Great value for Velocity Points!

[kaelo]

I'm struggling to understand the logic with this one;

Flights from MEL-LAX return with VA in July 2013 in Y;

Using Points = 94,400 + $830AUD in taxes
To purchase directly and from Virgin Australia website = $1190

$1190 - $830 = $360AUD

So essentially on this particular route in Y my 94,400 points are saving me (and thus worth) $360! Excellent value!

Yes I know that this is an extreme example, but seriously Virgin!!??

 

[burmans]

I'm struggling to understand the logic with this one;

Flights from MEL-LAX return with VA in July 2013 in Y;

Using Points = 94,400 + $830AUD in taxes
To purchase directly and from Virgin Australia website = $1190

$1190 - $830 = $360AUD

So essentially on this particular route in Y my 94,400 points are saving me (and thus worth) $360! Excellent value!

Yes I know that this is an extreme example, but seriously Virgin!!??

So don't do it, save your points for something worth it. We can find examples both way, recently booked flight to NZ in PE for 13800 + $400 on a flight which on website was $2400 so there are examples both way!

 

[lovestotravel]

This is pretty much standard and very similar for Qantas

 

[MandM]

I understand that there is good value and bad value for points redemption, but on the website (Redeem Points with Airline Partners | Velocity Frequent Flyer) it says SYD-LAX 47,000 Points + taxes from $116 AUD. I have never been able to find the dollar amount that low, unless I significantly up the points. Has anyone else seen it that low?

 

[JohnK]

I have still not found a Velocity redemption that is worth it and this thread highlights my findings.

I have accumulated ~30,000 Velocity points in 5 years and in another 5 years I should be able to accumulate another ~60,000 Velocity points which should be enough for a return SYD-LAX in economy but I still need to pay ~$830! :shock: That is ridiculous.

I am not going to waste a single credit card point towards Velocity, or car hire, or hotel stay or anything....

 

[oz_mark]

Yep, and a classic reward on Qantas at 96,000 points and $840 is so much better value


The answer is to pick when to use awards, and pick when to pay cash....

 

[DirkDiggler]

I booked the same route in Y+ using points, Flexi deal fare was $2921 at the time on the website. Travel is in three weeks and was booked about two months ago.

I paid 140,000 points and $700 for taxes that makes the points in may case worth around $2200

 

[lovestotravel]

DirkDiggler.... Nice

 

[JohnK]

Yep, and a classic reward on Qantas at 96,000 points and $840 is so much better value

No. An any seat award is also worth the same but I would rather use 140,000 QFF points and book 16 sectors going round in circles. And those 140,000 QFF points come along much easier than the ~94,000 Velocity points.

Am I being biased?

 

[greenfish]

JohnK, was that a rhetorical question?

There are some great value Velocity flights - e.g. BNE to LHR one way for 69,800 points and $94 taxes. QF equivalent classic award is 64,000 points and $494 taxes. QF points are ever devaluing thanks to the spiralling taxes.

 

[JohnK]

So it is possible for some variety.

QF equivalent classic award is 64,000 points and $494 taxes. QF points are ever devaluing thanks to the spiralling taxes.

I am not too keen on QF point to point redemptions either but I think they have a little more to offer than Velocity. eg SYD-BKK/HKG/SIN for 60,000 QFF points on Any Seat award on Qantas metal.

I started a thread a while back asking for ideas for Velocity points to Asia and there weren't too many suggestions.

 

[greenfish]

So it is possible for some variety.


I am not too keen on QF point to point redemptions either but I think they have a little more to offer than Velocity. eg SYD-BKK/HKG/SIN for 60,000 QFF points on Any Seat award on Qantas metal.

I started a thread a while back asking for ideas for Velocity points to Asia and there weren't too many suggestions.

Velocity BNE->SIN is good value too - redeems on Etihad at 28,900 and $85. QF equivalent is 30,000 points and $257 taxes.

Velocity Etihad redemptions are good value. Everything else sucks. I just redeemed BNE->BKK on SQ and it was $257 and nearly 50,000 points so lousy value but needed that specific flight.

 

[Major]

Last month I used 255,300 Velocity points + $45 taxes for 2 flights BNE-SIN-BNE in J on Etihad metal. That also included Limo transfer to and from BNE and SIN. A taxi from my home to BNE is about $110. To me that Limo transfer was worth about $300.

I consider that to be a good value redemption

 

[hummel]

DirkDiggler.... Nice

+1 Also love the username... DirkDiggler

 

[oz_mark]

Am I being biased?

No, it is best to use points in a way that has the best fit for your circumstances.

Virgin has some quite good award redemptions as well (some pretty good domestic deals for example). They just tend not to be the same as the good deals on Qantas.

 

[burmans]

I have still not found a Velocity redemption that is worth it and this thread highlights my findings.

Must say that flight to NZ in Premium Economy for 13800 + $400 which was incidentally over Xmas/New Year period and even a Y flight was in $650-$800 range meets my criteria of being "worth it"

 

[Meggsy]

It's interesting but my latest velocity statement says I can fly business class return BNE - LAX for 188,000 points and $201 yet the best I can find even 1 year out is 189,100 + $852 out of BNE or 189,100 + $846 out of SYD. I used to see these levels of points and low $$ on Delta flights out of SYD but they don't seem to come up any more. Maybe you have to ring guest services to book them, contrary to what the velocity web site states.

 

[anat0l]

There are some great value Velocity flights - e.g. BNE to LHR one way for 69,800 points and $94 taxes. QF equivalent classic award is 64,000 points and $494 taxes. QF points are ever devaluing thanks to the spiralling taxes.

The key to that BNE-LHR redemption on Velocity is that you fly EY, who do not charge fuel surcharges. Almost any other carrier selection will result in fuel surcharges and thus higher co-pay amounts.

Still not an option for JohnK, who doesn't desire flying through the Middle East and/or on a Middle Eastern carrier.


As for the OP, truth be told as long as there are fuel surcharges (and most carriers do charge them), Y redemptions will very rarely be "worth it". They only become worth it if one of:

• There are no fuel surcharges payable
• You have more than one person on the redemption (where the absolute savings in cash start to outweigh the relative 'inefficiency' of the points spent)
• The equivalent cash price for the time you want to book is very high (e.g. no sale fares left)

This is pretty common around the world as it is, as competition forces cash prices for key markets much lower (viz. base fare lower but surcharges at same price).

Bottom line is that the value really is in premium redemptions, as a hard and fast rule of thumb.

 

[The Rok]

I think EY's taxes for that route is only $95 or something like that!
That's all they charge for MEL/SYD - DUB.

 

[paultiffen]

I like one way to Europe via Abu Dhabi for 120 000 + $81 in taxes and SYD->MEL discount economy when the flights are expensive for redemption options. QANTAS there is much more variability due to ASAs in the value of points.