Qantas FF vs Virgin Velocity

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newbieflyer

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Hi,
Sorry if this is the wrong place for the thread.

Basically, I'm fairly young - 20 years old. Just starting to fly a bit more now. I am currently on track to reach Silver level on Qantas in a couple of months. I am just wondering if it is worthwhile to get my SC on Qantas FF program or do it on Virgin's Velocity program instead?

Any thoughts/views would be very appreciated!
 
More information would be needed before useful advice could be given....
 
It really depends on where you're going to flying from and to.

Does the chosen airline or FF program service all the airports you're intending to go to?
Will your travel be mainly domestic or international, or both?
Business or leisure, travel class, self-funded or business-funded, etc?

All would have an impact on who you chose.
 
It really depends on where you're going to flying from and to.

Does the chosen airline or FF program service all the airports you're intending to go to?
Will your travel be mainly domestic or international, or both?
Business or leisure, travel class, self-funded or business-funded, etc?

All would have an impact on who you chose.

I will mainly be flying domestically around Australia approx 30-40 times a year as well as internationally to US/UK approx 10 times.

Some will be leisure but a lot will be business, however the business is my own.

My main concern is with a lot of people complaining about QFF at the moment that in the long-term it seems Velocity may be the better program for me.
 
It really depends on where you're going to flying from and to.

Does the chosen airline or FF program service all the airports you're intending to go to?
Will your travel be mainly domestic or international, or both?
Business or leisure, travel class, self-funded or business-funded, etc?

All would have an impact on who you chose.

Firstly I would ignore most of the comments about QF. While some of the engagement with QF can be frustrating at times (but not the norm) - the end product and the service you receive as a frequent flyer (especially once you get to SG or WP) is excellent. QF will give you access to OW and with status all their business lounges. It does take more points to gain status than VA - but then there is a reason for that. I have encouraged my twenty something children to focus on building up their status on QF and they certainly benefit - and their friends are surprised by the benefits they gain. If you are travelling in the US both AA and US are going to provide you with benefits linked to OW. With the type of travel itinerary you have you should quickly build up your status and enjoy the benefits.
 
After July this year, getting anywhere with QFF will be harder, on the cheaper fares, ...
If you fly for business, and your flights are paid by others, its not so bad, but if you have to pay for it (flights) yourself and tend to go Red e deals, then, with the drop in earns on lower fares as to points and SC, I would say, getting to VA/VR/VFF is better, as you get 2 entries to the lounge, and get a ready discount on lounge annual membership.
You only get one entry to the QP (QF club) as a PS member.
I would go VA/VR/VFF.
I am at 225 and on my way to 250 with VFF soon.
I paid for the QP myself.
For me, I think I will put all my flights now towards Velocity.
Will still keep my QFF membership and QCC though.
Maybe have 1 foot each in 1 program.
SQ to Europe, put points towards VFF, towards the US, put points towards QFF. Because if you have to fly to the US, with SQ, you have to go to Singapore, but you can of course fly NZ via AKL.
Its hard to compare, as the 2 are not alike.
QFF is linked to EK (but make sure you always book EK flights with a QF flight number, on the QF website!).
 
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Probably an alliance is something to aim to have. VA will kind of have cheaper airfares. But lifetime status with QF is probably important.

I think you might be best looking at BA executive club, depending on domestic/international fare class that you intent to purchase, and also whether you have a non-Australian address.

As a note, I'm pretty sure you need fewer status credits to attain levels with Virgin Australia.
 
Yeah I have noticed that you need fewer SC to attain levels with VA.

My main flight booking at the moment has been through Jetstar when they have sales, and adding a Plus Bundle to the package so that I can earn points/SC.

Could you explain BA Executive Club if possible?

Ideally I will be using lounges to do business and relax quite frequently over the next few years internationally as the main aim is to increase workflow to do more international travel along with it (if that makes sense)

Thanks for all the replies so far!
 
Probably an alliance is something to aim to have. VA will kind of have cheaper airfares. But lifetime status with QF is probably important.

If you are 20 assuming that Qantas lifetime status will a. Continue to be offered by the time you reach it or b. Continue to be honoured long enough to take advantage of it is not something i would base my decisions on. With the way Qantas is going that's a lot to hope for.
 
BA executive club is the frequent flyer program of British airways. If you are buying cheap airfares then it wouldn't be a consideration.

If you are 20 assuming that Qantas lifetime status will a. Continue to be offered by the time you reach it or b. Continue to be honoured long enough to take advantage of it is not something i would base my decisions on. With the way Qantas is going that's a lot to hope for.

I did say "probably" important. Lifetime status, even with the uncertainty at Qantas is a consideration, if doing a large number of flights over many years. VA have no lifetime status.
 
QFF and VFF are roughly similar within Australia IMHO. Outside of Australia, it depends on what airlines you wish to travel with - and for the US, whether you're going to be travelling with luggage or not.

Heading to the UK: if you like travelling on EY or SQ, stick with VFF. If you prefer travelling with QF, CX, EK or MH - go with QFF.

Heading to the US: if you like AA or US - or if you will be travelling with luggage - stick with QFF. I personally find DL a better airline than AA, and VX aren't bad either - so for my needs, VFF is the better option.

QF has better lounges and links to their partner airlines. VA has a more generous FF program if you're after redemptions to Europe or around Australia (availability on VA and EY are particularly good). Swings and roundabouts; I don't think either are terrible choices :)
 
I will mainly be flying domestically around Australia approx 30-40 times a year as well as internationally to US/UK approx 10 times. .
I long haul every 5~6 weeks and domestic about every other week is a lot of flying. But others here on AFF do the same (or more).

Virgin have a limited range of partners. QF are in oneworld so many partners

With so many international flights a USA ffp may be in interest. They tend to be more generous than Aust, ME & Eu ffp’s But USA ffp's are of recent times having many (negative) changes to a revenue based system. AA has good earn to burn (at this time).

From another thread
Best Frequent Flyer Program for you?
The answer to this question depends very much on your personal travel profile and objectives.
- what is your definition of best?
- do you value miles/points (or equivalent) for redemption over gaining status?
- do you fly enough to gain any meaningful status?
- what do you want to use the miles/points for (award, upgrade, hotels, what ever)?
- what sort of flight award is of interest (destination, class of travel)?
- are you interested in topping up by paying cash for miles?
- which airline and where do you normally fly?
- are you primarily a leisure or business traveller?
- where do you live?
- do you have other ways of earning points in the various programs, e.g. credit cards, shopping, etc,?
- etc, etc, etc
 
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Aud$9000 is a lot of money, but that will buy a whole life of VA lounge access.
Build up the savings from any sources, put aside $2500 per year for 4 years, done deal.
QF has 1, 2, 4 years QP.
One piece of advice, don't hock your financial life chasing points.
I have lost hope with QF.
A long tine ago, ala Ansett time, I went over the top, financially. Don't go business class, most flexible economy will earn a bit less than business class, but at least you will at ieast still be financially soluble.
Okay... Best of luck anyway and may the flight force be with you
 
Aud$9000 is a lot of money, but that will buy a whole life of VA lounge access.
Build up the savings from any sources, put aside $2500 per year for 4 years, done deal.
QF has 1, 2, 4 years QP.
One piece of advice, don't hock your financial life chasing points.
I have lost hope with QF.
A long tine ago, ala Ansett time, I went over the top, financially. Don't go business class, most flexible economy will earn a bit less than business class, but at least you will at ieast still be financially soluble.
Okay... Best of luck anyway and may the flight force be with you

Purchased lounge access with Qantas is of limited use if flying overseas. Basically only allowing Qantas and AA lounge access.

I imagine VA lounge access is pretty much the same, and the domestic lounges are more limited than those of Qantas. If someone is doing enough flying to earn status there is no real point to purchased lounge access.
 
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I will mainly be flying domestically around Australia approx 30-40 times a year as well as internationally to US/UK approx 10 times.

As the business is yours, you're 20 and you fly JQ sale fares, I'm assuming you are building the business and will for some time be fare constrained.

As someone who went through the same as you are (except I did it considerably later then when I was 20), I can give you my ideas. You'll manage gold or even platinum with VA (based upon the info you gave) but possibly not even gold with QF. Domestically out of SYD, VA is reasonable with lounges which does add into the value of the fare. VA usually won't be as cost effective as JQ and JQ will price match against TT (provided the TT flight times suit you), so cost wise, JQ is going to be hard to beat overall but as you are already buying QF status with the JQ +bundle, it seems you aren't strictly tied to cheapest fares so VA may be worth a look. The hard part that I've experienced is devising a business model around set airline parameters and then find those parameters change for the worse. With VA, they used to be OK with price, now they're pretending to be QF Mk2. With Mr Joyce stating he's ending the capacity war, everything is likely to change so the best advice I guess is be flexible and adapt with them to suit you. Maybe buy lounge membership with both and forget status. Wear the fact you won't have lounge access OS or look at other options like Priority Pass for overseas lounge access which then allows you to leave your options 100% open without the dreaded golden handcuffs. Just make sure that if you chase status, it's working for you rather than the airline. Don't chase status simply to have a shiny card in your wallet. Do your sums, calculate how many SCs you can earn through each of the two primary options, read a lot here on AFF and make your choices. Good luck with the success of the business.
 
VA PERd is the pits, no outside view through the opaque stick into glass thing.
VA ADLd faces the roadway.
VA MELd and VA SYDd very good.
Haven't done VA BNEd or any Koru or Manaia yet.
 
VA PERd is the pits, no outside view through the opaque stick into glass thing.
VA ADLd faces the roadway.
VA MELd and VA SYDd very good.
Haven't done VA BNEd or any Koru or Manaia yet.

I presume you're writing about the lounges ;). If so, I'll add VA BNEd is as good as VA SYDd except view is of the valet parking and train station, VA MKY is small but excellent for a regional lounge, VA OOL is pretty good as well with sweeping views of the tarmac and VA CBR is pretty damn good too but I'll have to leave CNS for others to comment as I haven't been in there.

I've only been in the BNE Koru Club and I'll simply say I prefer to sit out in the general concourse area. The BNE Koru is not a lounge to which other airlines would aspire (I hope).

I have to ask, what is Manaia? (edit - I just Googled it and I haven't been in there either, so cannot comment)
 
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With that type of travel I would stick with Qantas. At least they are part of a global alliance and I believe the benefits at Gold level and above are better.

Apparently I have earned ~170,000 QFF points in the past 12 months on cheap airfares. To earn that on Virgin as a Platinum I would need to spend ~$17,000. I am only Gold. I don't think I spent half that amount with Qantas.

I guess it is all relative.
 
Apparently I have earned ~170,000 QFF points in the past 12 months on cheap airfares. To earn that on Virgin as a Platinum I would need to spend ~$17,000. I am only Gold. I don't think I spent half that amount with Qantas.

I guess it is all relative.

I'm certainly not a QFF aficionado, but isn't the points burn rate with QFF considerably worse than with VFF, levelling out the playing field somewhat?
 
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If running your own start up business, the choice to me is a no brainer. Future credit card earn should be a major consideration and FF points flexibility both in storage and allocation should be of prime consideration.
On this basis, QF just can't compete. Despite always having a high QF points balance, they never make the grade for me for value or availability.
 
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