Argh! I've joined Velocity! Am I wasting my time?

[Warks]

Owing to my tighta$$ company clamping down on expenses while recording ever increasing profits and patting themselves on the back for being such a wonderful employer, we now fly cheapest fare available, which will mean Vermin 90% of the time. It's a great way to irritate and demotivate staff.

Having flown with them 5 times in the past few weeks (1 cancellation) I thought I'd better join up to make the most of it. First question is (and I did a search for the answer) can I get any credit for flights made before I joined? I know you could with QFF 10 years ago but I guess it's too much to hope for. The card is probably only any good for speedy check-in on the machine and jemmying open doorlocks.

Second question is: how can we book our foreign boss on a Vermin flight on a Friday afternoon that is bound to be cancelled, stranding him in another city for the weekend? Any suggested flights?​

 

[Mal]

The Velocity Rewards program does have lots of things going for it. Plus of course I want Qantas to have some competition within Australia and feel that someone is actually competing with them.

As for your first question, officially the answer is no. But why not log onto the Velocity site and put in a "Missing Points Claim". You can only be knocked back!

Now the second question is a lot trickier. Without suggesting anything illegal that may get myself banned from future DJ flights and/or criminal charges for you , there is no carrier or flight you can choose that is guaranteed to not fly. Both Qantas and DJ have cancellations at various times and for various reasons.

BTW, you'll learn to love DJ. Hit your boss up for a lounge membership and kick back in the club and enjoy a few mellow drinks before your flights. If your boss is too much of a $$$ chaser, then join up yourself and try to claim it as a tax deduction.

 

[bigjobs]

if you have to travel as part of your job you can claim a club membership as a deduction

 

[Dalmien76]

Warks,

You can do what Mal suggested and put in a Missing Points Claim form, however, you maybe wasting your time. An airline has to draw a line as to when they should give points to a guest and the easiest way is to have the condition whereby a person needs to be a member before they can earn points. If there wasn't this condition, then how far back do you go? You will then get people wanting their points from 3 years ago (and trust me, there are people out there who will ask....I can assure you). If you flew prior to joining, then that flight doesn't count......That's just life I suppose. I have worked for a few airlines in the past, and the conditions are the same....

As for the "Vermin" comment, just because Virgin Blue is considered a "New World Carrier" (formally known as a Low Cost Carrier) doesn't mean that they carry "Vermin" as you call them 90% of the time. I think that is quite a generalistic term. As far as I am concerned, no matter what airline you travel on, there is a wide demographic that travel.....I have seen a wide variety of people on Virgin Blue, QANTAS, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines......and the list goes on....

I earn a reasonable wage, but I don't feel that it gives me the right to look down on others that have just as much right to travel on an aircraft as I do or you do. Oh, and airline travel is there to get people from A to B, and obviously there for you to be able to conduct your business. Your work also pays for your travel and have every right to look for fares that keep their costs down and ultimately save money which potentially could keep you in a job for years to come.

I too travel for work, and in all honesty, as long as the airline get me there safely, and in one piece, have an excellent track record in maintaining their aircraft, have the youngest fleet in australia, then I will continue to fly Virgin Blue.

I agree with Mal, try The Lounge in Syd, Bne or Mel, I am sure that you wont be disappointed. Certainly a product that will give QF a run for their money, and one mainly aimed at the business traveller.

Happy flying Warks and I hope that you don't have to sit next to any "Virmin" on any airline that you choose (or have to) travel on....

 

[serfty]

... As for the "Vermin" comment, just because Virgin Blue is considered a "New World Carrier" (formally known as a Low Cost Carrier) doesn't mean that they carry "Vermin" as you call them 90% of the time. I think that is quite a generalistic term. As far as I am concerned, no matter what airline you travel on, there is a wide demographic that travel.....I have seen a wide variety of people on Virgin Blue, QANTAS, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines......and the list goes on.... ... Happy flying Warks and I hope that you don't have to sit next to any "Virmin" on any airline that you choose (or have to) travel on....

Methinks Dalmien76 that you missed the point here.

Irreverrance is an Aussie trait as I am sure you well know; hence the use in this board use of terms like WP, SG, PS, NB, Deathstar, Vermin Blue, Qaintarse etc.

In this case Vermin is a play on the Airline's name; not a specific reference to any PAX who travel thereupon.

 

[JohnK]

An airline has to draw a line as to when they should give points to a guest and the easiest way is to have the condition whereby a person needs to be a member before they can earn points.

Actually some airlines go back 6 months, others 3 months.

I flew QF SYD-BKK-SYD April 20-25 2003 and joined Qantas FFP end May before flights SYD-BKK-SYD May 27-June 6 2003. My anniversary became May 31st and both of those flights counted toward the new membership year. Thanks to those flights I made PS the first year of membership.

As for the "Vermin" comment, just because Virgin Blue is considered a "New World Carrier" (formally known as a Low Cost Carrier) doesn't mean that they carry "Vermin" as you call them 90% of the time.

As serfty mentioned I think you missed the point here. "Vermin" is the nickname given to Virgin Blue and due to company policy Warks would be stuck flying Virgin Blue 90% of the time. No mention of the type of people that fly Virgin Blue.

Owing to my tighta$$ company clamping down on expenses while recording ever increasing profits and patting themselves on the back for being such a wonderful employer, we now fly cheapest fare available, which will mean Vermin 90% of the time. It's a great way to irritate and demotivate staff.

 

[Dalmien76]

Ok, if that be the case, I apologise for the fact that I misunderstood the "Play on words" that was intended by the article.

However, I am perplexed by the comment though that would instantly assume that his buiness choice to use Virgin Blue (or Virmin Blue as you quaintly call it) would irritate and demotivate staff.... In what way? Who cares what airline a company chooses to get its employees to where they need to be to conduct their business? As long as the airline get you there.

(and all I can say is that out of 5 flights, only one was cancelled, I think that they are good odds, considering that cancellations, delays and the like are common.)

I have no issues with people wanting to get to a place hassle free (especially when it comes to business) however, we are talking about a form of transport that is ruled by weather, unforseen engineering issues with such complex machines, it is expected that things don't always go to plan all the time. You cant tell me QF don't have these problems.

I too travel for work, and am firstly grateful for the opportunity to have this chance to travel for work, secondly, if I am delayed, it is usually unforseen and if it means I get there or home in one piece, then that makes me happy......

I would also be happy that his work is allowing him to claim points on fares that he isn't even paying for. So, in theory, he is getting something for nothing......

I do stand corrected though with the use of terminology on this website, i am sure the more threads I read, the more I will understand the unique use of words used. However, I think my point was in what way the comments were meant.

 

[Commuter]

Methinks Dalmien76 that you missed the point here.

Irreverrance is an Aussie trait as I am sure you well know; hence the use in this board use of terms like WP, SG, PS, NB, Deathstar, Vermin Blue, Qaintarse etc.

In this case Vermin is a play on the Airline's name; not a specific reference to any PAX who travel thereupon.

Hehe, I think so too. I thought "Hahaha, Vermin Blue!!" - and as an occasional SLF on DJ, I didn't think for a moment Vermin was referring to myself

I have heard worse on "Qaintarse" though. Next time you are in Asia, see how it's pronounced much of the time... and you'll see what I mean. :mrgreen:

 

[Yada Yada]

Owing to my tighta$$ company clamping down on expenses while recording ever increasing profits and patting themselves on the back for being such a wonderful employer, we now fly cheapest fare available, which will mean Vermin 90% of the time. It's a great way to irritate and demotivate staff.

Warks - assuming you are flying in economy, I'd suggest that flying DJ would be a happier experience. And as Mal suggested, the new DJ lounge is great.

Irreverrance is an Aussie trait as I am sure you well know; hence the use in this board use of terms like WP, SG, PS, NB, Deathstar, Vermin Blue, Qaintarse etc.

Not to mention a few of my personal favourites, the Red Rat and Geoffstar.

 

[jakeseven7]

Owing to my tighta$$ company clamping down on expenses while recording ever increasing profits and patting themselves on the back for being such a wonderful employer, we now fly cheapest fare available, which will mean Vermin 90% of the time. It's a great way to irritate and demotivate staff.​

Don't be too upset - our company switched from QF account, to best fare of the day for 18months then back to QF - phew. During the time we were on best fare, travel ratio spend for domestic was 80% QF, 18% DJ, 2 % other.... Procurement know that people just rigged their trips so DJ couldn't service them..

It is pretty easy to get around - this is what we did: 1) Just plan your trip and nominate really strict flight times when you know Vermin don't have a flight (i.e you need to be at xx_ at XX time but can't make the flight 30 mins earlier as you have to drop xx_ off at school) 2) You will be suprised but if you are flying flexible, QF will 2 times out of 3 have the cheaper fare anyway - esp on mainline routes.

So really when I think about it.. QF probably made more money out of us when we didn't get our corporate discount from them during the dark old days of best fare of the day lol

 

[jakeseven7]

However, I am perplexed by the comment though that would instantly assume that his buiness choice to use Virgin Blue (or Virmin Blue as you quaintly call it) would irritate and demotivate staff.... In what way? Who cares what airline a company chooses to get its employees to where they need to be to conduct their business? As long as the airline get you there.

No offence but that is a little naive.

 

[Commuter]

I think I would be somewhat irritated if my employer had been flying me by Qantas and then suddenly changed its policy to 'lowest available fare', although I wouldn't have much say in the matter. I think the standards between Virgin and Qantas are somewhat different.

 

[acampbel]

My company also has the "best fare on the day" rule, though by being flexible with my travel times (and allowing a 20% fudge factor for the savings I make by drin...eating in the QC) I have until now managed to stick with Qantas.

But today I had to book a Sydney/Brisbane return flight and although the outward leg was close enough ($95 vs $111) the return was not close ($230 vs $300 for a flexible fare). So I will be going up on QF and returning on DJ. I will lose out on 1000 QFF points and 10 status credits, but gain some Velocity points which will add to the 15000 stolen from NAB. As they say - worse things happen at sea.

I have flown Virgin a couple of times (group bookings for conferences) and have nothing against them per se, but one of the perks of business travel are the FF points. I rely upon them to fund a return flight to Blighty every couple of years (with another ticket gained from credit-card usage), and the last thing I want to do is spread them amongst 2 schemes.

But to make up for it I have booked 2 nights at the Conrad Treasury which gets the 1000 points back, and I'm sure if I fall 10 SCs short of requalifying for Silver that Qantas will understand. Won't they?

 

[Dalmien76]

No offence but that is a little naive.

Naive? In what way? His company has a right to choose who it decides to use when it comes to airlines. If anyone is naive its the guy that decided he knew it would irritate and demotivate staff if they travelled DJ. Isn't that a tad presumptious to make that assumption?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

(and all I can say is that out of 5 flights, only one was cancelled, I think that they are good odds, considering that cancellations, delays and the like are common.)

I hope the airlines don't share your opinion. If 20% of my flights were cancelled my business and personal life would be severely disrupted. Thankfully in over 100 flights this year I have had only 1 cancellation. The year before none.

 

[Yada Yada]

I think the standards between Virgin and Qantas are somewhat different.

You're right. They're better at Virgin Blue.

 

[NM]

I would be very disappointed if my company changed from a QF contract to "best fare on the day" policy. Not because I think DJ is sub-standard (they are a good airline), but because I fly enough to reach a decent status level in one airline program only. And with FF status comes additional benefits that I would not receive if flying an airline other than the one in which I have an investment in their FF program.

So for me its not a matter of one airline is better than the other, but that I like to focus my FF benefits into a single program in order to maximise my personal benefits from the fact that I must spend weeks at a time away from my loved ones. And at this time I have chosen AAdvantage as my FF program of choice (having just changed from QF FF to AA) as it matched my company's travel policy, suites my travel patterns and provides what I consider god value earn/burn rates.

Any disappointment I have with a need to fly DJ has nothing to do with the quality of DJ's service, but has everything to do with losing the benefits I receive from my chosen loyalty program.

 

[BobD]

I think the standards between Virgin and Qantas are somewhat different.

Compare the lounges at BNE, SYD and MEL and get back to me Commuter. You might be surprised at who's "standard" is better.

I guess DJ are expecting that some "new world" ways of thinking may meet with their attempts at becoming this "new world carrier". Though some may be a little too set in their old ways to adapt to this attitude - but I'm guessing they are not their target anyway and can happily live without them.

 

[Warks]

Thanks everyone. Also thanks to those who cleared up the 'Vermin' confusion. While some pax may well be relatives of rodents the vast majority are lovely people who just want to get where the are going on time and in one piece.
The big problem with DJ is that with early flights I have no time for breakfast at home, the company won't pay for us to buy it in the terminal and we can't get into a lounge. There being no food on the flight (that I'd pay to eat) I now go hungry or lash out in the terminal. BTW I visited "The Lounge" in MEL for $30 a few weeks ago when my DJ flight was cancelled. It was MUCH better than a QP mainly because it wasn't so damn crowded - in fact there were only about 10 people in there. Broadband connection was the real bonus for me so I could work without wasting time on slow phone lines. Didn't use much else as I was trying to justify my $30 in expenses. Liked the look of the pool table and the mini cinema though. The food will probably be better than QP - perhaps they (QP) will raise their standards??
If my company will give us membership then a lot of problems will be resolved. Won't hold my breath. QFF points are dead due to taxes and levys anyway IMHO. (That probably only applies domestically)

 

[AnonymousCoward]

However, I am perplexed by the comment though that would instantly assume that his buiness choice to use Virgin Blue (or Virmin Blue as you quaintly call it) would irritate and demotivate staff.... In what way? Who cares what airline a company chooses to get its employees to where they need to be to conduct their business? As long as the airline get you there.

Dalmien76,

There may be several ways that this might impact morale adversely. We have a lot of people who travel (it's a consulting firm), and whilst travel is part of the job, it would be nice if it could be as painless as possible.

DJ planes do not have as much luggage space as QANTAS planes do. Ergo, you need to check in luggage (or run the risk of DJ attendants doing it for you). But you get no priority luggage on DJ - you wait like everyone else does for your luggage both to check it in, and to get it back.

DJ does not serve breakfast on the plane (and what you can buy is pretty ordinary). If you're already getting up at 4:30am to get to some other city, do you really want to get up at 4am to eat a (very) early breakfast at home?

Employees may have invested in QP membership on the expectation that the company would not be changing it's flying policy. If they do arbitrarily change, especially without notice, then that investment is "down the drain" so to speak

Many employees who travel frequently see the rewards from the airline (namely FF points/status) as the quid-pro-quo for giving up one's social life to travel interstate for extended periods of time. Now the employee has to split their accumulation across multiple programs, or possibly discard one and start again on a new one. The reward availability on OneWorld is much more varied/extensive than what's available with DJ's program

These are all little things, and maybe you believe that employees should not expect stuff in return for "doing their job". However employees factor these benefits into their return when considering taking the job. If you just travel for a day here and there, it's probably not big deal. If you travel each and every week, for months on end, then these types of things begin to factor a bit larger in the calculation.