Virgin Australia "Milestone Announcement" June 1, 2023

[HS-TQE]

A *business lite* fare option - no lounge access, but J-like experience onboard

Basically in effect for most of VAi's own international 737 flights (at least for now), or most of the Batik Air Group 2-class 737 international flights.

 

[Human]

Do you remember any of the proposals? I would still have been silver back then.

I'm racking my brain trying to remember. I'm not sure but I think the proposals included things like...

• Food and Beverage credits on each flight.
• A certain number of vouchers for blocking empty seats next to us.
• Something about companion tickets -- a certain number of free or cheap companion tickets each year?
• Extra points and/or SCs given after particular earning milestones.
• Lounge passes for extra guests and/or family members.

I really wish now that I'd paid more attention to the survey! I can't remember anything about international flights or international lounge access.

 

[MooTime]

This would be very interesting but shoul be for SC’s earnt by the individual only, no pooling

I agree re pooling, I gain at least half my SC's from family pooling, noting I still achieved 2000+ this past 12 months so qualified for WP on my own, but wouldn't be right to be considered as a super high flyer and benefit from a higher tier status. So I understand & agree with you @jase05 .
I just don't know how their system would separate where SC's come from. Should be easy, but airline IT always seems unable to achieve the simplicity's.

I remember the survey's, we're very interesting, was a few on page / app layout & what info was shown/ highlighted etc.

June 1 Ann, bring it on.

 

[exceladdict]

I'm racking my brain trying to remember. I'm not sure but I think the proposals included things like...

• Food and Beverage credits on each flight.
• A certain number of vouchers for blocking empty seats next to us.
• Something about companion tickets -- a certain number of free or cheap companion tickets each year?
• Extra points and/or SCs given after particular earning milestones.
• Lounge passes for extra guests and/or family members.

I really wish now that I'd paid more attention to the survey! I can't remember anything about international flights or international lounge access.

oh I did that survey. If I recall correctly I took liberty in the free text as I didn’t see most of the suggestions as adding value to me personally.

 

[simmomelb]

I'm racking my brain trying to remember. I'm not sure but I think the proposals included things like...

• A certain number of vouchers for blocking empty seats next to us.

That would have been this question...
"How likely would you be to consider paying a fee to have the middle seat next to you vacant on flights within Australia that are around 1-2 hours long?"

 

[tdimdad]

I just don't know how their system would separate where SC's come from. Should be easy, but airline IT always seems unable to achieve the simplicity's.

But you could probably engineer caps quite easily. E.g. the pooling let's through the first 500 SC and the rest you need to earn yourself (and the original "owners" of the SC's in the pool keep any surplus they have).

 

[Harrison_133]

I'm racking my brain trying to remember. I'm not sure but I think the proposals included things like...

Some others from the last one I received:

• delay compensation ($50 if delayed >2 hrs for example)
• $200 VA flight credit, or hotel/car rental/Velocity e-store voucher
• 2 more business upgrade vouchers
• 4 platinum status passes (gift Platinum to a friend or family member for a day)

Lounge access for VA International flights was definitely on there too

 

[MooTime]

But you could probably engineer caps quite easily. E.g. the pooling let's through the first 500 SC and the rest you need to earn yourself (and the original "owners" of the SC's in the pool keep any surplus they have).

Gee that scenario would crash the IT systems I imagine. Good in theory though I agree.
Sorry my regards for airline IT is rather ordinary.

 

[ChrisMars]

Would be nice if Velocity release their seats at say 361 days, you know, to line up with Qatar.

 

[dairyfloss]

I look forward to welcoming the following features:

- Any-time access to VA and partner lounges for you and any number of guests you bring, who also need not be travelling*
- 'VA chauffeur drive', for you and up to 3 guests, on all VA & partner marketed flights, originating in any country^
- The all-new VA 'First Lounge' - Domestic, available to all VA lounge-eligible passengers, and commencing with immediate effect^^

* Available at any current VA-operated international lounge.
^ Service recommended by VA is 'Ola'. Note that points will no longer be earned on such fares.
^^ Guaranteed only to the person who gets to the lounge ahead of anyone else. It's that red couch to the left of the entry.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[jakeseven7]

I'm racking my brain trying to remember. I'm not sure but I think the proposals included things like...

• Food and Beverage credits on each flight.
• A certain number of vouchers for blocking empty seats next to us.
• Something about companion tickets -- a certain number of free or cheap companion tickets each year?
• Extra points and/or SCs given after particular earning milestones.
• Lounge passes for extra guests and/or family members.

I really wish now that I'd paid more attention to the survey! I can't remember anything about international flights or international lounge access.

The surveys covered a lot of ‘unbundling’ and the ability to add things for $ to any fare as well.

Eg Pay $5 for priority boarding (not that the benefit is very good anymore!)

 

[justinbrett]

My thought would be ;

3. International Flagship lounge
4. International routes with wide bodies

Surely you jest?

 

[Airbumps]

Surely you jest?

How about *any* international lounge, never mind a Flagship one....

 

[flyingfan]

While we're wishing for things, I'm only asking for two:
1. A return to the previous strict priority boarding
2. A non-crowded SYD lounge

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hmmm. I guess the tier above platinum might be interesting. Dunno what it could offer for the regular flier though.

I’ve certainly decided I *DON’T* want to ever make it to ‘beyond’ status… every time I board it says rows 15 and beyond have to use the stairs!!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Is it the Luxury Escapes Liason?

 

[ols]

Is it the Luxury Escapes Liason?

Perhaps not. It's the 30th and everybody seems to know about it.

 

[Saab34]

A milestone would be just getting the basics right.

Usb every seat. Wifi each plane. International Lounge options. A decent onboard BOB menu, hot food. A decent website. I think staff wouldn’t mind a decent wage either.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

About to do a bunch of redemptions SYD-LAX, I wonder, with supposition on redemption points changes, if I'm better doing them today or tomorrow!

 

[exceladdict]

About to do a bunch of redemptions SYD-LAX, I wonder, with supposition on redemption points changes, if I'm better doing them today or tomorrow!

If in doubt, fair to assume that change will advantage the business before the customer.