How can Virgin Australia make Velocity Platinum better?
13 replies
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on How can Virgin Australia make Velocity Platinum better?
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on How can Virgin Australia make Velocity Platinum better?
Mal
Mal
Member since 14 Jun 2013
Total posts 109
Interesting to read this AusBT article this morning: Virgin Australia Velocity polishes the Platinum proposition
Virgin once again talking up improvements to Velocity Platinum, but what does everybody here think they really need to do to make Velocity Platinum a compelling and 'rewarding' alternative to Qantas Platinum?
I know some people want there to be a Velocity equivalent to QF's Platinum One tier but I'd rather they nail the Platinum proposition first!
Tim Saunders
Tim Saunders
Member since 13 Sep 2016
Total posts 30
I'd like to see a special Platinum-only area in the Virgin lounges with better meals. Their current breakfast lunch and dinner options are very third-rate.
MattJelonek
MattJelonek
Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles
Member since 08 Jun 2014
Total posts 91
Platinum only area + one guest flying with you in Lounges...
mcglynp
mcglynp
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 20 Jan 2016
Total posts 48
Probably two things spring to mind.
1 - Improve award availability. At this time there is no additional availability for Plat flyers. Availability internationally with VA is incredibly patchy. They could look at improving it, or have options to guarantee an international award seat on a full fare companion basis for one return a year.
2 - Air NZ , recognize your status when you are making $ bids on upgrades. There is a tiered loading on your bid that recognises your status. So top tier fliers have a 150% loading. Surprised VA do not copy the idea. This would be one of those win/win situations. As it would encourage use of the upgrade bids, and give top tier fliers more certainty that a bid will secure the seat. Could also be combined with a lower starting point for the upgrade.
Not sure if plat only lounges or areas would work with Virgin. With family sharing the threshold for Platinum is pretty low.
Tim Saunders
Tim Saunders
Member since 13 Sep 2016
Total posts 30
Agree that a Platinum lounge wouldn't work for Virgin. Qantas is large enough to have a two-tier lounge structure, the Qantas Club and Qantas Business Lounge, but Virgin simply lacks that scale.
It would be good if Platinums could have their free hotel and hire car status each year, at the moment you get it the first year you reach Platinum and then it disappears unless of course you qualify through the hotel or hire car rewards program. Maybe after a year, if you don't qualify for that reciprocal 'Platinum' hotel or hire car status you get the 'Gold' equivalent.
Tracie
Tracie
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 30 Oct 2015
Total posts 106
It would be nice to actually be recognised as a Platinum on VA international flights..... just returned from the US and I felt like I was scum in business class - was ignored by the cabin manager while other members were welcomed and seem to be given more urgent attention. The cabin manager used to introduce themselves and make you feel valued.
smit0847
smit0847
Member since 30 Aug 2013
Total posts 150
Virgin are not going to make separate Plat areas in their lounges. For starters several lounges simply dont have the room and it would be extremely expensive to install separate food, bar etc areas. Where the kitchen is part of the normal lounge and there was no room to build a separate kitchen (ie BNE), would staff cart the better food through the normal lounge into the Plat lounge? This is not going to happen.
haz1003
haz1003
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 11 Nov 2014
Total posts 7
I don't think you would get a lot of people wanting to 'reach for platinum' if you get rid of the benefits you have given gold frequent flyers. I think you will just end up with a rather large contingent of annoyed people.
No one likes losing something that they have already been given.
JBL
JBL
Member since 01 Jun 2016
Total posts 27
SQ does allow SilverKris lounge access in SIN for Air NZ Elite, would be nice if they did they same for Velocity Plat
Doubleplatinum Banned
Doubleplatinum Banned
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum
Member since 07 Feb 2013
Total posts 431
Having been a platinum for 4 years and just now dropped to gold I'm not putting any effort into getting back up to platinum, as alluded to the differences are so minute it's not worth it. I don't think there will be any major improvements to plat benefits as long as VA remain in their quasi alliance with SQ and EY rather than joining one of the more established ones like Star Alliance.
mjward555
mjward555
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 09 Dec 2015
Total posts 4
This is my wish list:
- Make the 4 comp domestic upgrades available from any fare (thank you smit0847)
- Introduced lifetime Gold like QF; this is the biggest difference between the 2 programs
- Getting more into bed with Accor; I would love a PT status match with Accor
1Worldfreqflyer
1Worldfreqflyer
Member since 29 Jun 2016
Total posts 15
shanemelb1968
shanemelb1968
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 29 Dec 2012
Total posts 1
I have been Velocity Platinum for many years now. The one thing that really bugs me, is after you have reached Platinum, there is no incentive to remain loyal to the brand; I have often thought maybe I should at that point start flying Qantas to get status in both (last year I maintained my own platinum, plus got my partner to platinum via family pooling, plus still had enough to gift a gold membership).
Steve987
Steve987
Member since 23 Feb 2015
Total posts 268