Will you still earn/retain Velocity status beyond 2025?

[HS-TQE]

But I find it much easier to use VA points on the airlines that fly to the places I want to go. Such as SQ, TG and QR.

TG is not a VA FF partner.

 

[AIRwin]

TG is not a VA FF partner.

Transfer from Velocity to KrisFlyer?

 

[justinbrett]

if you’re not attaining VA gold are you really earning enough points to make international redemptions a serious factor?

 

[Happy Dude]

That's not a stinger, that's a benefit.

Only if you want to use QF DSCs for 100% of your SC target.

You can get WP on QF flying as little as 3% on QF, and you can find earn rates on other airlines as good or better than QF DSC (eg, AA domestic F).

And prior to the change VA WP could be achieved/maintained with as little as 5% of SCs coming from bum in VA seat.

 

[drron]

if you’re not attaining VA gold are you really earning enough points to make international redemptions a serious factor?

Definitely and I have explained how a few times.

 

[clifford]

if you’re not attaining VA gold are you really earning enough points to make international redemptions a serious factor?

I guess you're talking about the past, not the future.

 

[aamslfc]

I certainly won't be retaining WP now - I'll probably get the soft landing to SG, but a decade of VA WP is over.

Problem for VA is, that QF DSC offer came at a really convenient time.

So, I'll be QF WP by November, and already more than halfway to renewal for next year.

Well done, VA - you haven't cut lounge numbers because I'll still have lounge access courtesy of being SG and having an Amex, but you have lost the revenue that'd pay for the mediocre lounge offering. Also means VA's "partners" have lost revenue and feed too.

When your price point is barely less than QF, and you penalise people for flying with partners because VA can't be coughd flying anywhere, and there's minimal benefits for being WP, what's the incentive to stay?

Qantas may have many faults, but nickel and dime at your peril, VA.

 

[simmomelb]

Well done, VA - you haven't cut lounge numbers because I'll still have lounge access courtesy of being SG and having an Amex, but you have lost the revenue that'd pay for the mediocre lounge offering.

They haven't lost revenue for you using the lounge, they make very good money from you having that Amex. It's a real money spinner for them and as part of that Amex, you are actually paying them for lounge access via a third party, so they are more than happy to have you in the lounge.

They are still cutting lounge numbers either way.

Those who drop from Plat and Gold and don't have an Amex aren't who they want in the lounge, that is clear from the changes, as they seemingly don't make enough revenue from them.

Agree with the rest of what you said though, for your own personal circumstances, perhaps Qantas might work out to be a better option.
Choice is a good thing

 

[kallinch]

They haven't lost revenue for you using the lounge, they make very good money from you having that Amex. It's a real money spinner for them and as part of that Amex, you are actually paying them for lounge access via a third party, so they are more than happy to have you in the lounge.

They are still cutting lounge numbers either way.

Those who drop from Plat and Gold and don't have an Amex aren't who they want in the lounge, that is clear from the changes, as they seemingly don't make enough revenue from them.

Agree with the rest of what you said though, for your own personal circumstances, perhaps Qantas might work out to be a better option.
Choice is a good thing

Yeah for Amex they get something like $70 per person. Plus per guest.

 

[hakkinen5]

You're all right in that everyone will have a different story. For me, a 10-year VA Platinum, I've decided not to fly much this year with VA and take the soft landing to gold. Meanwhile, I'm directing my spend to QF (where I have been Gold for 10 years) and One World where I have about 3 years to go to LTG with Qantas. After 3 years I'll re-assess what VA are offering. I'd previously attained VA Plat by getting at least 75% of my SC's through partner airline earn, which won't get me over the line any more.

 

[Recycling]

Hello, newly joined member and have read through this thread with much interest and thought I’d tell you my experience.

Over the last couple of years, I attained Velocity platinum from Red and earned 100% of my status credits flying Virgin domestically in economy.

I only flew qantas overseas or when Virgin costed more than Qantas, which was very rare.

My membership year is coming to an end and I decided I will no longer prioritise Virgin Australia due to the recent changes.

With these changes I will likely fall slightly short of platinum anyway unless I fly a little extra unnecessarily so I have now decided to split my spend between qantas and Virgin.

I will probably look to reach Qantas Gold and will see if I can maintain Virgin Gold.

What has made this decision easier is that Virgin’s fares have became more expensive lately and are often much closer to qantas’s pricing.

I guess Virgin will lose quite a bit of my spend going forward. Vs. last year.

 

[nutwood]

As mentioned above… some CMs purposely ask platinums last because they want to ‘mix things up’ and give non-status passengers a chance to order first.

It is frustrating if there’s only one choice that you want.

Given they don’t automatically cater 8/8, it would be hard to expect double catering to guarantee choice for everyone.

Just following up on this one. Flying PER-SYD on Sunday. I was 1F. They took meal orders from 1A and 1C first, then 1D and myself. I was told unfortunately only one option left. The lady next to me (1D) had heard what was ordered the other side of the aisle and it was one of each. Eight PAX in J and they had only two meals for one option.
I heard the meal service behind me; "unfortunately only one option left..." Row 2 didn't have a chance! Stupid penny pinching appears to be the only explanation.

 

[ozstamps]

Typical short sighted Bain nickel and diming, in a further race to the bottom. That is one thing Virgin excel at this year.

We took a 2+ hours SYD-ADL last week and bid the MINIMUM $50 to upgrade - absolutely all it is worth these days, in the TEMU shower curtain greatly diminished, joke 'Premium' cabins.

Were on the absolute cheapest LITE fares, as of course Status credits are meaningless to millions from this year on, so why give them PROFIT buying Flex or Choice just to chase SC?

This is WHY 2/3rds of those 100s of members voting here, will drop in status next year - all can see that writing on the wall, except Virgin.

Biz cabin full. We were in 2EF. FA took our meal order first, then oddly jumped to 1AC. Then I heard the "sorry we are out of that one' - same lame el-cheapo airlines drivel, as reported above, after some other pax meal requests.

They 'ran out' of sparkling before mid-flight. You just can't make this stuff up.

Welcome to Virgin's concept of 'PREMIUM travel'. These are sad days - $50 is about all I'd pay extra. And only if in a good mood.

 

[aus_flyer]

Typical short sighted Bain nickel and diming, in a further race to the bottom. That is one thing Virgin excel at this year.

We took a 2+ hours SYD-ADL last week and bid the MINIMUM $50 to upgrade - absolutely all it is worth these days, in the TEMU shower curtain greatly diminished, joke 'Premium' cabins.

Were on the absolute cheapest LITE fares, as of course Status credits are meaningless to millions from this year on, so why give them PROFIT buying Flex or Choice just to chase SC?

This is WHY 2/3rds of those 100s of members voting here, will drop in status next year - all can see that writing on the wall, except Virgin.

Biz cabin full. We were in 2EF. FA took our meal order first, then oddly jumped to 1AC. Then I heard the "sorry we are out of that one' - same lame el-cheapo airlines drivel, as reported above, after some other pax meal requests.

They 'ran out' of sparkling before mid-flight. You just can't make this stuff up.

Welcome to Virgin's concept of 'PREMIUM travel'. These are sad days - $50 is about all I'd pay extra. And only if in a good mood.

I have great news for you, Ozstamps. There’s another airline called Qantas. It sounds like they’d be a better option for you. It must be so incredibly painful for you to continue to fly Virgin and always be so unhappy. Those $50 upgrades (from a cheap fare) sound just terrrrrible! Oh the humanity! Probably best you don’t take up that option anymore. It sounds like you’ve suffered enough!

 

[ozstamps]

Yeah for Amex they get something like $70 per person. Plus per guest.

'Yeah for Amex they get something like $70 per person. Plus per guest.'


With the shoe on the other foot, these are the CHEAPSKATES who will not bung SG or NZ Lounges some bucks, to allow lounge access out of Sydney and MEL for paid Biz class pax to Asia/Pacific destinations on Virgin metal.

Getting stuck on a TEMU 737 SPECIAL is a bad enough experience for a honeymoon once in a lifetime 'overseas' flight, for sometimes $1000s a person, (Bali next week is $2000 one way) or Business guys who get a CHOICE, but first up getting told 'NO LOUNGE ACCESS FOR YOU' is just inconceivable for any airline with a BRAIN out of major hub stations, where they have many very easy options to offer it.

*Virgin Australia does not currently operate international lounges. Guests travelling on flights operated by partner airlines may have access to partner airline lounges.'

https://www.virginaustralia.com/en-au/flights-business-class-to-bali

Funny how the little core of Virgin apologists never comment on these hard, sad, and totally factual realities, but just lampoon those who point them out. That speaks volumes. Mediocrity pleases some, it seems clear. Each to their own.

Adding Nothing of substance, indeed nothing at all, to address the real mess this airline has become. C'est la vie.

 

[SCM]

I'm not a VA fanboy, but Qantas lounges are so bad that I don't see any problem. They are not exactly competing with Qatar...