Will you still earn/retain Velocity status beyond 2025?

[serfty]

My understanding is, the

Tried to get the Sydney Virgin lounge to open upstairs one overcrowded afternoon last year and they said managers are instructed to NOT open upstairs during the daytime, not till after 6pm - is that still the case?

I flew through SYD on a Wednesday in March and the upper lounge was open outbound ~9:30am & inbound ~4:30pm.

 

[nutwood]

I flew through SYD on a Wednesday in March and the upper lounge was open outbound ~9:30am & inbound ~4:30pm.

It opened around 10 ish last Thursday.

 

[ozstamps]

Hope the tone-deaf Velocity Brass read the 'Weekend Australian' this week, part of which is below. It is not just members here giving the crazy decimation of the Velocity plan a big minus, but experienced industry commentators, from AFF Editor Matt Graham down, giving it a thumbs down.

This sort of coverage in mainstream national media is a disaster for Velocity. HEAPS of once loyal and happy flyers STILL do not really understand that flying the same routes and pattern as they have done for years to get Status, will very likely see their status vanish.

The more that sad reality gets into national media, the faster the penny will drop with many, and the less Choice and above bookings will be made on Virgin, as simple as that. Costing them serious dollars.

64% of those 100s voting here state they will lose their status this year, and will not pay the 'Status Ransom $$ Annual Fee' and if that translates nationally, as The Australian predicts, Velocity have indeed 'shot itself in the proverbial foot'
-

'Virgin Velocity changes ‘ask too much of members’

Has Virgin Australia’s Velocity program shot itself in the proverbial foot with major changes to the way members earn status credits? Experts have their say.

Changes to Virgin Australia’s Velocity program making it harder to attain elite status tiers may have backfired on the airline, as frequent-flyer experts say it’s no longer worth the effort.

Introduced in April, the changes mean Velocity members earn status credits from total dollars spent rather than routes and cabin class, while flights with partner airlines deliver fewer credits.

Some experts argue the move was necessary given the “ease” at which gold status could be obtained at Virgin Australia, but it was still considered bold as Qantas’ frequent-flyer status was calculated on route and cabin.

Australian Frequent Flyer website editor Matt Graham said that from the outset it was plain the changes were not popular – because of the extra cost.

“Under the new program, the amount of money you would need to spend to achieve or maintain Velocity status is way, way higher than before,” Mr Graham said. “In some cases, people would need to spend around four times as much to maintain the same status tier level that they currently have.”

As a result, reaching gold status with the Velocity program – led by chief executive Nick Rohrlach – cost as much or even more than the same tier with Qantas Frequent Flyer, Mr Graham said.

“Many frequent flyers feel that the benefits of the Virgin Australia status do not justify the high qualification requirements,” he said.

“This is particularly … because Virgin Australia has a much smaller international network than Qantas; has fewer airline partners and since Virgin Australia is not part of a global airline alliance the benefits that frequent flyers get when flying partner airlines are much less consistent.”

Point Hacks spokesman Daniel Sciberras said that with all loyalty program changes there were “winners and losers” but in Velocity’s case, there seemed to be more losers than winners.

“There is some benefit for people who are buying those high-priced (flex) tickets and flying regularly,” Mr Sciberras said.

“But people who are looking for value and buying the choice fares will find it harder to earn the status compared to what it was in the previous regime.”

He said if the motive were to get people to spend more on their fare, it may not have the desired outcome unless members could see the “rewards” were worth it.

In that sense Virgin Australia was at a disadvantage due to its much smaller lounge network and complex arrangements with partner airlines.

“Then if you get on a Virgin Australia plane itself (for an international flight) you get no lounge access, but if you book it on the partner airline code you do. It’s very complex.”

Steve Hui of iflyflat.com.au agreed simplicity was the key with loyalty programs if airlines wanted members to remain engaged.

“We’re in an age where no one reads the instruction manual. They just get the device out of the box and start using it,” Mr Hui said. “That’s the mistake they made. People just want to fly. They don’t have time to do these calculations. Not everyone’s an accountant.”

 

[MooTime]

Hope the tone-deaf Velocity Brass read the 'Weekend Australian' this week, part of which is below. It is not just members here giving the crazy decimation of the Velocity plan a big minus, but experienced industry commentators, from AFF Editor Matt Graham down, giving it a thumbs down.

This sort of coverage in mainstream national media is a disaster for Velocity. HEAPS of once loyal and happy flyers STILL do not really understand that flying the same routes and pattern as they have done for years to get Status, will very likely see their status vanish.

The more that sad reality gets into national media, the faster the penny will drop with many, and the less Choice and above bookings will be made on Virgin, as simple as that. Costing them serious dollars.

64% of those 100s voting here state they will lose their status this year, and will not pay the 'Status Ransom $$ Annual Fee' and if that translates nationally, as The Australian predicts, Velocity have indeed 'shot itself in the proverbial foot'
-

'Virgin Velocity changes ‘ask too much of members’

Has Virgin Australia’s Velocity program shot itself in the proverbial foot with major changes to the way members earn status credits? Experts have their say.

Changes to Virgin Australia’s Velocity program making it harder to attain elite status tiers may have backfired on the airline, as frequent-flyer experts say it’s no longer worth the effort.

Introduced in April, the changes mean Velocity members earn status credits from total dollars spent rather than routes and cabin class, while flights with partner airlines deliver fewer credits.

Some experts argue the move was necessary given the “ease” at which gold status could be obtained at Virgin Australia, but it was still considered bold as Qantas’ frequent-flyer status was calculated on route and cabin.

Australian Frequent Flyer website editor Matt Graham said that from the outset it was plain the changes were not popular – because of the extra cost.

“Under the new program, the amount of money you would need to spend to achieve or maintain Velocity status is way, way higher than before,” Mr Graham said. “In some cases, people would need to spend around four times as much to maintain the same status tier level that they currently have.”

As a result, reaching gold status with the Velocity program – led by chief executive Nick Rohrlach – cost as much or even more than the same tier with Qantas Frequent Flyer, Mr Graham said.

“Many frequent flyers feel that the benefits of the Virgin Australia status do not justify the high qualification requirements,” he said.

“This is particularly … because Virgin Australia has a much smaller international network than Qantas; has fewer airline partners and since Virgin Australia is not part of a global airline alliance the benefits that frequent flyers get when flying partner airlines are much less consistent.”

Point Hacks spokesman Daniel Sciberras said that with all loyalty program changes there were “winners and losers” but in Velocity’s case, there seemed to be more losers than winners.

“There is some benefit for people who are buying those high-priced (flex) tickets and flying regularly,” Mr Sciberras said.

“But people who are looking for value and buying the choice fares will find it harder to earn the status compared to what it was in the previous regime.”

He said if the motive were to get people to spend more on their fare, it may not have the desired outcome unless members could see the “rewards” were worth it.

In that sense Virgin Australia was at a disadvantage due to its much smaller lounge network and complex arrangements with partner airlines.

“Then if you get on a Virgin Australia plane itself (for an international flight) you get no lounge access, but if you book it on the partner airline code you do. It’s very complex.”

Steve Hui of iflyflat.com.au agreed simplicity was the key with loyalty programs if airlines wanted members to remain engaged.

“We’re in an age where no one reads the instruction manual. They just get the device out of the box and start using it,” Mr Hui said. “That’s the mistake they made. People just want to fly. They don’t have time to do these calculations. Not everyone’s an accountant.”

Thanks for sharing some snippets from the article.

Now heres the brocken record..... Velocity main aim here is to reduce the status holders, it's been said by them themselves numerous times.

I'm just guessing but theses changes wouldn't been on the table for upto 12months & seriously discussed for 6 months the ins n outs. They went thru their research blah blah.

To put Forever Gold on the table they had to make attaining SCs more financial for them.

We flew to Fiji this week, as Platinum member in business class on VA mental, zero lounge access, this totally stinks and how they justify this is beyond me.

Luckily had PP so House lounge it was.

 

[ozstamps]

I've flown Virgin to Samoa and Rarotonga and Port Vila and NZ in recent times, also in Biz Class, and also as a Platinum, and agree them being too cheap to offer any lounge access ex MEL/SYD/BNE is very poor.

Seeing they have a long relationship with Air NZ (and SQ) - very cheap and nasty, and the ultimate nickel and diming. Pay them some bucks a pax and job done. Their elites entering Virgin lounges here incur a fee to SQ and NZ so it all evens out. Race to the bottom stuff, it really is.