Bonus Velocity Status Credits for VA flights - Book & fly between 12 January and 31 March 2026

[Warks]

So Rochlach's childish boast that the mad changes were 'to thin the herds at lounges' got Virgin nowhere.

And then there's the introduction of the Amex Velocity card with free lounge access? Counterintuitive isn't it?

 

[SeaWolf]

Little wonder they have dumped Rohlach, and hopefully new blood will frantically try and reconvert many of the 100,000s who have jumped ship.
first auto bumping up masses of folks who got 'close' to requalifying, then this. Panic is already setting in.
Just activated my wife for a complimentary Platinum card, as I flew so much last year. So another year of Bennies even if we add zero dollars to revenue.

Sounds like they can't be doing all that much wrong if even someone who despises VA as much as you do has kept flying them so much that you've earned at least enough status credits in the last year to be gifting Platinum.

Not such a DiSaStEr after all.

 

[PERLHR]

And then there's the introduction of the Amex Velocity card with free lounge access? Counterintuitive isn't it?

I don't mind that so much....I just think that there are to many "free loaders" who can be invited in..especially those who are not actually flying!! What is the point of that? There are still to many people in the VA lounges more often than not.

 

[ozstamps]

Sounds like they can't be doing all that much wrong if even someone who despises VA as much as you do has kept flying them so much that you've earned at least enough status credits in the last year to be gifting Platinum.

You really should apply for Rohrlach's job, as like him, you simply just do not get it.

Have done a lot of $$$$$$ spending in the PAST as it was then worth it to me.

Yes it easily gave me the extra 1000 SC to gift the wife Platinum this week, so we are all set. Zero $$$s inwards this year to Virgin tho. Just like MANY others clearly.

Or, these frantic and half coughd current and poorly communicated attempts to claw back ONCE loyal elites would not now be in place.

Panic Button has been pressed in there, by someone watching revenue, and market share slide.

Of course 'to thin the herd at lounges' all they needed do is insist all guests be FLYING Virgin same day - Qantas do it, and it clearly works. Mr Rorhlach did not have the savvy to see that, and he is gone.

I was in ADL lounge on Saturday afternoon and one large gathering was more a free party than actual flyers. Flight was called and 2 of the group walked to gate, and a half dozen rellies all remained, boozing and eating on and having a great time.

 

[arrow]

I was in ADL lounge on Saturday afternoon and one large gathering was more a free party than actual flyers. Flight was called and 2 of the group walked to gate, and a half dozen rellies all remained, boozing and eating on and having a great time.

This has got to be satire! Are there actually people who go to the airport, pay the exorbitant parking and the go through the hassle of going through security to have pretty substandard (free) food?

 

[ozstamps]

In Adelaide there is a free public bus to the Terminal - have taken it to and from Marion Shopping centre myself and I assume it goes to other places. (Well free for me as I have a Senior's Travel Card but recall it is free for all.)

Clearing security with no bags is of course a cinch and ADL has that outer security lane no-one seems to use much, so if the family was with the Plats I guess all can use it.

I suppose a few drinks and food is a $50 a head 'freebie' in some folk's minds! A $300 freebie for 6 non travellers.

Virgin can stop that DEAD with just one very minor fine-tuning of the rules, and not drive off 1000s of Plats on the dog-whistle official lame excuse of 'overcrowded lounges'.

I must confess now and again, I've used the 'non-flying guest' benefit for 1 person in the past in ADL - for a relative flying Qantas around same time, but as it is not policed or outlawed in any way, it is within the rules.

 

[eastwest101]

This has got to be satire! Are there actually people who go to the airport, pay the exorbitant parking and the go through the hassle of going through security to have pretty substandard (free) food?

Australians can be unbeleivably imaginative to get alcohol for free, as others have said, most airports have public transport and/or Uber and Taxis and if you are going out to drink then an Uber or Taxi is part of the equation anyway - in this case its just free booze at the expense of the operator of the airline lounge instead of your own pocket so actually a very attractive proposition for would be a fairly small number of booze hounds, with a disproportiante effect on the bar tab in the Velocity lounges.

Anyway - a bit off topic to the discussion about the bonus status credit offer, but the issue keeps on arising because Virgin/Velocity's communications have been all over the shop about their recent frequent flyer scheme devaluations, and whether it was "lounge crowding" or not that was part of the decision making and how the use of the Amex Plat cardholder access fits into that decision making..