Virgin "Next Generation Loyalty Programme" coming

[thadocta]

... brat #1 and brat #2 away in JAN06...

ROFLMAO.

Very affectionate way of describing them.

Well, if you go through my posting history, you will realise that I do not call a spade a spade, I call it a f@rking shovel. shillard and I see eye-to-eye on a lot of matters. Fact of the matter is that any NORMAL 7 and 11 year olds will have their moments when they can indeed be brats. They are absolute angels when in the Qantas Club though (particluarly when I am wearing my thick leather belt, although it never comes to that).

Dave

 

[scibo10]

• ksthommo wrote:

  What do you reckon the chances of Virgin unveiling their Frequent Flyer Program this week to Crash Qantas 85th Birthday?

My view is that they will announce their program on Wednesday, 16 November, the day that they are announcing their earnings. I think it is a sweetner for DJ that it falls exactly with QFs 85th birthday celebrations

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Now if DJ joins the Star Alliance... things may change dramatically about the way I think.

Ditto.

It would be quite a coup for DJ, but cant see it happening at the moment due to the costs of *A (or any alliance for that matter) membership.

 

[cssaus]

It would be quite a coup for DJ, but cant see it happening at the moment due to the costs of *A (or any alliance for that matter) membership.

Then again, with there not being any internal *A airline that those *A international airlines flying into Australia can utilise, DJ may well be in a strong bargaining positioning. I would have though that the international *A airlines flying into Oz would jump at the chance to direct traffic away from their main competitor QF.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Lots of indirect costs. Eg need to set up systems to deal with mileage earning to & awards from other FFPs when flying DJ, interlining, priority check-in, priority baggage, etc.

 

[Yada Yada]

Thanks for the enhancement, but I purchase my SYD-MEL flights with a credit card and save my points for something of more value to me. I don't want to see any further enhancement of the QF program in response to competition from VS. I would rather them respond to competition from other long-haul international carrier's programs. Then there might be some enhancements that provide benefits I will actually use.

However, that is my perspective based on my travel patterns (predominantly long-haul international flights). People to do lots of domestic travel may have a different view.

I fly 3 or 4 long haul flights a year but many more domestic flights (SYD-MEL & SYD-BNE). I'm flying more and more with Virgin because it is easier to get a seat at shorter notice and for a good price. A Virgin FF program would be good for me.

And I'd like it to be different - aside from the QFF lounge, the rest of the benefits seem to be all smoke and mirrors to me - all spin rather than substance.

- Peter

 

[DoctorSimon]

What do you reckon the chances of Virgin unveiling their Frequent Flyer Program this week to Crash Qantas 85th Birthday?

Virgin have said they will make a major announcement tomorrow (Tues 15 Nov). Surely not a new FF program!!

 

[JohnK]

Another add in today's Daily Telegraph of a man sitting alone in an otherwise empty plane.

Want a next-generation loyalty program?

You are not alone.

Isn't it time loyalty programs redeemed themselves? Standby for the next-generation loyalty program that's actually loyal to you. At Virgin Blue, we look at things in a different light.

Still no details other than the marketing spin.

 

[ksthommo]

Looks like tomorrows the Big Day

http://www.theage.com.au/news/Busin...-vision-Jetstar/2005/11/14/1131816858683.html

 

[Guest]

Wow look at that, Virgin has its own area now

I am not sure that Virgin Blue could join Star Alliance as a full member, as I think you need to be able to provide business class etc etc (i.e. be a 'full service' airline) Might be possible to join as some other class, but I am thinking it a bit unikely at this stage.

 

[JohnK]

Wow look at that, Virgin has its own area now

I am not sure that Virgin Blue could join Star Alliance as a full member, as I think you need to be able to provide business class etc etc (i.e. be a 'full service' airline) Might be possible to join as some other class, but I am thinking it a bit unikely at this stage.

You are right it has it's own area now. But it is above the qantas frequent flyer area. :?

Who is guest and how can they post :?:

 

[Guest]

Well it's Mal posting as a Guest in this instance. Quite easy really. Just sign out, and then visit the forum. Click on "Post reply" and don't log back into AFF. You'll turn up as a guest.

Personally I don't like Guest access to forums being able to post. Can lead to some bad situations where inappropriate material is posted....

 

[Mal]

Well it's Mal posting as a Guest in this instance.

See! Too easy. BTW, I wasn't the Guest who posted originally about the new forum creation!

 

[oz_mark]

Well it's Mal posting as a Guest in this instance.

See! Too easy. BTW, I wasn't the Guest who posted originally about the new forum creation!

No, I was. Seems like a bit of a glitch in the setup of this area.

(and I hadn't noticed at the time I posted either)

 

[Guest]

VIRGIN Blue is poised to launch an attack on Qantas today by revealing a joint frequent flyer scheme with Emirates and an associated credit card.

A Virgin Blue spokeswoman would only say yesterday that chief executive Brett Godfrey would make a "significant announcement" this morning, the day before its annual profit results were released.

But an Emirates representative confirmed that the carriers had joined forces to take on Qantas.

News article available here

 

[JohnK]

Well it's Mal posting as a Guest in this instance.

See! Too easy. BTW, I wasn't the Guest who posted originally about the new forum creation!

No, I was. Seems like a bit of a glitch in the setup of this area.

(and I hadn't noticed at the time I posted either)

OK guys stop it now.

Admin please help. Just who is who. I am sooooooo confused :?

 

[oz_mark]

Joining up with Emirates??? That is really going to impress the Mr Dixon.

 

[Mal]

An interesting partner !

Oh well. Not the Star Alliance I was looking for, but still it's an international carrier!

Wonder how long till it's posted on the DJ site so we can analyse all the finer details and look for the loopholes

 

[Platy]

The SMH is tipping a frequent flyer scheme for Virgin Blue that will tie in with Emirates...


http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/virgin-emirates-to-take-on-qantas/2005/11/14/1131951098195.html

 

[PaulZ]

All the details of the new program will be at the following web address soon:
www.velocityrewards.com.au


"Virgin Blue announces the introduction of its new loyalty program 'Velocity’

Virgin Blue today unveiled the world's newest loyalty program - "VELOCITY", in conjunction with foundation launch partners National Australia Bank, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, and Europcar.

The airline also announced two new Velocity branded credit cards – Velocity National Visa Card and the Velocity National Gold American Express® card.

“Velocity powered by Virgin Blue, is for all of our Guests and is also part of our strategy to broaden Virgin Blue’s appeal to frequent travellers, and the corporate and Government sectors,” said Virgin Blue Chief Executive Officer Brett Godfrey.

“We are more committed than ever to our original charter to drive competition by offering a high quality product at consistently lower fares, and now we have added a next generation loyalty program to the mix,” he said.

Virgin Blue has grown in five years to offer a competitive national, Tasman and South Pacific Island network.

During the past 12 months the airline has completed a number of key developments including more frequency on main trunk routes, Blue Plus fares for business travellers, Blue-Check self-check-in kiosks, the progressive Web Check-In service and new code-share technology.

Brett Godfrey continued “Now with 51 aircraft, and more than 300 flights daily to 22 Australian and six overseas destinations, we are well positioned to take advantage of our size, scale, and frequency.”

“To develop Velocity and determine the key program benefits, we studied the experiences and frustrations of Australian frequent flyers including members of our competitor’s program and those who were members of the former Ansett Global Rewards. The time is now right for a next generation loyalty program in Australia.

One of the primary frustrations of existing frequent flyer programs is not being able to get a seat when you want to travel. Velocity is set to change that. Among the key benefits of Velocity:
* Any seat redemption: Every flight, every route, every day, all year round availability#
* No blackout periods: Even at Easter, Christmas, school or public holidays#
* Free on-line membership
* Points don’t expire while you are an active member
* Members points are backed by a Trust structure

Brett Godfrey continued, “Virgin Blue is a new world carrier and Velocity is a new world loyalty program.

The reality is we operate in a volatile global market and make no mistake, Virgin Blue will continue to use innovation and “out of the box” thinking to stay at the forefront of competition, be it with affordable airfares, award winning service, technology or in this case, a loyalty program.”

# = Any seat redemption and no blackout periods applies to Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue only.