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.

 

[kallinch]

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.

Progress bar is just estimate/“in beta”. They won’t run the actual until a couple weeks/days before launch 1st Oct launch.

 

[Caversham04]

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.

Virgin's logic makes no sense on this one - previously I know from the moment I start thinking about a flight that I will get (let's say) 20 SC's for it. Now, I won't know how many SC's I will earn until the point when I pay for the flight. Dumb change......

 

[Stealthflyer]

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.

Was simplification really their intention? The new system isn’t exactly simple, particularly when you add the partner earn tables into the mix. I assumed their intention with this new system was to reduce status holder numbers.

 

[Caversham04]

The refusal to count SC's that were family-pooled to a recipient if they take the recipient over the 3000 SC limit for SC's not personally flown by the account-holder is a major slap in the face. Hopefully they will bring in a system where they can count towards the person who earnt them, perhaps?

 

[kallinch]

Was simplification really their intention? The new system isn’t exactly simple, particularly when you add the partner earn tables into the mix. I assumed their intention with this new system was to reduce status holder numbers.

Intention was defs to reduce total status pax. And increase revenue from remaining status chasers.

 

[HS-TQE]

As stated previously, I'd tip that VA/VFF definitely look at reverting 'some' changes, but the part of the devaluation which is aimed at those passengers only using VA/VFF to access international long haul partners and rarely use VA metal/marketed services is expected to stay (as they put very minimal if any $ into the VA group coffers) and it goes towarda VA's aim as a primary 'domestic airline'.

Sort of a price people have to pay for those suggesting VA should withdraw from. International entirely and rely almost entirely on partners (although most knew VA were eventually going to re-enter Bali and Fiji On their own 737 metal).

 

[Bolthead]

The refusal to count SC's that were family-pooled to a recipient if they take the recipient over the 3000 SC limit for SC's not personally flown by the account-holder is a major slap in the face. Hopefully they will bring in a system where they can count towards the person who earnt them, perhaps?

I actually didn't believe at first that this was the case, so after the Velocity Platinum team confirmed this I told them (politely) that I wanted them to tell management it was a stupid decision they had made and it needed to be fixed. (I know wishful thinking - however if you don't tell them they will never know)

 

[MG1]

Prior to these changes, VA used to be my first port of call. I knew that the vast majority of the time that they'd be cheaper than their largest competitor (QF), especially for their business seats. I wouldn't even consider JQ as I much preferred the VA way of operating. I would go out of my to book odd itineraries and visit new places.

Now, I will barely fly with VA. All they have done is made me move my flying over to QF (and JQ (with the package purchased on top for QF status)). On top of this, don't get me started about the inconsistencies of benefits with their partner airlines and the lack of lounge access for their own international flights (luckily I can use my PP to access lounges but I shouldn't have to)!

I understand that VA want to reduce numbers in the lounge and make some extra $$$ whilst doing that but this is a stupid way of going about it (IMO). Also, it makes no sense to do this to reduce lounge numbers and then provide everyone with the relevant Amex cards with that lounge access anyway.

VA have pushed me over to QF.

There is now almost zero reason to fly in business with VA (the only one I can think of is if you'd like a little extra comfort with a flight from one coast to the other) - without the extra status credits, there is no point in me forking out.

We'll have to wait and see which changes, if any, will be rolled back. VA will lose a lot of their FFs. If they do rollback, it may be too late. I suppose we'll know in about a year's time.

 

[Gemstones]

I actually didn't believe at first that this was the case, so after the Velocity Platinum team confirmed this I told them (politely) that I wanted them to tell management it was a stupid decision they had made and it needed to be fixed. (I know wishful thinking - however if you don't tell them they will never know)

I also told them that were going to lose a lot of loyal long term customers and I got crickets on the other end.

 

[Caversham04]

I understand that VA want to reduce numbers in the lounge and make some extra $$$ whilst doing that but this is a stupid way of going about it (IMO). Also, it makes no sense to do this to reduce lounge numbers and then provide everyone with the relevant Amex cards with that lounge access anyway.

I agree - driving people away isn't going to make them extra $$$. The clear BS about making it easier to calculate how many points and SCs you earn for a flight by switching from a fixed number of SC's per flight (based on flight distance) to a spend-based one where you don't know what you'll earn until you pay for your ticket was an insult. Even Blind Freddie can see through that one.....

 

[ozstamps]

I actually didn't believe at first that this was the case, so after the Velocity Platinum team confirmed this I told them (politely) that I wanted them to tell management it was a stupid decision they had made and it needed to be fixed. (I know wishful thinking - however if you don't tell them they will never know)

Well done - the more that do that - the higher the chance someone in the blockhead Ivory Tower Team might see there is a large groundswell of this line of thinking.

If some of them actually read the several threads here alone along those lines, and the quite insane 'FOREVER GOLD' laughable rules and requirements, they might get a harsh reality check in 6 months when 2025 revenue and market share is evident to the same blockheads. .

Sadly for them, many have jumped ship already. And many of those will never return. Strong and profitable Loyalty built up over 10 years or more - all gone in months.

I do not even read Happy Hour emails - have not booked an impulse fare all year.

Partner and I are Plats for another year or more.

Well just use points if we need to fly Virgin, or book the cheap LITE fares, and still get Row 3, lounge access, priority check-in, and boarding etc.

Nothing changes for us - WE win - Virgin loses. And we are clearly not alone. This was a Dumber than Dirt 'enhancement' for them.

Qantas are importantly not copying this madness, but are laughing themselves silly at the dopiness of it all from the clear junior player in the market.