What Does The Noob Status Matched QFF Need to Look Out For?

[777]

Re: Insurance

I got caught out by this recently. I think they changed the default from opt out to opt in and then back again i got caught when it switched back. However getting out of it is very simple.

Within 14 days you can simply do this with your confirmation email:

If you wish to cancel your policy, please forward this entire email to [email protected] and change the subject-line to "COOLING OFF REFUND REQUIRED" within 14 days of purchase and before you commence your travel.

Make sure the policy number is in the email. I had no problem getting it refunded although it took a couple of days. Personally i think setting it up as opt out is a dubious practice.

 

[stredinnick]

As a noob VA Gold, I'm left wondering why yesterday's flights are still not updated to my Velocity account? Q seem to manage this in as little as a couple of hours sometimes.

 

[oz_mark]

As a noob VA Gold, I'm left wondering why yesterday's flights are still not updated to my Velocity account? Q seem to manage this in as little as a couple of hours sometimes.

IME, it usually takes 2-3 days for a flight to post to your Velocity account.

 

[markis10]

IME, it usually takes 2-3 days for a flight to post to your Velocity account.

Yes, it updates after 9 or so two days after the flight.

 

[JohnK]

Only a few days ago. TBH I just can't be bothered to ring up and cancel. if it was $50 I might be a little more inclined to cancel.

No need to call. Send them an email and they will refund the money in 7-10 days.

 

[missafternoondelight]

Another possible reason it is opt-out is because of a deal made with the insurance company for a cheaper per capita premium, provided the default is opt in, ensuring better economies of scale.

My Dad works for a super fund and negotiated life insurance & salary continuance insurance for all members, and having the policy as opt-out rather than opt in got the individual policy price down by around 50%+. This keeps prices lower for Virgin, and no doubt results in more commissions, as the prices are quite reasonable, so more people will take it up.
Not saying it is right, but could be an explanation.

 

[JohnK]

My Dad works for a super fund and negotiated life insurance & salary continuance insurance for all members, and having the policy as opt-out rather than opt in got the individual policy price down by around 50%+.

And then there are some super funds that are just plain deceptive.

When I started at my present job I was given a form to fill out and one of the options was if I did not want life insurance cover. So I asked HR that I did not want to life insurance and how to answer form and filled it in this way advised thinking that I would not be charged life insurance premium.

Around 18 months later and minus ~$1,000 I decided to look at my super statement and I realised that I they were charging me life insurance premium. Apparently I only opted out of additional cover on top of the cover already arranged by my company. :shock:

These types of deals should always be 'opt-in' and never 'opt-out'. No amount of emails to ex-super fund or HR has been able to recover my hard earned money. Apparently it is all my fault.

 

[goldfishinabowl]

And then there are some super funds that are just plain deceptive.

When I started at my present job I was given a form to fill out and one of the options was if I did not want life insurance cover. So I asked HR that I did not want to life insurance and how to answer form and filled it in this way advised thinking that I would not be charged life insurance premium.

Around 18 months later and minus ~$1,000 I decided to look at my super statement and I realised that I they were charging me life insurance premium. Apparently I only opted out of additional cover on top of the cover already arranged by my company. :shock:

These types of deals should always be 'opt-in' and never 'opt-out'. No amount of emails to ex-super fund or HR has been able to recover my hard earned money. Apparently it is all my fault.

Sorry to continue so off-topic but this happened to me too! Lost about $1000 to life insurance premiums for a blue collar smoker when I've never smoked a cigarette in my life! Should have looked at the statements more closely....

 

[QF WP]

Now is probably a good time to come back on topic.

I'm getting ready for my first VA flights (a trip to SYD), so shall be using the information here to good use...

 

[markis10]

Now is probably a good time to come back on topic.

I'm getting ready for my first VA flights (a trip to SYD), so shall be using the information here to good use...

May the force be with you, and smiling seat gods.

 

[QF WP]

Well, it's likely to be a Saver BNE/SYD and Flexi on the return. From all reports, best seating will be organised by the Lounge angels.

 

[serfty]

Well, it's likely to be a Saver BNE/SYD and Flexi on the return. From all reports, best seating will be organised by the Lounge angels.

Maybe not so much now that on-line seat pre-selection has been introduced.

 

[MattinCBR]

I did my first Virgin flights on Sunday and Tuesday - CBR-SYD-BNE-CBR Up to BNE was booked as a Flexi fare, and back was whatever the cheaper fare is.

I should start by saying I was looking forward to giving VA a go, I'm a 5000 SC/year QF guy, i normally fly Y Domestically on QF, and sharing the love around isn't that difficult to do. I obviously have been status matched o VA Platinum.

Arrived at the Airport, very easy check in (checked a bag), felt strange being given a cash register docket as a boarding pass, but no big worries. Made my way through security and into a bit of the CBR terminal I actually hadn't been in to since AN closed. The Virgin Lounge in CBR occupies the space that just a little bit over a decade ago was the Golden Wing Club where I spent far too many hours of my life waiting for the Capital Shuttle service to Sydney lol.

Was welcomed to the lounge. My first thought on entry was that it all felt a bit sparse - I gave the CBR lounge the benefit of the doubt because the new Virgin part of the terminal is under construction.

The other thing I noticed was no spirits behind the bar, and no real hot food. I guess my comparison is with the QF J Lounges - thats where I hang out before QF flights, but it all seemed a bit cheap.

Flight boarded, pleasant quick trip up to Sydney, row 3 nice legroom, served the SBC cracker and salsa pack - much like I would get on QF, and had a Pepsi.

Landed in Sydney - quick trip to the Lounge - again didn't feel exciting, can understand the excitement about direct entry, but i was not really that impressed - again no spirits, but the SYD lounge had a platter of quiches out - these feel much more like AA lounges but without the booze.

Upgraded on boarding (Yes I love the premium lane boarding) to PE. I think the quicker they get rid of PE the better - I can't believe anyone pays anything more for PE than they would for a flexible ticket. I understand that this is a part of the business that is still in transition, however there is just no way it is worth anything more than a regular Y ticket. It felt like the flex meal tray was actually a better deal than the salad/sandwich/nuts choice I had.

Landed in Brisbane, popped into the lounge on the way through - again, not really the most exciting place I've been, bags came out efficiently.

BNE-CBR, row 3 again, had the pie and a pepsi for dinner, cost me $11 bags out last, but not a huge load so no problem.

Overall the experience was not painful or horrendous or scary - Virgin is going to be a reasonable back up domestic airline for me. II was underwhelmed by the lounge product - I really had expected something far better, in fact i don't think they are up to par with the QP's, whereas I guess i had positioned them in my head to be between the Qantas Club and the Business Lounges - with an additional element of cool - I guess I was looking for a little bit more VS Club House feel.

The leg room in row 3 was what I get on QF as a WP on a 737 - so I guess even there, row 1 was pretty much unlimited legroom but you are at the door for boarding - there was no bulkhead in front of 1A/C.

The airline seems a title confused about what it's branding is - Virgin Blue is still the name being used on board the plane, and I wonder how long the transition to be properly Virgin Australia will take - do we really need to wait for them to all be repainted. The onboard PE/Flexi/Y- product is also confusing.

PS if anyone from hilton is listening - had you got around to doing the Diamond Upgrade by last Friday you would have got some business from me, but you didn't, so you didn't.

Matt

 

[QF WP]

Thanks MattinCBR. You are helping me adjust my expectations accordingly .

 

[MattinCBR]

Thanks MattinCBR. You are helping me adjust my expectations accordingly .

I think it is fair to say that Virgin didn't meet the expectations I had set up in my head. Certainly the lounge product was well below my expectations (particularly given the rave reviews that have appeared on here). I think the lack of hot food and spirits put the lounge product well behind the Qantas Club, and absolutely miles behind the J lounge - that said if you are a beer drinker the selection was excellent.

I found the onboard product a little confusing, hopefully the transition to a J/Y/Y- product will help sort that out.

As I said in the earlier post, there was nothing scary or alarming about the experience, the staff were professional (save for the Cabin Crew gossiping on take off and landing while in the forward CC Seats (although i'm sure the QF crew do this too - just they are hidden behind a bulkhead) and friendly - they did all look generations younger than QF Cabin Crew!

I don't think they have a product that is comprable to the QF Domestic experience (Certainly for WP's) yet, but is an OK backup where QF doesnt have the timing/pricing needed for a particular trip. It seems unlikely I will be shifting much if any international to VA - the pull of the FLounge is huge, and the ability to book PY all the way to Europe on QF vs only to the middle east on VA is probably the absolute deal breaker.

 

[Rebekkap]

I think it is fair to say that Virgin didn't meet the expectations I had set up in my head. Certainly the lounge product was well below my expectations (particularly given the rave reviews that have appeared on here). I think the lack of hot food and spirits put the lounge product well behind the Qantas Club, and absolutely miles behind the J lounge - that said if you are a beer drinker the selection was excellent.

Plus one to everything you've just said about the lounge.

I flew CBR - MEL earlier today, and the lounge was definitely a bit of a disappointment. No hot food, plus the layout of the food was quite cramped - there were soup bowls sitting in front of the toastie maker, for example, plus I had to bend n an awkward angle to get at the cheese, which was at the back of the buffet area - and although the whole experience was not unpleasant (and the crew are certainly more friendly than the average Qantas crew) it still felt a lot like flying a LCC, even in PE.

The plane was an oldish 738, still had Virgin Blue logos etc. The decor looked tired. I used the toilet after someone who apparently had never been on a plane before and didn't know how to flush... Checking in I got stuck behind two people who had also apparently never flown before and didn't realise you can't take a 40kg suitcase with you... Plus the on-board menu is pretty coughpy I reckon. I like my Qantas fruit platters!

I can maintain platinum status on both without too much effort, but I'm not sure I want to fly the 12 or so return flights on Virgin...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I like my Qantas fruit platters!

I'd love the option of fruit platters, in flight and in the lounge!

 

[vlado]

Hmmm. I had a much more positive first experience with my platinum match.

The separate check in and screen area in Sydney had me in the lounge within 2 minutes of entering the terminal, and I thought the lounge was at least adequate to the business class QF lounge.

On check in, was informed I had been given a shadow: sure enough, had seat 4A with 4B empty, and scored a sandwich.

All in all, ticked the efficiency boxes for me as someone who flies enough that I dont really care what type of food is available in the lounge.

I will be doing my domestic flying with Virgin now, and will maintain my WP status using my international travel.

 

[Downunder Girl]

I have been flying Virgin since 2008 and never had status with them until now . I actually prefer them to QF.
When do the miles earned expire? I fly UA and they have an 18 month expiry. I dont want to lose the miles I have accrued, but can not seem to find the expiry date on my status page anywhere.

I am considering VA for a trip to the USA next year. Can you do upgrades on VA from Econ and if so, how many miles (and/or $$) will it cost? Do they do cash upgrades at check in etc?

From my dummy bookings, it appears that you can already do seat assignments in advance for 2012 flights on VA. Is this correct, or have I just been experiencing a nice IT glitch ??

Thanks for your replies.

 

[notzac]

I have been flying Virgin since 2008 and never had status with them until now . I actually prefer them to QF.
When do the miles earned expire? I fly UA and they have an 18 month expiry. I dont want to lose the miles I have accrued, but can not seem to find the expiry date on my status page anywhere.

Velocity points are reset to zero after 36 months of no activity within the account - any points earn/burn is considered activity. (This is hidden away in the T&C's - clause 3.22)

I am considering VA for a trip to the USA next year. Can you do upgrades on VA from Econ and if so, how many miles (and/or $$) will it cost? Do they do cash upgrades at check in etc?

No upgrades (points or otherwise) are currently available for VA longhaul.

From my dummy bookings, it appears that you can already do seat assignments in advance for 2012 flights on VA. Is this correct, or have I just been experiencing a nice IT glitch ??

If you have status with Velocity, you can assign seating for any fare class on any VA longhaul flight (IIRC "V Promo" fares otherwise don't allow advance seat selection). DJ flights can have seating assigned 14 days before.