What do you actually spend you Velocity points on?

[Intra]

This question made me got thinking; Obviously there are Good, Better & Best way's to spend you points, but as Frequent Flyers that know the worth of the points and how to get the maximum amount of points (And then some) from them, what do you specifically spend your points on?

With my limited earn of points outside of flying across the skies, I have been enjoying the perks of J class with Flexi upgrades. May not be the best use of points in some people's eyes for a short 1 or 2 hour flight, but when I tell the rest of my friends I fly Business class and have Lounge Access, they all think I'm some rich dude or someone that know's how to save money to be the "high roller" - The reality is, I'm neither

Never seen any value in DOM Y award seats, even crunching the numbers for a reward Y or W seat to LAX and the numbers don't look that great point value wise, but my calculations were probably off anyway..

Guess I could of posted this in the General forum, but with every FF Program having its Pro's and Con's, thought I stick to the one program I know and use. I trade with my father my QFF Points for his Velocity points, 1 to 1 - Well, that should of been the case anyway - I gave him all I had in 20k~ QFF, He transferred nearly 50K~ Velocity. I'll take the bonus

 

[AIRwin]

So far I've redeemed my points twice, both on an Any Seat reward which earns points and SCs. I think the first one even helped me maintain my status as it was just before my membership year ended...

 

[grubbidok]

I've used them for tons of reasons. We usually use them for Y redemptions, never J (apart from one to ensure status in the promo last year). I know on a $/point it isn't seem worth it for many, but for Mrs grubbidok and I we prefer to think of them more as "how many places can we go for these points?"

I also like using them domestically for family who don't get to travel as much or when they need a hand to get somewhere quick. Both my brother and sister are going through a divorce so it was nice to use the points to bring them down from Qld for a sibling week away in SYD. Would have been too expensive to do otherwise, but points sometime make those little catch-ups more achievable. Have been able to book a couple of last minute flights to get family around for emergencies as well.

For the same reason I also make sure I take my family to the airport for their flights whenever I can too for the lounge. Even though we often moan it's easy to forget how pampered we are sometimes. Was reinforced for me when I took my mum in and saw how excited she got when they would let her just take an apple from the bowl, for free! (she ended up putting the first one in her bag for a snack on the flight, then took another when I told her she didn't have to pay! kept talking about it all the way to the gate).

I also found them a godsend when we relocated to SYD and I had to fly back to BNE every couple of days on my own dime when I was 'between contracts' to keep my BNE business afloat. Business back strong now but probably would be another statistic if I hadn't had the points for those short jumps I couldn't otherwise have afforded (on top of all the other expenses of the time).

Mrs grubbidok and I will be based on the US East Coast for 8 months later this year so I'm hoarding them for DL redemptions when we're over there. Already have my eye on the JFK-KEF route.

Before the switch to VA Mrs grubbidok and I used up most of my remaining QF points for our Argentinian honeymoon (SYD-EZE and a couple of internal LANs).

Amazed your dad values the QFFs so highly, I personally find the Velocty points better bang for your buck (especially when you look at 'total' cost with fees and taxes). Take the bonus and run

Oh - Mrs grubbidok used hers to buy a blender once. After a stern re-education session she doesn't do that anymore!

 

[JohnK]

I have ~70,000 Velocity points and I dont know what to do with them.

Business class to LAX on VA Metal could be one way to redeem them.

Another way could be business class to Asia on SQ or VS assuming the points required do not vary too much from their own FF programs.

 

[smit0847]

Classic J awards when they earnt SCs in order to make WP.

Now, EY J and F to Europe and the occasional emergency Y domestic award when the fares are too expensive.

 

[SeatBackForward]

A beach shelter.

That's all I could get, and I've not earned any Velocity points in the last three years.

 

[Bofter]

Classic J domestic awards when they earnt status credits
Classic J domestic awards when they are discounted (eg. -15%)
Classic J domestic awards when that makes more sense than paying for economy
Points upgrades to J, but only back in the days that flexi fares were priced much lower relative to saver fares

From memory there was a period where the awards earnt status credits, were discounted and sometimes made better sense than paying for economy. That period took my points balance down to zero despite quite a few top ups from credit cards.

 

[Ausbt]

International upgrades to J, I see these as the best value. I did burn two Domestic J redemptions for my wife over Christmas though - she was flying on two particularly busy days and there were zero discount Y opportunities or points redemptions available. It thus made sense to book her in J.

 

[A casual flyer]

I use my mainly for J seats..

 

[notzac]

Another way could be business class to Asia on SQ or VS assuming the points required do not vary too much from their own FF programs.

Also remember EY flies BNE-SIN which should have excellent availability and a reasonable points cost.

I use my points for VA and EY redemptions in J - stunning availability and no fuel fines on redemptions make this excellent value vs. the same sorts of flights on QF and co.

 

[Mur@no70]

Just redeemed 4 premium economy SYD - HKG with VS for later in the year. Other than that I find them great for upgrading

 

[Mur@no70]

I should've added that on the same trip we are flying home QAN from SIN-SYD also in Premium economy with 2 of us using points (getting rid of the last of my QFF points) and the taxes/charges etc are the same as the 4 of us flying to HKG with VS.

 

[mark4217]

I saved mine for 2 years and finally cashed in last week for family four return J Bris AUH return. Excellent value. Taxes were a round of drinks compared to QFF.

 

[Coops1]

Just redeemed 4 premium economy SYD - HKG with VS for later in the year. Other than that I find them great for upgrading

Hi, interested in total points and $ you ended up paying per person....also any idea what the Y cost was at the same time . Cheers in advance

 

[Mur@no70]

Hi Coops1

I used 43,400 points and approx $200 per person in taxes etc. I have no idea what the Y cost was when I booked as I really didn't want to fly Y and being VS I couldn't upgrade from Y to Y+. Just looking at the Virgin Atlantic website now and the Y flights are $600 and the Y+ are $1114 per person

 

[JohnK]

I used 43,400 points and approx $200 per person in taxes etc. I have no idea what the Y cost was when I booked as I really didn't want to fly Y and being VS I couldn't upgrade from Y to Y+. Just looking at the Virgin Atlantic website now and the Y flights are $600 and the Y+ are $1114 per person

Hmmm. SYD-HKG in premium economy booked through Velocity is 43,400 points? :shock: That is almost 50% more than Virgin Atlantic website and the same sort of taxes.

I think SYD-LAX in business could be the way to go.

 

[Mur@no70]

Hi JohnK
I am only new to this site and am learning all the time due to people such as yourself being so kind with information sharing. Having said that, I am a little confused by your post. I don't have any points with Virgin Atlantic Flying club so I don't know how I could book for 50% less points on the Virgin Atlantic website. I'd love to save the points so would be very keen to learn how to do this!
Thanks for your help

 

[Intra]

What are we missing here JohnK.... Calculated quickly on the VS website SYD-HKG Rtn. in Y+ for 6000 & $300~ in Taxes, 40000 for Y....
Me thinks you have a trick up your sleeve

 

[JohnK]

What are we missing here JohnK.... Calculated quickly on the VS website SYD-HKG Rtn. in Y+ for 6000 & $300~ in Taxes, 40000 for Y....
Me thinks you have a trick up your sleeve

No tricks. Only egg on face as I thought that was a one way redemption!

Why am I wasting my time with Flying Club when Velocity is ~30% cheaper and less taxes? Is it the same saving in business?

I should have transferred all my Amex MR points to Velocity when the 20% bonus was offered.

 

[JohnK]

What are we missing here JohnK.... Calculated quickly on the VS website SYD-HKG Rtn. in Y+ for 6000 & $300~ in Taxes, 40000 for Y....
Me thinks you have a trick up your sleeve

Hmmm. On closer inspection my original assumption appears correct. The points quoted are for one-way? If so, the it is ~50% more expensive that going directly with Virgin Atlantic. I was really starting to get excited there.

Virgin Australia Virgin Atlantic[SUP]~[/SUP] Air New Zealand^ (Trans Tasman services)	Etihad Airways Virgin Samoa	Delta Air Lines Virgin America
One-Way Miles​	Economy​	Premium Economy^^​	Business*^​	First**​
0-600​	6,900​	10,400​	13,800​	20,700​
601-1,200​	10,900​	16,400​	21,800​	32,700​
1,201-2,400​	16,900​	25,400​	33,800​	50,700​
2,401-3,600​	23,900​	35,900​	47,800​	71,700​
3,601-4,800​	28,900​	43,400​	57,800​	86,700​
4,801-5,800​	35,000​	52,500​	70,000​	105,000​
5,801-7,000​	41,000​	61,500​	82,000​	123,000​
7,001-8,500​	47,000​	70,500​	94,000​	141,000​
8,501-9,500​	55,000​	82,500​	110,000​	165,000​
9,501-15,000​	62,500​	93,800​	125,000​	187,500​