VA wishlist. Time for.....

[quick_dry]

- fix the website as others have mentioned
- keep the existing Velocity tiers but introduce lifetime status
- more meaningful benefits for Platinum?
- better seat allocation process to create more empty spaces around elite status pax
- remove the need to contact call centre for benefits that are just part of the profile e.g. TWO41. (It makes sense that at first this might need manual processing, but the code has been with us for years now)

 

[theevilmuppet]

- remove the need to contact call centre for benefits that are just part of the profile e.g. TWO41. (It makes sense that at first this might need manual processing, but the code has been with us for years now)

Admittedly it is slightly more complicated than just using the code:

- The PAN would need to be checked to ensure the same card isn't used more times than allowed
- The anniversary date would need to be taken into account (the Velocity Frequent Flyer site already shows this, so it should be fairly trivial)
- Handling of expired and stolen cards would need to be implemented (to avoid the case of the entitlement being used up, the card being replaced with a different PAN and the anniversary date still being in the future)
- Handling of supplementary cards and their associated PANs to ensure that the supplementary card holders can't use the perk without entitlement

All of this can be done without the actual PAN being handled easily enough, as to not introduce any PCI DSS compliance issues.

 

[JohnK]

Some consistency in lounge offerings.

e.g. Sunday afternoon last week there was pizza/pies on offer. This week same time there is nothing. Why?

I cannot disagree more on a new VA 'P1' level. Personal experience from two years of QF P1 is that you only get back what they stripped off QF WP previously. Things like preselecting row 4/23 seating, free exit row seating, fee free award booking etc are all things QF WP used to get previously. I would abolish QF P1 and improve WP if I was QF as it was a complete failure IMHO.

Spot on. Platinum One is the new Platinum and Platinum is the new Gold....

Apologies for the repetition.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

As the gap between VA SG and WP is so small now, the best opportunity is to improve the WP product before trying to introduce a higher tier.

Yes, but many people are still going to reach plat and think "what now". The answer may be lifetime status. It'd work for me......possibly.

 

[Pleb Status]

Yes, but many people are still going to reach plat and think "what now". The answer may be lifetime status. It'd work for me......possibly.

Lifetime status is definitely needed on Velocity to help with the 'what now'. It is going to be difficult to introduce with family pooling however as it would be far to easy to earn.

Assuming LTS at 5000 SC and LTG at 10000 SC (to match the QF levels of 10 years of qualification), in two or three good travelling years, a family of four could easily earn LTG. Velocity would then be liable for lounge access etc from then on.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Lifetime status is definitely needed on Velocity to help with the 'what now'. It is going to be difficult to introduce with family pooling however as it would be far to easy to earn.

Assuming LTS at 5000 SC and LTG at 10000 SC (to match the QF levels of 10 years of qualification), in two or three good travelling years, a family of four could easily earn LTG. Velocity would then be liable for lounge access etc from then on.

True. It's a difficult situation to manage. Make the bar higher and you disadvantage the flyers who don't family pool, make the bar comparable to QF and you make it too easy to obtain and hence risking a major devaluation in the future. Perhaps they can base it on sectors flown? They don't pool.

 

[MH_fan]

I'd make the family pooling only valid for status on a year by year basis but only the primary account holder's SCs go towards lifetime status. I'd think this would be very fair.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

I'd make the family pooling only valid for status on a year by year basis but only the primary account holder's SCs go towards lifetime status. I'd think this would be very fair.

I agree. I reckon that would very reasonable. 10,000 SCs for LG is fine by me (might be coming close – would love to even know my lifetime tally).

 

[JohnK]

True. It's a difficult situation to manage. Make the bar higher and you disadvantage the flyers who don't family pool, make the bar comparable to QF and you make it too easy to obtain and hence risking a major devaluation in the future. Perhaps they can base it on sectors flown? They don't pool.

Simple solution would be to exclude SCs earned from family pooling for Lifetime Status calculations. Or maybe not that simple for their IT team.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Simple solution would be to exclude SCs earned from family pooling for Lifetime Status calculations. Or maybe not that simple for their IT team.

I was tending to think the latter. At least we know that eligible sectors don't pool and surely it would be a fairly easy thing to bolt on a spreadsheet that quasi calculates earned SCs from distance flown and their earning table.

 

[OlBryson]

• WP call centre that can do more than what I can for myself on the VA website. Lately it seems I only call them up to be told why something can't be done.
• Fix the priority bag tag issue when flying a VA/NZ combination itinerary.
• Dramatically improve the reward seat availability.
• Ditch the 4 complimentary WP upgrades in their current setup, replace with something similar to AA systemwide upgrades (8 of them, will work on any fare type, can be used for anyone, etc).
• Fix the website - why is it when i log into the velocity website, then start making a booking, that I have to log into the VA website with my velocity number again?
• Some form of incentive to book a more expensive airfare (25% off for Gold/Platinum when booking a flexi fare would be nice ).
• Install QF-style bag drops. Those things are massive time savers.

 

[deepblerg]

I agree that VA have stopped innovating which is interesting because its actually a business that prides itself on innovation with internal staff programs and incentives etc.

I think their biggest problem BY FAR is their web technology. The website (VA but particularly VFF) is beyond a joke and I can't believe they've lasted this long. Really simple aspects considered standard 5 years ago like single sign-on and functionality on-par or even better than calling the call centre is still MIA. Qantas is leaving VA for dead when it comes to the online experience.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Qantas is leaving VA for dead when it comes to the online experience.

Jetstar leaves VA for dead when it comes to the online experience! :shock:

 

[kyanar]

Jetstar leaves VA for dead when it comes to the online experience! :shock:

True, but VA leaves Jetstar for dead at the gate. Because Jetstar hasn't gotten there yet.

 

[First two rows]

I've not had time to read all posts, so forgive duplication should it occur, but lifetime SC accrual now that I've had the elusive 55 birthday seems "somewhat important"

having Gold or Plat in my retirement travel plans will be a big plus. (Enough of a plus to look at changing back in o QF!)

 

[FlyFreeFaster]

VA is running out of time to impress all the new customers they fought so hard to get from QF. A lot of very good ideas above if only JB would listen to what the public want rather than what he thinks the shareholders want.....the shareholders would be greatly appreciative if JB could keep the customers who spend the money to provide profits to the shareholders.

For example, how about spirits in the lounges? Not a big ask but apparently VA continually visit this issue and cant make a decision. I did think VA wanted to offer a competitive service commensurate with QF!

Also, wish VA would sort out their website and their FF website and integrate them.

 

[Gazza129]

"Return the Mel-LAX flights"

OH YES PLEASE !!!!!

Was shocked when it disappeared .....Another reason we have moved to QF

 

[cutz]

I am mostly QF, but flew VA recently from new terminal in Perth. I don't know if we were just unlucky, but their self check in system would have to be the slowest computer system in the universe. it timed out a couple of times while grinding towards our eventual check in. Considering it is less than a month old, not impressive. Maybe VA need to upgrade their IT dept.

 

[Gazza129]

As discussed on another thread I'm not too fussed about SCs but I am most disappointed in the steady drop in quality of the Business class offerings on long haul over the past 3 or so years. The food has no love and I have more entertainment on my home PC than they have on their fleet. The whole experience reeks of cost cutting.
Re the seating to Perth and Bali.........I've had friends complain bitterly about the experience and have sworn off VA.

We have flown Virgin America business/first coast to coast on a couple of occasions and would have to say its some of the best airline experiences we've encountered. Seats and service fabulous !

 

[24601]

One simple request, surely not to difficult: Put the name of the airline on the frequent flyer cards.