to business travel - unless you have a specific agreement with your employer, you can't use frequent flyer points accrued from work-related travel for your own personal use..

When I first started travelling for work 2 years ago it was one of the assistants that told me to join the qff program. I had no idea about ff programs. I had no idea that you could not accumulate ff points for business related travel and that you had to have an agreement with your employer. Ticket booked in your name so who cares whether a ff number is entered in booking or not. That was my thought.

From what I understood no agreement needed to be in place but for tax purposes if the fringe benefit received from ff points was greater than $1000 pa then it needed to be declared for tax purposes. I confirmed this with my accountant but from what I understand no-one declares the fringe benefit anyway.

I was surprised to read that DJ had been lurking here for a year or so to get the QFF perspective. I thought they'd have developed something that was both innovative and more attractive.

I don't think a lot of thought has gone into their ff program. A total let down and not a great altrnative to qff.