Will you still earn/retain Velocity status beyond 2025?

[nutwood]

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

I can top that. About a month ago they took our meal order and then had to come back and apologise as they didn't have any red wine.
Sad, it's only been the last year or so that it's been like this. Prior to that I'd have been struggling to find anything to whinge about.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Prices have gone up and service has come down fast. Throw in a wrecking ball to the frequent flyer programme and you've really hit the trifecta of "thanks we hate it" that's made Qantas laugh as some of us come sulking back.

I'd have thought some of the more ruthless PE-style cuts would have come earlier in the process, or perhaps there's just a lag as it all works its way through the system even post-IPO. More likely, I fear, is this cost-cutting is now just engrained in the culture of "management" (read: share ownership).

 

[ozstamps]

Seems like very many agree on these shortcomings this year, when it has certainly been worse than ever.

Lower service, lower benefits, WAY higher ticket prices, and a totally wrecked Velocity program - all in one year - really takes top 'Management' skills to drive away so many once loyal Elites - so fast. They are tone deaf.

To some here, Virgin are the greatest thing, since The Resurrection. HALVE the benefits, and they'd (publicly) cheer wildly. We get it.

But those diehards aside, about 65% of those voting have largely given up on Virgin in 2025 - red warning lights should be flashing wildly in there -

' Will you still earn/retain Velocity status beyond 2025? '​

 

[HS-TQE]

The internet forums / social media aren't exactly representative of the whole country as some may claim it to be. There's been some cases where the same rants across similar topics have ended up being a loud vocal minority as not all of the millions of members of both FF programs are actually active members and/or post on the internet platforms.

 

[SCM]

What so all 24 Qantas Club Lounges and a further 5 Business Lounges are terrible? VA only have 7 Club lounges across their whole network. Give me QF anyday.... At least they have ham for their toasties

To be fair I've only been to the flagship business lounges in SYD and MEL and club in Adelaide? but the international lounges are so bad and they are meant to be the best example, so why

 

[Falcs]

But those diehards aside, about 65% of those voting have largely given up on Virgin in 2025 - red warning lights should be flashing wildly in there -

It's worse than that, if you exclude the "I don't fly enough to earn status anyway" respondents it's 75% of flyers with status will be worse off.

 

[clifford]

To be fair I've only been to the flagship business lounges in SYD and MEL and club in Adelaide? but the international lounges are so bad and they are meant to be the best example, so why

As far as I'm concerned they're not that bad. Crowded maybe, but not bad (unless you're talking about the lack of natural light at MEL Intl). There are many worse airline lounges around the world, and the QF business lounges do put any VA lounge to shame (although that wouldn't be hard).

As for QF's First lounges, they compare quite well with some of the best (well maybe apart from the champagne and the attitude of some staff).

 

[justinbrett]

To be fair I've only been to the flagship business lounges in SYD and MEL and club in Adelaide? but the international lounges are so bad and they are meant to be the best example, so why

At no point has QF marketed them as Flagship. You’re thinking of AA.

They are the two intl J lounges due for refurb. BNE isn’t too bad.

A lot better than the VA international lounges

I was in SYD AMEX yesterday (after QF F, my gate was that way). Definitely worse than QF J SYD.

 

[SCM]

As far as I'm concerned they're not that bad. Crowded maybe, but not bad (unless you're talking about the lack of natural light at MEL Intl). There are many worse airline lounges around the world, and the QF business lounges do put any VA lounge to shame (although that wouldn't be hard).

I am not sure by what metric you say they are "not that bad". Finding a seat to relax is the most foundational aspect of a lounge, so the fact that they are crowded does make them bad. Additionally, every other aspect of the lounge is horrible (food and alcohol).

At no point has QF marketed them as Flagship. You’re thinking of AA.

Qantas headquarters is Sydney, so the intl J lounge in Sydney is indeed the flagship, and I guess MEL would be runner up.

Qatar's flagship lounge isn't in Singapore is it ?

 

[justinbrett]

I am not sure by what metric you say they are "not that bad". Finding a seat to relax is the most foundational aspect of a lounge, so the fact that they are crowded does make them bad. Additionally, every other aspect of the lounge is horrible (food and alcohol).



Qantas headquarters is Sydney, so the intl J lounge in Sydney is indeed the flagship, and I guess MEL would be runner up.

Qatar's flagship lounge isn't in Singapore is it ?

So VA’s in Brisbane international?

AA’s best lounge isn’t in DFW, it’s in JFK. Arguably you could say BA’s in JFK as well. Their LHR lounges are rubbish.

QR’s SIN lounge is probably a lot better than their FF Gold lounge in DOH. Probably better than their WP lounge too.

 

[SCM]

So VA’s in Brisbane international?

AA’s best lounge isn’t in DFW, it’s in JFK. Arguably you could say BA’s in JFK as well. Their LHR lounges are rubbish.

QR’s SIN lounge is probably a lot better than their FF Gold lounge in DOH. Probably better than their WP lounge too.

Sorry not sure what any of this has to do with anything.

 

[straitman]

I would be interested to see the results if the poll at the beginning of this thread was retaken now.

 

[justinbrett]

Sorry not sure what any of this has to do with anything.

Your entire argument is that every lounge at an airports main hub is flagship.

It is not, I’ve given multiple examples of why this is the case. QF SYD F is the pride and joy.

QRs FF lounges in DOH are rubbish. Their outstation at SIN is much better. AA Flagship at DFW is meh. BA F in LHR is IMO one of the worst F lounges in oneworld.

 

[Falcs]

QRs FF lounges in DOH are rubbish. Their outstation at SIN is much better. AA Flagship at DFW is meh. BA F in LHR is IMO one of the worst F lounges in oneworld.

You're missing the nuance, when airlines split out their "class of service" and "frequent flyer" lounges.

QR Singapore lounge is only available to Business and First-class travelers, and they have both FF status and actual flying class lounges in DOH. Same as BA, if you're actually flying first class, you're in the Concorde room not the F lounge.

And American airlines in general (not specifically AA).... well, meh.

 

[kevrosmith]

"Velocity Status beyond 2025" versus start a new thread on other topics...?

 

[justinbrett]

You're missing the nuance, when airlines split out their "class of service" and "frequent flyer" lounges.

QR Singapore lounge is only available to Business and First-class travelers, and they have both FF status and actual flying class lounges in DOH. Same as BA, if you're actually flying first class, you're in the Concorde room not the F lounge.

And American airlines in general (not specifically AA).... well, meh.

I’m fully aware. My point is not every lounge at a location is the flagship. For QF, the F lounge is the flagship. It doesn’t mean every lower tier lounge is flagship - the BNE Intl J lounge is better than SYD/MEL because it also accommodates OWE pax (and has been refurbed more recently).

For VA (back on topic) it doesn’t even have international lounges, and even for domestic it doesn’t have a flagship lounge.

 

[Falcs]

"Velocity Status beyond 2025" versus start a new thread on other topics...?

Well back on topic, for me the 50% personally flown VA requirement is a bigger roadblock than the revenue based earn. Some partner airline travel and family pooling (x4) made gold effortless for years.

I suspect I'll end up close this year so I might be tempted to do a status run to keep it another year but going forward I'll probably forget about VA status.

 

[clifford]

BA F in LHR is IMO one of the worst F lounges in oneworld.

Any lounge that has several different self-pour champagnes available at any given time can't be too bad. I actually prefer it to the Qantas F lounge at SYD, and am looking forward to being in there a couple of times later this month.

At least in the LHR BA F lounges you can help yourself (if you wish to), where this option is not available in the QF F lounge. And, further, the QF wait and bar staff can be rather surly and the champagne is absolute cough (and is usually doled out by the thimblefull).

So I wouldn't get over excited about the Qantas SYD First lounge.

 

[justinbrett]

Any lounge that has several different self-pour champagnes available at any given time can't be too bad. I actually prefer it to the Qantas F lounge at SYD, and am looking forward to being in there a couple of times later this month.

At least in the LHR BA F lounges you can help yourself (if you wish to), where this option is not available in the QF F lounge. And, further, the QF wait and bar staff can be rather surly and the champagne is absolute cough (and is usually doled out by the thimblefull).

So I wouldn't get over excited about the Qantas SYD First lounge.

Pfft. Never had to wait more than 30 seconds for champagne. QF has (now) a full coughtail list.

BA is a glorified J lounge* with added champagne. If you need direct access to champagne and can forgive the cough showers, lack of food options, total lack of coughtails - I think you’re in an incredibly niche group.

I’m off to LHR tomorrow and I think I’ll be passing through T5 on 3 occasions this trip.

*Watch Matts planet on YouTube and he shows the lounges sequentially, and confirmed near identical food and beverage options.

 

[straitman]

[Mod hat]. Can we get back to the topic please?[/Mod hat]