Virgin Australia cuts baggage allowance for Velocity frequent flyers
By David Flynn, May 29 2019
Virgin Australia is slashing the baggage allowance for its Velocity frequent flyers on flights to Los Angeles.
From June 11 2019, Velocity members holding Silver, Gold or Platinum status and booked into premium economy on Virgin's Boeing 777 Los Angeles flights will see their checked luggage allowance cut from three 32kg bags to three bags of just 23kg each, representing an overall reduction of 27kg.
Premium economy passengers at the entry-level Velocity Red tier, or lacking any frequent flyer status at all, will have their checked luggage allocation trimmed from two 32kg bags to two 23kg bags, as 23kg replaces 32kg as the across-the-board per-bag baseline for premium economy.
There's no change to checked baggage limits in business class, with a baseline of two 32kg bags for Velocity Red cardholders and non-Velocity members, and three 32kg bags if there's a Velocity Silver, Gold or Platinum card tucked into your travel wallet.
Travel booked and ticketed prior to June 11 2019 will still see the current baggage allowance applied.
In related Velocity Frequent Flyer news, speculation that Virgin's loyalty arm could be sold off is gaining momentum following reports that the airline and Velocity part-owner Affinity Equity Partners have each enlisted , investment bankers to help oversee a sale.
The Australian Financial Review reports that Affinity, which acquired a 35% stake in Velocity in 2014, "is keen to exit in full provided it can get a deal at the right price and terms."
However, "industry sources said (Virgin Australia) wants to keep control of its frequent flyer program, given Velocity's importance to the wider business."
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Feb 2015
Total posts 150
Wow the cutting knife didn't stay in the closest for long since the new CEO came onboard. Personally I'm not too worried about less luggage allowance since NA flights already have more allowance compare to other international destinations. But selling Velocity on the other hand can be concerning. Now I just need to find a way to use up all my points quick smart before they (potentially) become worthless.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 351
It may be an opportunity for SQ to buy Affinity's stake in VFF, in trade off for selling their 20% in VA to either Virgin Group, DL and/or NH.
That way, SQ will still have their 'primary' reason why they still hold a stake in VA, the VA FF base to fill their own flights between AU and SIN (and beyond).
05 May 2012
Total posts 32
Ah that's bag news. I have always wondered though, why flights to/from US have larger baggage allowances than those elsewhere. And how does this impact on freight capacity and other revenue loads?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jul 2012
Total posts 118
That’s due to US regulations that apply to all airlines flying in and out of the US
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Jul 2017
Total posts 26
Really? Don’t airlines dictate their own ff program terms?
24 Apr 2015
Total posts 128
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
14 Apr 2013
Total posts 325
How does this if any affect the DL flights on VA code? Why oh why does VA keep cutting?? If they cut anymore there won’t be anything left to cut!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2016
Total posts 23
It is not match partner airline delta luggage policy
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
The issue isn’t necessarily the weight of the bags but the number. Returning from a six month stint in the US last year Qantas platinum’s 3 bag allowance saved me quite a bit of money when the fee was attempted to be applied and I had to point out to the AA staff that platinum is worth an extra bag.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Jan 2016
Total posts 59
What I find irritating here is that VA do not discriminate from Silver to Platinum around the luggage change. Its another example of why aiming for platinum is so redundant with Velocity.
25 Sep 2018
Total posts 3
Oh no :( need to be in the loop in and know when points flights should be booked! Thanks for the update
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
01 Mar 2012
Total posts 177
Really that is putting them in line with other major airlines. Given that you can still take 3 bags and that most never reach that amount it isn’t that big a deal.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
30 Oct 2015
Total posts 61
Can't say that I've ever been able to fill my 3 cases to 96kg as a Platinum. Best I've ever done is 66kg, so I can't really see this change having an effect on me, unless the Aussie dollar goes to $1.30 for every USD.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Jul 2017
Total posts 26
Have had 120kg and 20kg carry on ex London, thankfully no excess applied.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Nov 2017
Total posts 113
Most I've ever checked (except when actually moving to another country) is 15kg of checked baggage. So not a lot of impact on me either!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
@othy … not hard to figure out why the baggage allowance is higher for the USA, look at the size of the people there, they have bigger things to pack which are heavier
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Nov 2018
Total posts 1
i have not flown Virgin for many years... but actually my recent trip to America on Qantas is also 3x23kg.. they almost charged me excess but decided not to when i took my qantas card out.. but i remember last yr when i travelled it was 32kg .. and i didn't want to take more than one suitcase.. so i guess it makes it easier for them to charge you excess if you have say... 26kg in your suitcase.
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
11 Sep 2015
Total posts 48
Add this route cutting such as they have done with PNG and it does like they're in trouble. On the other hand it might be sensible housekeeping by the new boy. He's going to have to find some good news for customers soon though to help the medicine go down. Opening the forever overdue Brisbane Inernational lounge would be a good start
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
02 Jun 2019
Total posts 16
Who wants to lug 32kgs anyway? I struggle to negotiate 23 kilos, so I actually welcome this as an official discipline. Next January, we 8 are all towing wheeled duffel bags instead of those cumbersome suitcases. Maybe the poor baggage handlers won't keep suing for back problems and VA will keep their bottom line.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Jul 2017
Total posts 26
Great if you can do it! Long trips across multiple continents and seasons with a range of functions kind of dictates that travelling with 3 pairs of undies and 2 shirts ain't gunna cut it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Jan 2016
Total posts 89
Just can't get my head around actually owning or having that much 'stuff' to take on a flight, ever. And yes I have flown across multiple climates and countries in the one trip. And no, I just use carry-on.
10 Dec 2018
Total posts 40
Excellent move. If you need 96kg of luggage allowance (plus cabin allowance) you should probably consider going by boat.
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