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

[MooTime]

I really hope that these rules change and go back to how it used to be

Would be a touch embarassing if they reverted.
They saw what other airlines are doing and just copied based on extra revenue for the airline, seemingly excluded other factors.

Thing that gets me is the point that ceo Rolarch what's his name made was to improve the lounge experience for their most loyal members, fair target I agree... Yes less ppl in lounge is a benefit only if and when crowded, but I'm yet to see any improvements in lounge...sub $10 wine, ordinary beers & same old food options.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Would be a touch embarassing if they reverted.
They saw what other airlines are doing and just copied based on extra revenue for the airline, seemingly excluded other factors.

Thing that gets me is the point that ceo Rolarch what's his name made was to improve the lounge experience for their most loyal members, fair target I agree... Yes less ppl in lounge is a benefit only if and when crowded, but I'm yet to see any improvements in lounge...sub $10 wine, ordinary beers & same old food options.

The food has gone backwards in quality, quite substantially. I’d rate QC clubs above VA’s now, which is saying something!

But the benefits of reduced lounge eligibility probably hasn’t started to bite yet.

 

[n7of9]

Less people in the lounge will also mean less food, fewer options, less staff, reduced hours on barista made coffee, less staff cleaning up. The only benefit will be 4 chairs to choose from instead of 1, unless some areas are closed off during less busy hours. Be careful what you wish for.

 

[MarkD]

They want less people in the lounge but on another thread here they are offering unlimited status matches to qf. Whoever is charge needs to put the pipe down as I think they have had enough. Such an abortion of an organisation. Shame because I love the airline and their staff, but the velocity program now <redacted>.

 

[PaulllM]

The food has gone backwards in quality, quite substantially. I’d rate QC clubs above VA’s now, which is saying something!

But the benefits of reduced lounge eligibility probably hasn’t started to bite yet.

On rotation between the Pork, Tuna, Chicken wraps and whatever the bland vegetarian one is.

My new home port of BNE does dumplings every now and then for dinner but you have to be in there by 18:30 before they run out.

If VA wanted to easily cut the numbers of people in the lounges, they could remove all the mining FIFO workers that are getting status credits through their company paid flights.

 

[eastwest101]

On rotation between the Pork, Tuna, Chicken wraps and whatever the bland vegetarian one is.

My new home port of BNE does dumplings every now and then for dinner but you have to be in there by 18:30 before they run out.

If VA wanted to easily cut the numbers of people in the lounges, they could remove all the mining FIFO workers that are getting status credits through their company paid flights.

If you"re into lazy generalizations then how about any person flying for work or fare paid by any employer regardless of industy be excluded from VA lounges? Sound fair now?

 

[mel-world]

Maybe restrict access to pax who pay for tickets themselves. No points bookings either. Would be plenty of space then, me thinks.

 

[PaulllM]

If you"re into lazy generalizations then how about any person flying for work or fare paid by any employer regardless of industy be excluded from VA lounges? Sound fair now?

Don't get me wrong I dont agree with it, if you have to spend that much time in an Airport you should have some extra luxuries but if the aim is to reduce numbers in the lounge then its a quick solution to lose a massive amount of people

 

[RooFlyer]

They want less people in the lounge but on another thread here they are offering unlimited status matches to qf.

You can't see that they are different groups of people?

If VA wanted to easily cut the numbers of people in the lounges, they could remove all the mining FIFO workers that are getting status credits through their company paid flights.

And what do you think would happen then?

 

[anat0l]

The food has gone backwards in quality, quite substantially. I’d rate QC clubs above VA’s now, which is saying something!

But the benefits of reduced lounge eligibility probably hasn’t started to bite yet.

That  is saying something.

I visited a QC lately and I'm glad there are still sandwich ingredients and salads. Whatever gets put up for hot food, if ever, is meh.

If your remark was actually serious then the quality of the VA offerings has seriously gone downhill. They can't viably afford to be only at the QC standard, though suffice to say maybe I'm not understanding the VA 2.0 strategy of how they want to uniquely position themselves in the market.

If VA wanted to easily cut the numbers of people in the lounges, they could remove all the mining FIFO workers that are getting status credits through their company paid flights.

Probably would work to reduce numbers but a commerically dumb idea. Not sure if it is an expression of your disposition or opinion about said workers, but...

If you"re into lazy generalizations then how about any person flying for work or fare paid by any employer regardless of industy be excluded from VA lounges? Sound fair now?

...I'm going to assume our friend here was being rather facetious, if perhaps somewhat flippant. But mainly because this argument is really old and know it never ends well.

It really just talks to the idea that it's not an easy and maybe impossible problem to solve, except with intervention (e.g. make the lounges larger). Qantas are dealing with the same issues (though what's the point of comparing two rivals with the same faults).

 

[MarkD]

You can't see that they are different groups of people?

Absolutely, but if you are gold or platinum QF, why on earth would you go backwards to this circus. Again, love the airline but the FF program is a joke now, plus the lounge offerings meagre and international lounges a joke when travelling on VA product. ie, travel singapore and get all the perks, travel VA and get nothing. Anyway, back to the lounge, they stated "We want to reduce crowding" yet here they are giving lounge access to credit card holders and trying to poach QF elites back. Maybe they are just confused what they "Identify as".

 

[RooFlyer]

Absolutely, but if you are gold or platinum QF, why on earth would you go backwards to this circus. Again, love the airline but the FF program is a joke now,

I fly them mainly because of price and experience in the air. I've nearly always regarded their lounges as horrid (and no lounge at my base HBA) but get VFF points off flying and credit card and mainly transfer them to Krisflyer for SQ J, positioning to SIN before I catch revenue long haul from there. Works for me.

 

[Happy Dude]

Sacre bleu! My latest flights and SC earn indicates that in most instances I'll actually be better off under the new scheme. Being CBR-based, it's not often I purchase a fare (usually Choice) - to anywhere - for under $180. It can be done according to the advertising, but rarely the case when I fly. So my (pretty standard/regular) $250 choice fare to BNE recently netted me more SC than in the past.

I can still family pool and credit from partners so just need to make sure I personally earn >400SCs, which is now easier - in many instances - as above. With a bit of thought vis-a-vie DSC offers, it's not much of a hurdle.

What's gone is the opportunity to book two-hop J returns during DSC for <$400 each way and bag 440 SCs. Nil incentive to book Flex, ever, except if someone else is paying, and I'd feel ripped off if I booked J for reasons other than SCs.

Getting those 440 SCs at $5k+, or even half that, instead of less than $1k is probably still going to be a deal breaker though, particularly with the 50% rule.

 

[jase05]

I really hope that these rules change and go back to how it used to be

That won’t happen but I think they will have to possibly wind back on a few rules.
Onboard they still have a very solid produce in J and the staff are great but the lounges are bordering on pathetic really.

 

[HS-TQE]

That won’t happen but I think they will have to possibly wind back on a few rules.
Onboard they still have a very solid produce in J and the staff are great but the lounges are bordering on pathetic really.

Agree. Would predict some changes but would expect one of their aims to remove the primarily Long Haul International Codeshare passengers from the Velocity books (through a massive devaluation of SCs for International Long Haul partners) to remain as is, as they would want pax spending $ on VA operated services as primary 'Domesric Carrier' with Short International Services to Beach Resorts in Asia and the Pacific on the side.

 

[_flyer]

That won’t happen but I think they will have to possibly wind back on

I was previously focused on maintaining status with both Virgin and Qantas, and in hindsight, I was probably spending more than necessary to retain my Velocity status. In that sense, the recent changes have been somewhat welcome. I used to hold Gold status with both airlines, but I’ve since shifted my focus and now hold Platinum with Qantas, which offers more tangible benefits.

I still earn Velocity points, though not at the same pace as before. I’ve also redirected much of my card spend to Qantas, particularly because the Points Club allows you to earn status credits on reward flights.

While the changes to the programs are generally a downgrade, reducing my engagement has actually been better for my wallet.

 

[PaulllM]

You can't see that they are different groups of people?



And what do you think would happen then?

I can't see their employers changing airlines because of it. Whatever is commercially better for the mining company is usually what get selected.

Probably would work to reduce numbers but a commerically dumb idea. Not sure if it is an expression of your disposition or opinion about said workers, but...

...I'm going to assume our friend here was being rather facetious, if perhaps somewhat flippant. But mainly because this argument is really old and know it never ends well.

I'm just reiterating if the end game is to get less people in the lounges that can't direct how their company spends flight dollars it's an easy cost cutting move. It's ruthless but welcome to private equity.

FYI before everyone tries to flame me for speaking ill of FIFO, I have 3 mates in the mining industry, 2 who are currently FIFO (1 working 5/4 roster in Saudi and one thats does 4/3 roster in SA). Then there are another 2 mates that service the industry. Would i like to see them kicked out of the lounges, absolutely not.

 

[Stealthflyer]

Confused Around Velocity Platinum Requalification – Review Date vs Membership Year

Hi all,

I’m hoping to get some community insight or shared experiences here.

I’m currently a Velocity Platinum member with a review date of 4 October 2025. I’ve already earned 1,685 Status Credits, including more than enough eligible sectors, and assumed I had requalified under the pre-1 Oct 2025 rules (800 SCs + 4 sectors).

However, Virgin has advised me (in writing) that because my review date is after 1 Oct 2025, I’m being assessed under the new rules, which require at least 50% of SCs from VA marketed/operated flights. I only have ~250 from VA flights so far, so they’re now saying I need another 150 VA SCs to retain Platinum.

This feels unfair and inconsistent with the original policy wording, which I interpreted (like many others) to mean the new rule applies to membership years starting from 1 Oct 2025, not ones already underway.

Has anyone had success pushing back? Or is this happening to others as well?

Appreciate any thoughts or if anyone has escalated further.

I thought Platinum requalification used to be 800 credits and 8 sectors. If you only had four sectors that wouldn’t be enough to retain under the old rules.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Confused Around Velocity Platinum Requalification – Review Date vs Membership Year

Hi all,

I’m hoping to get some community insight or shared experiences here.

I’m currently a Velocity Platinum member with a review date of 4 October 2025. I’ve already earned 1,685 Status Credits, including more than enough eligible sectors, and assumed I had requalified under the pre-1 Oct 2025 rules (800 SCs + 4 sectors).

However, Virgin has advised me (in writing) that because my review date is after 1 Oct 2025, I’m being assessed under the new rules, which require at least 50% of SCs from VA marketed/operated flights. I only have ~250 from VA flights so far, so they’re now saying I need another 150 VA SCs to retain Platinum.

This feels unfair and inconsistent with the original policy wording, which I interpreted (like many others) to mean the new rule applies to membership years starting from 1 Oct 2025, not ones already underway.

Has anyone had success pushing back? Or is this happening to others as well?

Appreciate any thoughts or if anyone has escalated further.

Anyone earning 1685 status credits is unlikely to be doing that only in economy class, and the non-VA flying suggests high intl frequency.
With the above assumptions, and applying the VA logic of 'we only want high spending domestic travellers'.

I'd probably drop Velocity and stop flying VA.
Look for a program that better suits your needs.

At 1,685 status credits - this type of flying is likely top-tier in any other airline program.

Ironically for VA - someone flying biz class intl/with partners - these are the perfect secondary customer.
No lounge cross charging (no cost), and airline rakes in accrual, interline and maybe some credit card points from you (income).
Perhaps more importantly, retaining you into the program is revenue protection to VA and it's partners, because, if you switch to another brand/FFP, VA is essentially giving free high margain money to their competitors.

There is zero downside to VA and all upside to the airline by keeping you as Plat in the above scenario.

There is also strong commercial argument to suggest that anyone doing over, say, 1500 status credits, shouldn't need any VA flying.
I sometimes wonder if VA forget that they are a very small domestic airline, in a country where status-holding Australians fly internationally more than any other country on earth.

Side note: VERY few airlines globally have policies for minimum segments, and of those that do, many don't enforce them.

 

[BCons]

Just been Hba/Mel return in J with VA on a booking made roughly 2 months ago.

Had to cancel and re-book the outward leg to make a meeting (that being the only way to accomplish the reqd change..) Return flt remained on the old booking.

Checked Velocity to confirm both flts hv been credited - the {newer} outward leg earned 5340 pts and 45 SCs while the older return was 5190 pts and 55 SCs.

Willing to concede the the difference in SC's is due to program change, but is it somehow a shorter distance flying S to Hobart? maybe because its downhill, as most things are these days..