Same SCs for First and Business?

[Ozvirginuk]

Hi All,

As eluded to in another thread, I'm currently weighing up the value of my QF WP vs DJ WP, and am looking at the combinations of travel that would help me retain the DJ WP. Looking at the SC earn table, I notice that Business and First both earn the same SCs. That seems a bit stingy to me considering the fare difference that exists between F and J.

I understand that alot of the Velocity partners don't have an F cabin, but two of their key strategic partners EY and SQ do, and if I was to fly either of those, I"d probably want to do it in F, but then I'd also expect 1.5 x the SCs. A sample itinerary I looked at was SYD-TYO via SIN on SQ. Total SC would be 480 in J or F. The difference in price between the two cabins on this journey is near on 50%, and that doesn't seem to be rewarded.

Anyone else think this is a bit of a disincentive if you're a premium cabin traveller?

Any Virgin/Velocity reps know if this is likely to change?

Cheers
Ozvirginuk

 

[moa999]

I suspect that given they don't have any F cabins, VA/DJ may not have negotiated a premium payment (which of course accompanies your points award) for F.

 

[notzac]

Just to put it out there - but perhaps the good folk at Velocity are keenly aware of how a number of people exploit the status earning power of the F cabin on certAAin AAirlines *cough* to quickly and easily earn Platinum status on the competition?

It's also worth pointing out that you only need 800 SCs to retain, vs 1200 SCs on QF.

 

[777]

Anyone else think this is a bit of a disincentive if you're a premium cabin traveller?

Not on Virgin Australia.

 

[amaroo]

Anyone else think this is a bit of a disincentive if you're a premium cabin traveller?

Cheers
Ozvirginuk

I do.

Just completed a return trip to LHR in F with BA - a few side trips in CE & J & the earn was 960 SC all up. J earn is a long way from that number!

 

[notzac]

Just completed a return trip to LHR in F with BA - a few side trips in CE & J & the earn was 960 SC all up. J earn is a long way from that number!

..and you'd still not have qualified or requalified WP with your flights. With Velocity, on the other hand..

 

[Ozvirginuk]

I suspect that given they don't have any F cabins, VA/DJ may not have negotiated a premium payment (which of course accompanies your points award) for F.

True enough, but some programmes do offer this. EG VS Flying Club, you earn higher tier point on SQ F than VS J.

Just to put it out there - but perhaps the good folk at Velocity are keenly aware of how a number of people exploit the status earning power of the F cabin on certAAin AAirlines *cough* to quickly and easily earn Platinum status on the competition?

It's also worth pointing out that you only need 800 SCs to retain, vs 1200 SCs on QF.

Well, as one who has taken AAdvantage of the AAvailable extra QF SC by doing this, I can say that it's a double edged sword, as when you want to redeem a miles seat on AA using QF points, you have to stump up FIRST class points, which is a ROUGHT!

Not on Virgin Australia.

True, and I guess this is their main focus. But with so very few destinations (2), they're not inspiring loyalty from people who do more international travel than domestic. It would be incredibly unlikley that I could retain even gold from domestic travelling, but when you add in the international stuff, bingo, WP material. If DJ want to keep/steal more people like me from QF, then having a higher level SC earn for F travel would go a long way to helping that.

..and you'd still not have qualified or requalified WP with your flights. With Velocity, on the other hand..

In the example I used above, I did figure out that the SCs earned for that trip in F on either SQ or One World, would equate to 60% of the required WP retain level in both Velocity AND QFF

Don't get me wrong, I'm really serious about switching loyalty, I even have my next 2 domestic weekends away booked with DJ (thank you WP upgrades), and I think DJ are doing a super job of changing in a short space of time, but there's always room for improvement.

Cheers
Ozvirginuk

 

[amaroo]

..and you'd still not have qualified or requalified WP with your flights. With Velocity, on the other hand..

How many J Dom & F lounges around the world can you access with Velocity as a WP?

 

[notzac]

How many J Dom & F lounges around the world can you access with Velocity as a WP?

None, and that's something I definitely miss from QF Platinum. That aside, I'm still happier with Virgin than I was with QF for my actual travel patterns -- and with changes to the work travel policy a year or so ago, there's exactly no chance of my ending up on QF metal for work flights anyway.

 

[amaroo]

None, and that's something I definitely miss from QF Platinum. That aside, I'm still happier with Virgin than I was with QF for my actual travel patterns -- and with changes to the work travel policy a year or so ago, there's exactly no chance of my ending up on QF metal for work flights anyway.

Virgin are starting to look good.....got excited about the deal with SQ however, reading other threads it appears the partnership is not what it could be with lounge access etc.

If the partnership evolves overtime I'll direct more business their way.......however, for me it's more about flying SQ than VA/DJ.

 

[Ozvirginuk]

How many J Dom & F lounges around the world can you access with Velocity as a WP?

Do DJ WP not get access to the Etihad F lounges in AUH and LHR?

 

[notzac]

Do DJ WP not get access to the Etihad F lounges in AUH and LHR?

Did for a short period, now don't. DUB has a rather small-but-nice combined J/F lounge, which VA Platinum and Gold have access to.

 

[amaroo]

Do DJ WP not get access to the Etihad F lounges in AUH and LHR?

An airline along with a few others that I have no desire to ever fly with.

 

[airtraveladdict]

Do DJ WP not get access to the Etihad F lounges in AUH and LHR?

Yes this lounge access situation at Abu Dhabi has been the subject of many discussions, Velocity Gold and Platinum use the Al Reem lounge in terminal 1, which I have never tested but alot of frequent flyers don't like it because it doesn't measure up the Pearl or F lounge. Only Etihad Gold Elite (which is equivalent to Velocity Plat) are allowed to use the Pearl Lounge.

And if your flight departs from Terminal 3, then you have to treck across to T1 to use the Al Reem Lounge.

 

[The Rok]

Did for a short period, now don't. DUB has a rather small-but-nice combined J/F lounge, which VA Platinum and Gold have access to.

The DUB lounge is not massive but it is very nice and the staff are spectacular. Showers are also nice.

LHR is not bad but crowded at peak times. My fav lounge at LHR is the VS Clubhouse anyway.

The Pearl Business Lounge at AUH is not all its made out to be. It's frickin jammers and smells of smoke. Staff are not exactly exciting either.