Will you still earn/retain Velocity status beyond 2025?

[clifford]

Yes for sure. If also VA regulars lose out on say lounge access (we all know other methods are available to get) but find that QF are price competitive and also give you a meal on board in the price of the ticket it will change attitudes.

Yes, that's a very realistic view. As for me, I'll enjoy the benefits of Plat for another 15 months (only Row 3 and fly ahead are relevant to me), while flying VA infrequently (only when it's the best price/schedule) and only when it's in the lowest Y class available. Lifetime UA Plat gives me lounge access in any event.

It could have been so much better for everyone (well apart from those whose employers pay for everything), but Bain and Qatar have screwed it up for everyone else. But no one should be surprised looking at the track records of both these parties.

 

[Matt_01]

I have gradually fallen back to red and I think that is where I will remain for the foreseeable future.

 

[AIRwin]

I have gradually fallen back to red and I think that is where I will remain for the foreseeable future.

In the red for VA but in the black for QF

 

[mviy]

I have been focusing on status with QF as there was no lifetime status with VA, and QF flies to LHR, my main overseas destination.

Now VA has introduced lifetime status, but made it very expensive to obtain starting from 0. Thinking it is probably not worth chasing.

Unless I get work that requires significant travel on VA, the changes have effectively discouraged me from considering switching to VA after getting LTG on QF.

 

[RooFlyer]

Now VA has introduced lifetime status, but made it very expensive to obtain starting from 0.

If someone's never flown VA (or credited to them) so far, then they were probably never going to make lifetime anything.

Unless I get work that requires significant travel on VA, the changes have effectively discouraged me from considering switching to VA after getting LTG on QF.

Seems to be a common comment inter alia "Never (or rarely) flown VA, so not going to now they've made it expensive to get lifetime gold".

 

[nutwood]

If someone's never flown VA (or credited to them) so far, then they were probably never going to make lifetime anything.



Seems to be a common comment inter alia "Never (or rarely) flown VA, so not going to now they've made it expensive to get lifetime gold".

Have to agree. If the only reason you're flying with an airline is lifetime status, you're playing a very long game!

 

[ozstamps]

Lifetime Status comes with savvy airlines as a reward for loyalty. Very often it engenders FUTURE business for that very reason. Fancy that!

I got United Lifetime Star Alliance Gold in about 10 years (good for both me and any nominated partner) on my own dime, on leisure travel, so not that hard to get really.

Handy mid level status to have (and works perfectly right now with Virgin - not that I need it YET) and there are 3 tiers above that.

Savvy real airlines like United, can see these aspirational Lifetime Card plans make superb business sense. Or they would not have been doing it for decades.

All the gaggle of American MBA's at Velocity have not worked that basic business premise out yet. Give them time

 

[Balad2005]

Yes for sure. If also VA regulars lose out on say lounge access (we all know other methods are available to get) but find that QF are price competitive and also give you a meal on board in the price of the ticket it will change attitudes.

Agree, well this week my emails from Virgin are offering discounted seats .I assume its on under filled routes.

 

[PaulllM]

Does anyone know if the new Platinum Plus tier would require you to have 2000SC at the time of its launch in October or if you hit 2000SC at some stage this year you would qualify?

Lately I've been flying a lot more than usual due to work and by some luck (mainly due to last years TSC) in mid June ill be very close to hitting 2000SC. Unfortunately I lose a major bunch of credits in mid July and under the new earn rates I wont get close to making them up

 

[aus_flyer]

Does anyone know if the new Platinum Plus tier would require you to have 2000SC at the time of its launch in October or if you hit 2000SC at some stage this year you would qualify?

Lately I've been flying a lot more than usual due to work and by some luck (mainly due to last years TSC) in mid June ill be very close to hitting 2000SC. Unfortunately I lose a major bunch of credits in mid July and under the new earn rates I wont get close to making them up

Balance at the time of launch in October

 

[TMP]

Well, today is D-Day for status earn changes.

Interesting that the fare types for sale (in my search just before) still list the pre-1 April 2025 status credit earn for each fare type and NOT the new spend-based calculation.

Personally, made a rush on a few forward bookings for the rest of 2025 prior to today's change. It should ensure one more year of Gold for either my partner, or I. The new rules around 50% of the status being required by personally flying VA marketed flights will make the family pooling situation MUCH trickier to navigate than previously. I think the reality is that we will slowly lose status with VA and move to BFOD and a more flexible points-earning credit card.

 

[Harrison_133]

Interesting that the fare types for sale (in my search just before) still list the pre-1 April 2025 status credit earn for each fare type and NOT the new spend-based calculation.

I'm already seeing the spend-based SC calculation for each fare type.

 

[TMP]

As am I now. Sad! Example of OOL-MEL J class I booked last night has dropped from 80 SCs to 33 SCs.

 

[henrus]

Wow some of the earnings to see on paper are shocking:

This is a Brisbane to Sydney, the lite fare earns a massive 4 SCs:



I think we might also have a winner as the current sale from Sydney to Byron has fares for $49 earning a huge 2 SCs


No surprises it also swings the other way, a SYD-MEL flight for this afternoon is currently $970 as a flex fare (yes insane pricing) with this now earning 81 SCs:

 

[serfty]

Balance at the time of launch in October

Going further, balance for the previous 365 days on any particular day after 1st October.

e.g. On 10th October 2025 have 1490/2020 SC since 11th November 2024. Earn 15 VA metal SC on 21st October to go to 1505/2035; thus earning Platinum Plus with a review date of 21st October 2026.

 

[stm1sydney]

I think we might also have a winner as the current sale from Sydney to Byron has fares for $49 earning a huge 2 SCs


No surprises it also swings the other way, a SYD-MEL flight for this afternoon is currently $970 as a flex fare (yes insane pricing) with this now earning 81 SCs:

I sorta grudgingly admit that this makes sense. Why should a miserable $49 flight to Ballina earn more than 2 SCs, and it's a decent earn if you are crazy enough to fork out for a Flex fare.

 

[aaronm]

I've frontloaded enough bookings to retain Gold for another year. After that we'll see. Was Platinum for close to a decade but that seems fairly unachievable with these new requirements, unless I win the lottery, and if that happens I probably won't care about airline status any more

 

[henrus]

I sorta grudgingly admit that this makes sense. Why should a miserable $49 flight to Ballina earn more than 2 SCs, and it's a decent earn if you are crazy enough to fork out for a Flex fare.

Sure I kind of agree but that's missing the a big part of a loyalty program.

I think I've shared this article before:

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/airline-loyalty-programs-points-2025-changes/index.html

Some interesting comments from Air France/KML about gamification and this is effectively what VA has taken away. From today (plus the further change later this year) one will need to spend at least $6k on VA flights and up to $12k (as they might be able to get the rest cheaper on VA partners) to get Gold status.

 

[a330j]

Have been Plat for a decade and recently requalified Plat for another year. I am going to let my status lapse over the next couple of years following these changes. In my view loyalty is not reciprocated and has been white-anted over time, and the offering (lounge quality and other benefits) don't justify the spend requirements. Internationally, I'll probably still use Qatar or SQ so that may contribute some status credits, and I may combine it with paid lounge access in the absence of status, but domestically, over time, it will become the cheapest flight. I suppose all good things eventually come to an end and I've enjoyed the ride, but IMHO VA is just taking the p!55 with these changes.

 

[Trekky1]

I just got to Silver - no chance now for me. I've been averaging 4 return flights a year for the last couple of years. I usually book Virgin, but I do check Qantas and I go with the lower cost.