Hong Kong Airways Velocity Issues

I have nothing to offer but sympathy here. Velocity unfortunately are notorious for crap like this.

I'm still waiting for the Hobart lounge.

 

I would have thought this would have been dealt with months ago. It's already possible to redeem Velocity points for Hong Kong Airlines flights.

What HX flights/routes are they disputing are ineligible for Velocity earn?

 

Hmm. Well there's no indication that these flights shouldn't earn. The Velocity website only says that flights to/from North America are excluded.

Has Virgin given an actual reason for the flights not earning anything?

 

Are they getting mixed up between Hong Kong Airlines, and all the other airlines in the Hainan Airlines stable (Hainan, Capital, Tianjin) which have this condition?

Perhaps you can write back and suggest they credit as per the conditions published on their website or you will pursue via the Airline Consumer Advocate?

 

And how is a customer supposed to know this if it doesn't say so anywhere on their website, press releases, etc.? Ridiculous...

If Virgin still refuses to award points & status credits, I would strongly encourage you to take this to the Airline Customer Advocate.

 

Partner and I recently flew HK to Japan return on Hong Kong Airlines economy earlier this month. Both were credited points and status credits within days of the flight. They actually credited faster than a VA Syd to Mel flight I took a week later. I think it's absolutely worth pushing back as the website and press releases are/were all clear in that all Hong Kong Airlines flights are eligible now.

As for lounge access. I received a response from Hong Kong Airlines late November saying they were aiming for end of the year.....as much as I'd like to champion VA here, I'll believe it when I see it unfortunately.

 

It is not only Virgin that has issues. I flew Hong Kong Airlines from HKG-TSN a few weeks back. When I went to fetch my boarding pass at the transit desk in HKG, I asked that they also input my Velocity number. The attendant informed me that Hong Kong has no Frequent Flyer partners - None. In reality, (their program is called Fortune Wings Club); these are the listed members:

Hainan Airlines
Grand China Airlines
Tianjin Airlines
Hong Kong Airlines
Lucky Air
Capital Airlines
Etihad Airways
Fuzhou Airlines
Suparna Airlines
Guangxi Beibu Gulf Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Virgin Australia

Anyway, I did not argue the point, But since returning home, I have submitted my missing points claim with Velocity. Let us see.

 

What was the outcome?


There is evident concern with the parent HNA Group, which has vast investments. Not necessarily a factor in relation to VA/Velocity, but interesting.

Hilton CEO Says Alliance With HNA Isn't a Cause for Concern - Bloomberg

China’s HNA buys back bonds, bank flags repayment issue - South China Morning Post

HNA considers selling Hong Kong Airlines: investors may be shy - CAPA

China’s troubled HNA Group flips Kai Tak plots to Henderson Land for a profit of HK$1.7 billion - South China Morning Post

How Any HNA Default Could Affect Markets: Analysts Debate - Bloomberg

 

Yeah, I was credited the points.