The Virgin Australia Newbie Questions Thread

[aaa99]

How long does SQ status credits take to post these days? Usually in the past, they posted to my account in 2 days, but did a flight last week and it still hasn't appeared.
My status review is coming up soon. What happens if the credits dont post on time, do they adjust once the retro claim comes through?

Also noticed this on the claims page which isn't very reassuring.

 

[fuzzydunlop]

Hi all, an economy reward seat has checked baggage allowance of 23kg. Can we take 2 bags with combined 23kg or just 1 bag?

 

[AIRwin]

Hi all, an economy reward seat has checked baggage allowance of 23kg. Can we take 2 bags with combined 23kg or just 1 bag?

1 piece unless you've status?

Checked baggage allowance | Virgin Australia

Your guide to Virgin Australia's checked baggage allowance based on your selected fare. Find detail on size, weights and extras.

www.virginaustralia.com

 

[mrfreeze]

How long does SQ status credits take to post these days? Usually in the past, they posted to my account in 2 days, but did a flight last week and it still hasn't appeared.
My status review is coming up soon. What happens if the credits dont post on time, do they adjust once the retro claim comes through?

Also noticed this on the claims page which isn't very reassuring.
View attachment 315131

Last November I flew HBA-xMEL-xSIN-BKK and status credits took 4 days to appear with each flight.
On the return BKK-SIN took 2 days, SIN-MEL took 14 days.

I also noticed at the time that unless 14 days has passed you can not make a claim for missing points / status credits.

 

[Andykay]

Hi all.

Very new to the FF world. Trying to decide whether to points churn QFF points or Velocity Points using credit cards.

From browsing the Qantas forums here, it seems like people who stay down at Bronze status struggle to find any ways to spend their QFF on international business flights. There's just so few on offer if you're not at platinum or higher.

Is it any better on VFF? My partner and I fly maybe five times a year return. Once internationally and a few times domestic, so we're unlikely to earn much in the way of status, especially with the goal of buying some of these figures with points.

Thanks

 

[Human]

Hi all.

Very new to the FF world. Trying to decide whether to points churn QFF points or Velocity Points using credit cards.

From browsing the Qantas forums here, it seems like people who stay down at Bronze status struggle to find any ways to spend their QFF on international business flights. There's just so few on offer if you're not at platinum or higher.

Is it any better on VFF? My partner and I fly maybe five times a year return. Once internationally and a few times domestic, so we're unlikely to earn much in the way of status, especially with the goal of buying some of these figures with points.

Thanks

Everyone's experience is different but the advantage of Velocity is that the award flights are released at the same time to everyone, regardless of status.

I'm much more experienced at finding flights to Europe than elsewhere (I have relatives in Europe) but my experience is that, when it comes to Europe at least, availability is much more plentiful using Velocity FF points than Qantas FF.

I'm Qantas Bronze myself and, while I do still look for long-haul redemptions using Qantas points (I have a large stash that I'm struggling to use), I can never find any.

But if you haven't started accumulating points yet, possibly an even better option is a programme with flexible points that you can transfer to whatever FF programme has availability.

Want to Fly to Europe? Collect a Flexible Points Currency!

Credit card rewards programs offer flexible points currencies that you can transfer to whichever airline has the best deal when you book.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Andykay]

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah, a piece of advice I received in another forum was to look at Krisflyer which I'm doing. My concern with focusing on a specific bank point currency is that if I'm churning, the idea is to close the cards ASAP so you can get a bonus from that bank again in 12 months, but I believe you'd need to keep the card open if you're trying to stockpile points and convert when the time is right. Keeping the account open would make the churning less efficient.

 

[Ade]

I'd like to get some clarity on the below please.

I'm VA Gold.

Virgin Australia

Earn Points with Virgin Australia and Partners, also earn status credit when travelling with eligible fare types. Offering include trans tasman flights, short haul and long haul flights and international long haul flights

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

Q1. From VA website (linked above), I should be earning 5 points for every $ that spend on VA flights. Are these points different to the points that one accrues via flying? Imagine how QF points earned via puchasing a QF ticket using credit card to pay for the flights is different to the 800 odd QF points accrued via flying, say between, CBR-MEL on Red-e-deal fare.

Q2. Last week I purchased CBR-MEL-ADL-MEL-ADL J seats for approx AU$1100. This means I should be getting 5500 VA points after the trip IN ADDITION to whatever points that is accrued for flying J. - Is this correct?

 

[SYD]

I'd like to get some clarity on the below please.

I'm VA Gold.

Virgin Australia

Earn Points with Virgin Australia and Partners, also earn status credit when travelling with eligible fare types. Offering include trans tasman flights, short haul and long haul flights and international long haul flights

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

Q1. From VA website (linked above), I should be earning 5 points for every $ that spend on VA flights. Are these points different to the points that one accrues via flying? Imagine how QF points earned via puchasing a QF ticket using credit card to pay for the flights is different to the 800 odd QF points accrued via flying, say between, CBR-MEL on Red-e-deal fare.

Q2. Last week I purchased CBR-MEL-ADL-MEL-ADL J seats for approx AU$1100. This means I should be getting 5500 VA points after the trip IN ADDITION to whatever points that is accrued for flying J. - Is this correct?

No, it’s 5 pts / dollar. But you get 75% bonus pts being VA Gold.

 

[Ade]

No, it’s 5 pts / dollar. But you get 75% bonus pts being VA Gold.

Thank you @SYD I did the math and for that trip I mentioned earlier, I should be getting around 9k VA points which includes the 5x points & flying points as well. I thought (greedily, to be honest) that the 5x points earn is different to the VA points accrued by flying, which would have taken the tally to atleast 14k points.

 

[Ade]

What is the cheapest VA Flex fare around that can be booked? Any idea?

 

[SydneySwan]

What is the cheapest VA Flex fare around that can be booked? Any idea?

You should look at the business fares. Mrs SS recently booked SYD MEL SYD for 349 each way in early May when flex fares were 401 each way on the same flights!

 

[Ade]

You should look at the business fares.

Agreed. I was trying to see if I can rinse & repeat a cheapo Flex booking without having to invest too much $$$ beforehand. But I get your point.

 

[SYD]

Agreed. I was trying to see if I can rinse & repeat a cheapo Flex booking without having to invest too much $$$ beforehand. But I get your point.

Don’t forget discount codes.

 

[stm1sydney]

I think if it was clear how you could choose seats by using VA site would be an obvious advantage to book via VA (even if the cost was slightly higher). Surprised that no one seems to have a work around. If I get ten minutes I might call VA and enquire. It would.be good to book via VA for the status credits but as this is over 4 sectors I don't want to be left struggling and sitting in the worst seats down the back.

Hi, did you (or anyone else) obtain a definitive answer as to whether you can do free SQ seat selection for paid bookings made on the VA website (ie, VA flight number, SQ metal)? Specifically for Choice economy fares.

I can currently see some flights which are cheaper on VA website vs SQ website, plus there's the bonus points. Thanks.

 

[Ade]

Hello everyone,

I currently have 347 SC.

I log into my VA App and I can see the following ;

You need to earn 78 more Status Credits and fly 1 more Eligible Sector by 11 Feb 2023 to MAINTAIN GOLD status.

Now this is a bit confusing because, the SC required to maintain Gold is 400. Given that I already have 347, 78 more SC will make the tally go to 425, which is 25 SC more than what's required to maintain Gold. Worth mentioning that I became Gold via the Discover Gold program

Yon need to earn 653 more Status Credits and fly 5 more Eligible Sector by 11 Feb 2023 to UPGRADE to PLATINUM status

This sound right, because 347+653 makes 1000SC and given that I have already flown 3 sectors, 5 is remaining. It should be 4 sectors remaining (VA put me on a direct, I got ORC, but sectors didn't land)

Now, I know that I won't be taking any more VA flights before 11 Feb 2023. My next VA flight is potentially around the end of February. So this means, on 12 Feb 2023, I will be downgraded to Silver ... (OMG )

I'm trying to see how much SC & sectors I will need from 12 Feb 2023 to achieve Platinum (and will plan work travel accordingly)

1. 653SC and 5 sectors (assuming the SC and Sectors are retained on entry into PS)
2. 653SC and 8 sectors (given that Plat qual is 8 sectors)
3. More than 653SC and 8 sectors

Thanks in advance _/\_

 

[serfty]

@Ade There are two counters - the requalification figure is based on the SC earned since Qualification or last review date. The other represents the number earned in the last 365 days.

 

[Ade]

the requalification figure is based on the SC earned since Qualification or last review date.

Okie, so this means, I have earned 322 SC (400-78) since my last review date/qualification date. The 25 SC (347-322) could be from other sources (Coles Flybuys etc), which is not accounted for requalification?

The other represents the number earned in the last 365 days.

And this represents the 347 (322+25) that I earned in the last 365 days ...

So in order to upgrade to Platinum, after dropping to Silver, I will need 678 SC (1000-322 qualifying SC) ?

 

[serfty]

Coles Flybuys

Do count for Qualification.

Are you using the app or a desktop web browser to get these figures?

 

[Skelz]

Okay I am 11 status points and 2 eligible sectors away from Platinum with a review date 23 Feb.
If I book two non-lite fares but don't check-in or board the plane (and don't cancel) do I still earn the SP and Eligibles sectors ..