What's the point? [VA fares > 50% more than Jetstar]

[Hindo]

I'm looking to go to Tassie with the family in January and struggling to understand the point of booking with VA.

As a platinum I used to default to VA but now given their fares are >50% on the same route for Jetstar, I just can't see a reason to book our family of 8 with VA. Extra cost on return fares is about $900 and for that we would get bags (only have 2 or 3 to check anyway) and possibly Economy X seating.

Can anyone help me to understand what's the point of booking these flights with VA?

 

[knagelli]

These are the side effects of some inefficient (aka BAIN ) people running the business. They need to make sure loyal members are not encouraged find home somewhere else. If you can’t provide discounted fares , at least don’t hike them.

 

[Muppet501st]

Have to wait to see what VA2 will do when Bain have full control.
Having the lounge access is good, but with none at all in Tassie, the extra $$ saved with flying JQ are better of spent elsewhere.
Ive flown a couple of times on JQ to Tassie, ( theyre the only ones to offer direct BNE-LST ) and could not fault them. Paid the few extra $ for row 1, happy days.
Just dont expect much, and you wont be disappointed.

Ive just used up the rest of my VA points for return flights to LST, just to use them up.

 

[Milefest]

Make the assessment based on your budget/needs. Loyalty right now is not worth pursuing and it's very likely your status will retained anyway.

 

[ozstamps]

.
There is no point paying 50% more - agree fully.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Any point of booking with VA?
Well, to burn your points before the end.
If you don't have any or not much VFF points to burn, go with QF.
A lot of speculation of what will happen to VFF >>> (down the track), ie if Bain will keep things as they are, or will increase points needed in future, or reduce award seats in other ways apart from increase number of points needed (ie, putting blocks of seats as not available), aiming to sell those seats instead.
Maybe wait and see how the whole thing pans out, and aim to go to Tassie in winter, yes, I know its colder, but maybe by then, Tasmania would be a better place to visit than now, go see snow at the top of Kunanyi or go up to Cradle Mountain, etc.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Exactly- no point paying cash for VA flights right now. Burn all your VFF points on VA flights is probably the better decision. In the OP’s case split the family between VA and QF if you don’t have enough points to cover every family members’ flight.

 

[greglow]

Won't be happening. Wife and I are both VA plat, but anything Virgin related is now toxic to us. We had pre-bought all our flights for this year with them (30 flights, 60 segements). To say we're unimpressed is an understatement. We used to intentionally choose Virgin products, from VA here, Virgin Money, Virgin Trains, etc, etc. Let's just say Branson is off the Christmas list.

 

[greglow]

The reason we moved to VA in the first place is that QF kept stuffing up, but more so, they kept replacing routes that we used with JQ flights. I'm OK with JQ on occasions but after spending nearly 2 1/2 hours in a JQ bag drop queue in MEL one day, I decided they weren't for me. And it's pointless being QF plat when you end up on JQ anyway.

 

[cqtiger]

At least you get automatic economy X seats

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

The only way to burn points, without amassing status, and to give VA a clue, if they care or care to know anymore, is to tick the box on "points+pay" at the very beginning of the booking stage, that way you use max points, and no status gained, as its then classed as an award flight.
Some say not so, but I found out the hard way, a long time ago, by ticking that box, its an award, and in my case, no status was gained, FF status that was.
If you burn your points by paying at the credit card stage, where you use the slider, you will still earn status.
Either way, if you book to fly, you still (for now), earn that 5 VFF points per $1 spent on flights.
Not long to go before Matt G does his webinar on the VA and VFF series, I don't hold any bit of hope for any good.
No flights direct ADL - CBR during (SA) June long weekend, no direct flights ADL - HBA, shortest flight would be ADL - SYD at $199 (with the "points + pay" box ticked, and burn my points that way, come back with QF on Mon.
Think my VFF balance is about 20k.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Let's just say Branson is off the Christmas list.

My "ha ha" emoji was for that statement above, not the amount of flights you have booked.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Ok, lets see how this pans out down the "runway".
Have made a booking, VA ADL - BNE for 12/06/21.
Haven't used either of VA's P+P system, for this booking.
Will apply for the "Border Pass" down the track, will see if the Qld govt removes it in the meantime.
Will take along home (SA) id just in case.
Going to come back with QF, will use their P+P system.

 

[kyle]

The only way to burn points, without amassing status, and to give VA a clue, if they care or care to know anymore, is to tick the box on "points+pay" at the very beginning of the booking stage, that way you use max points, and no status gained, as its then classed as an award flight.
Some say not so, but I found out the hard way, a long time ago, by ticking that box, its an award, and in my case, no status was gained, FF status that was.
If you burn your points by paying at the credit card stage, where you use the slider, you will still earn status.
Either way, if you book to fly, you still (for now), earn that 5 VFF points per $1 spent on flights.
Not long to go before Matt G does his webinar on the VA and VFF series, I don't hold any bit of hope for any good.
No flights direct ADL - CBR during (SA) June long weekend, no direct flights ADL - HBA, shortest flight would be ADL - SYD at $199 (with the "points + pay" box ticked, and burn my points that way, come back with QF on Mon.
Think my VFF balance is about 20k.

I thought the points value is different if you pay at credit card stage, so it's turned into a normal fare?

 

[jakeseven7]

I'm looking to go to Tassie with the family in January and struggling to understand the point of booking with VA.

As a platinum I used to default to VA but now given their fares are >50% on the same route for Jetstar, I just can't see a reason to book our family of 8 with VA. Extra cost on return fares is about $900 and for that we would get bags (only have 2 or 3 to check anyway) and possibly Economy X seating.

Can anyone help me to understand what's the point of booking these flights with VA?

Agree with everyone else no point, don’t fly them.

Out of interest where are you flying to? And where from?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If you tick that box, at the very beginning, you pay for the whole fare with points, no slider at the end, you just pay for taxes with the credit or debit card, or poli.
If you want to burn your VFF points, you can try it on a booking, and fly, tick that box, make the booking, fly and then, just to see if what was my situation, is the same as yours.
As I mentioned, I had ticked that box once in the one past booking, no SC earn, but with the box unticked, for all other bookings, SC has been there., after the flight was taken.
If you don't tick the box at the beginning where the from and to city are listed, then its a normal booking, and fare will depend on usage of points, ie, more points, means less cash used, here you will earn VFF SC, *(as of now)*.
I have made a booking ADL - BNE for 12/06/21, for $298, more than QF's fare back BNE - ADL at $190.
Basic fare was $249, plus economyX fee $49...
Just put in a bid for points upgrade, for 17,500 VFF points, upgraded to VA2's version of J.
So, as for our thinking, for now, I will earn Getaway SC earn rate, of course VA2 can change things under Bain.
Haven't flown in 1.5 years by then, so its worth it to burn my VFF points.
Plus, no international flights for now, only a maybe Aust - NZ without having to do 14 days quarantine either side, (Scott M and Jacinda A still in discussion), so its under a thousand Aud$ ok spent, added hotel in BNE.

 

[Joolz49]

I have app 200,000 Velocity points, as I stupidly bought extra to top up for a Business class trip to the US, pre-Covid. I got my points back OK, but no refund for the extra purchase. Now there is nowhere to use them - wanted to book a trip to Tassie, but they don't fly from Adelaide, a trip to NZ is on the cards when we can, but they don't fly to NZ, Singapore would be nice but ditto! Australian holidays are driving with a caravan, so I no longer have any use for Virgin! I'm just hoping they might reinstate code sharing with some overseas airlines....

 

[jakeseven7]

I have app 200,000 Velocity points, as I stupidly bought extra to top up for a Business class trip to the US, pre-Covid. I got my points back OK, but no refund for the extra purchase. Now there is nowhere to use them - wanted to book a trip to Tassie, but they don't fly from Adelaide, a trip to NZ is on the cards when we can, but they don't fly to NZ, Singapore would be nice but ditto! Australian holidays are driving with a caravan, so I no longer have any use for Virgin! I'm just hoping they might reinstate code sharing with some overseas airlines....

Gift card vouchers for Xmas

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Clearly Velocity want more transfer into it’s coffers....new offer of bonus points and SC announced lol

 

[knagelli]

Clearly Velocity want more transfer into it’s coffers....new offer of bonus points and SC announced lol

Yes 40% bonus points and 50 status credits for transferring 50K point velocity points. I wonder if anyone would do that given the current scene. VFF is trying hard to attract members however the ground reality does not support the cause. Sad enough to say but RIP VFF ....