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

[fkcn]

I can sort of understand them wanting customers to earn on VA in future, but to disregard most of the previous earn is disingenuous. Loyalty works in both directions, this one sided decision will lose alot of customers who know they can never earn lifetime status, or indeed ordinary status due to lack of international earn options. I have lots of issues with Qantas, but SC earn is so much more generous. And QF Plat is actually worth getting, VA Plat not so much.

 

[muppet]

…. And QF Plat is actually worth getting, VA Plat not so much.

Agree. I stopped bothering with VA WP last year and this year will be the end of VA SG for me. Amex Plat will get me into the lounge the few times a year I need to use VA. The deval just confirmed my choice (although to be fair I can’t imagine VA will miss me, probably wasn’t very profitable customer).

 

[Gemstones]

Welcome to my world. (sort of) However, I have just requalified for Platinum so I am not affected by the 1st October date. My biggest gripe is Forever Gold. I have been platinum for close to 14 years (except after covid where I dropped to Gold for about 4 months) I played by the rules and my LOYALITY was 100%. The only times I flew another airline (that was not a partner) was when I took flights where there were no partners. (mostly in Europe) and I can count them on one hand. After all these years I am still 5,500 points short from getting FG and I at this rate I should hit that by the age of 95.

I agree, I still need 5,250 for forever gold as well and have also been so loyal. They probably call it forever because that is how long it will take to get it.

 

[moa999]

On Lifetime status, I actually think any backdating of status, particularly from a time before they went into administration is pretty generous.

 

[ozstamps]

'They probably call it Forever because that is how long it will take to get it. '


Ha! Post of the day.

The most convoluted, confusing, and totally bungled new 'benefit' of recent years.

GUARANTEED to lose them a ton of loyalty and business, rather than gaining any.

Brilliant marketing.

'I have been platinum for close to 14 years (except after covid where I dropped to Gold for about 4 months) I played by the rules and my LOYALTY was 100%. After all these years I am still 5,500 points short from getting FG, and I at this rate I should hit that by the age of 95.'

 

[vitagen]

This is whacked, went from 793 /800 to 555 / 800, it seems like the progress bar now caps out to the max of 400 non VA earned SC.

 

[drakcir]

If they were smart (and wanted to retain everyone on their program), they would just reset all premium tier members to 1 October and have everyone retain whatever status they have; I know many businesses that are already moving their individual accruals towards Star Alliance on codeshares due to the new VA rules.

I wish that VA would follow QFF and show how many status credits they will get or still need for all existing bookings, rather than us have to estimate/calculate it ourselves. I really feel for those with review dates in early October who won't even know for sure if they're going to retain or not.

 

[anat0l]

I wish that VA would follow QFF and show how many status credits they will get or still need for all existing bookings, rather than us have to estimate/calculate it ourselves. I really feel for those with review dates in early October who won't even know for sure if they're going to retain or not.

The irony of this is that VA changed to this new system because it was supposed to be much easier to calculate how many points and SCs you earn for flights, especially for VA marketed and operated ones (of which VA is preferring that people earn the majority of their status on).

QF might be doing a service by showing people how much they are or will be earning, but on booking screens that takes up real estate, though it is needed as QF earn calculations can be rather arcane.

 

[odysseus]

The irony of this is that VA changed to this new system because it was supposed to be much easier to calculate how many points and SCs you earn for flights, especially for VA marketed and operated ones (of which VA is preferring that people earn the majority of their status on).

QF might be doing a service by showing people how much they are or will be earning, but on booking screens that takes up real estate, though it is needed as QF earn calculations can be rather arcane.

How is it easier when every flight is most likely going to have a different amount of credits - even if you fly on the same route in the same grade?

Regular fliers - and they're the ones who are worried about status - get to know the standard earn for flights as they take and see it all the time. But now, you have no way to know what will be earnt until you check the price - and when you look back, you will not recall the price paid so need to refer to the log. It's not like you can go 'I'm flying x route twice a week for 10 weeks so will reach y status - or need x more flights to reach z status?'

Now you continually have to check the record to see how you're going, and keep it in mind each time you're making a booking to see how much more you need to get.