Virgin Australia Holidays - Is it worth it?

[titfilou]

Virgin Australia Holidays is now offering a discount to all company employees where I work.

We now get a 10% discount on any packages that include a hotel.

There doesn't seem to be any limit on the discount, I have done a dummy booking in business return to CDG with 5 star hotel. Total was $30k and discount was $3k.

Now, it seems like a fantastic deal and a great opportunity to fly business as discounted rate, however is there anything about Virgin Australia Holidays that I should be aware of?

 

[titfilou]

Sorry, I should probably add that the dummy booking was for 2 seats in J and 2 weeks 5 star accommodation

 

[ap_spd]

i have used them in the past. The experience was good, nothing that I could fault anyway. However, as with any other booking not made on the hotel website, the stay wont count towards status run / earn points on the stay. Similarly airfare will only grant you status credits and not points as these are based on the $ you spend on V Holiday.

 

[zainman]

I would try and compare the price to other websites and see if I can piece together the same package cheaper or even for the same (after the discount of course). May well be surprised as to what you can find!

 

[titfilou]

I would try and compare the price to other websites and see if I can piece together the same package cheaper or even for the same (after the discount of course). May well be surprised as to what you can find!

I thought the same.

Hotel deals are easy to find and would most certainly be cheaper. I'm however very interested at the total package price as it is not everyday that we can find 10% of international J flights and this alone make it very appealing as long as the flight prices are not inflated on Virgin Australia Holidays website.

 

[carwashhair]

Hotel deals are easy to find and would most certainly be cheaper. I'm however very interested at the total package price as it is not everyday that we can find 10% of international J flights and this alone make it very appealing as long as the flight prices are not inflated on Virgin Australia Holidays website.

One thing to remember in bringing down J fares with VA is plat velocity amex, which offers decent discounts on J companion fares (second J fare is taxes only when purchasing a Flexi J fare). That alone could save you $5-6k, for a $349 card. Then check your preferred hotel prices and see how VA holidays matches up after their 10%

 

[Clobu5]

I used Virgin Holidays in Feb for a 5 pax week in Fiji with flights BNE - NAN. flying on VA metal put us in a cheaper bucket and the ticket price was instantly cheaper then anything else i could find. Accomm was cheaper thru virgin then what i could find on SPG (we stayed at Westin).

In the end i got 3/$ for the total cost of the holiday credited to my account. I then got 2 x pax points for taking the flights (family pooling) plus i got my silver bonus on top.

I was very happy with V Holidays and had to email them a few times to confirm things and change some bits and they were quick and efficient as a middle man between myself and Westin/Virgin.

I will use them again and it was nice saving money whilst still earning points and SC. And using my SPG for inhouse discounts in the resort.

 

[MarkD]

I didnt think you got SC on flights. Has that always been the case, or is SC on Holiday flights a new thing?

 

[ap_spd]

I didnt think you got SC on flights. Has that always been the case, or is SC on Holiday flights a new thing?

MarkD, I got the SC's twice and this was long back so nothing new I would say, points are a NO NO though

 

[MarkD]

Thanks, must have got the points/SC thing mixed up. Thanks for the reply

 

[Clobu5]

Just to confirm i received SC and points for individual flights, plus points for the purchase of the holiday.

I was going to post a screen dump but wont do so incase the points that accompanied the SC were infact in error and they get taken away.

Having a read of the T's and C's now..

 

[Clobu5]

And i think here is the answer.

https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.c...ralia-holidays-velocity-terms-and-conditions/

'You will not earn Velocity Points on the package components of Qualifying Holidays, which are provided by suppliers whom already participate in the Velocity program. For example, you will not earn Velocity Points separately for Virgin Australia flights which are included in your Qualifying Holiday.'