Virgin Australia launches 'coronavirus status extension' plan

[ozstamps]

Status Support | Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas is offering eligible Frequent Flyer members additional support including a 12-month status extension and the ability to rollover Status Credits to help with maintaining their tier. Details here.

www.qantas.com

Interesting thing I noted this evening due to virus cutting out much travel. Can't imagine Virgin cannot do the same right now.

Virgin seem totally missing in action in the past week or two, with any reason at all to fly them, but hopefully they will at least see this and match it.

We have some Gold or Platinum memberships to gift from too many Status credits earned as Plats, and a shame we have done nothing about those, as they too would likely be extended a year too if this is matched?

 

[jase05]

Status Support | Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas is offering eligible Frequent Flyer members additional support including a 12-month status extension and the ability to rollover Status Credits to help with maintaining their tier. Details here.

www.qantas.com

Interesting thing I noted this evening due to virus cutting out much travel. Can't imagine Virgin cannot do the same right now.

Virgin seem totally missing in action in the past week or two, with any reason at all to fly them, but hopefully they will at least see this and match it.

We have some Gold or Platinum memberships to gift from too many Status credits earned as Plats, and a shame we have done nothing about those, as they too would likely be extended a year too if this is matched?

I’d guess they will do something similar but I think they have a few more higher priorities ATM. I personally don’t need my Platinum extended but many would benefit from some sort of extension

 

[DavidFlynn]

Not quite.

 

[DavidFlynn]

Virgin Australia will roll out a monthly 'pro-rata' serve of free status credits for Velocity frequent flyers, beginning with three months (April, May & June) each at ~1/12th of the number of status credits needed to retain. You have to admit, Qantas’ approach of handing out an entire free year of status is a far more generous offer!

More at Virgin Australia rolls out free frequent flyer status credits

 

[jase05]

Not quite.

Definitely not as generous as QF but better than nothing I suppose. I think it has the added advantage for VA that it should encourage passengers to fly with them to maintain their status. With the QF status extension realistically passengers don’t have to spend another cent with them for the next 2 years to enjoy the perks but for VA they would be required to spend still which is really what the airline needs at this point in time

 

[ozstamps]

A way inferior response to what Qantas already has firmly in place. Hilton have also done that, so a no brainer for Virgin.

Right now Virgin cannot afford to be playing poor man's catch up.

Keeping your most regular and most profitable clients only partially happy, when your competitor is doing a full year free Status is bad tactics right now by Virgin.

Virgin Brass appear totally asleep at the wheel at this crucial time. Pulled half their flights, but leases and 10,000 staff all still need to be paid, and are doing absolutely ZIPPO to fill planes or attract any new bookings via juicy price discounts, or discounted FF points offers, or double or treble SC etc, etc.

They have dug a hole in the sand, inserted heads, and are just praying this mess passes tomorrow.

Dow is down 1250 points AGAIN as I type this, with Dow under 20,000, so the mess gets far worse not better, and Virgin will not literally be here in 3 months, unless someone wakes up in there and CREATES REVENUE. Simple as that..

dow jones - Google Search

 

[jase05]

A way inferior response to what Qantas already has firmly in place.

Right now Virgin cannot afford to be playing poor man's catch up.

Keeping your most regular and most profitable clients only partially happy, when your competitor is doing a full year free Status is bad tactics right now to Virgin.

Virgin Brass appear totally asleep at the wheel at this crucial time. Pulled half their flights, but leases and 10,000 staff all still need to be paid, and are doing absolutely ZIPPO to fill planes or attract any new bookings via juicy price discounts, or discounted FF points offers, or double or treble SC etc, etc.

They have dug a hole in the sand, inserted heads, and are just praying this mess passes tomorrow.

Dow Futures are down 1000 points AGAIN as I type this, with Dow under 20,000, so the mess gets far worse not better, and Virgin will not literally be here in 3 months, unless someone wakes up in there and CREATES REVENUE. Simple as that..

I agree that VA need to be finding ways to create revenue and I’m sure they are spending plenty of sleepless nights planning something but I disagree in regards to the status extension. Yes it might keep some people happy by extending status for a year but that still doesn’t create revenue. This way customers still have to spend money to retain status but at a much easier rate.
I would also think that they have set it for the initial 3 months only and if coronavirus sticks around longer they would have the ability to add more pro rata months.

 

[ozstamps]

I think a lot of folks will think - "goody - I do not now need to take **ANY** flights for 3 months."

The Elite Members of any airline represent about 70% of their revenue is an oft used rule of thumb.

Some may make take flights on Qantas if they need status there - who knows?

The next 3 months are what will make or break Virgin sadly.

Dow opened down about 1250 points AGAIN, and under 20,000 now - from about 30,000 only weeks back, Despite Trumps $$$ Trillion freebie handouts today. No-one believes anything right now sadly. Virgin's bankers included Í suspect. THEY will want to see bums on seats - no excuses.

dow jones - Google Search

 

[kermatu]

This gives me an incentive to fly VA in the next few months and not QF given my circumstances. Very marginal benefit/detriment respectively, but seems smarter in the short-term by VA to me. I doubt they are thinking about the longer-term right now.

 

[jase05]

I think a lot of folks will think - "goody - I do not need to take ANY flights for 3 months."

Some may make them on Qantas if they need status there - who knows?

But surely the same applies to Qantas and people might thing goody I don’t need to take a flight for atleast 12 months?
VA are substantially cheaper on nearly any route I need currently in J so regardless of any points or SC gimmick it just makes more sense to fly with them currently.
I don’t have the answers but PS is better equipped to handle this than you or I do for now I will just have to trust him and hope he can make it work.

 

[PaulllM]

I get that VA isn't as well off as QF but I got to say this feels second rate and thats before I read that you fulfil the sectors requirement. VA's response is kinda loveless like one of those MAFS relationships

 

[ozstamps]

I don’t have the answers but PS is better equipped to handle this than you or I do for now I will just have to trust him and hope he can make it work.

I suspect Scurrah is far more focused on saving 10,000 Virgin jobs, begging Scomo for a few $100 million more money, and not worrying about trivial detail like this.

His Velocity underlings however again, are asleep at the wheel. 10,000 staff, and yet nobody is there to announce such promos officially to Elites - on the website, and by email, before they are in blogs all over the place.

2am AEST as I type this, and not a mention of it on Velocity website. No email either. Typical really. It is like they all have their heads buried in sand, hoping someone else will save them.

Qantas not only emailed Elites, but had a detailed web page up at the same time.

 

[michaele]

With the QF status extension realistically passengers don’t have to spend another cent with them for the next 2 years to enjoy the perks

Realistically you only access the perks if you are flying... otherwise its a shiny coaster in your wallet.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Here is the email.

 

[Stealthflyer]

I get that VA isn't as well off as QF but I got to say this feels second rate and thats before I read that you fulfil the sectors requirement. VA's response is kinda loveless like one of those MAFS relationships

It does feel a bit cheap by comparison. I suspect this disruption to travel is not just going to blow over in three months. I guess they have an opportunity to extend the promotion if the planes are still effectively grounded in three months. But that doesn’t help people who are short segments as you point out.

 

[Scarlett]

I wonder if the gifted SCs will pool per family pooling instructions?

 

[The-Aviator]

Good start, and if things are better by June then probably all we need. I imagine they will review and offer more if we're still in lockdown come June/July.

 

[wendlle]

Just got this email from Velocity.
I'm silver, but need 100 SC by July 8 to move up to Gold.
I'll get 60
Still not sure if I can take my family holiday to QLD in May (2-15) not sure what to do about that, do I go do I postpone? So confusing.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I think I would rather a freeze on my account instead. No expiring of SC for a few months or something instead. But nice to know they are doing something!

​

​ ​ We wrote to you last week regarding the evolving coronavirus situation and the precautions we are taking. As the situation continues to evolve, we are committed to keeping you updated on any changes. Status Credit gift We know that in the current environment with travel restrictions and reduced flights, it may be challenging to maintain your status. To help those of you who may be impacted, we will be gifting Status Credits to all of our current Silver, Gold, and Platinum Velocity Frequent Flyer members to help you maintain your membership. The below Status Credits will be gifted to your accounts during the first week of the next three months as follows:

​

​ ​

​ ​ If you’re receiving the Status Credit gift, we’ll send you a separate email with all the details in the next 2 weeks. You don’t need to do anything at this time. We’ll take care of the arrangements. Don’t forget there are lots of other ways to continue to earn Velocity Points, including through using one of our partner credit cards, shopping with flybuys, or ridesharing with Ola. Virgin Australia travel update In response to the increased government restrictions and travel advice, we have made some significant changes to our services. We have announced a temporary suspension of all international services from 30 March until 14 June 2020. We will also be reducing our domestic services, however we will be keeping the majority of our key domestic routes and instead, adjusting the frequency of these services. We are working hard to bring Australians home and return visitors back to their point of origin so we’ll be operating a reduced international schedule between now and 29 March 2020. If there is a change to your flight, we will contact you by email. Please be patient as we work to contact customers with immediate travel plans first. Please see here for more information. I want to reiterate that Velocity Frequent Flyer is an award-winning business and one of Australia’s largest loyalty programs. This is a challenging time for the entire travel and tourism industry, however we remain steadfast in managing the Velocity business and continuing to provide you with a great member experience. Thank you for your ongoing support of Virgin Australia. Yours sincerely,

 

[pauly7]

I get that VA isn't as well off as QF but I got to say this feels second rate and thats before I read that you fulfil the sectors requirement. VA's response is kinda loveless like one of those MAFS relationships

From a customer perspective you are right, this is really disappointing and it feels like they’ve completely misread the severity of the situation and how their customers are feeling. Forecasting a change in this direction in the future if they survive (Mark this post!).

From a commercial perspective, it’s not surprising at all. PS is thinking $ and how he can get people flying again at some point without spending much. I’m sure they ran the numbers on mirroring the QF offer especially because QF beat them to market. They clearly can not afford to do it.

 

[davidhes]

Virgin has completely missed the point of this status extension. This doesn’t keep your loyal flyers with you at all. Qantas gets it and has done the right thing. 3 months doesn’t cover the fact I’ve had social and work trips cancelled that would have got me gold for another year and i would have been close to platinum again. virgin should be offering people at least the option to pause their requal period so that once flying resumes properly, they can resume it and have the same amount of time now to requal at that point. Like they already offer for pregnancy. pretty disappointing.