Virgin frequent flyer scheme?

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Platy

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Quote from today's Sydney Morning Herald:

...Sir Richard said Virgin Blue was in the final stages of developing a perfect weapon to snare business passengers from Qantas: a frequent flyer scheme. "I think this scheme they've come up with will knock Qantas's frequent flyer scheme for six or into touch," he said...

Will they go ahead with it or is this just some Branson-hype ?
Will it force Qantas to respond having repeatedly diluted it's own scheme including an 60% increase in the points required for a medium distance domestic business reward flight from May?
Will it force Qantas to reappraise business service standards and fares (up 18% in a 2 yr period)?
Will it force Qantas to increase available award and upgrade redemptions?

Branson and ther Virgin team (more correctly Corrigan/Patricks these days) are certainly smart enough to make strategic use of the general discontent over Qantas arrogant snubbing of both its business class customers and frequent flyers.

Opinions?
 
I would suggest 25th May might be a suitable day to launch the scheme if they are in fact close to finalising details.
 
Platy said:
Will they go ahead with it or is this just some Branson-hype ?

Hopefully its not just hype... they do have a fantastic opportunity to snare business away from qf.

Platy said:
Will it force Qantas to respond having repeatedly diluted it's own scheme including an 60% increase in the points required for a medium distance domestic business reward flight from May?

I hope coughing so!

Platy said:
Will it force Qantas to increase available award and upgrade redemptions?

Doubt it.... Domestic is easy..



Will be good to see what they come up with!
 
It has been widely tipped that the Virgin FF scheme will take on the structure of the SoutWest Airlines Rapid Rewards Scheme (from Airline USA on channel 7). ie Fly 12 trips, get 1 free, no matter where you travel!
However, in article in The Australian today, Mr Branson suggested it would 'be a lot more interesting than that'. Am not sure what to make of that?
I believe that the scheme will be linked with other Virgin groups, especially Virgin Atlantic, which means travel on VA will earn points on the VB FF scheme, and VB FF will be able to redeem rewards on VA international flights. This is just my hunch though.
Also think that the Virgin credit card will probably have the feature of 1:1 points earning into the VB scheme, with probably bonus points if purchasing from Virgin businesses.
And who knows what else makes up the 'more interesting'.
Am definitely going to be listening with open ears though! :)
 
If it does tie up with VS scheme then that could open access to NZ as well (can earn and burn on VS using NZ FFP and vice versa).

Will be watching with great interest!
 
The only way I can see that DJ could make a FF scheme attractive to many business type FF's (as opposed to Mum, Dad and the kids who take a vacation to the Gold Coast twice a year) is to join up as the Star Alliance carrier in the South West Pacific region.

I use my QF FF points for upgrades on long-haul international flights (ie SYD-LAX, LHR-MEL etc) or for similar long-haul awards. Domestic flights are cheap enough to pay cash and not waste FF points.

So to make it attractive to me, they would need to permit redemptions on a range of airlines well beyong DJ and perhaps VS. I can't immaging how many DJ domestic flights would need to be taken to earn a return trip to LHR on VS in Upper Class (and yes, I know how many QF flights are needed for their equivalent, but I earn most of my QF FF points from premium cabin long-haul flying such as DONE4 fares).
 
scibo10 said:
It has been widely tipped that the Virgin FF scheme will take on the structure of the SoutWest Airlines Rapid Rewards Scheme (from Airline USA on channel 7). ie Fly 12 trips, get 1 free, no matter where you travel!

That'll be fun.

"I have just done 12 SYD-CFS flights, can you now give me a BNE-PER flight please?

I think tis is one of the problems of the "Buy X number of flights get one free" sort of thing, the disparities between different flight lengths.

Dave
 
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NM wrote

The only way I can see that DJ could make a FF scheme attractive to many business type FF's (as opposed to Mum, Dad and the kids who take a vacation to the Gold Coast twice a year) is to join up as the Star Alliance carrier in the South West Pacific region.

I couldn't agree with you more NM. I too accrue points for upgrades on long-haul flights and it would take an eternity to try and amass enough for an upgrade on VS by earning only from DJ.
Another option for DJ could also be to join the Skyteam Alliance Program as the member for the South West Pacific region, given this Alliance only has Korean Air representing our part of the world and thus many opportunities available to it, instead of the increasingly cluttered *A. Especially given the fact Mr Branson today announced he wished to start an airline (likely flying mostly to the US), which is Skyteam's stronghold.

thadocta wrote

That'll be fun.

"I have just done 12 SYD-CFS flights, can you now give me a BNE-PER flight please?

I think tis is one of the problems of the "Buy X number of flights get one free" sort of thing, the disparities between different flight lengths.

Firstly, to correct myself, I think SouthWest FF program gives a free flight after 10 flights, not 12. As such, this adds even more fuel to thedocta's argument, which I totally agree with. It doesn't seem to make commercial sense does it? :?

Daniel
 
scibo10 said:
Especially given the fact Mr Branson today announced he wished to start an airline (likely flying mostly to the US), which is Skyteam's stronghold.

Is this an unrealistic scenario:

1) SQ drops campaign to access US routes from Aus
2) Virgin Pacific, a subsidiary by Virgin Blue commences flying SYD/LAX using planes ex-SQ 744's now leased to DJ
3) Virgin Blue sells 49% of Virgin Pacific to SQ (who also own half of Virgin Atlantic).
4) Virgin Pacific remains non-aligned (in alliance terms), shares Virgin Atlantic FF program, which Virgin Blue have already signed up to well before any of the above happens.

Thoughts? Nothing like good old fashioned speculation!!
 
Is this an unrealistic scenario:

1) SQ drops campaign to access US routes from Aus
2) Virgin Pacific, a subsidiary by Virgin Blue commences flying SYD/LAX using planes ex-SQ 744's now leased to DJ
3) Virgin Blue sells 49% of Virgin Pacific to SQ (who also own half of Virgin Atlantic).
4) Virgin Pacific remains non-aligned (in alliance terms), shares Virgin Atlantic FF program, which Virgin Blue have already signed up to well before any of the above happens.


Maybe not just speculation!

There may be some commercial sense in your question.

Another may be Singapore wants the brand recognition and possible expansion into South America, ultimately circling the globe and wouldn't drop out of the race?

Good to ponder!

Cheers
 
SQ already circles the globe with flights to US across both pacific and atlantic.
 
Kiwi Flyer said:
SQ already circles the globe with flights to US across both pacific and atlantic.

In fact SIN-JFK is eastbound, as is JFK-SIN therefore completing a circle in just 2 flights.
 
Not quite.

SIN-JFK has stopover in FRA both ways.
SIN-EWR is considered transpacific both ways. While SIN-EWR always crosses the north pacific, EWR-SIN can be across the north pole or across atlantic and down through europe & asia - depending on prevailing winds.
 
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