Virgin "enhances" redemptions, changes to points + pay

[MichaelD]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I can't understand why anyone would pay $30 more for the privilege of losing 8860 points and 15SCs.

Not everyone would be aware of this - just as I cannot fathom anyone with Qantas using points to upgrade to J when a cheap JASA is available but plenty of people do it. Most people are not as obsessive with their points and SCs as we are - I'm sure plenty of people are happy to get their token Woolies points funnelled to Qantas and then redeemed to a Woolies voucher at a PAINFULLY low redeem rate without caring two whits at how much value they are wasting.

This Virgin change affects me differently to many others - I am perfectly happy to spend the extra $ via Flexi + upgrade since I fly so much and can family pool the extra status credits I can now earn. For me, whilst I loved the cheap $ + points previously available, I hated the non earn nature of the flights.

 

[Reg Reagan]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Hi guys,
Yes we have reviewed our points + pay redemption levels. To continue to be a profitable business, changes to this product had to be made, where the minimum levels had to be set and enforced.

All due respect to this and some other posts to this thread - we can't provide such sensitive information prior to the fact. Please remember that while we are good friends and a proud member of the frequent flying community, some things we just aren't able to share.

So if AFF or other frequent flyers hadn't noticed these significant changes then VA wouldn't have made any announcement at all? With all due respect that simply isn't good enough. It is not so much the changes that have upset some customers, decrease in points value notwithstanding, but the way in which these changes were implemented without any form of communication.

 

[MichaelD]

So paying double to get 120 SC (pointless in many Gold/Platinum cases) while saving 10,000 points (that have now little relative value) is justified?

SCs need never be wasted with family pooling.

This logic assumes abundant availability of upgrades but it is not.

There are at least 3 seats in the J upgrade bucket on every single Virgin flight. I have used all avenues of getting J upgrades multiple times and never had a problem getting J one way or another.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I am perfectly happy to spend the extra $ via Flexi + upgrade since I fly so much and can family pool the extra status credits I can now earn. For me, whilst I loved the cheap $ + points previously available, I hated the non earn nature of the flights.

I just did the figures for my BNE-BME rtn flights for 4 in J - BNE-PER and -Y PER-BME.

Previously it was going to cost $2200 + 57000.
Now it will cost $3904 + 45040 (79200 - 34160).

Family pooling will give 440SCs which I guess means the SCs (and 12000 pts) have cost me the difference, so assuming 1c a point means SCs will cost $3.60 each. Not bad I guess.

(PS-upgrade points at regular value, not 1/2 special)

 

[jazza1971]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

So I know I said it before, but on 30 Jun the old rates are there for that one day only...if you want a cheap J redemption booking just for the sake of flying I'd get in quick!

 

[froggerADL]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

As pointed out in this thread, Flexi + points upgrade isn't much more than what the points+pay was.

This is not true for the flights I need. I have been paying $185 +6900 points for ADL-DRW (a very good deal, I know). Flexi + points upgrade will cost me $393 + 9900 points. That's double the money and about the same points after the flexi earn. An extra $400 per return trip means I'll probably have to go back to DeathStar, who I had recently sworn I would never fly with again!

 

[MichaelD]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

An extra $400 per return trip means I'll probably have to go back to DeathStar

So you're saying you're not prepared to pay $400 extra to go from Y to J return ADL-DRW?

 

[froggerADL]

SCs need never be wasted with family pooling.

Although you do need a family that meets the Virgin definition of a "family" member.

 

[Water]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I would feel that Virgin are obliged to abide by there terms and conditions of the program in particular 22.4

22. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND VELOCITY FREQUENT FLYER
22.1 Subject to this clause 22, we reserve the right to make changes to any aspect of Velocity Frequent Flyer and these Terms and Conditions.
22.2 The Terms and Conditions are those published on the Velocity Website.
22.3 We may make changes to these Terms and Conditions from time to time. These changes may affect any features of Velocity Frequent Flyer and these Terms and Conditions.
22.4 We will give you 30 days written notice of any material detrimental change to these Terms and Conditions and also post details on the Velocity Website. We may not give you any other notice of changes.
22.5 Members will be taken to have received the notice described in clause 22.4 by:

22.5.1 VRPL providing notice to the Member's address or email address; or
22.5.2 in any event, by posting details of the changes on the Velocity Website.
​

 

[froggerADL]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

So you're saying you're not prepared to pay $400 extra to go from Y to J return ADL-DRW?

As I am doing this every second weekend it's simply a matter of affordability.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I would feel that Virgin are obliged to abide by there terms and conditions of the program in particular 22.4.

The thing is, it wasn't actually a change to the terms and conditions of the program (unless you can point to the actual change). It was basically a change that reduced the amount of cash that could be applied to a redemption.

 

[Water]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

The fact the the points required more increased by a massiive amount is detrimental. Even Qantas notifys in advance of changes to the amount of points required.

 

[froggerADL]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I would feel that Virgin are obliged to abide by there terms and conditions of the program in particular 22.4

I'm not sure that the points +pay redemption rates were ever in the terms and conditions. Were they?

While I'm disappointed that these deals have ended, I'm not sure they were ever advertised, other than by markis10.

Of course I could be wrong (I thought I was once, but I was mistaken ).

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I'm not sure that the points +pay redemption rates were ever in the terms and conditions.

I'm not sure they were ever advertised.

Redemptions are in the T&Cs and they were certainly advertised. Any of us could go to the Velocity site and look them up, it was certainly no secret.

See 16.14 for "points+pay"

Terms & Conditions | Velocity Frequent Flyer

I actually think this is fair comment. Where was the notice Virgin, as you say in the T&Cs that you'll give us?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

The thing is, it wasn't actually a change to the terms and conditions of the program

This is the part I'm sure they'd point to, but...........the heading says:

22. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND VELOCITY FREQUENT FLYER

The clause relates not just to T&Cs but to the progamme components itself.

 

[MichaelD]

Although you do need a family that meets the Virgin definition of a "family" member.

Surely "Rover froggerADL", "Muffin froggerADL" and "Fido froggerADL" live at home and are under 18?

 

[markis10]

I'm not sure that the points +pay redemption rates were ever in the terms and conditions. Were they?

While I'm disappointed that these deals have ended, I'm not sure they were ever advertised, other than by markis10.

Of course I could be wrong (I thought I was once, but I was mistaken ).

The minimum points required has always been a mystery, never published.

 

[pauly7]

I mentioned this to Virgin on Facebook (the NaN and points issue) and they're looking into it. As I was having a quiet day at work I checked out the code behind the slider and it seems they've let the work experience kids set it up.

Had a laugh when I read this, but then thought I'm pretty sure the work experience kids did the whole DJ website

It's so clunky... And rather than just bite the bullet, invest and start again they just keep on bolting on bits and pieces...

 

[pauly7]

Hi guys,
Yes we have reviewed our points + pay redemption levels. To continue to be a profitable business, changes to this product had to be made, where the minimum levels had to be set and enforced.



All due respect to this and some other posts to this thread - we can't provide such sensitive information prior to the fact. Please remember that while we are good friends and a proud member of the frequent flying community, some things we just aren't able to share.

Thanks for dropping in!

Please as a large company who has shareholders that could sneeze and not miss a billion dollars don't ever ever use the words 'good friend' it makes me want to puke a little!

That aside!...

Whilst as a DJ shareholder I know something needs to be done about the empty J cabins flying all around the country I think you guys have put instant 'profit' before customer relations.

I feel extremely bad for the people who have recently been lured across with the 20/30% bonus offers etc only to find that the trips they had planned to take have overnight jumped significantly.

I'm not against DJ trying to milk more money out of premium pax!!! Please go for it I'm relying on it But this effort was managed very poorly.

At the very least some notice would have been appreciated by them.

So a big FAIL. Looking forward to see if there is a nice DJ way you can recover some of the lost faith!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

The minimum points required has always been a mystery, never published.

Do you not class the booking engine on the Velocity site as "published"? I was never in any doubt of the minimum points required every time I looked as it was "published" right before my very eyes.