Velocity Amex platinum- Business class offer

[titfilou]

I'm a little bit confused with the business class offer on my Amex card.

When I first got the card the offer was "Complimentary Business Class Companion Fare offer 50% discount on the Adult fare price for each guest as at the date of booking"

Then American Express changed the terms and conditions and changed the offer to "Discount Business Class Companion Fare offer" (not 50% any longer)

Now I read the terms and conditions and this is what I see:

- Terms and Conditions applicable to the Complimentary Business Class Companion Fare offer20. The Complimentary Business Class Companion Fare offer on
Virgin Australia international long haul flights is available for booking by eligible Basic Card members from 1 September 2012

- Terms and Conditions applicable to the Discount Business Class Companion Fare offer
23. The Discount Business Class Companion Fare offer is available for booking by eligible Basic Card members from 1 September 2012

do you think this is a typo in the T&Cs? The first one is meant to say "before 1 September 2012? Or perhaps someone can help me understand?

 

[Deewhy]

Not sure, but I reckon give them a call and see what the prices are. I haven't seen widespread reporting of what the result of using this offer is. My thinking is that you will get close to 2 for 1 flexi fares, which means it'll work out close to buying 2 business saver type fares. Be interested to know what you find out.

 

[Ausbt]

I haven't seen widespread reporting of what the result of using this offer is. .

Got a quote last year along these lines: SYD-CDG in J circa $15K no SCs or points. At that time could have bought Flexi fares outright for $19K with points and SCs and even less $ on Bus Saver. So no, not even close to a 2-for-1 deal.

 

[titfilou]

So I have called Amex and ask for a quote SYD-CDG return.
Price given to me was $7250pp. which is the exact same price online.

When I have asked about the offer, she said that it was only for America.... Not sure where this is explained on the cards benefits?

Why don't Amex advertise their card as "Business class seat discount to America".

$349 per annum.... Not worth it I think...

 

[lovestotravel]

The J fares through Amex change all the time.

With the recent heavy discounting it's usually better pff buying from the airline directly!

 

[JKjnr]

I believe the longhaul flight and ticketing 2 for 1 Amex Plat J offer must be all on VA metal. So that is I believe - OZ to LA (??) in the 777 only.

 

[titfilou]

I believe the longhaul flight and ticketing 2 for 1 Amex Plat J offer must be all on VA metal. So that is I believe - OZ to LA (??) in the 777 only.

That make sense now. I think SYD to AUH would work too.

 

[Cyberon]

I'm a little bit confused with the business class offer on my Amex card.

...

Be careful, there's heaps of restrictions and fine print, but the gist of it is that you have to buy high priced non discounted business class tickets on CERTAIN international flights. The effective price paid per ticket isn't cheap at all.

 

[Moopere]

$349 per annum.... Not worth it I think...

I went over the T&C on this slowly and finely before I got the card. Its mostly smoke and mirrors insofar as I could actually understand what they were trying to tell me. I couldn't actually think of a use-case that would work for me as I don't generally travel to the USA (the DL possibilities therefore wasted).

I have been really happy with the card overall though. A nice introduction points package, free flight which I upgraded to domestic J, good earn at 1.5x and 3x for Virgin Spend. However, nice as all that is, I won't renew this year given that I won't receive any free points. I have too many Amex cards and their back-end business is causing merchant issues which are translating into my issues as a customer. I'll swap it out for a decent VISA or MC, possibly a Citi product.

Given some time after cancelling though, I'd be happy to take the Velocity Amex again if I can nab some freebie points into the deal.

 

[wallacej]

I went over the T&C on this slowly and finely before I got the card. Its mostly smoke and mirrors insofar as I could actually understand what they were trying to tell me. I couldn't actually think of a use-case that would work for me as I don't generally travel to the USA (the DL possibilities therefore wasted).

I have been really happy with the card overall though. A nice introduction points package, free flight which I upgraded to domestic J, good earn at 1.5x and 3x for Virgin Spend. However, nice as all that is, I won't renew this year given that I won't receive any free points. I have too many Amex cards and their back-end business is causing merchant issues which are translating into my issues as a customer. I'll swap it out for a decent VISA or MC, possibly a Citi product.

Given some time after cancelling though, I'd be happy to take the Velocity Amex again if I can nab some freebie points into the deal.

I would have to agree with everything you have mentioned here. I took the 200 status credits and 25000 bonus points and 6 months interest free offer...was all this worth $349?? Maybe, actually yes...and to boot, I have not been charged the annual fee. As for renewal, not likely, at an earn of 1.5 and acceptance or extra charge issues I might stick with the virgin flyer visa at 1.25 earn and bette acceptance.

 

[wallacej]

And to add to this. I tried to book my free flight today. The only flights they will let you book are the saver fares, and of course for the destinations you can choose average around the $110 mark. Again, not enticing, and yes, is in the conditions. Just would have preferred to be able to choose the time and destination of my choice. Not likely to renew this one at all.

 

[Moopere]

And to add to this. I tried to book my free flight today. The only flights they will let you book are the saver fares, and of course for the destinations you can choose average around the $110 mark. Again, not enticing, and yes, is in the conditions. Just would have preferred to be able to choose the time and destination of my choice. Not likely to renew this one at all.

The destinations offered vary depending on the point of departure. Have a look here: Velocity

Free return flights from PER where I live to the east cost will return me $400 or more in value and with some clever manipulation can be upgraded to J. See http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s-rewards/amex-free-flight-upgrade-34297.html the booking codes mentioned in the thread are no longer relevant since VA moved to sabre, but the process is otherwise much the same.

 

[wallacej]

The t&c's indicate it is to be booked using "c" class. Is anyone able to confirm that C is actually a Flexi Business fare. In which case, the discussion so far is that it is probably cheaper or the same price to buy 2 x Saver Business, unless the points earn or status earn is better?

 

[bullerdude]

The fare class order is - Virgin Australia: D, I, J, C - So 'C' is the most expensive J class fare avaible (and is fully flexible as well).

Not really cheaper then... two 'D' class fares are probably cheaper.

 

[Moopere]

The fare class order is - Virgin Australia: D, I, J, C - So 'C' is the most expensive J class fare avaible (and is fully flexible as well).

Is that right? I'm not sure. ExpertFlyer lists VA fares as J, C, D, I from most to least expensive (usually) - is there a page on the VA site that lists them in a different order?

 

[notzac]

So far as I can tell, the fare order is J, C, D, I (this according to fare information in Expert Flyer, so probably reasonably accurate).

The most flexible J and C fares all appear to have a 4 day advance purchase requirement, then there are usually cheaper J and C fares with a 30 day advance purchase requirement. Somewhere in there is a D fare with no advance purchase required, but I assume the fare is restrictive in other ways (I didn't spend too much time looking at fare rules so I'm not sure what the difference is - maybe just lower availability?)

I fares don't seem to show up one way, and for return flights there seem to be a bunch of different I fares with different date and advance purchase restrictions.