Will you still earn/retain Velocity status beyond 2025?

[JohnK]

I haven't kept up with most of this thread but has Virgin realised they made a mistake?

Dumb changes . I finally made Gold last month. Not sure can make Gold again without status runs which is waste of money. Wife about to lose Platinum and will drop to Gold and then Silver and down. Virgin will end up losing revenue from us if we start moving to low cost travel.

 

[natpin]

Interestingly consistent sentiments in most of the past 10 posts. Why anyone would desert one airline completely because they can't make Platinum and go over to 'the other one' where they would be < Plat too (probably NB?), and pay more for the privilege, beats me.

I dropped from Plat to Gold - I still fly VA, and I also fly Qantas when it suits. I know the grass, on average, is pretty much the same flavour on both sides of the fence, but Qantas grass is usually more expensive..

I use points to obtain SCs so it actually works out much cheaper on QF

 

[pblackie]

Interestingly consistent sentiments in most of the past 10 posts. Why anyone would desert one airline completely because they can't make Platinum and go over to 'the other one' where they would be < Plat too (probably NB?), and pay more for the privilege, beats me.

I dropped from Plat to Gold - I still fly VA, and I also fly Qantas when it suits. I know the grass, on average, is pretty much the same flavour on both sides of the fence, but Qantas grass is usually more expensive.

I also still fly VA just don't prioritise them or their partners when booking flights. In the past I would always book VA domestically and unless there was a huge price difference their partners internationally.

 

[SYD]

Interestingly consistent sentiments in most of the past 10 posts. Why anyone would desert one airline completely because they can't make Platinum and go over to 'the other one' where they would be < Plat too (probably NB?), and pay more for the privilege, beats me.

I dropped from Plat to Gold - I still fly VA, and I also fly Qantas when it suits. I know the grass, on average, is pretty much the same flavour on both sides of the fence, but Qantas grass is usually more expensive.

One of the themes is the issue of needing 50% VA codes to maintain status.

I was VA WP (and QF WP) concurrently for over 10 years before I left a large multinational company that required me to go to Europe a couple of times a year. Usually on EY, QR or SQ. Always booked with native codes even though our domestic contract was VA.

I wouldn’t be able to maintain WP now, probably not even SG!

 

[trisreed]

Strangest thing retaining WP this year is the annual pack in the mail. Maybe it is only the promised new baggage tag but it came with a brochure ("Your platinum status deserves to be in the spotlight") advertising all the Platinum benefits and telling me that my "phone can be [my] card, too" - well there is no plastic card enclosed so it can only be my card! No personally addressed letter from Rohrlach (or his replacement) either... just feels like penny pinching from both ends. Really confusing and not 'premium' at all.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Interestingly consistent sentiments in most of the past 10 posts. Why anyone would desert one airline completely because they can't make Platinum and go over to 'the other one' where they would be < Plat too (probably NB?), and pay more for the privilege, beats me.

I dropped from Plat to Gold - I still fly VA, and I also fly Qantas when it suits. I know the grass, on average, is pretty much the same flavour on both sides of the fence, but Qantas grass is usually more expensive.

Same here. I've generally found that VA is consistently cheaper than QF on the triangle, and with the recent changes to seat allocations for QF Silver (i.e. pay or sit in the back half) I haven't had the impetus to dump VA on a wholesale basis.

 

[RooFlyer]

telling me that my "phone can be [my] card, too" - well there is no plastic card enclosed so it can only be my card! No personally addressed letter from Rohrlach (or his replacement) either... just feels like penny pinching from both ends. Really confusing and not 'premium' at all.

Personally, I reckon I could endure those slights.

 

[trisreed]

Personally, I reckon I could endure those slights.

Certainly won't miss Nick's gush but the plastic card does come in handy overseas. Maybe I'll just scratch off the expiry date of last year's one

 

[clifford]

Interestingly consistent sentiments in most of the past 10 posts. Why anyone would desert one airline completely because they can't make Platinum and go over to 'the other one' where they would be < Plat too (probably NB?), and pay more for the privilege, beats me.

I dropped from Plat to Gold - I still fly VA, and I also fly Qantas when it suits. I know the grass, on average, is pretty much the same flavour on both sides of the fence, but Qantas grass is usually more expensive.

It now costs somewhat less to attain QF WP over VA WP, if you are well organised. I speak from personal experience.

And the QF WP benefits are far greater than those that VA may confer. So really VA (I mean Bain) has shot itself in both feet, when it really didn't need to at all. Talk about an own goal....

 

[antycbr]

It now costs somewhat less to attain QF WP over VA WP, if you are well organised. I speak from personal experience.

And the QF WP benefits are far greater than those that VA may confer. So really VA (I mean Bain) has shot itself in both feet, when it really didn't need to at all. Talk about an own goal....

And with the situation in the gulf, QR has also … err… shot itself too.

QRs investments are the only part of the company likely making money at the moment.

 

[RooFlyer]

I use points to obtain SCs so it actually works out much cheaper on QF

Welcome to AFF, BTW. Points Club? I would've been doing that (fly QF on points) all along if I had the points!

It now costs somewhat less to attain QF WP over VA WP, if you are well organised. I speak from personal experience.

Sure, if you want to go to the effort of planning just to obtain status, as opposed to just taking the flight that suits (price/schedule).

That's the type of sentiment I'm pushing back on - hunting status; I don't think its a good thing to do. As others have mentioned - losing status can be a blessing - suddenly the handcuffs are off and you can fly as you please. And me going back to Gold. About the only thing I've lost that I'll really miss is free Economy X (loss of free wi-fi I can easily forego). Still get priority boarding etc, which I value. Still get lounge access, which is occasionally handy. Absolutely no intention of buying anymore VA or partner flights than I need to. Same with Qantas BTW.
____

The thing I've been looking for is an old thread (which I can't find) which IIRC asked the question "How long does 'Never fly with them again' last"? I think the consensus was about a year. Like me. After a bad experience I swore I'd never fly American Airlines again. But of course I did.

 

[kevrosmith]

Certainly won't miss Nick's gush but the plastic card does come in handy overseas. Maybe I'll just scratch off the expiry date of last year's one

I believe you can order a card online to be posted out to you. Or maybe you might have to call(?).

 

[MH_fan]

VA can do what they like with the SC earn as it's their business. I can spend money on flights how I like because it's my money.
I didn't think I'd requalify for WP this year but it looks like I will (and just 6 months into my new year although it used to be 3 months into my new year). I have certainly spent much less with them (and will fly a lot less too) since the changes. Your spend should suit your needs. Simple as that really. If you attain status, great! If not, just re-think your strategy to get more bang out of your buck. That's what I've done and I am 90% self-funded.

 

[QF WP]

Have to agree, AFF'ers are the better informed flyers and a small minority of all flyers. I have a week left of Platinum and no chance of flying 285 SC's to requal Platinum, it was good to have Gold and Plat for 13 years. Gold on VA still meets my needs, but I'll miss the automatic X seat

My X I now have to pay for until I crack Plat again

 

[SYD]

View attachment 501658

My X I now have to pay for until I crack Plat again

PS in 12 mths?

 

[Tomsk85]

Hi all, apologies in advance - this is my experience and summarised by AI. The outcome is positive. Wanted to share!

Recent experience with Velocity Platinum retention (incl. “80% rule”)

Thought I’d share a recent data point as it might help others navigating the new retention environment.

I finished my membership year 168 SC short of Platinum (632/800) despite meeting the VA flight requirement. Initially requested a short review date extension (4–6 weeks) due to being hospitalised for ~4 weeks in Nov 2025 (IV antibiotics, no ability to travel).

Initial outcome:

Extension declined
No points “buyback” option offered
Medical evidence effectively disregarded

Interesting part during escalation:

• I was told there is an internal ~80% SC thresholdused in some cases
  • i.e. ~640/800 SC
• I was at 632 SC → just 8 SC short of that threshold
• Also confirmed that:
  • some members received complimentary Platinum extensions ~150 SC short
  • others were offered points-based retention options

This 80% rule is not publicly documented (at least I’ve never seen it referenced in T&Cs or official comms), yet it appears to influence outcomes quite heavily.

What stood out:

• Decisions seem highly discretionary and not consistently applied
• Medical/exceptional circumstances don’t automatically trigger flexibility
• Missing that ~80% line (even narrowly) can materially change the outcome

Final outcome (after newly appointed CEO escalation):

• Granted one-off 12-month Platinum extension
• Acknowledged that case should have been escalated earlier

Takeaways:

• If you’re close to ~80%, it may be a critical (but unpublished) threshold
• Don’t rely on first-line responses — escalation matters
• Documented exceptional circumstances can help, but may need executive-level review

Given broader sentiment in this thread about tightening status conditions , thought this adds another real-world data point.
Curious if others have encountered the same 80% threshold behaviour?

I dropped from VA Platinum to VA Gold a couple months ago as I will no longer be crediting to Velocity since the changes. They seem very happy to lose Platinum members and I'll be dropping every year until I have no status at all.
Instead I'm flying and crediting flights to SQ and I'm Gold with them. This way I have status recognised on a wider selection of airlines, more lounges internationally and basically still get the same benefits as a VA Gold with SQ Gold when flying VA domestic.

smart move actually! i will do the same likely next year....

 

[Tomsk85]

Day of review 50 credits short. Day after review 5 credits over… a week later 900 SC’s.

I am willing to help you to complaint via direct channels

 

[Tomsk85]

Just to update - seems it varies by the number of SC you are short.
Quoted 45,500 for me,

which means you matched 80% of the status credit limit. for everyone would be good to know this in advance.... initially i was not offered any options at all. 168 SC short - which i agree is a lot

 

[SCM]

I asked them if they can extend my membership (renews end of April), because I was re-routed from my original flights on the way back recently, I didn't get the SCs for it. They said they can't do it now or so far from the date and encouraged me to keep flying to try and earn the renewal (fat chance), I will try again after the renewal date to see what happens.

 

[SYD]

I asked them if they can extend my membership (renews end of April), because I was re-routed from my original flights on the way back recently, I didn't get the SCs for it. They said they can't do it now or so far from the date and encouraged me to keep flying to try and earn the renewal (fat chance), I will try again after the renewal date to see what happens.

Can you request ORC - assuming it was an involuntary rerouting?