Will you still earn/retain Velocity status beyond 2025?

[straitman]

Fixed it for you:

*Excludes Lite fares, where you get 1 SC per $24
** VA Flight code, not necessarily VA flight
*** Excludes partner airlines, refer to separate tables
**** Make sure you keep a spreadsheet with your expected earnings, because the system won't tell you how many SC a segment will earn after you've booked it.

Lite fares have always had a lower earn rate I believe.

Yes, but as odysseus said - instead of (on 1st Jan) being able to go I've got X flights from A to B this year, I always book Choice fares, so I will earn Y Sc's (and need Z more to make Gold, or whatever), it's impossible to plan ahead because you have absolutely no idea what the fare will be for any of those flights until you go to book them, and hence no idea how many SC's you'll earn until that point.....

I would suggest, as above, that you are in the minority with this approach.

I believe most people (myself included) have random flights throughout the year and only ever knew their SC earn from making a booking. I have always had a spreadsheet to tally my SC earnings.

... and you could be earning more SC than previous.

 

[odysseus]

Lite fares have always had a lower earn rate I believe.

Sure... but that's because each booking category had a different earn rate as part of the encouragement to upgrade.

Now it's based on $ you have spent that Virgin receive. Except when it's not - in the case of lite, which just has some arbitrary devaluation of the $ spent. So they've taken away the carrots and just left the stick.

 

[prelude]

Returning the original topic, I just requalified to Gold within 4 months from my renewal date, with 20 flights (inc. 5 pooled). In 3 of the 20 flights, I recieved 1 less status credit compared to the prior system (14 SC vs 15 SC). With the old system, I would be approximately 100 SC short (maybe a bit less, depending on how you calculate Flex fares). No SC bonuses in this period.

Took the odd QF/JQ flight in this same time period, due to price difference/flight timings.

The increase in SC does put Plat in range, which is a positive, and mostly unexpected.

 

[moa999]

With the old system, I would be approximately 100 SC short

Agreed. For many people the new system earns more SCs.
But there are definitely a number who struggle with it including those previously flying:
- Lite fares
- Multi-leg/ connecting fares (used to be good $/SCs)
- Family pooling (particularly 3+ ppl)

 

[prelude]

Agreed. For many people the new system earns more SCs.
But there are definitely a number who struggle with it including those previously flying:
- Lite fares
- Multi-leg/ connecting fares (used to be good $/SCs)
- Family pooling (particularly 3+ ppl)

Agreed with all points. This new system also killed the multi-leg status runs in J during DSC promos, which I suspect many people enjoyed.

I will say, people buying Lite fares really aren't chasing status, before or after. Regardless, break even (5 SC) for a MEL-SYD Lite fare for example is $97 which you'd be hard pressed to find anyway, unless booking a long time out.

I do think (just a guess) that more people are in my boat than in the list above. Frustrating for those now struggling, but I don't think it's fair to describe this change as a straight devaluation (from the status perspective, the reward flight changes certainly were). I do sympathise, I've definitely gamed certain FF programs in the past...

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have VA Plats as backup status - while I will retain this, I can't see myself chasing the higher levels, as there is no improvement in VA Lounges or a J/Plats separate lounge/area. If VA were serious, they would offer their top tiers access to their Beyond Lounges (not currently their operating model) - that would be a game changer IMHO. But they don't, so I maintain Plats only.

 

[MooTime]

Agreed with all points. This new system also killed the multi-leg status runs in J during DSC promos, which I suspect many people enjoyed.

I will say, people buying Lite fares really aren't chasing status, before or after. Regardless, break even (5 SC) for a MEL-SYD Lite fare for example is $97 which you'd be hard pressed to find anyway, unless booking a long time out.

I do think (just a guess) that more people are in my boat than in the list above. Frustrating for those now struggling, but I don't think it's fair to describe this change as a straight devaluation (from the status perspective, the reward flight changes certainly were). I do sympathise, I've definitely gamed certain FF programs in the past...

The whole purpose of the frequent flyer changes was to have less in the lounge.
It was stated by virgin specifically.

So this change will absolutely benefit less now & hurt more in turn. In terms of numbers of status holders.

Otherwise the whole policy goes against what virgin trying to achieve.
Less in lounges.

Some of us whinge (me included) and move on.

 

[trisreed]

The whole purpose of the frequent flyer changes was to have less in the lounge.
It was stated by virgin specifically.

Which seems to be offset by giving (specific) Amex holders a lounge membership for, in some cases, a card with an annual fee equal to the lounge membership yearly cost. I think the changes are all just about money.

 

[odysseus]

The whole purpose of the frequent flyer changes was to have less in the lounge.
It was stated by virgin specifically.

Did they actually?

I think it may have been tossed out in passing after all the changes were announced as a 'pseudo benefit' i.e. to try to sell it better. But I don't recall it ever being raised as a specific driver for the changes, nor that it was even part of any official announcements. I think some may also be throwing it around as their own reasoning.

 

[MooTime]

Did they actually?

I think it may have been tossed out in passing after all the changes were announced as a 'pseudo benefit' i.e. to try to sell it better. But I don't recall it ever being raised as a specific driver for the changes, nor that it was even part of any official announcements. I think some may also be throwing it around as their own reasoning.

Nope came from interviews with Nick Rohrlach himself.
2 interviews I heard with him he clearly stated it. Itll be a better outcome for the high level frequent flyers. Not overcrowded.

 

[PERLHR]

Nope came from interviews with Nick Rohrlach himself.
2 interviews I heard with him he clearly stated it. Itll be a better outcome for the high level frequent flyers. Not overcrowded.

Only a better outcome if the quality of and in the lounge improves imho. They could deal with overcrowding a bit better than what they do especially with physically have enough staff to clear empty tables and restock food items. Have more self service rather than drinks etc behind the bar and being passed over etc.

 

[Falcs]

Did they actually?

I think it may have been tossed out in passing after all the changes were announced as a 'pseudo benefit' i.e. to try to sell it better. But I don't recall it ever being raised as a specific driver for the changes, nor that it was even part of any official announcements. I think some may also be throwing it around as their own reasoning.

I call bs, when they sell lounge memberships and bundle access with credit cards to boot.

 

[odysseus]

Nope came from interviews with Nick Rohrlach himself.
2 interviews I heard with him he clearly stated it. Itll be a better outcome for the high level frequent flyers. Not overcrowded.

It's his job to spruik the changes; he's the architect. Any failure reflects on him. So he would try to spin the upside.

That doesn't necessarily mean everything is the absolute truth.

 

[MooTime]

It's his job to spruik the changes; he's the architect. Any failure reflects on him. So he would try to spin the upside.

That doesn't necessarily mean everything is the absolute truth.

Ok then I've got nothing.

Telling you where the info I posted came from, the CEO or managing director of velocity & you want to just say everything he says isn't the truth & it's all spin. Then yeah yeah whatev's.

I mean who did you want it to come from for it to be truthful?

 

[ben95]

I mean who did you want it to come from for it to be truthful?

Alan Joyce used to spruik Qantas was 11 weeks from bankruptcy. He was the CEO, was there any truth to what he said? Absolutely not as Joe Aston demonstrated in his book.

I think everyone here is mature enough to use their logic and reason and not blindly trust whatever the CEO of a company has to say.

 

[MooTime]

Alan Joyce used to spruik Qantas was 11 weeks from bankruptcy. He was the CEO, was there any truth to what he said? Absolutely not as Joe Aston demonstrated in his book.

I think everyone here is mature enough to use their logic and reason and not blindly trust whatever the CEO of a company has to say.

That's fine, don't believe it then.

I for one believe they do want less in the lounges, they do get awfully crowded at times.

 

[simmomelb]

That's fine, don't believe it then.

I for one believe they do want less in the lounges, they do get awfully crowded at times.

Yes, VA/Velocity does want fewer in the lounges and the ones in there to be higher value (they plan to improve the product down the track), source? I personally know a couple of people who work close to the matter, who shall remain nameless. That's all I can add.