Major changes to Velocity Frequent Flyer announced 17/10/24

[trisreed]

I have the exact same table in my FF account that is what's causing my confusion, my interpretation is if you make the 8 sectors and 800 SC before the 1st Oct you would have deemed to have requalified.......

I would read it that way too, but wouldn't be surprised if it isn't the case because it isn't "reviewed" until (in my case) March 2026. That being said, it is written (in my post) to suggest that 8 sectors and 800SC by Feb/March 2026 will yield a renewal, which a reading of the new terms suggest it is not - it will need to be 400SC on VA + 400SC from anywhere with the sectors irrelevant.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

So basically if Platinum, for renewal of 800SC you need 400 SC on VA metal all flown by individual, 400 additional can be achieved by pooling or with partners (good luck with that with the partner earning reductions). Does that sum it up or am I missing something?

By "metal" do you mean "actual VA marked planes"? Because I understood it to be VA flight numbers, regardless of who operated them. eg VA8000 SYD-LAX operated by United.

 

[MH_fan]

It would be interesting to see what happens in October. I currently have enough flights booked to requalify for WP before October (my review date is in Feb), which should trigger the "you have retained platinum" message. I'd be mighty upset if that changes and I need more after the new system kicks in from October (as would many people, I'm guessing)!

 

[PERLHR]

It would be interesting to see what happens in October. I currently have enough flights booked to requalify for WP before October (my review date is in Feb), which should trigger the "you have retained platinum" message. I'd be mighty upset if that changes and I need more after the new system kicks in from October (as would many people, I'm guessing)!

My review date is April. I have already received the message that you have retained Platinum and require no further credits or flights. Quite what that means looking forward I dunno!!

 

[vitagen]

My review date is April. I have already received the message that you have retained Platinum and require no further credits or flights. Quite what that means looking forward I dunno!!

Maybe I'll just hedge my bets and do both

 

[JohnK]

I have the exact same table in my FF account that is what's causing my confusion, my interpretation is if you make the 8 sectors and 800 SC before the 1st Oct you would have deemed to have requalified.......

That's just stuffed my SC allocation and I need to decide soon if I'm going to bother flying VA/SQ for some upcoming trips or just continue with QF and aim for plat. I have sent an email to VA to clarify hope they do before the end of the DSC program.

In the past if you've requalified early that was fine. Surely that's not changing and now have to wait until renewal date to determine whether you've qualified or not?

Anyway wife should make Platinum by 31 March this year. My Gold renewal is towards end of Oct and if we're only going to earn 1Sc for every $12 I don't think I'll make Gold again. (I can chase status but I'm not sure it's worth it.)

Going forward we'll have to reconsider flights to Thailand on SQ if we cannot earn status as easily. It was good while it lasted but I'm still struggling to understand these changes.

 

[ben95]

My review date is May and have already requalified for next year (so Plat sorted until May 26). With a new bub I have the option to use parental pause.

Does that mean my next review date will be pushed back till Nov 26?

 

[PERLHR]

My review date is May and have already requalified for next year (so Plat sorted until May 26). With a new bub I have the option to use parental pause.

Does that mean my next review date will be pushed back till Nov 26?

Would be nice would it not? ,

 

[ben95]

Would be nice would it not? ,

I think it’s better than I thought. If I understand the terms correctly it’s a 6 month pause where my review date shifts to Nov from May, then I retain Plat for another 12 months after the pause.

If I apply right before my review date in May 26 my plat status is effective guaranteed until Nov 27.

 

[stm1sydney]

Going forward we'll have to reconsider flights to Thailand on SQ if we cannot earn status as easily. It was good while it lasted but I'm still struggling to understand these changes.

Same boat. It's the SQ flights (mainly Y) which have me requalifying as VA WP each year, and I need that status in order to make flying int Y bearable. As a consequence, I also choose to fly VA domestically where possible. So it's self-defeating.

 

[PERLHR]

Same boat. It's the SQ flights (mainly Y) which have me requalifying as VA WP each year, and I need that status in order to make flying int Y bearable. As a consequence, I also choose to fly VA domestically where possible. So it's self-defeating.

Yes certainly the SQ earnings are going to be woeful. The positive side I guess if there is any that the lite of standard Y fares on SQ ex Australia and via SIN for some Asian destinations are really very good. I can hardly believe that PER to SGN or HKG or BKK can be under 800 dollars return. Not always easy to get that flying across Australia!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What would be really really useful would be for Virgin Australia to link with Virgin Atlantic. With a benefit being that instead of gifting platinum you could get gold or whatever with VS for yourself. And double platinum or P Plus could get VS’s equivalent top tier.

 

[simmomelb]

What would be really really useful would be for Virgin Australia to link with Virgin Atlantic. With a benefit being that instead of gifting platinum you could get gold or whatever with VS for yourself. And double platinum or P Plus could get VS’s equivalent top tier.

You can already use Virgin Atlantic lounges with Velocity status when flying with them.
I don't see it going any further than that, more chance of that happening with Qatar now and probably more useful for those in Australia?
Not that I don't agree it would be a nice to have feature for a few travellers, for sure, just would have thought a bigger benefit (to far more AU flyers) on QR.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You can already use Virgin Atlantic lounges with Velocity status when flying with them.
I don't see it going any further than that, more chance of that happening with Qatar now and probably more useful for those in Australia?
Not that I don't agree it would be a nice to have feature for a few travellers, for sure, just would have thought a bigger benefit (to far more AU flyers) on QR.

True. But VA/VS for ultra top benefits or tiers would at least give consistency for skyteam.

Yes yes, i know that’s not consistent with QR or SQ etc, but it wouod be nice as an option to take on reaching milestones.

 

[jase05]

What would be really really useful would be for Virgin Australia to link with Virgin Atlantic. With a benefit being that instead of gifting platinum you could get gold or whatever with VS for yourself. And double platinum or P Plus could get VS’s equivalent top tier.

I’m going to go the other way and credit all my domestic VA flights to VS. VS Gold will give me most of the benefits I currently get as a VA Platinum plus it gives me SkyTeam Elite Plus

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’m going to go the other way and credit all my domestic VA flights to VS. VS Gold will give me most of the benefits I currently get as a VA Platinum plus it gives me SkyTeam Elite Plus

Yes. That’s what i should have done too, instead of chasing the 5000 SC target

 

[SheikYerbouti]

just would have thought a bigger benefit (to far more AU flyers) on QR.

Wait... you think the companies' focus is on benefits to flyers? That's not how you spell shareholders.

 

[Bolthead]

For Lifetime Gold the one thing I am trying to get my head around is the international flights that we made back in the early days of 2013 and moving forward. Our go to international partner has mostly been Singapore Airlines. We always booked directly with SQ and then we would put in our VA FF number in the booking. However I am sure that we also did a few flights that didn't have a code share number with VA. Am I remembering this correctly? I am wondering how will VA treat these flights? I have created a spreadsheet (yes it started in 2013) listing all our flights (mine and wifes) I have been Platinum since 2013 and my wife has been hovering between Gold and Platinum since 2016. When I apply the new system that VA are proposing for the LTG I end up with 3000 points flown under VA flight numbers and 6000 points under non VA flights. It appears I am grossly lopsided with my points which is dissappointing considering the lenght of time I have been Platinum. I guess it is what it is however as other people have mentioned we now have to re-evaluate our FF programmes moving forward. I was hoping to reach LTG soon however now I don't see that happening.

I like one suggestion somebody made in this thread and that is to just go after the cheap domestic seats and purchase annual lounge access. Then maybe just go for (if possible) cheaper Business or Preminum Economy seats when flying international.

PS: The reason I had the spreadsheet was two fold. Making sure my SC's arrived and more impotantly I used it to manage Family pooling. (espically when my children lived at home - which they no longer do)

 

[clifford]

I like one suggestion somebody made in this thread and that is to just go after the cheap domestic seats and purchase annual lounge access. Then maybe just go for (if possible) cheaper Business or Preminum Economy seats when flying international.

That will save you heaps of $$$ and give you much more flexibility. A no brainer really (and it's what I am doing). Velocity have priced themselves out of the market.

 

[ozstamps]

I like one suggestion somebody made in this thread and that is to just go after the cheap domestic seats and purchase annual lounge access. Then maybe just go for (if possible) cheaper Business or Preminum Economy seats when flying international.

That will save you heaps of $$$ and give you much more flexibility. A no brainer really (and it's what I am doing). Velocity have priced themselves out of the market.

Agree, as I posted earlier - THE dumbest time in HISTORY to heavily mess negatively with their FF plan when they are hoping to float, and offer buyers an apparent loyal and stable rusted on FF core base.

They are driving MASSES of folks to Jetstar and Qantas, and share buyers will see this when market share figures keep rolling out giving less of the market pie each month to Virgin, as will most certainly occur. Heaps of part interested flyers still are not totally aware of the New Deal earning regime, and will vote woth their wallets I am sure.

They are the clear #2 out of #2 airlines, and this year was the one to ENGENDER and reward loyalty, and not actively drive it away.

Not to give me pretty measly Lifetime Gold after 10 years as Platinum, simply as I booked many revenue Biz trips to Europe direct with Etihad, as they offered more and faster options, is just insulting. This crazy system that a large chunk of SC needs to have been booked via Virgin we knew nothing about 5 years back - prices were the same - it was never an issue.

We both have lifetime United Gold, so get access to Virgin lounges, extra baggage, priority boarding, and check in etc already, and am Virgin Plat for another 12 months, and in a year will gift my wife Platinum so will have Economy Plus seats for years anyway.

I'll use Velocity points, or book Lite fares etc. Indeed, I have about a million Qantas points I never touch - they'll get a workout for Biz domestic redemptions from now on. And for overseas, we will book whichever revenue carrier is lowest priced I can get some kind of points on. Money loss on all 3 counts to Virgin. Genius management. And many will follow suit, as the posts above prove.

And to top it off, appoint yet another AMERICAN to head the Company at this time in history. Quite a few folks out there will book Qantas as a protest if fares are similar - or indeed cheaper as Jetstar is. Do not underestimate the way the politicial winds are blowing lately. Albo is talking up BUY AUSTRALIAN and many will heed it. The Flying Kangaroo is about as ozzie as it gets to many. Talk about being tone-deaf in all arenas.

They have shot themselves in BOTH feet with all this raft of very heavily NEGATIVE changes, at THE very worst time possible to do it.

Dumber than dirt.