Virgin joins AIA, 50% cashback on flights 2X per year

[Spacetravel]

Hi all,

I received this notification in my inbox the other day.

"From 30 October 2018, AIA Vitality members will receive up to 50% cashback on the base fare of eligible Virgin Australia-operated domestic and international flights"

To get this benefit you have to be a member of AIA Vitality. To get the full 50% off you have to achieve platinum status within the program by fulfilling various health assessments and challenges.

The way into AIA Vitality is by having an affiliated insurance product. You can join one of the health insurances listed on their website. Personally I signed up for RACQ life insurance on the lowest premium specifically to get access to AIA Vitality.
Note: this is for Economy and Premium Economy only.

 

[moa999]

So how hard is it to get to the higher tiers in the program?

Also note let it's only on base fares so excludes taxes.
Still seems quite generous.

 

[nathrek]

Nice. Already an AIA Vitality member as they're my life insurance / income protection so this is a sweet bonus.

 

[Spacetravel]

So how hard is it to get to the higher tiers in the program?

Also note let it's only on base fares so excludes taxes.
Still seems quite generous.

You do have to do some work but it's not huge amount. I made it to gold by linking my fitbit and doing all the online assessments. I didn't do any of the in person ones yet. Doing those should take me to platinum.

 

[theblank]

How much extra is the insurance cost with AIA compared to other insurers that dont give money back
(someone has to pay for this)

 

[SeaWolf]

I'm paying a little under $4 per week for my income protection insurance (which is tax deductible).

In my case the reason I joined the program was for the discount at Fitness First gyms (30% upfront and an extra 20% cashback if you regularly use the gym totalling $13.50) which far exceeded the cost of the insurance. If you do regular fitness things (like walking, using the gym etc.) then you also get a $5 gift voucher each week and various vouchers ($20, $40, $60 etc.) as you go up each tier. The status is earned through doing fitness related things like walking (tracked through Google Fit, Fitbit, Garmin, Runkeeper etc.) and visiting a linked gym regularly as well as filling out surveys and getting regular health check ups (blood pressure, dentist visit etc.)

All of this more than covers the cost of the insurance, but it is a bit fiddly and you really need to consider if it's going to work for you. The object of the scheme is to encourage you to live a fit and healthy lifestyle so it reduces the chance you'll need to claim on your income protection, life insurance or accident insurance. You might already be doing enough to easily climb the tiers just through walking a lot each day or visiting a linked gym regularly. If you aren't, given how obsessed many of us are about chasing status, rewards etc., then maybe this program could help motivate you to do more of these things.

There's a huge thread over on OzBargain about the program.
50% off Virgin Active Membership, up to 50% off Fitness First, up to $400 off Anytime Fitness Fees/Yr for AIA Vitality members

 

[Blackswan]

Is this replacing Qantas, or an additional carrier?

 

[SeaWolf]

Is this replacing Qantas, or an additional carrier?

It's replacing QANTAS.

Edit: I've added the PDF that lists all the upcoming changes.

 

[Happy Dude]

50% cashback is also only for (the first) two flights per year, then reverts to 10%.

 

[Deleted member]

How much extra is the insurance cost with AIA compared to other insurers that dont give money back
(someone has to pay for this)

actually it is generally quite competitive, a big aspect is the vitality program. but individual circumstances will have an affect on the outcome

 

[nathrek]

How much extra is the insurance cost with AIA compared to other insurers that dont give money back
(someone has to pay for this)

I'm paying about $60 a month less than I was with my previous insurer (but I also decreased my payout amounts for TPD and death by a few hundred k) so it's hard to make a direct comparison.

The Vitality program costs to be a part of so I was originally going to exclude it but then you get a discount on your insurance if you have it and the discount on my insurance was more than the cost of being in Vitality each month.

As mentioned above, with this type of insurance in particular, it will be very dependent on your own financial circumstances.

 

[Spacetravel]

The Vitality program costs to be a part of

That is interesting. I'm with RACQ life insurance and they don't charge my extra for it. I'm "saving" money by being with them because I was previously a full price paying member of virgin active at $28.95 per week. Now I pay $14.47 (Virgin Active) + $4.50 (RACQ life insurance) per week. Then I found out about all the extra offers they have such as this flight deal.

 

[blacksultan]

That is interesting. I'm with RACQ life insurance and they don't charge my extra for it. I'm "saving" money by being with them because I was previously a full price paying member of virgin active at $28.95 per week. Now I pay $14.47 (Virgin Active) + $4.50 (RACQ life insurance) per week. Then I found out about all the extra offers they have such as this flight deal.

Which VA gym is this? I`m paying $39.90/ fortnight the AIA in Melbourne .

 

[iishin]

I wonder someone could check if the cashback applies to Premium Economy and Business Saver Fares? Would actually be pretty decent value when combining with a status run if so. I'm considering joining AIA Vitality.

Reports from Ozbargain indicate that only Economy Freedom fares are applicable for cashback, which might be good if you plan on upgrading too, although the only route that you really need to do that would be SYD to LAX, as there seems to be quite a lot of SYD to HKG business class award availability.

 

[pauly7]

Is this replacing Qantas, or an additional carrier?

Replacement unfortunately and they have copped a huge backlash with this devaluation as it was the same deal with QF, but VA fly to significantly less destinations which means the % discount off can be used less - especially internationally which is where a lot of members claimed.

So cost cutting devaluation by AIA. Came out a while ago so my personal fury is over, but still means Vitality is worth a whole lots less to me.

 

[SeaWolf]

For those that are getting the insurance through RAC (WA) or RACQ, you've probably already received an email stating that from 30 days time you have to be a resident of those states to get access to AIA Vitality through their insurance.

Bit of an annoying change, I can't seem to find a decent provider in NSW that's anywhere near that price point.

 

[muppet]

I noticed on another company's insurance that they had a requirement for a minimum $750 in premiums to qualify for aia vitality.

So that may rule out low value income protection policies.

 

[blacksultan]

I noticed on another company's insurance that they had a requirement for a minimum $750 in premiums to qualify for aia vitality.

So that may rule out low value income protection policies.

which company is this ?

 

[muppet]

which company is this ?

It was Bendigo Bank - maybe income protection. But then i kept seeing it in the terms all over the place.

 

[jch]

Received an email this week. Singapore Airlines also added to the cashback program. Might need to get back to the gym!