Virgin Aust Holidays Double Status Credit offer

[MH_fan]

Hope it's nice accomodation...

Oh, it is. Stayed there before. Private pool accommodation!

 

[The-Aviator]

First time booking through Virgin Holidays, thanks to the DSC promotion, and decided on a little holiday to Bali in J for next year. $2700 for 670SC (SYD-MEL-DPS-SYD), which is $4/SC, leaving me just 130SC to retain WP!

Not sure if I'm going crazy but struggling to understand your math, how does this equate to 670SC?

 

[Stealthflyer]

First time booking through Virgin Holidays, thanks to the DSC promotion, and decided on a little holiday to Bali in J for next year. $2700 for 670SC (SYD-MEL-DPS-SYD), which is $4/SC, leaving me just 130SC to retain WP!

Not sure how you got to 670. HBA-MEL-DPS return got me 480 credits.

 

[Duggo]

Today I can't even book via VA Holidays as it gets stuck on the 'Customise your trip'.
Cannot get to step 4, to enter my payment details :/

I've tried several times. This is just unacceptable. Advertising a promotion, which isn't actually possible to complete, would be in breach of ACCC advertising rules (probably falls under 'bait advertising').

Will try on my phone instead to see if I have any luck!


Edit: After several attempts on desktop, it finally worked. It really shouldn't be this hard.


View attachment 516212

Been stuck on same all day today, 3 different devices, MacBook pro, iPhone and windows pc. I have called 3 times and its all my devices apparently. Cleared cache as instructed, no luck. Different browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) same result. Next time on my phone same result 2 different browsers. 3rd device same result 2 different browsers. Tried booking a different room same hotel and got the same result. Next I tried several other hotels and exact same result. Extremely frustrating and the lack of help is typical. I can not even give them my money!

 

[MH_fan]

Not sure how you got to 670. HBA-MEL-DPS return got me 480 credits.

DSC for SYD-MEL would be 55x2=110.
DSC for MEL-DPS would be 140x2=280.
DSC for DPS-SYD would be 140x2=280.
Total SCs for SYD-MEL-DPS-SYD would be 670.

 

[The-Aviator]

DSC for SYD-MEL would be 55x2=110.
DSC for MEL-DPS would be 140x2=280.
DSC for DPS-SYD would be 140x2=280.
Total SCs for SYD-MEL-DPS-SYD would be 670.

These are based off the old tables. The new table is 40 SCs for SYD-MEL and 80 SCs for DPS to/from SYD or MEL.

 

[Stealthflyer]

DSC for SYD-MEL would be 55x2=110.
DSC for MEL-DPS would be 140x2=280.
DSC for DPS-SYD would be 140x2=280.
Total SCs for SYD-MEL-DPS-SYD would be 670.

Try this table for current status credit earn: Triple Velocity Status Credits with Virgin Australia - Point Hacks

 

[MH_fan]

Try this table for current status credit earn: Triple Velocity Status Credits with Virgin Australia - Point Hacks

Thanks for letting me know! I thought it was off the old earning scale!

 

[MG1]

Nice.

Stack with the current Amex offer ($200 statement credit for $2k spend).

For clarity here are the Virgin Australia Holidays terms and conditions relating to SC earn:

View attachment 515944

It's a pity that those rates are reduced on what they used to be (still better than $-based though).

 

[MG1]

These offers are the only worthwhile way to earn/renew Velocity status these days. Go to town, I say!

I just booked the majority of my future travel with QF last week (refundable, so I could change it) and I'm not sure if I've got the energy to look into this (even though this is the only worthwhile (even at a reduced rate) way to maintain VA status). I started to do but am getting the same bug that others have reported about the return flight only showing one or two options (so frustrating).

Also, the fact that these are reduced rates is frustrating as well.

Then, I have to think, is it worth spending ~$2.5k to maintain my VA Platinum status before my upcoming renewal date (and then spending another ~$4k to maintain it for another year) when I likely won't be using the benefits as I've now swapped most of my flying over to QF? (I suppose I've got a few hours left to make up my mind.)

 

[MG1]

Been stuck on same all day today, 3 different devices, MacBook pro, iPhone and windows pc. I have called 3 times and its all my devices apparently. Cleared cache as instructed, no luck. Different browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) same result. Next time on my phone same result 2 different browsers. 3rd device same result 2 different browsers. Tried booking a different room same hotel and got the same result. Next I tried several other hotels and exact same result. Extremely frustrating and the lack of help is typical. I can not even give them my money!

I can no longer access any of the VA websites on my laptop (I get a certificate error) and on my phone, I get to the login screen, only to be rejected once I enter my password (which I can guarantee is being correctly entered). (I did have better luck when I tried on a family member's laptop though.)

 

[Happy Dude]

Try this table for current status credit earn: Triple Velocity Status Credits with Virgin Australia - Point Hacks

Or even better, try the link in the T&C (see post #2!) rather than a second hand source.

 

[PERLHR]

I just booked the majority of my future travel with QF last week (refundable, so I could change it) and I'm not sure if I've got the energy to look into this (even though this is the only worthwhile (even at a reduced rate) way to maintain VA status). I started to do but am getting the same bug that others have reported about the return flight only showing one or two options (so frustrating).

Also, the fact that these are reduced rates is frustrating as well.

Then, I have to think, is it worth spending ~$2.5k to maintain my VA Platinum status before my upcoming renewal date (and then spending another ~$4k to maintain it for another year) when I likely won't be using the benefits as I've now swapped most of my flying over to QF? (I suppose I've got a few hours left to make up my mind.)

You know I was thinking the same. I'm likely to maintain VA Plat within renewal date of April next year anyway (mostly due to ANZ flights accounting for about 50 percent of the credit but with VA code. At the same time, now that I will lose BA Gold OW Emerald, I'm in the process of seeing what QF offer and will be Gold with them soon. One World status is I think "needed". I'm guessing I will just "deal" with QF going forward. Down the back I prefer QF but I still quite like VA Biz but the lack of lounges in many places is poor. The virgin holidays idea is good I think but the tool is not always user friendly. I'll give this one a miss and see what pops up in the future.

 

[Happy Dude]

Leaving aside the issue with flight options, I'm finding that the hotel prices represent rather poor value. Or at least the ones I've looked at. Had a look at HTI and prices seem high especially for out of school holiday periods. Same for BNK. Circa $1,200pp for a short break (say 3 nights) in an average hotel, typically, based on a "lite" fare, then add $600+ for J. Ouch. Maybe there's some sweet spots out there I haven't stumbled upon.

Many of the HTI hotels were in Airlie Beach or Proserpine so transfers required for those not paying full attention.

 

[PERLHR]

Leaving aside the issue with flight options, I'm finding that the hotel prices represent rather poor value. Or at least the ones I've looked at. Had a look at HTI and prices seem high especially for out of school holiday periods. Same for BNK. Circa $1,200pp for a short break (say 3 nights) in an average hotel, typically, based on a "lite" fare, then add $600+ for J. Ouch. Maybe there's some sweet spots out there I haven't stumbled upon.

Many of the HTI hotels were in Airlie Beach or Proserpine so transfers required for those not paying full attention.

Yeah I'm looked at HTI ex PER with red eye out of Perth and change at SYD I think it was. Biz was AUD 2700 for decent hotel 3 nights (but some are with scary reviews). Never been to HTI so considered it worth a look but most hotels as you say in Airlie (which looks nice) or Mackay ex PER.

 

[Duggo]

I can no longer access any of the VA websites on my laptop (I get a certificate error) and on my phone, I get to the login screen, only to be rejected once I enter my password (which I can guarantee is being correctly entered). (I did have better luck when I tried on a family member's laptop though.)

I was finally able to book on my wife's laptop last night, I was 99% there the night before as well. It took the pending payment from my Amex card but that was all that happened, spent another 40 minutes on the phone trying to find out what happened and was told the booking timed out and logged me out. Payment is still pending but was assured nothing was booked and it will not go further and auto cancel.
Overall the worst booking experience I have ever had, when it finally went through and booked it was pretty easy but getting to that point after I spent a few days trying was nothing short of pathetic.
If my wife was not already having to be in Adelaide in November I would have just walked away and stayed home as planned but if I tag along now with her it will get her across the line for platinum with the double sc.

 

[Happy Dude]

Like @Duggo, I now have an erroneous pending charge on the Amex, to go with two legit bookings, but my issue was with the app. No tech issues on Edge on the laptop.

The lack of flexibility regarding fare class, together with room type/inclusions, however, made for a fairly painful booking process.

According to the very helpful post by @Happy Dude, I'll get 680 SCs for a family trip to CBR-MEL-HBA-MEL-CBR. I'll also get to bed with the Staffy for a while as I'm in J and the wife and kids are in Row 28. Assuming I can scrape together another 100 SCs prior to June 2027 (80 SCs in my name), I'll keep WP for another year now, when I had resigned to this being my last.

I'm sure I won't be short of DSC opportunities before then so that will mean that retaining WP would cost around $5k, not including the 2 x $200 Amex cashbacks or ancillary costs incurred on the holiday (eg hire car, meals, dog kennel, parking etc).

So did anyone book a few fully refundable $2k holidays with their Amex supps? I wouldn't blame anyone for doing so, given the PITA it was to book a legit trip.