Accelerate Back to Business discounts - 15% off Economy and Business fares

[kevrosmith]

If you're a member of Virgin Accelerate, they are offering another bonus discount period: 15% off fares, book by 31 March 2017, travel by 30 June 2017.

 

[QF WP]

Just joined and it looks like my timing is pretty good - looking back at my VA spend, I can't understand why I hadn't joined before....

 

[Marty_]

I have only just realised I should join this. Signing up now.

VA don't seem to promote it?

 

[Jet L]

I think I signed up my mothers business spend last year but never heard back from them, Ill re apply as she does qualify for the program, completely forgot about it

 

[QF WP]

Looks like my request has been accepted, just got email:

Thank you, your account profile has now been updated.

Kind regards
Virgin Australia Reservation Accounts

However what was more annoying was the subsequent 5 emails in 6 minutes all advising updates of my profile (another 3 advising "arranger" updates, 1 x updated corporate profile and the last showing my company name). So I've sent them a tersely worded email:

Hi Accelerate Team,

I recently signed up for the Accelerate program (don’t know why it took me so long), so I was expecting a “welcome” email with an outline of the program and how (and where) to log in, get password etc.

Sadly, none of this happened in my instance. Instead, this morning I received 6 emails in 6 minutes, I had to use Google to find the Corporate log in page (annoying, as this should have been in the FIRST email I received from Accelerate). Even now, I have no clear idea about whether I already have registered and have an account username or if I have, did I put in a password? Your emails are moot on these questions. From deduction in the email subject headings, I assume my account number for my company is 8000xx_xx_x

When looking from a customer satisfaction viewpoint, surely one that engages clients in the initial steps is better, as this will engender engagement at a much deeper level through-out. You haven’t lost me, but my desire to use the program is already being tested.

I did copy in the Head of Marketing (thankfully he knows me from our interactions here on AFF). That should get some action

 

[kevrosmith]

That should get some action

Except that changes to their systems may cost money, something of which they seem to lack lately.

 

[Dannyism]

What the heck is VA accelerate ?

 

[QF WP]

I did copy in the Head of Marketing (thankfully he knows me from our interactions here on AFF). That should get some action

Looks like it worked, as he replied at 6pm last night:

QF WP, Thanks for the feedback – sounds like some work is needed there! Will pass on to the right teams.

Sure enough, at 8.07am, the email that I expected to get first, came through:

Welcome on-board accelerate

Good morning QF WP,

We are pleased to welcome you on-board the accelerate program. Everything you need to start booking, receiving applicable point of sale discounts and tracking towards your potential rebate is in the email below - please call or email us anytime to clarify your account details.

Important information:
Please keep this email on file for future reference - disregard any previous system generated email advice.
All bookings must be made through the accelerate Corporate Portal to track your spend towards earning your rebate as we are unable to backdate tickets made via the general Virgin Australia website.
Please keep us informed should your key contact details or company information change so we can update our system.

Travel Arranger profile (to make/manage bookings):
Use the below generic company login details to access your Travel Arranger profile for making bookings immediately. Your Travel Arranger login will allow you to book flights that track towards your rebate - this will be your most frequently used login.

Account Username: [company name]

Account Password: [password]

NOTE: You can setup additional Travel Arrangers using your Admin Login details provided above. Complete the simple “Create Travel Arranger” section located at the top of the Admin page. You will be prompted to create your own unique username and password.

Individual Traveller profile:
To save you time when making bookings using your Travel Arranger login, Individual Traveller profiles can be created for your frequent travellers to store the traveller’s information. Searching and selecting their profile on the Search For Traveller page allows their information to pre-populate into the reservation you are making. There is no need to login to create Individual Traveller profiles.
Located under the Account Username and Forgotten Password fields select the red hyperlink “Enrol Individual Travellers” or click here. Fill in ONLY the fields with a red asterisk (*) and the velocity membership number. Other fields will not pre load into the booking so the information is not required.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NOT LOGIN TO BOOK FLIGHTS USING THESE TRAVELLER PROFILES - THEY WILL NOT TRACK FOR REBATE.

Cancelling flights and Reissuing tickets:
In case you are unable to cancel your booking via your Travel Arranger login online, please contact the Virgin Australia Guest Contact Centre on: 1300 246 498 (option 2) and quote your below Refund Profile ID. Please advise the agent on the phone you are an accelerate client and provide the below information.

Refund Profile ID: [account number] - obtain a refund to your corporate travel bank (applicable fare rules will apply).

Multi-city bookings:
To make any multi-city bookings, please contact the Virgin Australia Guest Contact Centre on: 1300 246 498 (option 2) and quote your below Corporate ID to ensure these bookings made over the phone are tracked and discounts can be accessed on your behalf.

Corporate ID: [account number] - book/rebook flights and track towards you rebate.

Administrator profile:
Your Administrator profile login is used to update information about your company. You can create, update and delete Travel Arrangers, view Traveller Profiles, update company details and view your company corporate travel bank credits from cancelled bookings.

Account Username: [account username]

Account Password: [password]

Useful links:

Corporate login page - link	Enrol Individual Travellers page - link
Corporate Portal User Guide - link	Maintenance Form (changes to account) - link
Accelerate information - link

For any enquiries please contact your accelerate account management team via email [email protected] or call us on 1300 246 498 (option 1).

 

[QF WP]

What the heck is VA accelerate ?

Read everything here: https://www.virginaustralia.com/cs/...ents/webcontent/~edisp/accelerate-june-16.pdf

 

[Dannyism]

Read everything here: https://www.virginaustralia.com/cs/...ents/webcontent/~edisp/accelerate-june-16.pdf

Thanks QF WP.

 

[Marty_]

I just had the same experience as QF WP.

5 emails with the one-liner, "Thank you, your account profile has now been updated." No links, no explanation...

I don't know where to log in, what my password is, what my username is... I don't have a clue what's going on.

Edit - make that 6 emails...

Edit - 7...

 

[QF WP]

I'm not sure whether my email to the Head of Marketing didn't anything to correct my issue, or it happened out or order (sounds like yours as well). Let me know if you want any email addresses to shake the tree (his or the Corporate Account Exec who ended up emailing my "Virgin Australia accelerate - Welcome on-board" email...)

 

[Guvner]

I'm not sure whether my email to the Head of Marketing didn't anything to correct my issue, or it happened out or order (sounds like yours as well). Let me know if you want any email addresses to shake the tree (his or the Corporate Account Exec who ended up emailing my "Virgin Australia accelerate - Welcome on-board" email...)

You might want to email the Head of Marketing again..


This is on the Virgin Australia landing page. (Red circle is my edit)

 

[QF WP]

Oh that is hilarious - I'm sure nobody took the bait (if it was J, then it seems reasonable).

My landing page has a different set of 3 offers, none as generous as that...

 

[QF WP]

You might want to email the Head of Marketing again..


This is on the Virgin Australia landing page. (Red circle is my edit)

View attachment 90520

Have passed on the link to him - I'm sure he won't find it as hilarious as I did

 

[Marty_]

With respect to the strange emails, I really couldn't care insofar as it affects me. Clearly they have a bit of a glitch in the system whereby, whilst they are setting up the account it notifies the customer that their profile and settings are being changed.

My concern is only that it makes VA look bad to prospective business customers. It's their credibility to lose.

 

[QF WP]

Indeed Marty, goodwill (like brownie points) is given slowly and taken quickly.

The Head of Marketing has emailed me, thanking us for passing on the error.

 

[kevrosmith]

Last few days to book discounted VA fares under the Back to Business discounts. Get in quick before the offer expires.

 

[QF WP]

Can't remember whether I booked my last VA trip (BNE/MEL/PER) using this deal, but thanks for the reminder kevrosmith. have a BNE/SYD and BNE/MEL returns that I could book tomorrow. Didn't recall seeing the date extension but I'm getting old...

 

[kevrosmith]

Didn't recall seeing the date extension but I'm getting old...

I just noticed that I put the wrong date in my OP. The offer was always until 31st March (as per the screen shot), but I wrote 1st March in the post. Oops.