Virgin "enhances" redemptions, changes to points + pay

[hummel]

I assume there is no way to return the points to Amex? At the very least an announcement would have been good!!

 

[Moopere]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Yep, no warning, pretty rude. I would have triggered a bonza month for them too, massive sales and burning of VFF points in anticipation.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

This is bad. This is a really bad move especially without any notice. A very very big bit of me hopes it's some kind of error. I mean, to go from a very generous extreme to this/Qantas levels, come on!

I think the worst thing this does is creates a lot of uncertainty and breaks many, many people's plans, such as mine and some others here already.

Very very uncool (from a Virgin fan), and hoping sincerely it's an error.

 

[jazza1971]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Maybe the Virgin Australia rep would care to comment explaining if this is an error or a permanent change......and like a few others said, pretty disappointing and even more so that no notice was given to this change in the program.....no more transfers of CC points to virgin now.....

 

[Virgin Bart]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Maybe the Virgin Australia rep would care to comment explaining if this is an error or a permanent change......and like a few others said, pretty disappointing and even more so that no notice was given to this change in the program.....no more transfers of CC points to virgin now.....

Yeah guys, if this is a deliberate change with no warning from DJ, then I have got to say I am extremely disappointed, at least give us the opportunity to spend the tens of thousands of points that many of us just transferred to use exactly on what has been taken away (or significantly modified, sorry).

I'd like to say also, I'm not one to incessantly complain about everything.. In fact, I haven't found a think to complain about VA since relaunch yet, but this will leave an extremely sour taste in my mouth if it's not an error.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

This is bad. This is a really bad move especially without any notice. A very very big bit of me hopes it's some kind of error. I mean, to go from a very generous extreme to this/Qantas levels, come on!

I think the worst thing this does is creates a lot of uncertainty and breaks many, many people's plans, such as mine and some others here already.

Very very uncool (from a Virgin fan), and hoping sincerely it's an error.

TBH, I think it was an error the way it was. Still, I did take advantage of it, and it is a shame that it is the way it is now.

 

[MichaelD]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Thinking outside of the box...

Exactly the same outcome as before (actually even better) as follows;

1. Book a Flexi fare
2. Upgrade using points. Currently Flexi -> J is 1/2 the usual points.

An example for a trip I'm planning;

MEL-OOL
Flexi $198.00
Points to upgrade to J = 3700 (normally 7400)

3,700 + $198 for J. Yes thank you. (Plus SCs and points for a Flexi fare - even at full upgrade burn rates that's still phenomenal value.)

MEL-BNE is the same except the Flexi is $266.


Bottom line - the value hasn't gone away at all, it just can't be accessed in the old way. In fact, this way is even better value as you get partial SCs and points.

 

[Moopere]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

An example for a trip I'm planning;

MEL-OOL
Flexi $198.00
Points to upgrade to J = 3700 (normally 7400)

Is that the price of a flexi?

Thing from the west are significantly worse. Flexi PER-MEL or PER-SYD are in the region of $800 return, upgrade to J = 9900x2 = 19,800

Previously the PER-SYD or PER-MEL trip was 13,800 + $370

So ... more points and quite a bit more cash.

 

[Mogul]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

As someone who uses points + pay 2 times a year for 4 of us Syd / Perth in J this is definately a game changer. Was going to book next trip 2 nights ago but had to wait until tonight to book and what a surprise.

Have just done a Y price comparison with Q and VA and Q is significantly cheaper by almost $500 return.

Off to book with Qantas, but at least we can still use The Lounge before we go.

 

[MichaelD]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Previously the PER-SYD or PER-MEL trip was 13,800 + $370

For MEL-PER I currently get

Flexi $299
Upgrade 9900 (divide by 2) - 4950

Return = $598 + 9,900 points PLUS you get SCs at Flexi earn rate and FF points.

I can't see how this deal is anything but better.

 

[Bofter]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I am very disappointed by this change and by the lack of comment from Virgin about it. Perhaps it was an unintended situation that took a while to correct and for which they didn't want to encourage a last minute rush. Nevertheless part of my loyalty to Virgin has been due to their willingness to engage in dialogue on a site like this, so I would hope for some explanation now. Otherwise it is two less reasons to choose Virgin for my travel.

 

[Moopere]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I can't see how this deal is anything but better.

Granted, whilst the half price points upgrade is available. Do you think this deal will last past the end of April? If so, yep, I'd be happy.

 

[MichaelD]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Return = $598 + 9,900 points PLUS you get SCs at Flexi earn rate and FF points.

Just to modify this to non 1/2 price upgrade rates;

$598 + 19,800 points MEL-PER return is the new rate non discounted.

As a Plat, you get 5980 points and 80 SCs for this trip, so figuring this in;

$598 + 13820 net points + 80 SCs MEL - PER return.
[and that's not including the credit card double dip which is an extra bonus]

Sounds to me like 80 status credits for less than $200 more than the previous deal.

 

[Mogul]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

For MEL-PER I currently get

Flexi $299
Upgrade 9900 (divide by 2) - 4950

Return = $598 + 9,900 points PLUS you get SCs at Flexi earn rate and FF points.

I can't see how this deal is anything but better.

Previously $1,350.00 plus 55,200 points for 4 return J Syd / Perth.

Now at best $2,400.00 plus just under 40,000 points.

Value has gone at the click of a button.

 

[Moopere]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

What do you value an SC at though? I don't need status when flying J as most of what I'm after is included in the ticket price.

If I don't travel Y, what will status do for me? (not a rhetorical question, an honest one). More points returned I suppose ... outside of that????

 

[Bofter]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I still prefer $180 + 6,900 with no SCs and points to $299 + 4,950 with SCs and points, even during double status credits time. I realise however that most people here would say that $130/80SC is awesome value.

Nevertheless I can accept that $299 + 4,950 is still reasonable value for business class, if a little harder to book (I prefer purely on-line transactions).

 

[Moopere]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

[and that's not including the credit card double dip which is an extra bonus]

Mmm. Note to self. Look more closely at Amex Velocity card. 3x points on DJ services.

[Edit: Oops, quoted the wrong card!!]

 

[MichaelD]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Now at best $2,400.00 plus just under 40,000 points.

But you get 24,000 points back from the spend (as a Platinum - not sure of the return rate for Gold) + 80 status credits

All pooled to you - that would be 24,000 points and 320 SCs - not to be sneezed at for $1000.


The balance has been shifted away from very cheap $ spend to very cheap points/SC earn, which is not so tangible to value.

Moopere - status gets me 4 x free upgrades from Flexi per year + any time lounge access = quicker access through security at SYD T2 whenever I feel like it, and not always having to spend my own $ upgrading to J.

 

[serfty]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

What do you value an SC at though? I don't need status when flying J as most of what I'm after is included in the ticket price.

...

Same here ... even in economy as an Ain NZ *E, the only thing I perceive lacking for me is ATA.

 

[Moopere]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Moopere - status gets me 4 x free upgrades from Flexi per year + any time lounge access = quicker access through security at SYD T2 whenever I feel like it, and not always having to spend my own $ upgrading to J.

Mmm. Sounds nice, but thats Platinum. Gold isn't as nice and Plat is a fair whack of DJ domestic flying. This is where not being part of an alliance kills it for me. I'd easily see myself being DJ Plat if they joined a global alliance, as it is, tracking through the minefield of their partnership arrangements just drives me batty.