What I would like Velocity to do in 2014.

[R36snowbound]

Dear Virgin,

I switched all my travel from Qantas to you in late 2011. I started off as a red member and graduated to Platinum mid 2013.

I do a fair bit of flying with you now, enough that I have re-qualified for Platinum status (earnt 800 status credits) within the first 6 months of my 12 month cycle.

Most of my trips are domestic Aust and cover a range of booking classes.

I know of your policy regarding no free upgrades being issued and accept it without complaint.

I understand that when traveling on a flexi fare, I can upgrade using points up to 30 (or 60) minutes before boarding.

When I do a day trip from SYD to either MEL or BNE, I usually book a saver fare on the way there and a flexi fare on the way back.

When I fly SYD to MEL, & SYD BNE, sometimes the business cabin is completely empty.

Hence, as a reward to your most frequent travellers, how about allowing Platinum members to upgrade using points when flying on on a saver class ticket?

Thats what I would like to see in 2014.

Thank you,

 

[Fiches Mouser]

…As a reward to your most frequent travellers, how about allowing Platinum members to upgrade using points when flying on on a saver class ticket?

+1 to that, but inclusive of SG.

If I may add to this, I would very much like to see a Lifetime Silver/Gold/Plat introduced. I'm sure many would agree with this. Too many SCs end up just expiring with no long term recognition of loyalty.

It's one of the few features QFF has over VFF.

 

[AIRwin]

When I fly SYD to MEL, & SYD BNE, sometimes the business cabin is completely empty.

Funny you should mention this today as I was on VA 957 this afternoon flying from SYD to BNE and the business cabin is completely empty... Perhaps a tiered system like QF would work where saver fares require more points to upgrade?

 

[fantasy86dj]

Lifetime status would be amazing

 

[Intra]

....and the business cabin is completely empty...

You make it sound like it is a rare thing.... For my sectors flown with VA last year, it was more 50/50 as to if there was anyone in J class.

 

[grubbidok]

*cough* decent actual factual alliance network instead of haphazardly cobbled-together Swiss Cheese network *cough*

 

[notzac]

*cough* decent actual factual alliance network instead of haphazardly cobbled-together Swiss Cheese network *cough*

I'd like some updates to that Swiss Cheese network (mm, cheese) ... DL needs complimentary baggage and complimentary Economy Comfort seating, SQ needs access to the proper SilverKris lounge at SIN (I know it's not offered to other partners but SQ own a chunk of VA - so it ought to be different), NZ benefits need to be much less confusing and some new partners in Europe and the Americas would be very nice!

Once they've got that squared away, I'd like lifetime status (with the counters starting from the beginning of the Velocity program, not just since the rebrand) and I'd also like an IBE that actually works. Especially on the redemption side of the house; one where actual availability from the partner airlines can be loaded (say, just like Amadeus could) and not just those flights that have a VA code on it.

That's probably enough for the first six months of the year, I'll have a think about what I want to add to the list for July onwards ..

 

[AdMEL]

I'd like some updates to that Swiss Cheese network (mm, cheese) ... DL needs complimentary baggage and complimentary Economy Comfort seating, SQ needs access to the proper SilverKris lounge at SIN (I know it's not offered to other partners but SQ own a chunk of VA - so it ought to be different), NZ benefits need to be much less confusing and some new partners in Europe and the Americas would be very nice!

Once they've got that squared away, I'd like lifetime status (with the counters starting from the beginning of the Velocity program, not just since the rebrand) and I'd also like an IBE that actually works. Especially on the redemption side of the house; one where actual availability from the partner airlines can be loaded (say, just like Amadeus could) and not just those flights that have a VA code on it.

That's probably enough for the first six months of the year, I'll have a think about what I want to add to the list for July onwards ..

I thought VA plat already had access to DL economy comfort seats? Wasn't that an improvement 12 months or more ago?

 

[grubbidok]

DL needs complimentary baggage and complimentary Economy Comfort seating

I've got no idea if it was just luck or the recognition has happened but every internal non-connecting to international DL flight I took in Nov-Dec (LAX-PDX; PDX-PHX; PHX-ATL; ATL-BOS; BOS-CVG) had my status show up immediately on the kiosk and gave me two pieces of free luggage.

 

[AdMEL]

I thought VA plat already had access to DL economy comfort seats? Wasn't that an improvement 12 months or more ago?

Apologies, it appears VA Plat only receive a 50% discount and it's only been in place sine August.

New travel benefit with Delta Air Lines | Velocity Frequent Flyer

 

[rtyuiop]

Proper alliance would be nice, but the biggest thing I want to see is some more expansion of VA's own medium/long haul international metal. There's a bunch of things that are very beneficial to passengers that will probably only ever be available on VA flights, and it appears at this point that VA has no plans to ever expand internationally... And there is precisely 1 destination I can fly to long haul from my home port.

That's the thing that makes me contemplate steering some more flights to QF to build up some status there.

 

[cssaus]

I thought VA plat already had access to DL economy comfort seats? Wasn't that an improvement 12 months or more ago?

I'm Platinum. Got access to economy comfort but had to pay for the seats.

 

[IainF]

I have a few items on the wish list....
1. BNE-SIN flights
2. After you re-qual for Plat, then every OTHER re-qual in the same year gets you another 4 comp upgrades. (Ie 1600Scs get a total of 8, 3200 gets you 16 etc etc)
3. Plat/J lounge section in the lounges
4. Ability to do real/actual multi city bookings online, or be able to book a stop over online. Especially for USA flights.
5. Online upgrades.

That should cover it.

 

[SQ421]

1. Make the Plat upgrade vouchers transferable, applicable to any fare (not just flexi) and applicable systemwide. Infact, just see what AA does to their SWU's and apply the same to your upgrade vouchers. As it presently stands, the delta between VA Plat and VA Gold isn't attractive enough to bother requalifying when I drop to Gold come May 2015.

 

[notzac]

I've got no idea if it was just luck or the recognition has happened but every internal non-connecting to international DL flight I took in Nov-Dec (LAX-PDX; PDX-PHX; PHX-ATL; ATL-BOS; BOS-CVG) had my status show up immediately on the kiosk and gave me two pieces of free luggage.

I wonder if it was the fare that you'd booked? I've definitely had to pay for luggage as recently as November last year, but there are all kinds of exceptions to the $$-for-luggage rule so maybe you got one of those..

 

[notzac]

2. After you re-qual for plat, then every other re-qual in the same year gets you another 4 comp upgrades. (ie 1600scs get a total of 8, 3200 gets you 16 etc etc)
5. Online upgrades.

These. Both of these!!

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Hence, as a reward to your most frequent travellers, how about allowing Platinum members to upgrade using points when flying on on a saver class ticket?

Thanks for the post, I know this has been talked about before, but it's not one that I have any knowledge of happening any time soon sorry.

*cough* decent actual factual alliance network instead of haphazardly cobbled-together Swiss Cheese network *cough*

Two questions:
1. Do you have a cold?
2. What do you mean by using the word "factual"?

Proper alliance would be nice, but the biggest thing I want to see is some more expansion of VA's own medium/long haul international metal.

Clearly expansion is expensive, but who knows what the future holds. Best to stay abreast of announcements from our CEO on whether this will ever happen.

I have a few items on the wish list....
4. Ability to do real/actual multi city bookings online, or be able to book a stop over online. Especially for USA flights.
5. Online upgrades.

The team are working through online capabilities for members to book online and upgrade online. Will find out if there is a timeline in place.

 

[Kieran2274]

Thanks for the post, I know this has been talked about before, but it's not one that I have any knowledge of happening any time soon sorry.

Of course upgrades on Saver fares would be a plus, but on the same token Saver fares are priced accordingly to their restrictions. If VA did open this up, I suspect that cheap Saver fares would have to disappear accordingly. It's an airline, and it has to make a profit so someone somewhere would have to pay for it.

Clearly expansion is expensive, but who knows what the future holds. Best to stay abreast of announcements from our CEO on whether this will ever happen.

I'm not sure why not having massive VAi tin is all that important, I like VA's international partners and as long as my status level is recognised with equivalent benefits I'd receive on VA tin I'm happy. Indeed, as it stands now, I receive better benefits through the existing arrangements than I would if VA was part of *A (such as First lounges) and even get benefits on AirBerlin that Platinum One World types cannot get (the exclusive waiting area lounges). Perhaps the only drawback as I see it is ease of doing international redemptions on non-VA tin, but I imagine this will improve over time.


Recap on lounges (as a VA Platinum):
* AirBerlin - Exclusive Waiting Area Lounges (no access to OneWorld elites) and Lounges
* AirNZ - Koru Lounges
* Delta Sky Clubs
* Platinum members are entitled to LAX First Class Star Alliance lounge access.
* Etihad Diamond First Class lounges as well as a number of OneWorld lounges under contract arrangements.
* KrisFlyer Gold and Silver Lounges.
* Virgin America Loft lounge.
* Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses.


Sure, no lounge chasing if flying other airlines but then if you want the other airline lounge why not fly with them.

And, from the way things are shaping, Platinums may have access to Etihad Diamond (or Pearl) Lounges in MEL & SYD in future in an open use arrangement - giving the QF FLounges some competition. Watch this space I'd say.

The team are working through online capabilities for members to book online and upgrade online. Will find out if there is a timeline in place.

One potential upside to working on website upgrades etc now, compared to having it all in place right now, is that we might get something better than others currently offer. As these things are expensive projects to run, you usually have quite a long refresh opportunity so if someone comes up with a better way, you could be locked out for a while in order to recoup development costs from the previous update.


As long as VA is always looking out for ways to truly enhance their offerings, I'm pleased.

 

[R36snowbound]

Thanks for the post, I know this has been talked about before, but it's not one that I have any knowledge of happening any time soon sorry.
.

Hi VFF,

Thanks for the reply. Are you able to give an insight as to why this not will happen?

As an outsider looking in, I would have thought that the cost to Virgin would be minimum, the marketing value add would be huge, a great incentive for your customers to reach platinum status and it would help with your business class passanger numbers, which seem to be a centre of attention for a number of industry analysts.

Thank you,

 

[ms1]

Some better training for the platinum line staff would be nice. A few of those agents are about as useful as cough on a bull.