Virgin Australia launches 'coronavirus status extension' plan

[serfty]

The email I got only mentuoned Status Credit GIFTS for 3 months and outlined that came to 210 SVC.

Nowhere on it did it mention any flight sectors required to receive this "gift".

The only AFF member who has mentioned "required flight segments" to receive the gifts is you.

These will be credited according to the email I received irrespective of actual travel.

 

[ozstamps]

My WP status expires 4 April and I had a return to NZ scheduled last week that was cancelled, which would have given me my last 2 eligible sectors. I have enough SC's and 6 sectors. I am not too fussed about this as WP doesn't really give that much more than SG, especially since most my travel in the past has been on Singapore Airlines and Delta anyway, but it's annoying that there seems to be no leeway on the eligible sectors qualification.

There are all kinds of posts on page 2 of this thread about SECTORS needed. One is above to refresh your memory.

The posts are on this thread which is headed

Virgin Australia launches 'coronavirus status extension' plan

There is still nothing on Velocity website and was unsure if a certain number of SECTORS also needed to be flown to receive these. A there are no furtherT&C anywhere, I assume NOTHING with Virgin.

Likewise you have nothing in writing that says NO flying needs to be done to get the 210 SC you expect to receive for taking zero flights.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

But, we are booked for August to fly to tassie>return for the 2 sectors.... hopefully Tassie have not closed their borders by then

Same for early July... Tas have closed borders today, so hoping this blows over by June.

 

[Vic]

There are all kinds of posts on page 2 of this thread about SECTORS needed. One is above to refresh your memory.

The posts are on this thread which is headed

Virgin Australia launches 'coronavirus status extension' plan

There is still nothing on Velocity website and was unsure if a certain number of SECTORS also needed to be flown to receive these.

Those posts are talking about sectors required to requalify status. Not to get the gift status credits.
There are no posts that say you need to do sectors to get the gift status credits, except from you.

 

[jase05]

The email I got only mentuoned Status Credit GIFTS for 3 months and outlined that came to 210 SC.

Nowhere on it did it mention any flight sectors required to receive this "gift".

That’s because you are confusing the two.
1- There is NO requirement to receive the SC Gifts
2- To retain your status though you are still required to complete the eligible sectors and VA aren’t gifting or waiving eligible sectors at this point in time but I presume they will if this drags on

 

[jpp42]

There are all kinds of posts on page 2 of this thread about SECTORS needed. One is above to refresh your memory.

The posts are on this thread which is headed

Virgin Australia launches 'coronavirus status extension' plan

There is still nothing on Velocity website and was unsure if a certain number of SECTORS also needed to be flown to receive these.

ASSUMING anything with any airline is suicidal.

Not sure if you replied to the wrong post. But just to clarify my reading of this is that the gift of status credits (which comes whether you fly or not), does not change the sector requirement to retain/earn status. Thus, my status should drop from Plat to Gold on 4 April anyway, even though my travel plans (that would have resulted in eligible sectors) have been cancelled by coronavirus. In my case my flights were cancelled by me (due to direction from work), so not sure if VA would allow these to count retrospectively. I'm not going to worry about it, the bigger concern seems to be if Virgin survives this at all.

 

[Stealthflyer]

I really want Virgin to survive but at the same time I think ethically no one should be encouraged to travel in the short term. After all, that’s how the virus has spread. Tasmania has now essentially closed its borders so even if I did want to travel, I couldn’t without facing 2 weeks quarantine.

I think an extension to status (it doesn’t have to be 12 months - it could be 6 for now) would be a more ethical way to support status holders and prevent the rapid spread of the virus in the short term. We really shouldn’t be doing non-essential flying at all.

 

[jase05]

I really want Virgin to survive but at the same time I think ethically no one should be encouraged to travel in the short term. After all, that’s how the virus has spread. Tasmania has now essentially closed its borders so even if I did want to travel, I couldn’t without facing 2 weeks quarantine.

I think an extension to status (it doesn’t have to be 12 months - it could be 6 for now) would be a more ethical way to support status holders and prevent the rapid spread of the virus in the short term. We really shouldn’t be doing non-essential flying at all.

I get what you are saying but there are people such as myself that are still required to travel for work occasionally and have the flexibility to choose which airline we fly with so something like this from VA would be another reason along with price and scheduling why I’d potentially fly with them over QF.

 

[Saab34]

I guess those will lose out who are on review date within the near term, or had planned to review and now will potentially miss out due to cancelled plans.

My review for Gold is late April and I had to cancel 60SC worth of flights which was going to put me on 410. Now I need to book a flight within the next four weeks, to where? Well I was planning on nothing. so will need to do a Mel/Syd run and back one night. Another $250 bucks return I didn’t plan on spending.

Extension for those perhaps within the next 90 days would have been good. Now I need to book something to maintain, and the problem is I won’t be travelling much I guess until Aug/Sep, so a lot of hard building over the last year for about 6 months worth of benefits from September.

Going to be a struggle to maintain Gold also between Sep to April as most of my travel is July to September.

Fingers crossed a Double or Triple! SC the back half of the year

 

[SheikYerbouti]

Well I was planning on nothing. so will need to do a Mel/Syd run and back one night.

Am I the only one remembering the days of leased vehicles doing hours of laps of Canberra to nudge their km up over 15,000 for the year to get the FBT break? Seems crazy.

 

[KPM]

I was planning a flight to visit family in the next couple of weeks which would have taken me to Gold just before review in mid April. I reached enough SC two months ago and just needed two more eligible sectors. Very reluctant to fly now particularly as NSW seems to have the largest number of cases and don't want to potentially spread anything. What happens if you book a cheap flight and don't turn up? I'm assuming that doesn't count as an eligible sector? (Be kind as I'm new to this forum and haven't been able to find this info online!)

 

[serfty]

It affects different people in different ways. I myself will only benefit by 70 SC's as I have already re-qualified and my next "status year" begins during May.

I would not be surprised (and hope) that further SC's would be gifted if the crisis continues beyond June.

 

[serfty]

(Be kind as I'm new to this forum and haven't been able to find this info online!)

Welcome to AFF

What happens if you book a cheap flight and don't turn up?

No earn if you do not turn up and actually fly.

I'm assuming that doesn't count as an eligible sector?

Correct!

 

[Harthagan]

I was planning a flight to visit family in the next couple of weeks which would have taken me to Gold just before review in mid April. I reached enough SC two months ago and just needed two more eligible sectors. Very reluctant to fly now particularly as NSW seems to have the largest number of cases and don't want to potentially spread anything. What happens if you book a cheap flight and don't turn up? I'm assuming that doesn't count as an eligible sector? (Be kind as I'm new to this forum and haven't been able to find this info online!)

Nope u only get SC, points, sectors for flights you actually complete.

 

[KPM]

Welcome to AFF
No earn if you do not turn up and actually fly.
Correct.

Thanks ... thats what I figured but couldn't find that written anywhere. Too easy otherwise I guess!

 

[BCons]

Well I'm completely happy, VA's offer is slightly more than the average 3 month's worth of SC's needed in a year to qualify for Plat and no doubt they'll look at things again before June - mad if they dont..

In the meantime VA's offer gets me Plat for another year and, being lifetime w/ Qantas, their offer doesnt blow my hair back..

 

[DavidFlynn]

Update: Virgin Australia has revised its status extension offer and will now give free 12-months status to all Velocity members, with no sector squiggles needed, and the bonus status credits for April, May and June will still apply – meaning that some Velocity members near a tier threshold will move one rung up the frequent flyer ladder.

Details at Virgin Australia extends all Velocity memberships by one year

PS Watch for emails to hit your inbox from this afternoon.

 

[jase05]

Update: Virgin Australia has revised its status extension offer and will now give free 12-months status to all Velocity members, with no sector squiggles needed, and the bonus status credits for April, May and June will still apply – meaning that some Velocity members near a tier threshold will move one rung up the frequent flyer ladder.

Details at Virgin Australia extends all Velocity memberships by one year

So people were panicking about nothing
That is a VERY generous offer

 

[Must...Fly!]

That will please @ozstamps

Edit: and come to think of it, me as well I suppose as my benefit period for Platinum is 20 Feb...be interesting to see if I get the extra year on top. Quite good if true.

 

[Stealthflyer]

I get what you are saying but there are people such as myself that are still required to travel for work occasionally and have the flexibility to choose which airline we fly with so something like this from VA would be another reason along with price and scheduling why I’d potentially fly with them over QF.

Sure, people will still have to fly for various personal and work reasons. I just think non-essential flying should be reconsidered. Frequent flyer programs act as an inducement to travel and puts pressure on customers to travel at a particular pace. A status extension takes that pressure off, whereas the status "gifts" don't have quite the same effect.

I'm glad that Virgin have announced the status extension today in addition to the gifts. It's a good move.