Virgin Australia launches 'coronavirus status extension' plan

[davidhes]

Same email with the same error. (face palm) come on virgin.

 

[Matt_01]

My 12 month extension email came through, extended to May 2020, well that is a help given VA are not flying. Although from what @jasecao post above VA are aware of the error, IMO it only demonstrats the pressure that VA are under and simple form letter type emails that is relatively simple testing are wrong. Hopefully there is at least a few left in their IT department.

 

[bcworld]

My 12 month extension email came through, extended to May 2020, well that is a help given VA are not flying. Although from what @jasecao post above VA are aware of the error, IMO it only demonstrats the pressure that VA are under and simple form letter type emails that is relatively simple testing are wrong. Hopefully there is at least a few left in their IT department.

They've always been very error prone, ref the recent 35% bonus on Flybuys transfers. This is nothing new!

 

[jase05]

My 12 month extension email came through, extended to May 2020, well that is a help given VA are not flying. Although from what @jasecao post above VA are aware of the error, IMO it only demonstrats the pressure that VA are under and simple form letter type emails that is realtively simple testing are wrong.

Exactly, pretty obvious they are under a stack of pressure and have had staff cutbacks which wouldn’t help. I’d imagine the IT department is currently operating with a fair staff reduction so I’d expect more mistakes than normal

 

[Citoyen]

Ok so VA sent me a mistaken email about a WP status extension when it is unclear if/when they will fly. I am far more upset that they are trying to give me future credit not cash for multiple international flights it cancelled on me ( I am not even subject to Aus citizen govt foreign travel bans ). I suspect I am not alone among its platinum flyers by feeling the $$ pain more, I doubt I'll fly with them in future.

 

[Matt_01]

They've always been very error prone, ref the recent 35% bonus on Flybuys transfers. This is nothing new!

There was an intended element of sarcasm but not well executed in my post. I am well aware of the poor messages VA send out and the subsequent corrections. When the virus thing started to take hold I wondered if VA would get through it, now I am not sure. I do not have to fly with VA until late May and only have 8 flights booked, enough for flight and SC requirements to retain WP to May 21. There is no way that any of these flight will be converted to vouchers and when the flights get cancelled I will leave it up to my CC provider to deal with VA. I am not fussed about VA status anymore as I am unsure if they will even be around.

 

[Fortheloveofflying]

I’d imagine the IT department is currently operating with a fair staff reduction so I’d expect more mistakes than normal

Their IT has been heavily outsourced for a number of years and the MSPs are not affected by the stand downs and redundancies. Compared to the rest of the organisation, their IT has not let go of many.

 

[Matt_01]

I suspect I am not alone among its platinum flyers by feeling the $$ pain more, I doubt I'll fly with them in future.

Although we were not at this stage 3 weeks back, I do seem to recall a dinner table discussion along similar lines in CHC.

 

[Matt_01]

Their IT has been heavily outsourced for a number of years and the MSPs are not affected by the stand downs and redundancies. Compared to the rest of the organisation, their IT has not let go of many.

Is their IT outsourced to the Philippines. The VA call center is pretty helpful at present. Just asking.

 

[Fortheloveofflying]

Is their IT outsourced to the Philippines. The VA call center is pretty helpful at present. Just asking.

No. Three different Indian companies for various functions of IT. They've had a very small contingent of permanent employees, a handful of which have been made redundant. They also have a large force of contractors.

 

[lopes2017]

As with others, I received my extension email today stating I have been extended but my review date is 9 August 2020...same as current. I was expecting this to be pushed out 12 months to 9 August 2021.

 

[cqtiger]

I presume the family pooling will still work on the gifted SCs

 

[Cddc]

I'm sure this is an IT glitch so probably need to settle the kettle everyone. In the same boat though being a VA platinum FF who have already qualified for another year (my review date is late June) gains nothing from as unless they extend it to June 2022, the extension means little. Honestly though I couldn't care less, just want to see VA get through this mess. Flying so much with them they have become a 'family' . I flew last week and the crew was professional as always but speaking to the crew they were really stressed about their livelihoods and just want the best outcome for them.

 

[odysseus]

Fair enough, its obviously an error but they have laid off a stack of staff and have bigger concerns currently

It's obviously an error here because we have the benefit of multiple people sharing so people can see that it's not unique, and doesn't make sense.

But to any frequent flyer not on the forum, they're wasting their time scratching their head, checking records, then sending emails and calls to an already overloaded service centre - only adding to their load. So this is actually a big concern, both for members, and the VA business.

 

[Cubiscus]

Same email as others. Assume its an IT issue with their template, no drama.

Shame all around as I'd have probably made platinum this year.

 

[Dalmunzie]

It is 1st April - maybe that had something to do with it ? (Albeit a bit late in the day !)

 

[JohnK]

If your velocity SG was valid till Oct 2020 , then it will not be valid till Oct 2021 , however you will have to earn enough SCs/fly the required number of sectors by Oct 2021 in order to be SG beyond Oct 2021.

I think that's what I said. Velocity Gold until Oct 2020 and would have more than likely requalified anyway but should now have Gold for another 12 months and we start accumulating SCs all over again in October 2020.

 

[Matt_01]

It is 1st April - maybe that had something to do with it ? (Albeit a bit late in the day !)

Sarcasm aside VA often get messages wrong. For the members of this site I think the best April fools joke sill goes to @Mattg , @Admin or any one of the mods that were in on the QF triple SC promotion that was run either last year 2019 or the year before. It seemed to rope in a few.

 

[maccaisking]

MrsMacs review date is today (requalified for Plat already). I hoped but didn’t expect the extension would give her two years, but her email says her new review date is also today. My review date (also requalified as Plat) is in a couple of days But I haven’t received the email yet.

just received this - as expected no benefit if a person has already requalified to keep status. FWIW the website still shows 1 April 2020 as review date, so not yet updated

Hi MrsMac Some of you have been asking us questions about how your Status extension will work. Sorry we weren’t clear in our email to you a few hours ago. Your current Status will be extended for a further year. Since we weren’t planning on reviewing your status until 1 April 2020, you’ll get a further 12 months once you reach that date. You don't need to do anything and once your bonus year of Status begins, you'll be able to see this on our Website and in the Velocity App.  You will of course still receive the Status Credit gift we offered you in our last email. We hope this is now a little clearer. Regards, The Velocity Frequent Flyer Team​

 

[Must...Fly!]

I received the same at 03:33 AEDT .

This is what I expected to happen anyway, it will mean staggering the cost of membership cards being sent out which is useful to VA as well. Presumably if they changed everyone's expiry to 2022 now it would trigger cards to be printed and sent out with the updated expiry.