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

[ben95]

That is illegal, penalties can be harsh sometimes.

Absolutely illegal and not to be recommended. But of the 80ish domestic flight I took last year without a checked bag my ID was verified exactly 0 time by anyone at the airport.

 

[Trekky1]

Absolutely illegal and not to be recommended. But of the 80ish domestic flight I took last year without a checked bag my ID was verified exactly 0 time by anyone at the airport.

And when I have done the bag drop, no ID check there either.....

 

[LionKing]

Absolutely illegal and not to be recommended. But of the 80ish domestic flight I took last year without a checked bag my ID was verified exactly 0 time by anyone at the airport.

To be honest, Virgin would have make our lives easier by selling Forever Gold for $144,000 or slightly less and need us not to fly.

 

[jase05]

To be honest, Virgin would have make our lives easier by selling Forever Gold for $144,000 or slightly less and need us not to fly.

Why do you want Virgin status so badly for, it’s not a great program for perks

 

[MooTime]

It's safe to say this offer has created some spirited discussion about Velocity in general across a couple of threads, but I'll respond here.

Given the Velocity changes, I understand why people are disinterested in this offer. Or that it reeks of desperation and is a half-hearted attempt to curb the loss of rusted ons. And perhaps there's an element of truth to that.

But to offer some perspective for a moment. This offer is exactly the same as the ones they've ran around this time of year for the past two years.

So it should be unsurprising that they might launch a bonus status credit offer in the first half of the year ... just like they do every year. It doesn't necessarily mean the walls are about to cave in for Velocity, despite how much we might protest the recent changes.

Looking at the timings of past offers for comparison:

• 29 January 2025: up to 125 bonus status credits, fly by 31 March
• 30 January 2024: up to 125 bonus status credits, fly by 28 March
• 30 January 2023: double status credits, fly by 31 March

No sensible person here is saying the walls are going to cave in for Velocity.

The annual report or whatever results are to be published this coming week/s from Virgin being a listed company will not show full picture of any downturn of members / flying pax. That'll be proven in next couple years.

Having less feet in the lounges is exactly what the intention was & that's seemingly what slowly happening.
Now whether SG & WP are still flying the same or less & their respective status is dropping nobody can confirm yet, too early in the process of status dropping off.

The current offer looks bad & desperate, basics same as last year but to back date booked flights, c'mon that screams WTF going on or desperado, whatever one chooses.

My Rolarch departs, handing out status to those who come close, giving a water bottle to some WP+ members, i mean really how poor is that for those dropping $15-20k.

Bain may have delivered short term profit & that's what counts, getting the executive team $$millions$$ and shares to boot, but i fear the old short term gain long term pain in this space.

At least new birds being delivered in the MAXs, that's a real positive IMO, as opposed to QF under uncle getting nufin new.

 

[Human]

This is a joke, right?

That is illegal, penalties can be harsh sometimes.
Brisbane man fined $1700 for travelling under a fake name

Fake ID crackdown: AFP issues jail time warning to passengers caught flying on false identities | Australian Federal Police

The AFP has warned travellers they face harsh penalties – including imprisonment – amid a crackdown on people using fake identities on domestic flights in Australia. ***Editor's note: Audio grabs available via Hightail***

www.afp.gov.au

The only way it could be done legally and in accordance with Velocity’s T&Cs is through Family Pooling. The person flying would need to live at the same address as the beneficiary, and would need to be pooling to them. Any payment would need to be strictly in the form of a “thank you” present and not for services rendered.

And of course, under the new Velocity T&Cs, the beneficiary would still need to acquire a certain number of SCs by flying themselves.

 

[trisreed]

Absolutely illegal and not to be recommended. But of the 80ish domestic flight I took last year without a checked bag my ID was verified exactly 0 time by anyone at the airport.

Only once (ever!) on a domestic flight have I had my ID checked and I have a feeling that was because the AFP were looking for someone in particular.

 

[gibosity]

Looks like a panic move from Virgin? There changes to the VFF program were not smart, marking it harder and more expensive to maintain status. I know a lot of ppl (leisure and business travellers) who have moved across to Qantas, and I can’t blame them

 

[jase05]

know a lot of ppl (leisure and business travellers) who have moved across to Qantas, and I can’t blame them

I guess all will be revealed in the financials.
Maybe it’s just the routes I fly but every VA flight I’ve been on recently has been packed

 

[IainF]

Looks like a panic move from Virgin? There changes to the VFF program were not smart, marking it harder and more expensive to maintain status. I know a lot of ppl (leisure and business travellers) who have moved across to Qantas, and I can’t blame them

I choose the airline when making flight decisions, not the FF program.
VA is consistently cheaper for domestic flights than QF, particularly for J seats.
SQ & QR are seriously better than QF for my J Asia/Europe flights AND are cheaper.
I’m currently pricing up Bne-sin-lhr return and SQ are currently $1500 cheaper than QF as well as having a better J experience.
YMMV.

 

[PERLHR]

At the end of the day, looking at what people say and my own experiences for the serious FF, what is it that VA actually offers that makes the difference?

Looking at their offerings:

Limited lounge access across the network.

Limited network.

zero international lounges unless flying with partner carrier with own lounge (not third party operated). Absolutely no included food or drink on board (except water. Tea or coffee) for all. So no perk there for FF with status. Perhaps a free something for Platinum would be a start?

Priority boarding if you are lucky and if it is policed and even then that usually means waiting on the air bridge...and that often includes around half the passengers anyhow when you include business, economy X and status pax.

Fares can be lower than QF but not always.

Row 3 and other economy X seats included for plat is a bonus.

Then there is the Platinum Complementary upgrades on flex fares....lucky to get them. Convoluted process. Need to phone. Never used a voucher yet as it is all to hard to get suitable flights ex PER for me.

Not the best point exchange value from VA to SQ for those more important longer sectors.

Confused benefits with QR. Confused benefits with ANA. For both no seat assignment without issues.

Better benefits with ANZ. Seat assignment possible (but you don't need status for that).

No additional benefit for bidding for upgrades....perhaps that should.be something that Platinums should have? I would call that a real benefit.

So really they are a focussed LCC and I'm really not sure if they really care now if once loyal FF jump ship. They can concentrate in the competition with Jetstar and other LCC that operate to Australia.

I don't mind their business class but you don't need status for that ....just buy the ticket.

 

[jase05]

Fares can be lower than QF but not always.

In J, I would estimate that 9 out of 10 flights I book would be significantly lower priced than QF. For flight of 1-2hrs in Australia I just can’t justify the difference plus I do actually enjoy the flights. Crew are normally great and food is better than Qf IMO.
It doesn’t suit everyone but I’m glad that VA exists

 

[RooFlyer]

what is it that VA actually offers that makes the difference?

One you missed is that it exists. Without it, imagine what you'd be paying, and getting from Qantas. Light a candle for Bain next time you are in the neighbourhood.

Oh, and that you can fly from A to B in Australia in (relative) comfort and safety and usually pay less than with the other mob.

 

[PERLHR]

One you missed is that it exists. Without it, imagine what you'd be paying, and getting from Qantas. Light a candle for Bain next time you are in the neighbourhood.

That is indeed a very fair point.

 

[clifford]

One you missed is that it exists. Without it, imagine what you'd be paying, and getting from Qantas. Light a candle for Bain next time you are in the neighbourhood.

No, snuff the candle out! Bain might have "rescued" VA, but their American approach wasn't what was needed for Australia (well apart from the money).

My view, based on how VA2 has developed, is that it might have been better if Rex had won the argument (not the cheap American takover of REX that seems to be happening).

We'll never know, but keeping an airline relatively locally owned and managed is obviously be best for the local punters.