Unwritten VA Platinum benefits?

[CPMaverick]

Velocity has a minimum SC earn too, and as a proportion of what’s required for top tier status, it’s better than 500 MQMs!

Irrelevant because DL has 4 tiers and in the end it matters how easy it is to achieve, not just what the number ratios are.

 

[Jack_OC]

Irrelevant because DL has 4 tiers and in the end it matters how easy it is to achieve, not just what the number ratios are.

The major determinant of how easy it is to achieve is the number ratio. You can’t just look at it as “500 is better than 5”!

Anyway, I thought you already agreed that Velocity status is much easier to achieve than DL status?

 

[CPMaverick]

The major determinant of how easy it is to achieve is the number ratio. You can’t just look at it as “500 is better than 5”!

You are looking at it simplisticly, not me. I never said 500 is better than 5. I said 500 DL MQM is more difficult to earn than 5 VA SC. And I provided multiple reasons why.

Yes, I agree VA status is far easier to achieve than equivalent DL status, but that is because of the bigger rewards for spending a bit more on VA. You can triple your SC on VA for a small extra fee, there's no way to do the same on DL. Even full fare F doesn't earn 3x MQM.

As another example, if you fly paid economy on short flights (min distance) you could earn VA Plat from scratch in as little as 40 RT (32 to requal). Even on the most expensive DL economy fares, it would take 50 short RT to earn DL Plat and over 80 RT to earn top tier. On even mid level DL economy fares, it goes up to 75 RT/125 RT.

The lowest VA SC earn per flight is low, and the highest VA SC earn per flight is quite high. It really is apples and oranges, and your supposition that you can just divide DL MQM by 100 and compare to VA SC is not correct.

 

[Jack_OC]

You are looking at it simplisticly, not me. I never said 500 is better than 5. I said 500 DL MQM is more difficult to earn than 5 VA SC. And I provided multiple reasons why.

My comment "Velocity has a minimum SC earn too, and as a proportion of what’s required for top tier status, it’s better than 500 MQMs!" was not directed at you! The hint is in the post I quoted from!

 

[CPMaverick]

Even if it isn't meant for me, I have a right to comment on it and you responded to my comment quoting me!

In my opinion 500 DL MQM is worth about 8 VA SC. So VA does a pretty good job with their minimums for mid level fares, but isn't quite up to scratch for their absolute minimum SC.

 

[Jack_OC]

Even if it isn't meant for me, I have a right to comment on it and you responded to my comment quoting me!

In my opinion 500 DL MQM is worth about 8 VA SC. So VA does a pretty good job with their minimums for mid level fares, but isn't quite up to scratch for their absolute minimum SC.

Jeez this is getting a bit weird! Of course you have a right to comment - it's a just a bit odd when you interject with "I never said that …" when my comment was very clearly directed at someone else!

 

[ozstamps]

In my opinion 500 DL MQM is worth about 8 VA SC. So VA does a pretty good job with their minimums for mid level fares, but isn't quite up to scratch for their absolute minimum SC.

Reinforcing my point that changing from 10SC for most domestic flights to just FIVE was a major minus to the Velocity system.

 

[GSP]

Reinforcing my point that changing from 10SC for most domestic flights to just FIVE was a major minus to the Velocity system.

The option of the 15SC and 25SC (flex) is better than 10 (fixed) and 20 (flex) previously. I saw it as a positive (as was mentioned earlier on, the Getaway fares were often not available).

 

[CPMaverick]

I know I'll be getting the blame for hijacking and derailing the topic here. But I just want to say it's been a real team effort and I couldn't have done it without all of you

 

[serfty]

Reinforcing my point that changing from 10SC for most domestic flights to just FIVE was a major minus to the Velocity system.

You are looking at the lowest 'getaway' fares ... At the same time that happened the higher tier fares began to earn more.

e.g. minimum flex went from 20 to 25 SC. With my prior example, given you can do getaway MEL-OOL for about $140 to earn 10 sc, pay double the amount and earn 50 SC.

 

[pauly7]

An unwritten benefit for the domestic WP VA travel warrior is a much higher incidence rate of hot dog savaloys in the lounge

 

[JohnK]

An unwritten benefit for the domestic WP VA travel warrior is a much higher incidence rate of hot dog savaloys in the lounge

Haven't seen the hot dogs for a long time which is a shame. The Moroccan chicken tagine with jasmine rice looks like slop.

 

[CPMaverick]

In my opinion 500 DL MQM is worth about 8 VA SC. So VA does a pretty good job with their minimums for mid level fares, but isn't quite up to scratch for their absolute minimum SC.

Hey, did VA listen to me? Maybe not, but they did up the minimum SC earn to 7. Which is much more in line with industry standard IMO.

https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/ProgramBenefits/LatestNews/changes-to-the-program/

Quite happy with that, as I was intending to wean myself off DL anyway....

 

[ozstamps]

Reinforcing my point that changing from 10SC for most domestic flights to just FIVE was a major minus to the Velocity system.

Well 7 is still a silly cheapskate figure, but better than 5, which was insulting to everyone.

Buy a few groceries at Coles or a bit of booze at First Choice Liquor etc, and you get 5 (or 7) Status Credits pretty readily.

Was just a really dumb and petty move, halving down from 10, and clearly they got a LOT of Flak if they are part back-flipping on that.

 

[serfty]

Was just a really dumb and petty move, halving down from 10, and clearly they got a LOT of Flak if they are part back-flipping on that.

It reduces the maximum number of such sectors required to requalify SG from 100 to 72.

 

[twiningb]

Hey, did VA listen to me? Maybe not, but they did up the minimum SC earn to 7. Which is much more in line with industry standard IMO.

https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/ProgramBenefits/LatestNews/changes-to-the-program/

Quite happy with that, as I was intending to wean myself off DL anyway....

The Status Credit Earn Tables page to which the linked page directs you, after saying the minimum Getaway status credits will increase to 7, still shows 5. Is this just because they're not updating it again until December? Or have they gone back on the commitment to 7?

I'm booking for my family, and whether I consider paying more to earn Elevate status credits to improve my odds of requalifying, might actually be affected by that.

[edited immediately after submission to add missing question mark]

 

[serfty]

Is this just because they're not updating it again until December? Or have they gone back on the commitment to 7?

I doubt it. Any who book a short getaway fare for travel from Dec 1 who do not get those additional 2 SC's would have a valid claim for them based on the announcement you linked to:

Improvements to Status Credits Earn

From 1 December 2018, when you travel on a domestic Virgin Australia Getaway fare, you will earn a minimum of seven Status Credits for a one-way flight, compared to the previous five Status Credits. ...

I suspect the SC earn page will be updated soon enough.