Virgin "enhances" redemptions, changes to points + pay

[edy4eva]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

There aslo seems to a new issue with international redemptions, just went to redeem for Melbourne - London on Etihad First Class, search found flight which showed 158,800 points + $66 when you proceed and get to points plus pay it then shows 167,000 + $0 but even more bazar change the slider and it shows 187,000 + -$211.91 yep a credit. Anyone else tried a similar booking?

Similar story here, I tried J SYD-AUH and it's throwing weird numbers (70'ish without taxes, but only bookable as 80'ish + $90 in credit or 94k + $0)

Something tells me whoever worked on updating the values either had no clue how it was previously implemented or they were told to implement it without any testing. Either way, a really bad step on DJ's behalf.

Maybe perhaps, judging from the errors others are facing this is NOT how it was intended to be?
My advice to DJ: Stop trying to be like QF. Stop creating this false impression of being a QF competitor. Your bar should be set much higher than QF's if you're trying to portray yourself as an alternative.

I doubt DJ will listen to this. Everything that DJ has been doing indicates some form of a gentlemen's agreement with QF (really wanting to avoid the words 'price fixing' because they only apply to a small part of the deal).
- Network strategy: International and domestic network built in a way to supplement QF's
- Fare strategy: Fares are no where near competitive. On some days/routes they are even double than QF's. Why may I ask?
- FF perks: Normalising with QF's. Whatever happened to the 69 kilos allowance? Just because QF goes one way (piece+weight concept), you have to follow in?
- Onboard service: No need to elaborate here. Totally inconsistent among routes/planes.
- Lounges: From food offering to seating I have to say it really does suck. Small chairs, small desks, small tables, poor food offering, everything looks as if someone tried to copy what QF was doing few years ago, then copied it miserably.

I know this may sound like OT but felt it's important to paint the bigger picture to take the mystery out of DJ's odd behaviour. That's not to say that DJ is bad in every respect, but I mean COME ON!

 

[markis10]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I have spun the appropriate posts into a new thread, as its more than just J bookings domestically that are being affected by this very negative change !

 

[hummel]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Thanks markis10.

I haven't seen any word from the Virgin rep just yet? Normally pretty quick to let us know the good news.. not as quick on the bad news??

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

now they've fixed it so now I will burn the point for domestic Y travel again.

I'm with you. I was saving my points for a family holiday to Broome (4 rtn in J) which I had enough for, now it's not even close. I'm glad too that this came to light before I transfered my CC points......I was going to do that yesterday. Y dom rewards seem to value a point at 1c each which for me is better value than J rewards (I haven't looked at J upgrades though).

 

[jazza1971]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

maybe the title of this thread should be virgin "de-enhances" redemptions, changes to points + pay! And yes would be nice to hear something from the Virgin Rep regarding this. I did PM both Virgin Flyer & VFF to have a look and comment but still we have heard nothing...

I'm pretty annoyed as I transfered 200k points into velocity, at least I managed to get a couple of suitable bookings :/

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

maybe the title of this thread should be virgin "de-enhances" redemptions, changes to points + pay!

I think the thread reflect the Qantas definition of enhancement!!

 

[obrienja]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I mentioned this to Virgin on Facebook (the NaN and points issue) and they're looking into it. As I was having a quiet day at work I checked out the code behind the slider and it seems they've let the work experience kids set it up.

//Not sure why we were doing this and why 6.0 was hard-coded - removing until I see some reason to keep it

calculatePointsPlusPay(46631, 6.0);

var pointsChosen = document.flightBooking.sli[FONT='lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif]derPoints.value;[/FONT]

​

That's not the sort of documentation that inspires confidence. Anyway looking deeper & with no real way to test it they appear to have coded the minimum points threshold as the amount before the taxes are added (but that's just a guess). I'm happy to be corrected

 

[serfty]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I mentioned this to Virgin on Facebook (the NaN and points issue) and they're looking into it. As I was having a quiet day at work I checked out the code behind the slider and it seems they've let the work experience kids set it up.
...

sometimes some people should just keep quiet ...

It would have been fixed anyway, now it is likely to be "FIXED" sooner ...

 

[edy4eva]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

I mentioned this to Virgin on Facebook (the NaN and points issue) and they're looking into it. As I was having a quiet day at work I checked out the code behind the slider and it seems they've let the work experience kids set it up.

//Not sure why we were doing this and why 6.0 was hard-coded - removing until I see some reason to keep it

calculatePointsPlusPay(46631, 6.0);

var pointsChosen = document.flightBooking.sli[FONT='lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif]derPoints.value;[/FONT]

​

That's not the sort of documentation that inspires confidence. Anyway looking deeper & with no real way to test it they appear to have coded the minimum points threshold as the amount before the taxes are added (but that's just a guess). I'm happy to be corrected

My thoughts exactly!

 

[NSWhere]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

sometimes some people should just keep quiet ...

It would have been fixed anyway, now it is likely to be "FIXED" sooner ...

For those considering this workaround, the flights are flexible so if you book during this window of opportunity you can always transfer the flights to preferable dates later.

 

[chianshuin]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

For those considering this workaround, the flights are flexible so if you book during this window of opportunity you can always transfer the flights to preferable dates later.

If I change the flight, would the upgrade be carried over?

 

[jazza1971]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

so the NAN as the price at 6900 minimum points still works and the bookings actually go through for J reward seats at the moment?

 

[serfty]

If I change the flight, would the upgrade be carried over?

These are not 'upgrades', they are Business Class Award seats.

To change flights, you need the same award booking class (e.g. H) on the new flight.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[AdMEL]

sometimes some people should just keep quiet ...

It would have been fixed anyway, now it is likely to be "FIXED" sooner ...

so the NAN as the price at 6900 minimum points still works and the bookings actually go through for J reward seats at the moment?

Appears to be fixed now! Can no longer select J seats if you don't have the new min. number of points, as shown!

 

[pat25d]

Seems to have been adjusted and now the min. points for J seats are now a more understandable 13,800 (double Y of 6,900).

 

[AdMEL]

Seems to have been adjusted and now the min. points for J seats are now a more understandable 13,800 (double Y of 6,900).

That doesn't seem to be the case for me now! I just checked MEL-PER return, which shows 30,800 points each way. I have 27,700 points, which is 100 points more than double 13,800 - I cannot select any J flights, but can select Y.

 

[brad330]

I just had a look and it is not 13800 what route where you looking at?

 

[pat25d]

Syd-MEL 30 June

 

[Fruitcake]

I just had a look and it is not 13800 what route where you looking at?

Presumably it was a <600 miles route, where the minimum J point redemption is 13800 points. I just priced SYD-PER, minimum points is the enhanced 67,600 + $37.85.

Syd-MEL 30 June

Yup, that would be it

 

[Virgin Australia]

Re: Very cheap business class points + pay redemptions

Hi guys,
Yes we have reviewed our points + pay redemption levels. To continue to be a profitable business, changes to this product had to be made, where the minimum levels had to be set and enforced.

Maybe the Virgin Australia rep would care to comment explaining if this is an error or a permanent change......and like a few others said, pretty disappointing and even more so that no notice was given to this change in the program.....no more transfers of CC points to virgin now.....

All due respect to this and some other posts to this thread - we can't provide such sensitive information prior to the fact. Please remember that while we are good friends and a proud member of the frequent flying community, some things we just aren't able to share.