What "lessons" will VA learn from today's changes to QF's FF program?

[Melburnian1]

...The only lesson from the Qantas changes is that it's possibly to dress up a 10-12% devaluation as a positive change

Assisted by an increasingly gormless Australian media that largely swallowed the QF publicity hook, line and sinker. Any positives were emphasised but not much attention given to the downsides. Even the woman writing in 'The Australian' failed to draw much attention to the many negatives.

 

[pauly7]

Assisted by an increasingly gormless Australian media that largely swallowed the QF publicity hook, line and sinker. Any positives were emphasised but not much attention given to the downsides. Even the woman writing in 'The Australian' failed to draw much attention to the many negatives.

No News.com.au and AFR dedicated a huge amount of time to the less savoury changes. The stories were still very ‘mass media’ and error ridden as all mass media usually is

I actually think the media was pretty balanced.

 

[oz_mark]

Assisted by an increasingly gormless Australian media that largely swallowed the QF publicity hook, line and sinker. Any positives were emphasised but not much attention given to the downsides. Even the woman writing in 'The Australian' failed to draw much attention to the many negatives.

Comes down to the fact that they are writing for their audience.

 

[Melburnian1]

Comes down to the fact that they are writing for their audience.

But media like 'The Australian' is read by medium to high income earners, many of whom would be frequent travellers for business or if retired make at least one return international trip per annum. The FF changes were crying out for considered analysis, and being announced at 1030 hours gace plenty of scope to spend a few hours doing this for release in the print edition next day.

 

[oz_mark]

But media like 'The Australian' is read by medium to high income earners, many of whom would be frequent travellers for business or if retired make at least one return international trip per annum. The FF changes were crying out for considered analysis, and being announced at 1030 hours gace plenty of scope to spend a few hours doing this for release in the print edition next day.

The Australian ain't what it used to be....

 

[Melburnian1]

The Australian ain't what it used to be....

I find it excellent. A wide range of thought provoking articles from a variety of opinion makers. Pages full of news, not ads. Often has exclusives.

 

[henrus]

Based on this Virgin Australia Considers Lifetime Velocity Status I'd love to see what VA would require for lifetime platinum, hopefully not 75,000 status credits

If VA were to be based QF's requirements than I'd estimate ~5800 status credits for lifetime silver, ~10,000 status credits for lifetime gold and ~53,000 status credits for lifetime platinum.

Obviously that's based off QF's requirements and many other airlines do it differently. Most seem base it off the miles traveled (generally 1 million+) whilst others like South African and SAS base it on earning top status for the last 10 years (though given that Velocity Platinum has only for 8 years I can't see them going down this path).

 

[pauly7]

Based on this Virgin Australia Considers Lifetime Velocity Status I'd love to see what VA would require for lifetime platinum, hopefully not 75,000 status credits

If VA were to be based QF's requirements than I'd estimate ~5800 status credits for lifetime silver, ~10,000 status credits for lifetime gold and ~53,000 status credits for lifetime platinum.

Obviously that's based off QF's requirements and many other airlines do it differently. Most seem base it off the miles traveled (generally 1 million+) whilst others like South African and SAS base it on earning top status for the last 10 years (though given that Velocity Platinum has only for 8 years I can't see them going down this path).

The quotes from the VA spokesperson are downright hilarious:

The spokesperson added, “Velocity has been globally recognised by the Freddies as having the ‘best reward seat availability’ for six years running.”

Did they seriously trot out those useless awards as a proof point? Wow.....

 

[henrus]

The spokesperson added, “Velocity has been globally recognised by the Freddies as having the ‘best reward seat availability’ for six years running.”

Haha did no one else vote in the Freddies?

Apparently Virgin won everything (in the Middle East/Asia/Oceania area):

Program of the Year — Virgin Australia > Velocity
Best Elite Program — Virgin Australia > Velocity
Best Promotion — Virgin Australia > Velocity
Best Customer Service — Virgin Australia > Velocity
Best Redemption Ability — Virgin Australia > Velocity

 

[fewings85]

Based on this Virgin Australia Considers Lifetime Velocity Status I'd love to see what VA would require for lifetime platinum, hopefully not 75,000 status credits

If VA were to be based QF's requirements than I'd estimate ~5800 status credits for lifetime silver, ~10,000 status credits for lifetime gold and ~53,000 status credits for lifetime platinum.

Obviously that's based off QF's requirements and many other airlines do it differently. Most seem base it off the miles traveled (generally 1 million+) whilst others like South African and SAS base it on earning top status for the last 10 years (though given that Velocity Platinum has only for 8 years I can't see them going down this path).

This is what im hoping for, that they add a "lifetime status" to their program. It's what i would like to see anyway. I wonder if they would back date it to include all activity on your account history?

 

[p--and--t]

This is what im hoping for, that they add a "lifetime status" to their program. It's what i would like to see anyway.

With the lessons of AN in my history, I reflect perhaps they could focus on running a sustainable airline (aka profitable) then "Lifetime" benefits might be worthwhile otherwise there could be a lot of status chasing that evaporates in the next 5 years.

 

[ojm]

I’ve been gold or platinum with Virgin for the last 7 years.

The life time gold is probably the reason I’ll switch to Qantas soon.

Though, it’ll be hard as get treated like royalty as a platinum member with velocity.

 

[henrus]

Though, it’ll be hard as get treated like royalty as a platinum member with velocity.

​

Wow you must be "royal platinum" then?

Honestly the last flights didn't even get an express pass inbound to Australia (used to be standard) and despite all the flying I've never received a welcome onboard - just the standard "welcome back" which even someone with red status seems to get at the door. NZ used to treat VA Platinums better with a bottle of water, better headphones and a welcome onboard at your seat on most trans Tasman flights.

Yeh sure I've used all the Platinum upgrades and have flown in Economy X for free but aside from that VA Platinum is just like Gold.

 

[sven89]

This is what im hoping for, that they add a "lifetime status" to their program. It's what i would like to see anyway. I wonder if they would back date it to include all activity on your account history?

Having held SG for 6 years, I’m very much in the ‘for’ camp not only for lifetime status, but for backdating.

However, while I support a lot of what VA do, the idea does slightly concern me. If the innacuracies in their annual end-of-year “you’ve flown X miles, putting you in the top X% of flyers” emails are any indication of data accuracy....we’re in trouble.

 

[Edge]

I've been Platinum for the last few years with VA and I'm a big fan. Lifetime status would be a good positive addition.

 

[cvmceg]

maybe VA will learn that you can continually flog your "loyal" (loyal in FF terms... not true loyalty) customers and they will keep coming back for more?

 

[Melburnian1]

maybe VA will learn that you can continually flog your "loyal" (loyal in FF terms... not true loyalty) customers and they will keep coming back for more?

So many Australians seem wedded to QF FF, even those who don't have their corporate travel automatically booked on it. Yet often there's better value by using airlines that fly beneath the radar for international travel. BR, CI, JL, KE, NH and PR (the second last has a small stake in PR) are a few Asian airlines that have excellent hard and soft product ex and to Oz yet for the majority of Australians, these aren't even considered, largely because many prospective users don't know much if anything about these carriers. Ignorance as to their networks and connections in hubs reigns supreme. Manila/Busan/Seoul/Taipei and Tokyo are all interesting to visit (in Manila's case escaping to the islands is even better.)

It'd be terrific if VA could "learn" to reduce the premium it places on 'other than VA' international redemptions. Given VA flies to so few international destinations, it's irksome that every time one redeems Velocity points for travel on say SQ, one pays a higher amount in points per kilometre of travel.

 

[Muppet501st]

Wow you must be "royal platinum" then?

Honestly the last flights didn't even get an express pass inbound to Australia (used to be standard) and despite all the flying I've never received a welcome onboard - just the standard "welcome back" which even someone with red status seems to get at the door. NZ used to treat VA Platinums better with a bottle of water, better headphones and a welcome onboard at your seat on most trans Tasman flights.

Yeh sure I've used all the Platinum upgrades and have flown in Economy X for free but aside from that VA Platinum is just like Gold.

The last couple of international flights with VA, as WP, always received the NC headphones ( as well as family members) and free access to YX and express cards, and first preference to meal options. This is arriving into BNE where the express cards work.
I disagree regarding WP is like SG. Having access to the Priority First lounge in HKG, arrivals access@ LHR and being able to guest in 3 guests domestically, and free YX with more shadows then before it was introduced are more than enough to want to keep WP

 

[Vic]

i've not read the full article and he does tend to take 100 words to say what most could state in 60, but Terry McCrann in News Ltd papers/online sites has not long said that the QF changes are an 'attack on QF's most valued clients.'

Presumably including him. This develops the AFFer levelnine's theme above.

yeah, understanding Terry McCrann's writings requires an oracle, divining rod and a working knowledge of braille.

 

[nlagalle]

qantas suck. my hubby flys a lot for business almost always with qantas (not his choice) we just went to china two return flights from melb. guess how many points we got on standard economy tickets 1250 qff points and no status credit for 2 people mind. on top of that it took 6 hours (i kid you not) on the phone to get our measly points, their service is deplorable. qff can stick their membership, im only gold with virgin and in comparison i get treated like royalty. at least after a year of travel my hubby got enough points to buy some qantas luggage tags lol

I'm guessing you were on a partner airline without a QF flight number.....