Platinum Plus Perhaps ...

[serfty]

Prologue

I am about to head off by train to Broadmeadows station from where I'll catch a 901 bus to Melbourne airport. There I'll catch Virgin Australia to Cairns.

This trip was booked last year as a status run as part of retaining Velocity Platinum. The Business Class journey MEL to CNS via BNE each way should earn 320 status credits. I flew another of these in March; both bookings were made in early October last year.

These were planned to have me well on the way to requalification. Like many, I have the post COVID 28th February Velocity Review Date so travel needed to be in the 365 days after that.

A few days after booking something came up:

Major changes to Velocity Frequent Flyer

OK ... these changes have been dissected in detail by many and I'll not do that here. Suffice to say that on a personal level with these changes I could not envisage being able to achieve the new "Platinum Plus" level, let alone retain Velocity Platinum beyond early 2027 at any reasonable cost. So be it ...

But then a question was asked on Australian Frequent Flyer about Qualifying up a Velocity Status level after October 2025 and how it may work.

The post and it's answers got me thinking about the 365 days to qualify for a higher tier, soft landings and such ... I have come across is no indication this is changing.

Anyway, off to Cairns ...

 

[serfty]

Two trains and a bus later, I'm in the Virgin Australia lounge having some soup.

The trip was mainly uneventful, my late running second train may have strained the scheduled 5 minute bus connection at Broadmeadows, but the bus itself was running 10 minutes late.

On thing did happen though on the bus was a full sized spinner suitcase escaping from the grasp of its owner and carreening to the front of the bus as it braked, bouncing off sundry legs and fittings as it made us abrupt journey forward.

I did ask for some orange juice, but they only had a mixed fruit drink. It was ok.

My flight appears on time and is scheduled to board in 40 minutes.

 

[serfty]

Off to Brisbane; this was a strait forward flight on a route I have travelled over a hundred times.

The business cabin was attentively serviced by
Yoey.

The meal options were:

• Beef Quesadilla with charcoal salsa
• Vegetable and Chickpea Tagine with optional Chicken.

I chose the tagine ... I did enjoy it.

There was a 10 minute arrival delay due to weather passing through the airport.

 

[serfty]

I had effectively an hour transit at Brisbane. I went to the lounge amd fired up my laptop for some research. Boarding for the flight to Cairns was on time and soon I was in my seat.

On-board Iwas approached by David who took my pre departure drink but then advised there would be at least a 20 minute delay due to a late flight from Perth with 26 connecting passengers. We would be waiting for them.

Looking around, this made sense as only four of the eight business class seats were occupied. The cabin had been showing as full that morning. I used flightradar24 to follow the late flight noting it landed at about the time of our original scheduled departure. It was to use a gate two down from my flight

Noting it was still raining at the airport I resumed watching the movie I had not completed on the earlier flight.

The connecting passengers made their way across in dribs and drabs, the business cabin filled and we eventually left the gate 25 minutes late. Takeoff was further delayed as the flight used the newish runway 19R which meant a taxi seemingly almost to Redcliffe. We took off at 6:32pm after waiting for a Singapore Airlines flight to do so. I guess their taxi was longer.

In flight service did not start for another 25 minutes after takeoff due to the surrounding weather and expected turbulence. Once the seatbelt sign went off the really great service by David commenced.

Meal options were:

• Southern Style Chicken with roast potatoes wedges, zucchini and bacon/bresaola mushroom cream sauce.
• Thai yellow vegetable curry with optional chicken.

I chose the former; the chicken was relatively substantial although the meal was generally "not crisp".


Throught the flight David came around several times proactively offering "Pantry" items along with regular drink top ups.

Really outstanding service.

The flight eventually arrived at its gate in Cairns 35 minutes late.

While waiting for the aerobridge to connect I checked Uber and it was showing a fare to my accomdation of $13. By the time I proceeded to book a few seconds later, that had increased to $17, I accepted as this was still less than an expected taxi fare. I had experienced expensive Uber from Cairns earlier this year, requesting after being landside and eventually taking a taxi. This time I decided to request as early as I felt one could do so. It reminded me of this thread:

Thread 'Uber drivers at CNS routinely cancelling rides to manipulate surge pricing'

Mar 19, 2025

Arrived into CNS and decided to use Uber. Booked and then driver assigned and soon cancelled. New driver assigned and then cancelled. happened multiple times and each time the price was going up - due to "high demand". Gave up and wandered back to the taxi rank and no wait at all and a very pleasant taxi driver. He explained that the Uber drivers often manipulate the surging at the airport in this way. Taxi ride was lower cost than the surging Uber price at that time.

Return to the airport and Uber drivers were unable to manipulate the surging and readily/quickly available. Got a very...

• NM
• Replies: 174
• Forum: Taxis & Ridesharing Apps

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I had a talkative driver who came from Deniliquin. We talked about AFL on the short trip and I was at my accommodation by 9:20pm and asleep soon after.