Will you still earn/retain Velocity status beyond 2025?

[simmomelb]

You could always call them, be super kind and if no luck with with first consultant, ask to speak with a supervisor, then explain your situation again.
It's worth a try given how confusing the changes have been.
Just an idea for anyone caught in the middle of these changes, and that would normally have retained their status

 

[straitman]

You could always call them, be super kind and if no luck with with first consultant, ask to speak with a supervisor, then explain your situation again.
It's worth a try given how confusing the changes have been.
Just an idea for anyone caught in the middle of these changes, and that would normally have retained their status

As I mentioned on here previously, my totals were wrong. It took three attempts to get their error corrected.

This evening flight to HBA will push me over the line to retain Platinum.

 

[drron]

Well I know my fate now. Had requalified gold on the old program and would have made platinum by years end. On 30/9 had 692 SCs but only 240 on my VA flying and 60 of those fall off this month. Just got 300 SCs from my SQ flights and have a J flight MCY-SYD-MCY at the end of the month which woud mean hitting platinum.
Now likely to just be silver.
However I am sticking with VA as I am able to get J award flights on SQ and QR. Was getting them even as a red member.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

However I am sticking with VA

In your case, mission success for VA!

Would still love to see an updated poll in the coming months to see if it's actually changed people's habits and once real-world experience with the changes causes people to become more or less pessimistic about their renewal prospects.

 

[RooFlyer]

Would still love to see an updated poll in the coming months to see if it's actually changed people's habits and once real-world experience with the changes causes people to become more or less pessimistic about their renewal prospects.

I originally voted that I would retain, but as I posted above, I will not retain as I’m not flying up to Queensland to see family as much.

However, like DrRon, I’m not changing flying habits and will keep mostly flying with VA because I don’t chase status and fly with the price and schedule that suits me, but also to get SQ awards which is still the easiest way to get an award flight out of Australia.

 

[straitman]

In your case, mission success for VA!

Would still love to see an updated poll in the coming months to see if it's actually changed people's habits and once real-world experience with the changes causes people to become more or less pessimistic about their renewal prospects.

As would I.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I originally voted that I would retain, but as I posted above, I will not retain as I’m not flying up to Queensland to see family as much.

However, like DrRon, I’m not changing flying habits and will keep mostly flying with VA because I don’t chase status and fly with the price and schedule that suits me, but also to get SQ awards which is still the easiest way to get an award flight out of Australia.

Yes - and I'd like to see a poll that combines the two, e.g.:
- Yes, I will drop status level but still expect to fly VA at a similar rate as before
- Yes, I will drop status level and do not expect to fly VA at a similar rate as before
- No, I do not expect a change in status level
- I expect my status level to rise

 

[PaulllM]

Yes - and I'd like to see a poll that combines the two, e.g.:
- Yes, I will drop status level but still expect to fly VA at a similar rate as before
- Yes, I will drop status level and do not expect to fly VA at a similar rate as before
- No, I do not expect a change in status level
- I expect my status level to rise

New poll for 2026

By then the program changes have well and truly set in and member behaviours would have adjustsed accordingly.

Having said that, outside of 2 reward flights later this month all my flying $ to the end of the year have been spent with QF so I know how I'm voting.

 

[RooFlyer]

all my flying $ to the end of the year have been spent with QF so I know how I'm voting.

Poorer?

 

[clifford]

New poll for 2026

By then the program changes have well and truly set in and member behaviours would have adjustsed accordingly.

Yes indeed, but late 2026 to get a good feel for it.

And yes, I don't think I've purchased a VA ticket this year, and next year is likely to be the same.

 

[PaulllM]

Poorer?

Yes, would anyone be interested in sponsoring a new Qantas flyer?

 

[AIRwin]

Yes, would anyone be interested in sponsoring a new Qantas flyer?

Just need all your personal details first

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Just need all your personal details first

They’re already available online.

 

[odysseus]

Virgin just started a 7 day sale, and I noticed the short haul (i.e.. <3 hours) business sale fares are at their lowest since Covid return to service and you had Rex as a competitor then as well e.g. SYD-MEL = $309. Individual Business routes have been rarely on sale the past few years, let alone network wide nor at these prices.

Pondering whether people have reassessed the 'value' of the business product where previously these bookings helped with status, and now it's just purely down to the real product benefits instead of any FF benefit.

Or maybe it's just sheer coincidence and VA have suddenly become very generous...

 

[Flyerwin]

As it happens, looks like I'll upgrade to VA WP next week, so even though I voted I won't be upgrading, because I've been redirecting recent flights from QF (since I've hit WP there and about to clock over to new year) to VA.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Or maybe it's just sheer coincidence and VA have suddenly become very generous...

Doubt it, as economy fares continue to creep up or stay consistent with the best sales over the past year. I pay close attention and out of SYD, some key routes like MEL and BNE are still $99, MCY and OOL at $69 and Byron winning at $49, but, for example:

• LST is now $89 vs $79 a few months ago during the Tassie sale (HBA still $89; off-topic but seems they've cut frequency to 2x daily from SYD instead of 3x)
• ADL is now $149 (vs $125 earlier this year)
• CNS is $119 (vs $99 during their Queensland sale a few months ago)
• HTI as $135 (vs $125 during same QLD sale)
• Queenstown is $489 (vs $449 earlier this year)
• PER is $249 (vs $199).

TL/DR - Business fares lower than I've seen them since the height of the Rex competition just after Covid, but economy fares higher and many steadily creeping up further. The latter sadly makes sense given lack of competition and Qantas happy to push their fares up too but the former suggests to me that they're struggling to fill those J seats.

I'm only one anecdote but I have been guilty of paying for J in the past in part to clinch that next status renewal or upgrade. Wouldn't even consider it now post changes. I bought one ticket today for an upcoming trip and that was only a Lite fare before my Economy X Platinum benefit lapses, whereas I likely would have bought Choice in the past if I was still working towards status.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Higher fares are a benefit to the passenger. More SC earn

 

[turkey101]

Apologies if this sounds obvious, but do you earn SCs when paying by Travel Bank funds under this new scheme?

The VA website states that SCs cannot be earned on:

• A flight where the membership number entered is not the membership number of the passenger travelling
• Reward Seats bookings, excluding Any Seat
• Any fare class that is not listed above
• Upgraded fares: members travelling on upgraded fares that are purchased with Velocity Points, UpgradeMe Platinum Member Offer, UpgradeMe Premium Bids or using cash at the airport will earn Status Credits based on the fare class originally purchased.

So, it appears like Travel Bank funds are treated the same as cash at $12 per SC. But, has anyone tried it yet?

 

[AIRwin]

Apologies if this sounds obvious, but do you earn SCs when paying by Travel Bank funds under this new scheme?

Yes I have tried successfully

 

[turkey101]

Yes I have tried successfully

Thanks!