@VirginAustralia launches high flyers passport for Kids

[markis10]

11 April 2014

Virgin Australia today launched the ‘High Flyer Passport’, a new initiative designed to recognise Australia’s youngest flyers.

Available from today across Virgin Australia’s domestic and international network, the passport encourages travellers aged 10 and under to collect stamps each time they fly, creating memorable travel experiences.

Virgin Australia Group Executive, Danielle Keighery said that the airline was passionate about providing the best customer service for all ages.

“We recognise that many of our travellers discover the magic of flying from an early age and we are delighted to recognise them with this unique initiative.

“We welcome children on board our flights every day and we always feel privileged to play a part in their early travel memories.

“In addition to being a keepsake for our young guests to take home, we hope that the passport will instill a sense of pride each time they fly and encourage future travel adventures”, Ms Keighery said.

Virgin Australia welcomes 900,000 children on board each year, with almost three times the amount of children flying during school holidays[1]. Further, around 1000 Platinum Velocity Frequent Flyer members are under the age of 12.

The ‘High Flyer Passport’ follows a suite of unique family benefits currently offered by Velocity Frequent Flyer including:

• Parental Pause: members can pause their status for up to six months when expecting a new addition to the family.
• Family Pooling: members can combine Points and Status Credits with their family so they can enjoy rewards sooner. Today, over 230,000 members are actively pooling with family members, with the child being the beneficiary in more than half of the accounts.
• Guaranteed rewards seats for an annual family trip: Gold and Platinum members can enjoy peace of mind knowing they are guaranteed up to four return economy reward seats a year.

From today, the ‘High Flyer Passport’ will be offered for free at check-in across all Virgin Australia ports. To find out more, visit www.virginaustralia.com

http://medianet.com.au/releases/release-details?id=799462

 

[Intra]

1000 VA Plats 12 & Under.... Wow
Now I know not to judge next time I see a kid by himself in the Priority check-in line

Like the passport for kids idea, wish they had something like that when I was younger flying PX/QF every 6 months.

 

[quick_dry]

They've had these out "in the wild" since at least Mar 29, my niece was given one for SYD-ADL then (stamped in SYD, they didn't have the stamps yet in ADL so it got a big smilie face drawn on)

It's not quite the good old days of visits to the coughpit to get wing badges - but my 3yr old niece thought this was pretty cool and was excited to show it to me when she got home. Nice work Virgin

Passports for the little ones are great, how about something for the bigger 'kids' in SYD? pancake machines are part of the magic of traveling too, and form a significant part of my traveling memories

 

[erkpod]

I don't know if describing someone as a WP for a 12 year old is the right thing - or is it? LOL

That must be a serious amount of flying for a child to get to that level or is it something else that I'm missing as a solo flier?

 

[Princess Fiona]

I don't know if describing someone as a WP for a 12 year old is the right thing - or is it? LOL

That must be a serious amount of flying for a child to get to that level or is it something else that I'm missing as a solo flier?

I'd say some of those will be partner platinum or some benefit of The Club.
Maybe they travel a lot in J class as it's possible to get VA WP with 10 x SYD-MEL rtns ( this would get you nowhere near QF WP)

 

[amaroo]

I don't know if describing someone as a WP for a 12 year old is the right thing - or is it? LOL

That must be a serious amount of flying for a child to get to that level or is it something else that I'm missing as a solo flier?

Only need to fly long haul J or above and it clocks up very quickly. There is a member on here that achieved LTG with QF (14,000SC) before his, um, voice broke

 

[Clivem]

That's not to far off filling three of VA's 777-300ER's with pre school / primary school VA plats however they got there.

 

[dabmyo]

...around 1000 Platinum Velocity Frequent Flyer members are under the age of 12.

Jesus. Wonder how many of these get companion gold for their 10 year old girlfriends?

 

[under the radar]

get 'em while they're young!!

 

[bass_ke]

My 2 year old will make silver and quite possibly gold in the US this year, after her Pooled credits have pushed me to WP of course!

I do like this idea, I'm thinking I may get them to stamp my daughters existing logbook, does anyone have an idea of what the stamps look like?

 

[under the radar]

My 2 year old will make silver and quite possibly gold in the US this year, after her Pooled credits have pushed me to WP of course!

gotta love 'passive' child exploitation!!
]

 

[bass_ke]

Hahaha, well I do pay for her tickets!

 

[markis10]

My 2 year old will make silver and quite possibly gold in the US this year, after her Pooled credits have pushed me to WP of course!

gotta love 'passive' child exploitation!!
]

What the bet the person who came up with the idea was a Qantas Junior V-Jet club member.

 

[Clivem]

The ideas been around for a long, long, time hasn't it. I recall my V-Jet card book - we are talking 707's
Air New Zealand had one also, I remember doing - BNE to LAX on Air NZ DC8's in 1972.... it went BNE - AKL (6 Hr. stop / change plane) - PPT (2 Hr. stop refuel ) - LAX.
Hard to believe today, so when people talk about SYD -LHR or SYD - JFK direct non-stop it certainly is just a matter of time isn't it.

That trans-pac run was followed by my first ever 747 flight almost exactly 42 years ago to the day - LAX to LHR on very flash for the time near new TWA 747. On every flight I went up front and got my book stamped.

Before that in the late 60's you had to be a 'member' of the TAA Junior Flyers club to have some street cred.
I pulled a few images off the web -
There was even a 10 minute regular 'TAA Junior Flyers Club' Nine network TV show (would be called an advertorial now I guess), the link below shows it listed in a Launceston TV guide 4.20 pm. It was clearly still going in 1976 by the date .......

television.au CLASSIC TV GUIDES





Gee I wished I'd kept all that stuff ......... So if your kids get one - get it filled in / stamped and HOLD on to it - they will love to look back on it decades down the track.

 

[lukenet]

My kids will be flying in a few weeks, how does this work? Can't find much info on the VA website.

Do you have to register or do a manual checking or something? or is it something they will get onboard?

 

[markis10]

My kids will be flying in a few weeks, how does this work? Can't find much info on the VA website.

Do you have to register or do a manual checking or something? or is it something they will get onboard?

You get one at check in as per post 1

From today, the ‘High Flyer Passport’ will be offered for free at check-in across all Virgin Australia ports.

Thats obviously at the airport versus online.

 

[TomVexille]

I think it's a nice idea. And a relatively cheap bit of marketing.

 

[Clivem]

'Passport' pic ....

 

[TomVexille]

'Passport' pic ....

View attachment 27474

Looks slick

 

[Mark3000]

Thanks for posting, our kids will love it! It's great that their points don't go wasted. We got our kids a Qantas account via a Woolworths Everyday rewards card and they are going to have more points at age 5 than I had by 30! little punks, I hope they appreciate it one day
Will have to look into the Virgin program.