The Virgin Australia Newbie Questions Thread

[Saab34]

My Dad has around 4k points (won’t be earning points moving forward due age) just shy of the 5k transfer minimum, is a way around this for me to send 5k to him the send the 9k back to me?

 

[AIRwin]

My Dad has around 4k points (won’t be earning points moving forward due age) just shy of the 5k transfer minimum, is a way around this for me to send 5k to him the send the 9k back to me?

Yes that works

 

[dustydustydusty]

Hi all
I'm a long term Qantas flyer, but work has booked me on United to the US this month, and Europe with Singapore / Lufthansa / Thai next month.

What's my best approach to maximising points (will be used for family flights within Australia)? Do I just claim all the trips against my velocity account, or are there smarter ways?

Sorry if this is obvious - I did a search but couldn't find an answer,

Thanks!

 

[PERLHR]

Hi all
I'm a long term Qantas flyer, but work has booked me on United to the US this month, and Europe with Singapore / Lufthansa / Thai next month.

What's my best approach to maximising points (will be used for family flights within Australia)? Do I just claim all the trips against my velocity account, or are there smarter ways?

Sorry if this is obvious - I did a search but couldn't find an answer,

Thanks!

Do you collect currently with VA? Do you have star alliance membership with Air Canada, United or Singapore A/L? Each allows you to gain and use points which can be exchanged for Virgin Australia domestics plus ofcourse the benefit of international travel with those airlines. I guess it depends on what value you put towards it. Personally I would probably credit to SQ!

 

[dustydustydusty]

Do you collect currently with VA? Do you have star alliance membership with Air Canada, United or Singapore A/L? Each allows you to gain and use points which can be exchanged for Virgin Australia domestics plus ofcourse the benefit of international travel with those airlines. I guess it depends on what value you put towards it. Personally I would probably credit to SQ!

Hi PERLHR
I'm going in completely cold - basically zero points accumulated with Velocity, and no star alliance memberships.
You would recommend signing up with SQ?

 

[luxury-lizard]

Just beware that SQ points have. a hard expiry of 3 years - unlike nearly all other programs including United, Velocity, other *A programs. You can however transfer SQ points to VA before they expire.

Personally I would credit to Air Canada (Aeroplan - however not easy to earn points through shopping etc but can be used to book Virgin flights and other *A airlines - can top-up points on booking and/or when sales are on. Note however AC is "enhancing" their program on June 1; i.e. more points required for most routes).

note you cannot credit flights on LH or TG to Velocity so I would not recommend Velocity directly.

 

[kerfuffle]

You can however transfer SQ points to VA before they expire.

And when you do, it's 1.55 to 1 (and the same if you transfer VFF to KF)

 

[PERLHR]

Hi PERLHR
I'm going in completely cold - basically zero points accumulated with Velocity, and no star alliance memberships.
You would recommend signing up with SQ?

Personally for your requirement (noting that points last for 3 years if not used/topped up etc). , yes credit your trip to SQ and transfer to VA (it's not one to one point transfer).https://statuspointscheck.au/velocity_krisflyer_converter.html

 

[mel-world]

Flying VA MEL-SYD soon on an afternoon flight then NH SYD-HND the next morning on a seperate ticket. Anyone had problems with VA interlining bags at MEL (or elsewhere) with different PNRs?

 

[sudoer]

Hi PERLHR
I'm going in completely cold - basically zero points accumulated with Velocity, and no star alliance memberships.
You would recommend signing up with SQ?

Consider the HSBC Star Alliance card if your flight is at least 2-3 weeks away?

What cabin are you in? If you're in economy, look at wheretocredit.com to understand whether your booked class will be eligible to earn. Personally I'd lean towards Aeroplan over SQ or VA

 

[sudoer]

Flying VA MEL-SYD soon on an afternoon flight then NH SYD-HND the next morning on a seperate ticket. Anyone had problems with VA interlining bags at MEL (or elsewhere) with different PNRs?

Don't think SYD does overnight baggage - you need to collect in the evening and recheck the next day.

 

[mel-world]

Don't think SYD does overnight baggage - you need to collect in the evening and recheck the next day.

Bugger. Tks anyway.

 

[PERLHR]

Bugger. Tks anyway.

Guess an overnighter at the expensive Rydges is the way to go to make it as easy as possible the following morn.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Hi all
I'm a long term Qantas flyer, but work has booked me on United to the US this month, and Europe with Singapore / Lufthansa / Thai next month.

What's my best approach to maximising points (will be used for family flights within Australia)? Do I just claim all the trips against my velocity account, or are there smarter ways?

Sorry if this is obvious - I did a search but couldn't find an answer,

Thanks!

Yeap, put it all to SQ KF first, then transfer to VFF at a 35% down, its not 1:1.
As TG is not in VFF, you do need an intermediary FF account as a holding pattern, SQ KF is the one to go for.
Their points do expire in 3 years, so 3 (ah, 3 yrs, thought it was 4, maybe that is (AirNZ), 3 years after this big # of flights, or close to 2.95 years, transfer the points to VFF.
You wont make what their status tier high tho, as you have to fly a lot of J classes for that.
But for collecting *A, SQ is the best.
TG O+ points cannot be transferred to VFF, so it has to be SQ KF first, then to VFF, but as others have said, in the end, the points in VFF will be very watered down, as to the # of points left.
You could take the family to SIN or SEAsia using SQ KF points or miles as they call it, directly, without transferring them to VFF, that might be of more value.
=
Or put to AirNZ Koru FF if you want to holiday closer, ie, the Southern Alps of NZ.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

My Dad has around 4k points (won’t be earning points moving forward due age) just shy of the 5k transfer minimum, is a way around this for me to send 5k to him the send the 9k back to me?

Set him up for FB, buy to $2k value of groceries under his name, which is valued at 1000 VFF points, then transfer to you, then apply to close the account.
If you get caught doing too many "family transfers" there is a risk VFF might deem it as scam, and lock account or block all else, I wouldnt do too many family transfers, FB is the best.
Closing would mean scammers would not be able to get into his account.