Will you still earn/retain Velocity status beyond 2025?

[stm1sydney]

HS-TQE - How about YOU answering this simple question as I just did?​

Mate, you need to try a bit of Zen, like that person on that other thread claims to be (but isn't).

 

[GrahamBRI]

If QF, JQ and VA were all offering the same $99 fare SYD-MEL, and there were no FF programs or status involved, how many people would choose JQ or VA?

Is that $99 fare in J ?

 

[jad01]

After 12 years of platinum with VA, I have walked away.
If I continue my current rate of flying each year, I have one of two options:

1. easily maintain Platinum with QF and achieve lifetime gold in half the time.
2. VA Gold, with lifetime gold in twice the time as QF.

Based on that, the only sensible choice for me is to abandon VA and fly with QF and partners.
Looking at the poll on here, it looks like VA are likely to lose quite a few frequent flyers.

I hope their accountants have done their calculations right and they aren't losing more than they are gaining.

JASON

 

[simmomelb]

Based on that, the only sensible choice for me is to abandon VA and fly with QF and partners.
Looking at the poll on here, it looks like VA are likely to lose quite a few frequent flyers.

A lot of Australian Frequent Flyer forum enthusiasts, are likely to lose FF status. Very different
Many on this thread and forum and "status chasers", that is clear.
Keep in mind also, that a drop in status holders doesn't directly translate to a drop in pax/bookings.

 

[TMP]

The other day I followed a Google flights link for flights though VA from HBA to Europe (operated by VA and QR). My selected flights were priced competitively, transited through MEL, and had good connections. I got to the check out, selected my domestic seats, put in my credit card. Then a note came up saying they couldn’t price the ticket. I went through the whole process again, thinking maybe it’d timed out or the prices had changed. Again, no can do. When I put my dates into the VA website directly, it only came up with only two options, both connecting via BNE with prohibitively long layover times. What’s more, they were very expensive.

Exact same happened to my partner wanting to book MEL to MAN via DOH. Google Flights spits out one price, VA website takes you all the way through and then gives pricing error.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A lot of Australian Frequent Flyer forum enthusiasts, are likely to lose FF status. Very different
Many on this thread and forum and "status chasers", that is clear.
Keep in mind also, that a drop in status holders doesn't directly translate to a drop in pax/bookings.

I think that’s a good point.

The impact is often on those people looking to maximise flight earning for the purpose of status.

Why fly direct when you can connect.

But the majority prolly just want to get home as fast as possible.

If you were operating at the margins, once programs go to revenue-based status there will be those who miss out. If you were well and truly in the zone, you’ll continue to be in the zone.

 

[TMP]

A lot of Australian Frequent Flyer forum enthusiasts, are likely to lose FF status. Very different
Many on this thread and forum and "status chasers", that is clear.

Very true. I was a status chaser (well, not after this year), and not a FF under a true definition of the term. That's the game, and now the game is over (for now!)

 

[GrahamBRI]

A lot of Australian Frequent Flyer forum enthusiasts, are likely to lose FF status. Very different
Many on this thread and forum and "status chasers", that is clear.
Keep in mind also, that a drop in status holders doesn't directly translate to a drop in pax/bookings.

Unclear to me....... I definitely align myself to being a typical AFF in terms of most things and certainly in terms of redemptions...... but in terms of earning status, I earn enough on strictly domestic economy flying for work to get gold on both airlines - gives me good diversity and serves well for choice of redemptions..... going forward, the maths tell me I can't get gold on VA without giving them 100% of my business and I will not get to LTG before I retire...... on the flip side I can get very close to Platinum if I go 100% Qantas and I will get LTG with Qantas..... so I will be one customer that drops off Virgin. There must be others like me (non AFF community)........

 

[mviy]

After 12 years of platinum with VA, I have walked away.
If I continue my current rate of flying each year, I have one of two options:

1. easily maintain Platinum with QF and achieve lifetime gold in half the time.
2. VA Gold, with lifetime gold in twice the time as QF.

Based on that, the only sensible choice for me is to abandon VA and fly with QF and partners.
Looking at the poll on here, it looks like VA are likely to lose quite a few frequent flyers.

I hope their accountants have done their calculations right and they aren't losing more than they are gaining.

This is assuming that QF doesn’t also change to spend-based status. There would seem to be a strong chance that QF will also move to spend-based status.

My plan was to get LTG with QF then reassess whether to start directing some spend to Virgin. Now it seems Virgin has made status too difficult to achieve for the mostly self-funded traveller although they have introduced lifetime status.

 

[levelnine]

There would seem to be a strong chance that QF will also move to spend-based status.

Not only that. There's a very strong chance the rates will be set higher than Virgin. Qantas status is more valuable than Virgin due to its oneworld benefits, so it stands to reason that they would.

 

[mviy]

If you are close to LTG on VA (or QF) I would push for that then reassess. If still far away the harsh reality may be that unless VA makes status easier to obtain again, it may be out of reach. It's quite possible they may have made status too hard to obtain and in a push to get bookings may make it a little easier to get at some point in the future

 

[moffat39]

Have been Platinum since 2019. On domestic flights for many years I have flown Virgin only apart from one flight to attend the Boxing Day test for one day.

Will not chase status and at least will be comforted by soft landing to Gold for a year.

Will become a price sensitive flyer. If QANTAS have a cheaper flight will go with them. In 2027 back to paying for coffee at the airport. If i do fly Virgin on the longer flights will pay up for EconomyX

 

[MooTime]

Have been Platinum since 2019. On domestic flights for many years I have flown Virgin only apart from one flight to attend the Boxing Day test for one day.

Will not chase status and at least will be comforted by soft landing to Gold for a year.

Will become a price sensitive flyer. If QANTAS have a cheaper flight will go with them. In 2027 back to paying for coffee at the airport. If i do fly Virgin on the longer flights will pay up for EconomyX

With a lot less WP on VA in years to come there'll always be plenty X seat availability.

Mind you aren't they going with just 2 rows of X seats on most planes?

 

[SYD]

Have been Platinum since 2019. On domestic flights for many years I have flown Virgin only apart from one flight to attend the Boxing Day test for one day.

Will not chase status and at least will be comforted by soft landing to Gold for a year.

Will become a price sensitive flyer. If QANTAS have a cheaper flight will go with them. In 2027 back to paying for coffee at the airport. If i do fly Virgin on the longer flights will pay up for EconomyX

As mentioned many times, just paying for VA Lounge membership will be a fraction of the cost of attaining / retaining Gold. If you can, book Economy X and you’re no worse off - still for a fraction of the cost of WP….

If you’re flying VA J, then status is totally irrelevant (for now).

 

[ozstamps]

After 12 years of platinum with VA, I have walked away.

Based on that, the only sensible choice for me is to abandon VA and fly with QF and partners.
Looking at the poll on here, it looks like VA are likely to lose quite a few frequent flyers.

I hope their accountants have done their calculations right and they aren't losing more than they are gaining.

JASON

You and MANY others I am sure.

Spare a thought for the Virgin suits who have been flying around the country this week to institutions and stockbrokers to do the big pre-sell on the Bain IPO float, whilst stockmarkets are melting down all around the globe. Airline stocks have crashed.

Again this was the year to TOUCH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING with their once very loyal elite flyer base. Zero gain to them to mess with it, as the program will not be theirs after the float, but a lot to lose if their market shares slides, as it will.

They'll be already wishing they'd binned this Brain Fart suite of 'enhancements you'll just love' I think.

I do not think Qantas will do a thing (other than laugh themselves silly over this large own goal) other than have bonus SC and points promos and probably Status Match offers.

 

[jase05]

as the program will not be theirs after the float

Why?
They are looking at a primary sell-down of about 20% only

 

[MooTime]

If many with status are going to downgrade yet still fly the same amount that won't hurt VA..... If I flew same amount with VA I'd drop from WP to most likely silver, but from VA POV they'd still be receiving same amount of $$ from me as a customer. This will benefit VA as some like myself would spend less time consuming in the lounge.

Not sure this angle has been posted.

It's those customers that actually fly VA less going forward and flying QF and/or JQ that will hurt VA bottom line.

Flew QF 1st time in a long while last week, some chicken pie on board + a vino and ticket price happen to be less than VA. Interesting times ahead.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You and MANY others I am sure.

Spare a thought for the Virgin suits who have been flying around the country this week to institutions and stockbrokers to do the big pre-sell on the Bain IPO float, whilst stockmarkets are melting down all around the globe. Airline stocks have crashed.

Again this was the year to TOUCH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING with their once very loyal elite flyer base. Zero gain to them to mess with it, as the program will not be theirs after the float, but a lot to lose if their market shares slides, as it will.

They'll be already wishing they'd binned this Brain Fart suite of 'enhancements you'll just love' I think.

I do not think Qantas will do a thing (other than laugh themselves silly over this large own goal) other than have bonus SC and points promos and probably Status Match offers.

I don’t think you are describing loyalty.

The ‘once’ elite base was flying VA because they got something in return, not because they were being loyal to the brand.

Take away the benefits and a loyal person would continue to fly.

You’ve described the savvy frequent flyer who is searching for the best deal. (Nothing wrong with that.)

Maybe they shouldn’t have touched it if they were planning to do a float… but them maybe potential buyers could see through the smokescreen? The changes will probably give a more accurate picture of the elite base, prior to sale.

Under the new system, the person who is loyal… who *still* flies VA even when the fare is the same as Qantas, will be rewarded - almost - as they are now. QF’s lowest entry fare SYD-MEL is around $550. That will net 45SCs. A small drop from the current. If you pay $900 for the same seat, you’ll get many more SCs than you do currently.

 

[moffat39]

If many with status are going to downgrade yet still fly the same amount that won't hurt VA..... If I flew same amount with VA I'd drop from WP to most likely silver, but from VA POV they'd still be receiving same amount of $$ from me as a customer. This will benefit VA as some like myself would spend less time consuming in the lounge.

Not sure this angle has been posted.

It's those customers that actually fly VA less going forward and flying QF and/or JQ that will hurt VA bottom line.

Flew QF 1st time in a long while last week, some chicken pie on board + a vino and ticket price happen to be less than VA. Interesting times ahead.

My view is that it will hurt Virgin as those flyers like me will have no reason to chose Virgin once they are no longer Platinum or Gold. Had not thought of buying a lounge membership though. Will check that out.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My view is that it will hurt Virgin as those flyers like me will have no reason to chose Virgin once they are no longer Platinum or Gold. Had not thought of buying a lounge membership though. Will check that out.

Well… the overwhelming advantage of VA is the price! That’s all you need to keep most people flying with them.

$349 business class one way between the major cities is hard to beat. QF is a little over $500.

Flex fares on the same route $209.

If you don’t want to pay more people will stay with VA. If they are paying more… last minute fares which are close to QF’s… retain their status anyway.

There are exceptions, maybe some smaller towns where VA is the only option.