Virgin Australia cuts points, status credits earning on AirNZ

That is a bit disopointing! 

Shock horror. Goodby Air NZ!

such a pity. two CEOs have a sandpit fight and customers (and the airlines) lose out. Maybe Singapore Airlines will do a status match deal to take every VFF who flies to New Zealand regularly? 

I really hope they don't cut it further. I travel to NZ a bit and it's very handy to have Velocity status when flying NZ. Airpoints is much harder to earn status under. My trip next month to NZ on NZ return in discount economy gets me enough Velocity SC to be 10% of my gold renewal (40 SC return). If I booked the same ticket but banked to Airpoints, it's less than 2% of what someone would need to qualify for NZ Gold. (12SP/810)

Hi David,

This might seem like a silly question but can I please check with you, will I still earn SC on Virgin Australia operated flights to NZ? I found virgin's email wasn't as thorough as I would have liked. Also, do you know if flying domestically in NZ with AirNZ will still earn points/SC?

Thank you.

another add in to the mix-mash of virgin lounge access rules. For heavens sake JB just join an alliance or at least make your rules straight forward and consistent.

I don't pretend to understand the commercial realities of such things, but what exactly is the point of unwinding this? 

NZ Airpoints members have never earned status on VA flights except on the Tasman as NZ codeshares in any case.  Very little incentive for NZ Airpoints members to use VA, when the earnings for Oz domestic flights are pitiful

Those sub $5,000 Business class fares to LAX on NZ dont look quite as attractive now, do they? 

I wonder if this includes the Dreamliner flights to Perth, it technically is both trans- Tasman (Australia) and international short haul. 

The solution: Krisflyer.

The Luxon/Borghetti sandpit fight must have turned nasty. Goodbye Air NZ, I won't ever be using you on my monthly flights to SFO. 

This is really disappointing. AirNZ's been my preferred carrier over to YVR for years. Auckland airport is a great place to transfer flights, and the AirNZ lounge there is excellent. I'll really miss their hospitality.

Hey, does anyone know if Krisflyer or Airpoints do status matches?

Interesting situation. It seems these changes take effect 1 November 2017. All reservations made up to 31 October 2017 are not affected.

I think these changes has something to do with the Nanshan Group and HNA Group shareholding in Virgin Australia.  Airlines owned by HNA Group and Nanshan Group are in direct competition to Air NZ and Singapore Airlines on the Asian routes out of NZ. Air NZ has strong co-share/marketing partnership with Singapore airlines on the Asian routes and I guess they to work its Star Alliance partners.

Not good news at all.  NZ PE/J to SFO was a great way to retain status.  Without the earn,  not sure I would bother with the transit.   Without the status,  not sure I will bother with Velocity. 

Can we confirm the following:
Bookings made prior to November 1st still get the benefits or do you simply loose benefits, points and status credits if you fly after November 1st regardless of when you purchased the ticket?

I think Velocity is on the way out for me

This move effectively could kill off Air NZ's push in the Australian market for the Americas. The growing AKL hub could indeed shrink if a whole bunch of Velocity members now look at other options. This is not a good movie, and this negatively impacts NZ more than VA. It was only really Bali that was used a a connection from NZ using VA. A totally price-driven market that really wouldn't give a rats about the changes.

I was looking at NZ for a trip to the USA in January - the routing may have been slightly better, that's off the table now.  Bye Bye NZ

While this is an inconvenience I can't say it will be the end of Air NZ for me. The flights times and the product are perfect for my personal and business travel.

I feel that it is an example of how hard it is to trust that Velocity is going to be around and with whom they will be partners when something like this happens. A bit of a board room tiff and it is all over. I funneled my flying via VA and NZ due to their tie up. Now I have to look at what I do. I will most probably fly more Star Alliance and maintain Velocity Gold instead of Platinum with companion gold/Plat per year.

While I am sure there are commercial reasons behind the changes, however it provided that extra option across to the Americas. I not only use the US flights, but also the BA flights with NZ and I prefer to not fly LA.

I hope that the feedback from this site and others will be funneled back to VA and NZ and that they see the reality of it all. For most of us, our decisions regarding which whom we fly are made in packages of airlines and not based on one airline independently of another. It needs to be made easy for us to choose and this doesn't make it easy as now 4 potential options for flights to the Americas have been taken away from us, within the Velocity program. 

Very disappointing.  I have been VA Platnium for 4 years now.  My confidence with Velocity is getting less and less, especially now my business travel is more international then domestic. The NZ service to the east coast of the US via Houston was a great alternative to LAX, especially while Delta gets its new terminals organised LAX. This means (and correct me if I am wrong) only Eithad will give Status points now unless you are travelling on a VA purchased ticket?  Its always a pain to get seating done when on the code share flights, even when you have the bookings PNR.  Qantas is looking more attractive.... 

seems quite logical to me I would think VA was losing customers to the USA who choose NZ even with the connection in Auckland.  I have used this myself and it was fine although you always have to way up connection times vs direct.   Now of course Air NZ would have to be much cheaper to go with vs QF and VA if status is on your agenda.

I agree with @jenko13 VA have an amazing product on their aircrafts and their prices to the U.S are pretty high. Why would they want to lose traffic to AirNZ for USA? It is smart to accept that the relationship works well between Australia-NZ and domestic sectors but not elsewhere. I think Air NZ will probably start selling ex-Aus to USA j fares to mid $4000's to compensate as they have to fill up their aircrafts? It is a big loss for Air NZ to pick a fight with the only airline they could be friends with in australia! 

I had a bit of a panic upon seeing the email update - I have an upcoming booking to SFO returning on November 1st - but according to this page at Velocity, bookings made prior to July 10th are unaffected:

"from 1 November 2017 Velocity members will not earn or redeem Velocity Points and Status Credits, or receive other benefits when travelling on all other Air New Zealand operated flights. Any bookings made prior to 10 July 2017 for travel after 1 November 2017 will still be eligible for Velocity Points and Status Credit earn."

Would've been nice if they ceased earning/redeeming at the end of the calendar year!

Can someone confirm my interpretation of this is correct?

Is this another example where Virgin should just focus on domestic only and become a star alliance member and cease international? Be the feeder for all Star Alliance airlines for all domestic travel.

New update from Velocity - Any bookings made prior to 10 July 2017 for travel after 1 November 2017 will still be eligible for Velocity Points and Status Credit earn.

I have an Air NZ SYD- YVR late October and a return date Mid November. My VA ff number is linked to the booking. Does anyone know how I could get my UA number attached to the return YYR-AUK segment. 

Thanks. I just read through them. Luckily it was booked in December.