Velocity, frequent flyer program

[Maikha Ly]

Hi all

Since about July, on average I fly about twice a month, generally on Virgin Blue, with the exception of my recent trip on Tiger Airways back from Adelaide. I thought I'd ask in a nutshell if it would be worth joining up to the Velocity program?

Otherwise, would anyone be able to share if there are any merits to Frequent Flyer programs in Australia, like the Qantas one. I pretty much anticipate I'll be flying more often than not over the coming months for both business and leisure.


Thanks all!

[Mick F]

Definitely get a Qantas FF Membership. Points acrue easily (hell, you can earn them at Woolworths when you buy your groceries), with a 1,000 point minimum guarantee on all flights.

The Velocity program, bit of a waste of time. Hard to acrue points (you get like a few hundred for say a Sydney-Brisbane leg), but they still take them off you at the same rate as any other program would. I hardly worry about my Velocity account anymore, and book Qantas where possible simply for the points (Silver status coming up next year).

If John Borghetti wants to make the airline more attractive to business clients, the Velocity program needs a bit of tweaking for it to compete with Qantas.

Mick

[phil.l]

There are all a waste of time.

[Michael Morrison]

QFF costs to join, Velocity is free to join.

If you are flying twice a month with Virgin, I would join up. Better to get something rather than nothing! Also they have the new Virgin Credit card where you can get free companion flights I think.

[Zac M]

QFF is free to join if you get a Woolworths Everyday rewards card and join through that.

[Anthony T]

Hi there

You could always join the Etihad or Delta programs.

[Maikha Ly]

Thanks to those with great advice so far, and it seems the Qantas one is more favourable at this rate. Any further responses?

Originally Posted by Anthony T

You could always join the Etihad or Delta programs.

I fly International once every blue moon, and have never flown either airline. Is there any benefit at all in joining these?

[Sarah C]

My advice is since most of them are free, join the ones you think you will be flying with. The points and benefits are basically giving you something for travel - it might take a while to get a lot of points to travel but you will be surprised how many points you do rack up.

At the end of the day, all programs have more benefits (some are better than others) but it depends what you will use the points for. Even if you are a member of loyalty program, the vast majority of you decision on who you will travel with will be three things: price, schedule and frequency.

[Matthew H]

Originally Posted by phil.l

There are all a waste of time.

For you perhaps based on your travel and purchases patterns.

But I have taken two major (10+ segment) Europe+Asia trips. over the last few years on QF FF points. I currently have enough for another such trip if I can get time off.
I know of a few friends with multi million QF FF point balances which is enough to do anything in the OW network and do regularly.

[Robert S]

Originally Posted by Mick F

The Velocity program, bit of a waste of time.

What an odd comment... depends how you use it. You can transfer points in from various credit cards as well.

Had no trouble using points for Melbourne at Easter and Perth a couple of months ago and I'm not that frequent a flyer. As Velocity is free to join, anyone flying DJ may as well do so. As long as you do something once in every three years (and that can include purchases in the "Shop and Earn" store), the points don't expire.