Velocity changes: Changes to status credits

[pshepvic]

Ahh. I see what you mean. Basicley the $ I guess. Nothing else.

It was useful for Virgin when their lounges wern't that full as a way of some cash on the side. Now they are trying to grab a slide of the Business market. It won't be so quiet.

But still probably won't look like the Melbourne zoo on a Friday night like the QP does!

 

[LiamR]

But still probably won't look like the Melbourne zoo on a Friday night like the QP does!

Don't get me started on the BNE J Lounge on Mornings...

 

[markis10]

Please keep this thread on topic - that is the changes to status credits with DJ, not jobs for BJ or anything else that might be more suitable in the playground.

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

OK - thanks for the clarification. But could you please explain what happens in this circumstance..? If I book MEL-SYD-AUH-DUB and return, I have previously received points and SCs for each sector. Is it now the case that I will receive a single entry on my statement MEL-DUB and earn points and SCs as if it were a single sector?

Formal connections only exist in the DJ world - international flying will remain as is - so you would expect to see MEL-SYD and then SYD-AUH and the AUH-DUB and the same in reverse.

And if that's not the case because it's booked through VA in a separate booking engine to DJ, what will happen when the two are merged in to one by the end of the year (going out on a limb here, but I assume that's what will happen)

Should all be booked on VA code via VA booking engine.

 

[notzac]

Formal connections only exist in the DJ world - international flying will remain as is - so you would expect to see MEL-SYD and then SYD-AUH and the AUH-DUB and the same in reverse.

Thanks for answering my question means that my upcoming flights will stay the way I expect them to, which I'm happy about.

Should all be booked on VA code via VA booking engine.

I'm not sure if I'm reading too much in to your reply - but if everything becomes the VA code booked from the VA booking engine sometime before the end of the year, does that mean that "formal connections" as we understand them in DJ land also vanish?

 

[MelUser]

I must say I am SHOCKED (and I do not use capitals often) by the velocity decision not to award SCs on a segment basis (a la QF with oneworld flights).

Unless this decision is reversed I will not be diverting business from oneworld/QF to DJ/VA/Etihad/Delta/whoever current partners are.

DJ - please rethink this decision as it does not encourage flying and ticket purchasing etc which would be good for your business.

 

[Keith009]

The SC calculation method isn't ideal. Perhaps they've been monitoring the SC run threads on here and have been trying to stamp out such practices by ensuring that people who qualify for status are high spenders. Not that 99.99% of the traveling public will do SC runs or the creative routings that AFFers are capable of anyway!

But I'd also like to note that qualifying for and retaining Gold with Velocity requires a lower amount of SCs than QFF. So maybe this balances out the decreased SC count on 'formal' connecting journeys. Also, PE travel also seems to attract far more SCs on Velocity than QFF - great for frequent long haul PE flyers like myself.

 

[markis10]

But I'd also like to note that qualifying for and retaining Gold with Velocity requires a lower amount of SCs than QFF. So maybe this balances out the decreased SC count on 'formal' connecting journeys. Also, flying on PE also seems to attract far more SCs on Velocity than QFF - great for frequent long haul PE flyers like myself.

They have certainly addressed the issue of revenue required to achieve/maintain status which was a big complaint, and must admit over the long weekend it did look too easy!

 

[connieguy]

They have certainly addressed the issue of revenue required to achieve/maintain status which was a big complaint, and must admit over the long weekend it did look too easy!

I'm planning on 2 long weekends (4 - 7 days) in Samoa with the wife over winter. That way we both get DJ Gold as DJ do not have a partner program and the SC run turns into something enjoyable.

Adl/Apia = 120 SCs for A$959 going up and A$919 coming back. Now all I need is a travel deal to Samoa that uses DJ Y+ and I'm a happy camper / FFer.

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

I'm planning on 2 long weekends (4 days) in Samoa with the wife over winter. That way we both get DJ Gold as DJ do not have a partner program and the SC run turns into something enjoyable.

Adl/Apia = 120 SCs for A$959 going up and A$919 coming back. Now all I need is a travel deal to Samoa that uses DJ Y+ and I'm a happy camper / FFer.

You could try here

 

[connieguy]

You could try here

Thanks. Appreciate the feedback but the web page is blank for that link and for the general Holidays tab on the DJ web site.???

 

[leemin]

Thanks. Appreciate the feedback but the web page is blank for that link and for the general Holidays tab on the DJ web site.???

Everything except the homepage seems to be down..

 

[connieguy]

Everything except the homepage seems to be down..

Damn, everybody is busy booking Adl/Apia/Adl holiday / SC run to get out of the cold and wet Adelaide winter and has taken the DJ web site down.

 

[Misha]

You could try here

love your work

Last night I booked my MEL-LAX (VA), LAX-SFO (Delta), SFO-SEA (Delta). Only wish I could get SC on Delta

Will then book (when have time to think) SEA-ORD, ORD-AUH, AUH-CAI, CAI-MEL all with Etihad... bring on Platinum

 

[connieguy]

Comparing DJ to QF for Adl/Lax/Adl in J:

1) Adl/Lax/Adl in J for ~A$3.1k with Air Pacific, earning 590 QF SCs (A$5.25 / SC) and getting VERY close to retaining QF Gold (600 SCs).

or

2) Adl/Lax/Adl in J for ~A$9.2k with DJ and VA, earning 400 DJ SCs (A$23 / SC) and retaining DJ Gold (400 SCs).

So either

1) Spend A$3.1k with the QF / QF partners / OW and retain QF Gold

or

2) Spend A$9.2k and retain DJ Gold.

Sorry guys but on this route, there is NO issue with who to spend your money with. DJ are not even close. More like 3 x the cost with DJ for the same SC benefit (retain Gold).

 

[markis10]

Sorry guys but on this route, there is NO issue with who to spend your money with. DJ are not even close. More like 3 x the cost with DJ for the same SC benefit (retain Gold).

Until they pull the cheap fares now they have no competition in J to NAN , given you can get Gold for $2500 with DJ domestically its clear the OS options are best for crediting to QF unless you are heading to Europe. Having just requal'd WP and on track to requal gold with DJ I am happy, heck, might even hit Plat with DJ while also hitting LTG with QF before the year is out, all without leaving Australia.

 

[antycbr]

I have found this thread fascinating. People seem very angry at Virgin because their status credit system does not EXACTLY mirror the QF system. The definition of "trip" and "sector" caused significant issues (as I foreshadowed in my posts) and Virgin made a number of blunders in clarifying it. They've done the right thing in honouring the reservations made in the period when the definition was not clear.

However the definition now makes a lot of sense and stops people gaming the system. It also discourages status runs that cost more to the airline and have negative environmental outcomes as well.

People comparing AA/YUP fares to get QF status to Virgin really should, in my opinion, stick to QF. I expect, at some point, QF will fix the YUPs. Virgin's status scheme is designed to reward loyalty to VA and to a lesser extent partners. Also, remember that the Gold qualification level is less on Virgin compared to QF.

Having switched from QF, I'm very happy with the new SC system compared to what went before and I think people have lost sight of that.

 

[connieguy]

I expect, at some point, QF will fix the YUPs.

AA created the YUP fare. You really expect AA to listen to QF and to kill that fare so DJ can offer a better $ / Gold retain than QF / AA? I don't think so.

Virgin's status scheme is designed to reward loyalty to VA and to a lesser extent partners. Also, remember that the Gold qualification level is less on Virgin compared to QF.

As I have posted on the Adl/Lax/Adl route, that is not correct. DJ is 3 times more expensive to retain Gold:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....anges-status-credits-30576-32.html#post450667

Having switched from QF, I'm very happy with the new SC system compared to what went before and I think people have lost sight of that.

Hey I new here and comparing what is available from QF and DJ TODAY. What has yesterdays offer to do with TODAY? From what I see, for how I fly, QF and their partners are far ahead of DJ in the A$ cost of retaining Gold on the 2 FFer programs. YMMV.

 

[connieguy]

Until they pull the cheap fares now they have no competition in J to NAN , given you can get Gold for $2500 with DJ domestically its clear the OS options are best for crediting to QF unless you are heading to Europe. Having just requal'd WP and on track to requal gold with DJ I am happy, heck, might even hit Plat with DJ while also hitting LTG with QF before the year is out, all without leaving Australia.

We are in some ways very similar and in other ways very different. I fly almost no Oz domestics and only look at international long hauls. For a short time there I did see an opening to obtain DJ Gold with Oz domestic flights, while still having DJ Lounge access as a DJ NB, but alast that option is now gone.

I can only guess that DJ think they FFer system / offer is so good they do not need to offer pathways to QF Golds / WPs to gain DJ Gold. Reality check DJ reps. You got that VERY wrong. At least for QF FFers with half a brain.

I have a feeling that DJ has played us FFers and the real next stage Velocity relaunch / DJ Platinum will not be that beneficial.

 

[samh004]

I've been loosely following this thread as things have unfolded. If I am to understand things correctly, indirect 'connecting flights' SC runs won't do much. Instead, the total journey distance is what matters.

Can't really complain or blame them as the alternative would simply be too easy to game.

AA created the YUP fare. You really expect AA to listen to QF and to kill that fare so DJ can offer a better $ / Gold retain than QF / AA? I don't think so.

The idea is that they'd change the SC earning table to exclude F SC on flights shorter than a set distance, which would exclude all but a few of the AA fares.

Anyone disgruntled about that wouldn't be particularly loyal (to QF) either.