Virgin Australia launches 'coronavirus status extension' plan

[DavidFlynn]

So people were panicking about nothing

I think it's more that Qantas' generous move caught Virgin by surprise, so this is a quick catch-up.

My understanding is that QF was looking at a monthly pro-rata loyalty bonus similar to that initiated by CX, which is of course the same model that Virgin Australia employed, aligned with plans to dramatically reduce international flying as announced earlier in the week... but when the Govt moved to a global "Do not travel" footing, QF had to suddenly change tack and scrap all international flights, and so the need for QFF was to go all-out with a simple '12 months for everybody' offer (quickest and easiest to enact, and suits severity of the situation). The QFF emails were blasted out last night ahead of today's network announcement, which caught Velocity totally off-guard, and what we're seeing now is Velocity's response to the QFF offer.

 

[jase05]

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.

Doesn’t really affect me as I’ve just re-qualified for Platinum 2 months into my year but I guess it could be handy as I still have a heap of VA flights booked this year and I can credit them to DL and keep SkyTeam Elite Plus.
Happy for the others who can keep their status or if lucky go up a tier. Hopefully both QF and VA are still around on the other side once this finishes up

 

[TMP]

The first offer made good commercial sense, but the updated 12-month extension is obviously great for VFFs.

That said, the entitlement of a couple of people in this thread when there are bigger issues facing the world is something else. Trust you are all appropriately calmed by the updated offer... although if it doesn't get sent in an email to you or updated on the website in the next three seconds that appears to be a problem too

 

[westsurf]

Wife got email ... she’s a RED. Was 72 points away from Platinum and had to cancel flights due to fly today due to work restrictions.

So is it EVERYONE regardless of whether they got email? if so the giveaway gets me close to platinum not over the line due to points dropping off (45 between March 22 and April 14).

 

[knagelli]

The first offer made good commercial sense, but the updated 12-month extension is obviously great for VFFs.

Don't want to seem like a pessimist but did anyone actually get any email about the 12 month extension. I don't seem to find any reference for that .

 

[Stealthflyer]

Don't want to seem like a pessimist but did anyone actually get any email about the 12 month extension. I don't seem to find any reference for that .

Yep. 6 minutes ago.

 

[italianlover]

Yes I got it 8 minutes ago

 

[SeaWolf]

Email just arrived for me, 8 minutes ago.
Obviously sending out that many emails will take a few hours to deliver.

 

[jase05]

Don't want to seem like a pessimist but did anyone actually get any email about the 12 month extension. I don't seem to find any reference for that .

Wife and I both received one about 15 minutes ago

 

[QF WP]

Yes, here's my copy just received (as a Plat, very happy) of the Paul Scurrah 2nd gift:

As we all know, this is a rapidly evolving situation which has developed further in the last 24 hours.

In addition to the Status Credit gift recently announced, we’ll also be extending and preserving the current Status of all Velocity Frequent Flyer Silver, Gold and Platinum members for a further 12 months.

This means that there are no minimum flight sectors required to maintain your current Status, for the next 12 months.

We’ll send you an email in the next two weeks with details on:
1. Your Status Credit gift
2. Your 12-month Status extension

In this changing environment, the safety and needs of our members and guests are key and we are really pleased to be able to offer this 12-month Status extension in addition to the Status Credit gift.

Thank you for your continued loyalty and your ongoing support of the Virgin Australia Group.

 

[kermatu]

Quick response to more than match QF (if I’m understanding the email correctly).
I still think they could have held off a bit and released this goodwill at a time when travel bookings are about to pickup.

 

[jch]

Would there be any benefit for those that have already qualified for next year?
i.e my platinum status would be extended normally to June 2021, would this now be June 2022?

 

[ozstamps]

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.

Yes , they frankly bungled the initial offer - should have simply copied Qantas, and this catch up actually puts Virgin Elites in front of Qantas ones as they get 210 SC free for Plats, on top of the extra year.

For me no benefit as we re-qualified already, but for those near the end of the qual year all are bonus SC.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Don't want to seem like a pessimist but did anyone actually get any email about the 12 month extension. I don't seem to find any reference for that .

Just landed in my inbox.

 

[Denali]

Very nice and appreciated

 

[Carrots]

Whilst it's a moot point now... It truly amazes me that Velocity weren't able to come up with a solution that fit perfectly with every single one of the 10m VFF members...

Yes , they frankly bungled the initial offer - should have simply copied Qantas, and this catch up actually puts Virgin Elites in front of Qantas ones as they get 210 SC free for Plats, on top of the extra year.

Why should they copy Qantas? With potential exception to the sector requirements, it's a pretty good offer and commercially sensible.

 

[andye]

Any confirmation on if gift SCs are poolable

 

[QF WP]

Quick response to more than match QF (if I’m understanding the email correctly).
I still think they could have held off a bit and released this goodwill at a time when travel bookings are about to pickup.

It might have been preferable, but for them to do nothing would have them well behind Qantas's position. Who's to know when flying is going to get back to normal?

Yes , they frankly bungled the initial offer - should have simply copied Qantas, and this catch up actually puts Virgin Elites in front of Qantas ones as they get 210 SC free for Plats, on top of the extra year.

For me no benefit as we re-qualified already, but for those near the end of the qual year all are bonus SC.

Completely agree @ozstamps. Virgin tried to go early (first) and trid to give the market what they were prepared to give away (some extr SC's). However, they were trumped by Qantas as Virgin had left Qantas room to out-manouever. So they had to come up with the same offer as Qantas and somehow exceed - so their only option was to advise both were going to be given. Time will tell if it was the right move (for both). I've already had forward looking TA's coming out with emails imploring their clients to look at booking 2021 holidays , now that all the cancellations have pretty much been processed.

 

[QF WP]

Any confirmation on if gift SCs are poolable

The email and the Virgin website are both silent on the matter at present - but I'm sure they wanted to get the main message out first then will be dealing with the downstream consequences now. In fact, I'd say that by the time you get the follow up email, they'll be across it:

If you’re receiving the Status Credit gift, we’ll send you a separate email with all the details in the next 2 weeks. You don’t need to do anything at this time. We’ll take care of the arrangements.

 

[Must...Fly!]

The birthday status credits pooled across, so its not an automatic no.