Velocity Platinum status just became more affordable than ever
Sharpened baseline pricing for Virgin Australia business class means top-tier status and perks can be yours for less.
By Chris Ashton, April 4 2022
Virgin Australia is throwing down the gauntlet in its bid to lock away a sizeable share of the domestic business travel market, with entry-level benchmark fares slashed to $299 for flights on the country’s busiest routes – and the bold move will also give Velocity members their quickest path to top-tier status yet.
Joining reduced rates on the ‘triangle’ between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, a slew of other leads-ins will now be reset to $309 for the likes of Sydney and Adelaide to Hobart, Brisbane to Adelaide, and Brisbane and the Gold Coast to Cairns.
The airline says its cut-price business class baseline is now ”up to 60%” cheaper “when compared to pre-Covid levels.”
“By way of example, a Virgin Australia business class flight from Melbourne to Sydney available on 31 March 2022 is $580 cheaper compared to the same flight in the same class available on 19 November 2019,” the airline cites.
It’s a bold but no doubt spreadsheet-approved move as Virgin carves out its uniquely mid-market position, undercutting Qantas as the premium carrier with an unabashedly premium price tag, while also soaring above new challenger Rex.
Pathway to Platinum
A knock-on effect of the reduced business class fares is that Virgin’s Velocity frequent flyers can achieve Platinum status – the highest non-invitation tier of the airline’s& loyalty program – for less than ever.
Virgin’s current 45% bonus status credit offer, which has been extended for travel until June 30, makes that even quicker and more affordable for members to unlock top-tier Platinum benefits – as long as they complete the necessary flying by the end of June.
Darting between Sydney and Melbourne or Sydney and Brisbane, for example, you’d need only seven return flights – normally 110 credits per trip, but now upped to 158 – to earn the necessary 1000 credits if you started from scratch (in fact, you'd tip into Platinum before stepping onto your very last flight), for a total travel cost of $3887.
Of course, if you’re already partway up the status ladder – such as Velocity Silver or Gold – that 1000 status credits target will take far fewer flights.
Even when the promo ends though, the newly benchmarked fares still represent incredible value, bringing the lofty heights of Velocity within reach for less than ever before.
Bringing business class pricing back to earth
Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka maintains it’s all part of a plan “to create a more affordable and accessible business class offering” – and one which makes travellers think twice about accepting the high fares they’ve perhaps been long accustomed to.
“Our Business Class airfare pricing is another example of how we have reset our cost base and then invested in creating premium travel experiences at very affordable and competitive prices, which we know our customers love,” Hrdlicka says.
“If you look at the corporate and SME market as an example, many organisations are emerging from the pandemic with a more value conscious orientation and we are confident they are going to find our pricing across Economy, Economy X and Business Class very attractive."
Going above and 'Beyond'
Hrdlicka also confirmed the airline’s “invitation-only premium lounges” – formerly known as The Club but now rebranded to Virgin Beyond – will re-open on 20 April 2022.
Separate to the newly-launched Virgin Australia Business Flyer program, the Beyond tier – which includes invitation-only lounges in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – adopts a more commercial footing as a drawcard for companies with a high travel spend, to help Virgin better compete against Qantas for the business and corporate market.
However, despite indications of greater transparency on just who can enter these ‘secret VIP lounges’, the official entry criteria will not be made public.
Additional reporting by David Flynn
07 Mar 2022
Total posts 67
Bain Bain Bain get your ducks in a row quick smart your killing us all. A mate said 36 months ago break even at a guess was around 32-34% seems he was right. I took many business flights this week and another mate who I have been flying with for 11 years said Jayne rang him personally to have a chat and the new club was being announced by the end of March. Qantas has there status security line open why hasn’t Virgin???? I better not mention how much that is rumoured the CEO will get once the company is listed on the ASX.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
Of course there is a 'dark side' to this good news story - VA has only eight (8) business class seats on a plane. Wonder if they'll have to eat into Economy-X rows 3, 4 and 5? Has VA2 released a proposed seat map of the Max 10? I think (emphasis added) that United Airlines will have 4 or 5 rows of what they call 'First' class seats, but I'm by no means certain.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
doesn't QF have same 8 business class seats on their 737s ?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
QF 737-800's generally have 3 rows of 3 seats.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
no they don't !!! 2 x 4
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
Seat map on Qantas web site shows 3 rows of 4 seats, but I'll happily defer to your more intimate knowledge of Qantas metal. Cheers :-)
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
ok so we were both wrong
QF
03 Jul 2015
Total posts 23
Not in business with QF. 4 rows of 2 x2 seats when I travelled last week.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 467
On what aircraft? All of QF's B737s have 3 rows of Business, 4 seats per row, for a total of 12 seats. The B717s which have a Business cabin also have 12 seats. The E190s have 10 seats in Business.
QF
03 Jul 2015
Total posts 23
Apologies, my mistake. 3 x 4 J class.
11 Sep 2018
Total posts 18
From memory it was 2 columns of 3 sets of 2 seats. so 12 in total
07 Mar 2022
Total posts 67
Another good point by B-T, on my trips this week the business class was packed to the brim except for one flight. 4-5 business rows and economy x getting benefit would be an option I'd be doing along with free fast Wi-Fi.
21 Jul 2011
Total posts 89
As a self employed rusted on QF Platinum, even I have endured the Sydney and Melbourne awful terminal experience and bought VA biz class over the past few months, about to go platinum on them too. At these prices, they are less than double most Red e deals and I can put up with the Virgin security debacle in Sydney (and to a lesser extent Melb) and the dark cramped Melbourne terminal and fly J. Plus VA get security boarding and baggage delivery right. I still much prefer the whole QF experience, but at these prices the VA strategy is working with me.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 387
As a loyal and longtime QF preferred traveller, we’ve been flying VA a bit lately for this very reason. Intrastate Queensland fare for $200-$290 depending on destination, and flights to Sydney for $299. Reached gold and not far off Platinum.
On a recently booked flight, QF were $250 economy and VA $289 business.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1024
Having status with both VA and QF I rate both airlines equal (in different ways), but on price point VA is hitting the mark.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
Interesting comment UU&A. We often read comparisons by professional journalists, who feel the need to be 'Uber fair' to both airlines, whereas we travelers are far more 'promiscuous' in our choices and brutal in comparison of things that matter to us. Rarely does more than 50% of a claimed benefits (by a service provider or airline carrier) matter to as much as 50% of patrons (the other 50% of patrons are concerned with well less than 50% of claimed benefits). Hope that makes sense? So from a service providers perspective, it pays to keep the benefits fewer in number and more tangible (i.e. readily measurable/recognisable by intended recipients).
I'd be really interested to read something whereby ET/David selected, say, 5 or 7 readers (myself excluded please), interrogated those willing to participate on what matters (and what does NOT), then in a 2nd session had those participants rate both airlines on the top 4, 5 or 6 things that mattered to them (collectively) and whom they thought were better. Yes, its a dreadfully small sample, no pressure on David to 'get it right' (I'd trust his judgement), but the results would be those of sampled ET Readers (ET per se would be blameless).
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
most airlines have 3, 4 or more, different business class fares. It's just VA now have a cheaper option.
23 Oct 2014
Total posts 239
Quite simply the fares are industry leading - and the perks of gold and platinum comparable to Qantas are unlocked for a fraction of the cost, ten trips in J for example on the triangle might cost $3000 on Virgin and that gains you gold with the status that comes with this, Qantas is always $900+ for a J seat and would cost $9000 like for like. Same plane, same seat, similar food, same lounge, better frequent flyer reward seat options on Virgin.
This is a massive win for all, who has seen the Transcon fares recently ? $3500 one way on Qantas for a J seat on the 737. Post Covid their fares have more than doubled, Virgin they have halved - and it’s really really a now brainer to travel with Virgin.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 May 2014
Total posts 1
Good for the Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne triangle. Just checked Business Class Brisbane-Townsville for Jan/Feb. Fares have increased by $10
22 Mar 2013
Total posts 10
It's even more compelling an offer when you add in family pooling. Can get one adult to platinum or two to gold (by switching the beneficiary family member) quite easily.
I just hope they've done their sums right and this works for them financially with reasonable load factors.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Nov 2019
Total posts 88
self employed here too, at $299, Virgin have my biz. All you can eat licorice and mediocre on board meals from Alan at $550+ are in the past
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 461
It's a shame I didn't even look at this or it wasn't available when I bought my Adelaide-Sydney return flights for Christmas recently.(Basically I am stuck with what I booked)but it's not all bad news for Economy.There is a Muffin Break to buy me a meal for the plane(Muffin and a Pepsi Max on the plane over)but returning from Sydney I can have something from the food court of my choosing before getting on the plane home.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1024
Putting on my marketing guru hat, who do you think are buying the VA business class seats?
From what I’m seeing it’s people who would normally buy and economy ticket but they can justify spending an extra $70 to $100 on business. One flight I had the option of flex at $279.00 and business at $299.00 it’s a no brainer.
15 Mar 2016
Total posts 18
Must be an East coast thing, just tried a return booking PER-SYD-PER and still over $3000.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
The 'golden triangle' referred to above, and in many other articles about the airline industry (here and in the papers) means flights between any two (2) of Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne.
But it's shocking the fares being charged to/from East Coast to Perth. I just checked a MEL-PER-MEL (3,340 miles) for June 15-16, $1,998 return in Business - whereas MEL-BNE-MEL (1,748 miles) is $598 return on those dates in Business.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
. . . and MEL-PER-MEL would be $3,288.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
. . . on Qantas.
26 Aug 2012
Total posts 44
Thanks for the article. Made me stop and think about being welded as a QF loyal customer.
We looked at flying to Perth in May in business. Same days, same times, same 737 - VA $4600 v QF $10,530. 2 PAX return. They have got to be kidding themselves! QF is 230% more than VA for essentially the same product.
As seen in previous posts, we are SME people and look for value. QFF Platinum hand cuffs are not going to last long now.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
Dear Meridiengroup, "we are SME people and look for value" - you are not alone. Fiscal promiscuity is a virtue, "go you good thing" !! Loved the way you stripped it back to the one simple fact that matter$.
09 Nov 2011
Total posts 33
Booked Mel - SYD 3 Jun. QF need to look at fare structures. I needed a deep between 0700 and 0730. VA 3 flts J class brown 399 and 609. QF 3 flts (same B737,) J class between 1155 and 1503. Seriously? QF were even asking 715 for Y class.
No wonder with these pricing that my tvl all tends to be VA. QF J lounge is good, but not 500 to 900 per flt better. And VA lounge staff seem to be more willing to help with changes. Though VA CXL flts are becoming a little more than tedious.
26 Aug 2012
Total posts 44
P.s. The VA website is really good too.
18 Mar 2021
Total posts 68
So to maintain Platinum I need 800 status credits, March April will give me 800 status credits so do I start flying Qantas for the other 10 months to pickup P1?
09 Nov 2011
Total posts 33
And remember that VA is changing their old VIP club membership to a commercial level program, so accumulating more than just platinum required points may well lead to achieving whatever new level they plan to offer. Which I would figure to be a compete with P1 @ QF.
(I hope.)
18 Mar 2021
Total posts 68
@KC Myself averaging around 2400 status credits a year for each of the last 5 -8 years with VA and receiving a VA Platinum card today in the mail would suggest that there will not be a P1. Last 2 months on Virgin Money I spent close to $100k (3 credit cards topped up with cash).
18 Mar 2021
Total posts 68
PS. I should add if they had a fight club (points club), I'd come to the party with even more credit card use.
09 May 2020
Total posts 574
Haven’t traveled with VA recently, is the business class experience (lounge and front end of the plane) really similar to QF nowadays?
Most responses here suggest they are “essentially the same product” but, is it more of “the difference in quality of service is still there but definitely not worth the amount of extra money spent flying QF”?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 387
Many (my wife included) are saying the food is better on VA business, so if both are operating a B737 and you’re $500+ better off, I’d say it’s a no brainer.
Does anyone know if spirits are back being served on QF? My last flight up to Cairns in late 2021, it was still just beer and wine.
09 May 2020
Total posts 574
I presumed the J class meals has improved a lot from late last year then.
Even in October we have people complaining on the poor selection on both QF and VA flights
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
I think you'll find the J-class seats in Qantas' A330-200 planes are hard to beat. As for the rest of the Qantas package (end-to-end on the journey), I couldn't possibly say.
15 May 2022
Total posts 1
Hope the newbie Platinum’s aren’t looking forward to their upgrades. I’ve given up after 3 calls for each of my last 6 flights. I think VA would rather sell an upgraded seat for another 50c than let Plat members use this perk. Don’t offer if you don’t intend to make it accessible and achievable
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
Don't waste your time. Recently flew MEL-BNE on FF Eco fare (i.e. EconomyX). Was offered the opportunity to bid for an upgrade into Business (min. acceptable bid was $80 so I thought 'why not?' on the return sector). Then got to thinking, "what would be the cost if I upgraded there an then?". To my surprise, it was $65, so I took it for the BNE-MEL sector.
Leaving 'hubris' at home, I was feeling pretty smug about it while in BNE, then got the weirdest of emails (told my bid to upgrade the BNE-MEL sector @ $80 was unsuccessful). Don't laugh yet, it gets better. There were 2 spare seats in J-class on the way home !!!
Would I fly VA Business again? Oh yes please: food service with hard crockery and cutlery, the mushroom (what-ever-it-was) and happy cabin crew are worth it.
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