Velocity Chief Nick Rohrlach departs in management shakeup

[ozstamps]

I wonder if this is directly a result of the number of flyers, myself included, who have become disengaged with the Velocity program in light of recent program changes

VERY clearly it is connected.

100,000s of once veery happy and content and rusted-on Elites have jumped ship, or are in the process of it.

Qantas should send Rohrlach a very large 'Thank You' cheque, and a case of Moet.

This current half coughd, and very poorly communicated frantic attempt to claw back the herds of departing Elites, by handing out millions of SC for flights already taken and paid for is clearly panic stations on full maximum alert in there.

Someone with some brains looking at market share has probably stepped in.

SC cost zero (versus free points) - they can hand out billions of them at zero dollar cost really. Virgin are now frantic to retain as many elites they can after 12 months of actively driving them away.

Just booked a SYD-ADL-SYD with points, as zero interest in handing those dopes a red cent.

 

[simmomelb]

And also not everyone wants to start their trip from Australia.

You don't need to, the status points still go towards the other 50%, so they aren't wasted.
e.g., I can book London to NYC on Virgin Atlantic; I will still earn status credits for the other 50%.

If you aren't initiating 50% of your flights from Australia, then VA is not for you.
Not every brand will suit every customer, and that's okay. Go with what suits you best.

 

[aus_flyer]

100,000s of once veery happy and content and rusted-on Elites have jumped ship, or are in the process of it.

What's your source for this stat?

 

[dandandan]

VERY clearly it is connected.

100,000s of once veery happy and content and rusted-on Elites have jumped ship, or are in the process of it.

Qantas should send Rohrlach a very large 'Thank You' cheque, and a case of Moet.

This current half coughd, and very poorly communicated frantic attempt to claw back the herds of departing Elites, by handing out millions of SC for flights already taken and paid for is clearly panic stations on full maximum alert in there.

Someone with some brains looking at market share has probably stepped in.

SC cost zero (versus free points) - they can hand out billions of them at zero dollar cost really. Virgin are now frantic to retain as many elites they can after 12 months of actively driving them away.

Just booked a SYD-ADL-SYD with points, as zero interest in handing those dopes a red cent.

This is spot on, Rohrlach has been booted as his strategy has failed. In his position this is warranted,. This also shows VA their position isn't as strong as they think, it's strong, however they simply can't charge the premiums Qantas charge and their SC earn based on revenue left them out on their own in the Aus market, when they didn't need to change it and only add in lifetime status.

Maybe tweaking member earn SC's was fine, however the revenue based SC earn has spectacularly backfired. The question is do they quickly revert to the previous SC earn chart.

 

[dandandan]

What's your source for this stat?

I don't think a source is needed, the current events speak for themselves, however plenty of people on this forum (I would say in the thousands as AFF has over 65,000 members I believe) told VA what they would do. Pretty naive not believe the word of the most hard core loyalty members

 

[ozstamps]

The evidence is clearly there for all with 2 eyes, and a few spare grey brain cells!

If 62.4% - literally 100s of folks just on this one small board alone agree they will be demoted under this crazy new system, it clearly has been a DISASTER plan.

Extrapolate that nationally, and little wonder Rohrlach is out the door. They are handing out millions of SC like Candies for flights taken even last month! Even on LITE fares. Retaining Elite levels for folks who got vaguely close, as we have seen reported here.

According to today's AFR, Qantas is expected to launch a DSC promo within a week for UNLIMITED flights, and the blood loss will just worsen for Virgin.

Virgin cuts back Doha flights, tries to boost frequent flyer program

The airline has started a huge status boost ahead of Qantas’ hotly anticipated double status credits promotion later this week, as it cuts flights with Qatar.

www.afr.com

If this were election polling at 62.4% negative response, the Bookies would have paid out already.

Thread 'Will you still earn/retain Velocity status beyond 2025?'

Nov 1, 2024

I'm sure most people reading this are already familiar with the recent changes announced to Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer program. In particular, from next year:

• You'll earn status credits for Virgin Australia flights based on the amount you spend,
• You'll earn fewer status credits on partner airlines, and
• To earn or retain any status level, you'll need to earn at least half of the required status credits from VA marketed flights you personally fly (i.e. not from family pooling, partner airlines, etc.)

Put simply, this will make Velocity status harder for...

• AFF Editor
• airline status
• Replies: 933
• Forum: Virgin Australia | Velocity

• 

 

[dandandan]

The evidence is clearly there for all with 2 eyes, and a few spare grey brain cells!

If 62.4% - literally 100s of folks just on this one small board alone agree they will be demoted under this crazy new system, it clearly has been a DISASTER plan.

Extrapolate that nationally, and little wonder Rohrlach is out the door. They are handing out millions of SC like Candies for flights taken even last month! Even on LITE fares. Retaining Elite levels for folks who got vaguely close, as we have seen reported here.

According to today's AFR, Qantas is expected to launch a DSC promo within a week for UNLIMITED flights, and the blood loss will just worsen for Virgin.

Virgin cuts back Doha flights, tries to boost frequent flyer program

The airline has started a huge status boost ahead of Qantas’ hotly anticipated double status credits promotion later this week, as it cuts flights with Qatar.

www.afr.com

If this were election polling at 62.4% negative response, the Bookies would have paid out already.


View attachment 498613

Thread 'Will you still earn/retain Velocity status beyond 2025?'

Nov 1, 2024

I'm sure most people reading this are already familiar with the recent changes announced to Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer program. In particular, from next year:

• You'll earn status credits for Virgin Australia flights based on the amount you spend,
• You'll earn fewer status credits on partner airlines, and
• To earn or retain any status level, you'll need to earn at least half of the required status credits from VA marketed flights you personally fly (i.e. not from family pooling, partner airlines, etc.)

Put simply, this will make Velocity status harder for...

• AFF Editor
• airline status
• Replies: 933
• Forum: Virgin Australia | Velocity

• 

And the Qantas DSC has now officially launched.

 

[SCM]

I really don't get this latest promo, it feels like a haphazardly adhoc promo which makes little sense - obviously some desperation there.

 

[ozstamps]

I really don't get this latest promo, it feels like a haphazardly adhoc promo which makes little sense - obviously some desperation there.

The ONLY reason is the vast outflow of elites. giving folks a large bunch of SC for flights they made LAST MONTH even on (near worthless for SC) LITE fares, is a sign they are DESPERATE to stem the massive haemorrhage, even if it costs them many millions of SC tossed to the winds.

WHY does it make ANY sense to give someone who flew Sydney-Ballina last month for $60 each way a huge 45 x extra SC??!!!! AND a handful of bonus miles to boot. For flights ALREADY taken.

Totally panic stations in there, with no plan to even communicate this to members, so as to make some BUCKS from it. Qantas will be laughing their heads off.

 

[aus_flyer]

WHY does it make ANY sense to give someone who flew Sydney-Ballina last month for $60 each way a huge 45 x extra SC??!!!! AND a handful of bonus miles to boot. For flights ALREADY taken.

Might want to check your maths

 

[ozstamps]

Might want to check your maths

You might want to check yours.

Or maybe just your compreeeheenshunnn skills?

 

[aus_flyer]

You might want to check yours.

View attachment 498617

How do you get 45x the number of status credits?

Ah I think you meant “45 extra SC” not “45 x extra SC”

 

[ozstamps]

''How do you get 45x the number of status credits?''

WHY does it make ANY sense to give someone who flew Sydney-Ballina last month for $60 each way, a huge 45 x extra SC??!!!! AND a handful of bonus miles to boot. For flights ALREADY taken.