Virgin "enhances" redemptions, changes to points + pay

[AdMEL]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I agree with you wafliron. Its particularly cheeky for them to swiftly change the burn rate during a large and well utilised Amex promotion (+15% for velocity is it?). I wasn't far off transferring a fair chunk of my MR points and would be far from impressed if I had.

Its almost certainly going to affect the inflow of FF points to their business as people change their strategies again. I was starting to get lazy actually, and not even look up QF flights any more - just assuming I'd be flying DJ. Now, again, I have to do extra work and at least look at QF burn/pricing.

For me, over here in the west, the flexi upgrade thing will probably work and the pricing/points is going to work out to be more expensive but probably manageable. I have some lingering worries about getting stuck with a flexi that won't upgrade though ... probably I've have to phone first to ensure upgrade availability before booking online ... that should work out well for their call centre and me wasting my time (sigh...)

I had a look at the flexi upgrade conditions last night and they say that a Business reward seat must be available to enable you to upgrade. Given this, it is reasonably easy to check whether a J reward seat is available via your Velocity account, prior to purchasing the flexi ticket, then calling the GCC immediately upon purchasing the fare. That's what I would be doing. Saves having to call the GCC for every query.

Having said that, my last call to the GCC last week at about 11 pm on a weeknight saw the call answered almost immediately and handled quickly by a friendly and polite female staff member in Brisbane.

 

[AdMEL]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Frankly - I think Flexi + a few points is an extremely fair price for effectively unlimited J travel.

It's not effectively unlimited - just as limited as Business reward seats - see my post above and the terms and conditions.

The old burn rates were no mistake. We're kidding ourselves to think otherwise.

Why do I say that? Simple. DJ monitors this forum extensively....it's been one of their triumphs so they most definitely knew about the generous burn rate appreciation here. Secondly, they adjusted the burn rate to reflect the change from PE to J, just a month ago. Had it been a mistake, they would have made the correction then and there. No, it was no mistake. It was part of the DJ marketing at that time. Now that marketing programme appears finished and we're seeing a number of these QF style enhancements. Makes me wonder if DJ have reached the targets they wanted and are now experimenting with what the market will bear.

I was giving the benefit of the doubt, but I think you're probably right.

 

[pat25d]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

You can manually type 6900 points into the field, but no way to see how much $$$ it will charge you.

 

[serfty]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I actually believe it's not business reward (H) class, but business upgrade (Q) class.

 

[wafliron]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

The old burn rates were no mistake. We're kidding ourselves to think otherwise.

Why do I say that? Simple. DJ monitors this forum extensively....it's been one of their triumphs so they most definitely knew about the generous burn rate appreciation here. Secondly, they adjusted the burn rate to reflect the change from PE to J, just a month ago. Had it been a mistake, they would have made the correction then and there. No, it was no mistake. It was part of the DJ marketing at that time. Now that marketing programme appears finished and we're seeing a number of these QF style enhancements. Makes me wonder if DJ have reached the targets they wanted and are now experimenting with what the market will bear.

Those are good points you make swanning_it - particularly with regards to the changes they made a month ago - and I tend to agree. It just makes the lack of prior warning worse though.

You can manually type 6900 points into the field, but no way to see how much $$$ it will charge you.

Wow, what sort of web developers (and testers) do Virgin have working for them? The "NaN" ("Not a Number") and "undefined" results are indicative of errors in the JavaScript code that powers the slider, and they also let you manually type in whatever points you want and proceed with booking???

 

[MichaelD]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

It's not effectively unlimited - just as limited as Business reward seats

Right at the moment Virgin J is usually near empty, and with at least 3 upgrade seats available per flight it's not hard to find something.

The game may well change in the future, but that's what this forum is for.

 

[AdMEL]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Thats what is happening, you can check the $$ by putting in a credit card that will decline.

This doesn't work for me. Used an old credit card number, but just comes up with a message saying credit card declined, without showing any amount.

 

[markis10]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

This doesn't work for me. Used an old credit card number, but just comes up with a message saying credit card declined, without showing any amount.

Check your email, you will get an itin with the details:

PAYMENTS
Payment Type
Visa (DECLINED)
Agency Payment
Balance Due
AUD$
Amount
64.29
Redemption
0.00
Date
28 Mar 2012

 

[AdMEL]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Check your email, you will get an itin with the details:

PAYMENTS
Payment Type
Visa (DECLINED)
Agency Payment
Balance Due
AUD$
Amount
64.29
Redemption
0.00
Date
28 Mar 2012

You are indeed correct! Interesting that they send out an itenerary with a booking ref for this though. Seems like a waste when the payment is declined!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Those are good points you make swanning_it - particularly with regards to the changes they made a month ago - and I tend to agree. It just makes the lack of prior warning worse though.

Well, FWIW I tend to think DJ has reached their targets well ahead of schedule, which is why we're currently seeing this mix-mash of benefits/enhancements. I'd say DJ understandably, had nothing in their business plan that included for Alan Joyce working for them. When that happened, the programme came to fruition practically overnight. Now it seems they're moving straight into phase 2.....trim the fat, 'till the pig squeals. Trouble is by doing that, they've lost the "bedding in" time so desperately needed to iron out the problems and glitches. I personally think that's exactly what we're now seeing........as a Rolling Stone reporter once famously said about Pink Floyd......"They've turned into the platinum monster"

 

[Wayne Herring]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Less than impressed that this coincided with the credit card transfer promotion. I've just transferred a heap of points over and now they're worth far less than they used to.

In January I flew SYD-DPS in J for $538.05 plus 13,800 points. Now that same flight is $153.79 plus 95,601 points. I also looked at the option of booking the Flexi fare and upgrading but that works out at $1320.68 return plus 29,800 points to upgrade to J.

That's a massive increase, especially without notice.

Would I waste my points on a short haul international flight at those rates? No way. It's only 8500 extra points and $150 to fly to London in Y! (Incidentally I can't book that example, although I have enough points to make up the points component of points + pay, the web site tells me I don't have enough. Apparently the Velocity web site doesn't realise 104200 < 115289).

 

[Liroquai]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Right at the moment Virgin J is usually near empty, and with at least 3 upgrade seats available per flight it's not hard to find something.

That's true, I've had no problem upgrading to J with the current promotion.

 

[Coathanger]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Less than impressed that this coincided with the credit card transfer promotion. I've just transferred a heap of points over and now they're worth far less than they used to.

I just cleared out my CBA points with a transfer to Velocity with the intention of booking flights to Broome over the Christmas break. No dice now with the increase in minimum points so am disappointed.

 

[hummel]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I just cleared out my CBA points with a transfer to Velocity with the intention of booking flights to Broome over the Christmas break. No dice now with the increase in minimum points so am disappointed.

Same here, wouldn't of minded if there was some notifaction.. or if we could actually see how many points would be required without having the points in the account.

Not very well played Virgin.

 

[greenfish]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Just to add insult to injury, the new redemption levels apply to trans-tasman PE rewards too. Now I don't know if Virgin have noticed, but trans-tasman PE is unbelievably cough.

QF business classic award is 36000 points. DJ Premium Economy is 25400 points, QF economy is 18000 points. For a status passenger, I'd suggest that the Economy QF is the equal of the DJ PE offering in every way except for the actual seat itself, while the QF business experience is streets better.

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Just to add insult to injury, the new redemption levels apply to trans-tasman PE rewards too. Now I don't know if Virgin have noticed, but trans-tasman PE is unbelievably cough.

QF business classic award is 36000 points. DJ Premium Economy is 25400 points, QF economy is 18000 points. For a status passenger, I'd suggest that the Economy QF is the equal of the DJ PE offering in every way except for the actual seat itself, while the QF business experience is streets better.

I have a Y+ AKL-MEL seat booked at 6900 points and NZ$264 coming up in a couple of weeks. It will be interesting to see what it is like.

 

[greenfish]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I have a Y+ AKL-MEL seat booked at 6900 points and NZ$264 coming up in a couple of weeks. It will be interesting to see what it is like.

I'll look forward to another of your very enjoyable trip reports.

My view is that it doesn't come close to DJ domestic J; I've done the same 6900 point redemption you've done as they were great value when requiring a connecting flight, e.g. TSV-BNE-AKL. Terrible value at 25400 points and $124 though for BNE-AKL.

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I noticed the change in slide bar as well. I guess they do not have to notify anyone on the slide bar change as it probably was never published in their redemption tables on how Points + Pay works.

We all knew it was a mistake and now they've fixed it so now I will burn the point for domestic Y travel again.

In reality though, it is not that bad. We have had our bargains for months so if you took advantage of it then good on you. If not then too bad .....

 

[Water]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

There aslo seems to a new issue with international redemptions, just went to redeem for Melbourne - London on Etihad First Class, search found flight which showed 158,800 points + $66 when you proceed and get to points plus pay it then shows 167,000 + $0 but even more bazar change the slider and it shows 187,000 + -$211.91 yep a credit. Anyone else tried a similar booking?

 

[ronicat]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I get the same thing with international redemptions for any flights that I have more points than required the slider only moves to charge more points and give a greater credit. If I try to redeem for more flights than I have points for the slider decreases points and increases cash charge.