What benefits would you like with Velocity?

[alien]

Just looking at my velocity account and was thinking of what I would like to have added to the program.

I know people will naturally reach Gold with their flight behaviour however
I just can't see the real benefit in trying to reach Gold just to get free lounge access and an extra point/staus credit.

Also has anyone used priority check-in? I'm assuming this benefit only relates to international flights????

1. Points/status earned with the purchase of fares/services for the toal amount paid by credit card ie 1 point per dollar spent credited to your account for fares you buy for others
2. Silver status kept if you maintain the silver requirement 2 years running but just can't get to Gold and the same for Gold
3. Gold status getting access to L2A (as mentioned in another thread)
4. Earn points and or status credits on award flights at say .5 of the going rate
5. Earn points when purchasing The Lounge membership

I thought it would be interesting to get ideas/opinions from other people on here with what they would like to see added to velocity.

 

[littl_flier]

Star Alliance Gold recognition.

Seriously though, I think it lacks the benefits offered by other airlines in that there are no reciprocal benefits. Surely it could be coordinated so there was lounge access when flying other members of the Virgin Group or putting an agreement in place to offer access with other airlines where it's members tend to spend their business. (ie. Similar to the way QP access used to cover US Airways clubs)

I also think L2A would be a great feature that would cost DJ very little given the infastructure is already in place. The opportunity cost of the forgone revenue is easily covered in passenger loyalty.

 

[Mal]

As is well known here, I'm not a frequent Business Traveler - instead, I'm just a frequent leisure traveler (and sometimes business traveler) with free time and a love of flying (and seeing new things).

So perhaps I'm not the best person to state what I think Velocity should do, as it's pretty unlikely I'll ever earn Gold with the current earning situation

However, I have the following views.

1. Australian lounge only access is ok for domestic travelers, but gives a Gold member nothing when flying Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Hawaiian or any of the other 'partner' airlines. So the traveler is stuck out in the concourse wondering why they didn't credit to the partner directly to earn status with them, or instead fly Qantas/OneWorld to their destination and allowed to use the lounges as part of the perks of showing loyalty domestically. (I realise a lot of Business travelers fly Business internationally, but still not all do).

2. The DJ lounge network is clearly the superior lounge network domestically where they are located, but this would have to be increased to start to compete with the all encompassing Qantas Club (and Qantaslink) network.

3. While ego stroking isn't really a DJ thing, elites do seem to like the attention - which is why check-in staff should go out of their way to recognise and bend the rules a little (within reason) for these 'valued' customers. Qantas does it in subtle ways without affecting perceptions of what staff can/can't do for you.

4. I agree with 'soft drop' of status. It works well for other airlines, and gives an incentive to those who miss out to re-earn their status (while still getting some recognition of the revenue they have given to an airline).

5. Some onboard recognition would cost little. This is where the Live2Air or other ways of recognising customers comes into play.

[Note that Priority Checkin is available for domestic, it's normally the "Corporate Plus" type checkin area at the domestic airport.
Also, earning points on Rewards flights I totally disagree with. People should be rewarded for giving income to an airline, not cashing in credit card points. Same theory applies to buying tickets for others, you should earn status purely on flights you fly, not flights you buy.]

 

[wallacej]

BRAGGING RIGHTS HERE PLEASE!!!

I have just attained Gold, and it was not easy. We have a BFOD price policy so it took the full 12 months (4 days to spare) to acheive this status.

However, the differences between Gold and silver are minimal.

-Access to the lounge. I paid last year, so I won't have to this year... nice saving.
- The extra status credit, so I should be able to make it a little easier this year.

That is about it though, extra luggage allowance (doesn't concern me though)

What would make it better I think was the OT, and the priority line...

Priority line is EXCELLENT, this can be used as a silver member. I don't think I have EVER encountered more than 3 people ahead of me...majority of times there is no one ahead of me, so check in, drop off luggae, then straight to the lounge... beautiful..

What would make Gold better IMO

- L2A for free. The swipers in the machine surely could recognise the gold card mag stripe, and allow free TV
- Maybe a free drink on board, again, with presentation of the card, again, can be swiped through their EFT machines.
- PRIORITY BAG TAGS, you know the drill... always the last off if you are in a rush.. this would have to actually be my number one request...

I used DJ 44 times over this past 12 months and used the lounge on almost every visit, and priroty line on every visit. I used Qantas 30 times this past year as a silver QC member, and I only fly domestic and in Y.... I can't speak highly enough of how much I prefer DJ over QF...

Yes, still a little more needs to be done for acknowledging Gold members, but the above would be well accepted by most gold domestic travellers..... and to recongise *A Gold... oh yeah... that would top it off...

 

[ANstar]

- Earn Velocity points spent for onboard purchases. It is a Virgin blue sale afterall and I presume the card could easily be swiped.

- Status recognition on partners (ie Virgin Atlantic). If they seriously want to compete for the premium market they will need to do this.

- Virgin Atlantic flights to help count for DJ status.

 

[Yada Yada]

For me, the main thing lacking is that Virgin Blue does not belong to an alliance. Domestically, Velocity Gold gives me everything I need and is equal to or better than QF Gold. However, it has no international status - once I drop down from QF Gold this year, I lose international lounge access.

My preference would be for them to join Star Alliance - with SQ and NZ close by, it would open up a world of opportunity for travellers.

 

[codash1099]

I'd join Velocity if I could transfer points to QF

 

[SeaWolf]

My preference would be for them to join Star Alliance - with SQ and NZ close by, it would open up a world of opportunity for travellers.

Judging by the number of threads here that keep speculating about DJ joing *A I think everyone here would like to see it happen. But it just seems to be something that'll probably be a long way off, if it ever happens at all. Maybe V Australia will bring us a little closer.

 

[Wunala Dreaming]

I'd like for Velocity to introduce the ability to transfer points between accounts (Mum/Dad/Sister/Brother etc) and agree, that having free access to Live2Air TV with a Silver and/or Gold Velocity card would be a great idea.

Cheers

 

[openseat]

I'd like to see the priority check in line open to Lounge members.

As for star alliance - I don't think it will happen, especially because of V Australia opening on a route that already has two other star alliance carriers competing for business to the West Coast US.

Better for Velocity levels to be recognised on VS and VX as well as some others like MH and BD.

 

[DJ737]

Better for Velocity levels to be recognised on VS and VX as well as some others like MH and BD

Hi there

Then get BD to status match

Cheers
DJ737

 

[wallacej]

In addition to the other benefits I would like to see for Gold members, I would add upgrade (if available) to a premium economy seat....

 

[ANstar]

I'd like to see the priority check in line open to Lounge members.

I agree - this would also match what QF allows for Qantas Club members.

The lines at SYD can be a nightmare at times and being able to use the empty premium line would be a big plus - presumably it also doesn't realyl cost DJ anything?

As for star alliance - I don't think it will happen
.....

Better for Velocity levels to be recognised on VS and VX as well as some others like MH and BD.

I don't think an alliance membership will happen for a while if at all. The Virgin airlines like to be non aligned in that respect. BUT it doesn't mean they can't offer some of these benefits with their partners.

IE... Virgin Atlantic's FF prgoram allows you to earn Status Points on their partner airlines (except DJ). So if you fly MH or NZ you still earn towards keeping your flying club status.

Another airline that is non aligned - Aer Lingus, also allows you to earn tier points on their partner airlines and use their lounges to.

So I would like to see Emirates & Virgin Atlantic flights to be tier earning towards Velocity status. Emirates fly most places these days so would be a big draw card.

 

[ANstar]

In addition to the other benefits I would like to see for Gold members, I would add upgrade (if available) to a premium economy seat....

Or do something like Air NZ. Once you reach gold you get one e-upgrade or somethign like that.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Question: how are you guys prepared to pay for these things?

Certainly some things have a low opportunity cost (e.g. access to empty priority line). But it can upset those that have access to priority line now to have to wait longer on occasion (cue the usual whinging about how things are being devalued).

Basically everything you guys are asking for costs money (access to lounges of other airlines, providing upgrades and so on) whether that be actual outlay, forgone revenue or rejigging back-end systems to cater.

Given that DJ isn't exactly rolling around in spare cash at the moment, the question, in my mind, is how much are you prepared to pay for these additional benefits?

 

[ANstar]

Given that DJ isn't exactly rolling around in spare cash at the moment, the question, in my mind, is how much are you prepared to pay for these additional benefits?

Well I would certainly send more business the way of DJ if these facilities were available.

As for lounges, I would expect some reciprocity between the airlines, so DJ should also get $$ coming in from Skywards & flying Club members also.

Also, if you could earn status by flying some partners, that is business Emairates etc would receive, which in turn they would be paying Velcoity so I could get miles = more revenue for DJ.

 

[Travel Guru]

I'd like to see the priority check in line open to Lounge members.

This would be my number one request also, it's probably the only thing stopping me signing up as a DJ lounge member.

Living on the Gold Coast, DJ is a natural choice for flights, but as long as I have no access to a priority line as a lounge member, i'll keep making the journey up the M1 to BNE where I can access priority lines and tags with QF.

TG

 

[comint]

This would be my number one request also, it's probably the only thing stopping me signing up as a DJ lounge member.

Obviously I understand that the only domestic airline operating from the Gold Coast, that offers Priority Check-in, is Virgin Blue. (And that DJ now has "unwritten benefits" for those who qualify to check-in using this queue, making this airline somewhat more attractive on the Gold Coast.) I also assume that given your profession you would get a reasonable $deal from any of the airlines that operate domestic lounges. BUT…

At list price DJ The Lounge is $369 per year & QF/JQ The Qantas Club is $405 per year.

Number of Domestic Lounges
DJ: 5 (6 soon)
QF: 12 + 8 (branded as regional) = 20

Qantas has 4 times the number of domestic lounges than Virgin Blue.


Number of International Lounges in Australia
DJ: 0
QF: 4 + Adelaide

Virgin Blue The Lounge members do not qualify for lounge access when flying on Virgin Blue Group international services.
Qantas The Qantas Club members qualify for lounge access when flying any Qantas Group airline code or British Airways departing Australia.


Number of Lounges in New Zealand
DJ: 0
QF: 6 (JQ ?on 3)

Number of other International Lounges
DJ: 0
QF: 20

Number of other airlines, offering network-wide lounge access to their own lounges, when flying that airline.
DJ: 0
QF: 2 (British Airways & American Airlines)

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Living on the Gold Coast, DJ is a natural choice for flights, but as long as I have no access to a priority line as a lounge member, i'll keep making the journey up the M1 to BNE where I can access priority lines and tags with QF.

So you have DJ lounge access, but you prefer to spend time driving to a more distant airport to save some time in the checkin line?

Sounds a little odd to me

 

[Flashback]

So you have DJ lounge access, but you prefer to spend time driving to a more distant airport to save some time in the checkin line?

Sounds a little odd to me

To me it sounds like he does not have DJ lounge access.