Am I the last person in Australia to try and redeem velocity points?
is everyone else smashing this web site right now?
im trying to find any old crap to buy
Yep that's where I was, the store "works" but you can't actually sign in to your Velocity account anymore, clicking sign in just presents you with the error "Client disabled". It's all over fellas, whatever points you have left in your account are staying there.
Just tested - You are right
Maybe they stopped it at Midnight Perth time? (Ie 2am for us East coasters).
Been trying to check out some stuff for last 15 min. Telling me they cannot verify my points balance. Will keep trying as I have over 300,000 points and would like to redeem some. Not as good as the business class trip I had been saving for.
They've severed the link between the store and Velocity accounts it seems, I tried to check out before and was rebuffed when I tried to sign in. All you can do now is sit on your points and hope something comes of them.
Yep I’m sure you are correct tho will keep trying to check out for a bit longer, obviously I am desperate to use a few points
Nah you’re correct I’m at the confirming order stage and going nowhere. Bummer
Looks like it's over. The link to the store doesn't work now
220,000 velocity points gone.
Should have caused out a week ago…or a least bought a set of overpriced frypans.
Was planning a Darwin /NT trip with car hire and hotels.
Yeah my plan of waiting until 1am when there's less traffic has backfired, it's dead….
I just received 80k points the end of last month too, looks like I should have chose QFF instead of Velocity this time round!
Edit: Tried buying random crap with points via there partners onsport, velocity wines etc. but they have suspended the ability to pay with points too.
Doesn't matter too much, velocity is run as a separate group to the airlines so you can still use the points after they lift the hold. From.what I recall, the whole points systems have been worth more than the airlines recently. The only downside is that our points might not be valued as highly.
All over. Managed to clear all but 3000 points. Guess I won't get my $10 priceline card… Time will tell if any of the orders come through.
370k points here… thats shit. Why is everyone so confident they are lost? Have the airline said it specifically?
personally, i dont think it'll be an ansett style repeat… they'll get a govt bailout but only the proper way, after going into voluntary admin, so its a bailout of the workers and assets not the bondholders.
but i also burnt all my points on 3x airpod pro's because theres no guarantees (like if i'll even get them)…. the global economic collapse was coming before corona virus, it just happens to turn it into an atom bomb for specific industries… ie. airlines
IMO the new reborn virgin will still use VFF and your points will at least be worth more than a toaster/ipad etc
VFF is the most valuable part of the business. I'm sure someone will take over the FF program.
VFF is the most valuable part, but the 2 are inherently strongly linked. The value of VFF points is inherently anchored to the cash cost of the Virgin flights you can redeem with them. And every other redemption is based off of that - for example gift cards face values are roughly 50% of the cash cost of Virgin economy flights. So if Virgin the airline ceases to exist, or if reborn Virgin does not strike a deal with Velocity, or devalues existing points, then points will either have a vastly lower (approaching zero) value without that anchor, or a reduced value (with an anchor + a devaluation). Of course none of those things may happen, but why take that risk? The temptation to wipe out/reduce liabilities (including points, debts, expensive leases) must be strong.
My point is that doesn't matter if Virgin collapse or not, someone will take over VFF. Now it could mean that the value of the point is absolutely shit, but i don't think people will miss out their points 100%. I'm not arguing the depreciation of VFF points. At worst, the value of VFF points will be about the same as what people redeem in the last few days so far.
@od810: Sorry, I wasn't explicit. I agree with you, someone will almost certainly take over VFF, because it is the most valuable part. But potentially the value of a VFF point could be far worse than we've seen in the last few days. For example, I redeemed my points for gift cards, even though the conversion was rubbish (about 50% of their value compared to flights). I would not have done that unless I believed that there was a risk that VFF points could either have a big delay for being redeemable again, and/or end being worth far less in future. And other people obviously feel the same. We don't think there's reason to be confident that VFF points will have the same or similar value in future.
Who would want to buy a company with 5b debt? They'd probably prefer to buy the assets, and in such a case would that include VFF? If people's points aren't honoured then people will leave the program in droves, and if you do honour them then the new business starts with a big liability?
I am sure there will be people buy it like Virgin Money.
Simple really- a restructure will allow VA to find a way out of debt and you also buy an airline ready to go with 10 million Frequent Flyers on the books.
I've got 10k. Regretted not transfering to Krisflyer sooner
If it makes your pain any less I had 600k, hit up a few goods last few days got down to 400k but don't think I will see the goods or the points again:S
Sorry to hear that man
I redeemed my points on the 19th,but no confirmation email. I can see the redemption in my history.
The website is loading fast for me right now, so maybe someone at Velocity has turned the switch back on :)
One other thing to consider? My ANZ Visa points were automatically being churned to Velocity by an auto-redemption each month. Just cancelled that at the ANZ end as well.
The website (https://shop.velocityfrequentflyer.com) is dead.
Invalid URL
The requested URL "[no URL]", is invalid.
Reference #9.f6986596.1587423145.288076c
Virgin Australia and most of it's subsidiaries has been put into voluntary administration but it looks like Velocity Frequent Flyer has not been put into administration.
Managed to get an order in at 1:12am last night. Now to wait and see!
250k points, vanished overnight.
I'd booked a business class flight for April long weekend, couldn't fly due to Govt restrictions, points refunded, now worth nil.
did you get cash refund for the taxes?
I'd paid the whole fare using points.
As well as my wife and kid's fares.
All refunded, worth (close to) nothing now. 😭
Hopefully they will have value.
Likely less but something
It just redirects to the main velocity page now -https://experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com/
I have a velocity card only used for fuel me and my wife are elderly don't fly seems that this card is useless. Where can I return the velocity card. Any address would be gladly received. Thank you.
The card itself can be simply disposed of if you do not want it any more.
All loyalty reward programs are a con. Companies have spent million of dollars in research on behavior modelling to ensure you always use their producn, EVEN WHEN it is cheaper to use a competitors.
You can't game these programs in the long run and you need time to sufficient accrue points for it to be worth your time.
Then The firm fails. You will get zero from them.
Well, we have gotten about $2000 worth of domestic flights over the past 3 years, not including business upgrades on one flight and using the airport lounge every time. I managed to cash the bulk of the remainder for vouchers (another few hundred may or may not arrive).
So I would say for a family who travels domestically to visit relatives, this system has been great and we are sad that the points we'd saved for another 4 or 5 return trips for 2 to Perth are now low value gift cards.
really? I guess my first class return trips to the US and my business class trips to Japan and London were all imaginary. The reward programs are highly profitable for those that know how to use/abuse them properly (card churning, linked accounts etc etc). I have easily garnered $100k+ in Airline tickets and upgrades in the last 20 years. Hell the 2 return first class tickets to the US last year was worth over $35k alone. add in the benefits of lounge access from upgrades and tickets and it can be massively beneficial.
if you are intelligent you can do very well out of the programs for no extra cost. They rely on the uninformed and those that don't make intelligent spending decisions to be profitable.
I have 182k and Stgeorge had better look after me I hope or most likely the new owner of the Virgin business . Haven't been too fussed about cahing out even though I've had tons of warning . Bigger things going on . Ideally all the panic merchants ( rightfully so ) have a shortage after the new program starts and no problems again :)
So Velocity has paused their points redemption this morning.
https://experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com/member-support/…
yes, I reckon i've lost my refund on flights and now it seems 300,000 velocity points are gone too. Sucks!
Feel for you. I only had 43K in Velocity and I redeemed for 2 JB HIfi gift cards. I received 1 of them yesterday, so 1 is still to come though I don't hold much hope for that. If it doesn't come, it means I lost 20K points. I do however, have 500K points in Qantas. If I lost all of those, then yes, I would be suitably distraught.
I'm in similar boat, have several times more Qantas points than Velocity points (just 31k). I just said goodbye to all my Velocity points. However, I wouldn't be worried about Qantas, though - same industry, but these are two completely different companies. Qantas is national carrier, majority owned by Australians (legislative requirement), while Virgin is more than 90% owned by overseas investors - for that reason, I would expect government support to flow to Qantas and not letting it fail. Hence, I'm feeling reasonably safe with my QFF points.
I was saving for business rtw for two, should have transferred/redeemed earlier. I have 390000 units of air for sale is anyone interested.
How much do you want?
I have 390000 units of air for sale is anyone interested.
$0.39c is my best offer.
I will give $1
I reckon I’ve lost about 20k in points, 16k were in flights for May, along with $70 in taxes.
Oh well 🤦🏼♀️
Had some VA flights booked, around $600 worth. Had about 40,000 points sitting there - guess I will lose that too.
My issue is that since Qantas being the likely only operator, they can devalue their points and that's the scary part.
I guess that's the next conundrum. With the thought that Qantas points will be devalued, do you cash out your QFF points now?
Depends on what you use your points for; if someone is risk adverse go redeem for gift cards now - its low risk, low reward (for the points you use).
For me, I only book flights so I expect to pay 15%-25% more in the next 6-9 months (esp once Virgin is dead). This is devaluing the points by making people use more points for the same redemption flights. And you can't exactly walk or vote with you feet because there aren't any direct FF competitor in Australia.
My issue is that since Qantas being the likely only operator, they can devalue their points
I think they are still competing against other FF programs like Asia Miles and Singapore to some extent, so they can't go too crazy.
They won't need to go crazy, even a 15-20% increase can reduce the points liability. If they have a billion bucks worth of points floating around, it's an instant $150 million or so in 'savings'.
I mean direct competitor, like in Australia, which AU credit card can you sign up to get Asia Miles or Kris Flyer points. I buy petrol or go to the supermarket and can earn Qantas/Velocity points, can't do that with AM or KF.
@TheMindsetTraveller: You can earn Amex or other points like CBA, NAB or ANZ on that spend, and then redeem for AM or KF or whatever pretty easily.
Yes, not exactly the same, but not a lot harder and it won't be much of an issue for those who are chasing points for flight redemptions.
The banks may also choose to align with certain FF programs or even issue direct earn cards.
Panic not - the Velocity points have not been "lost" as Velocity is a separate company and not part of the VA process of Virgin Airlines.
There is a only a freeze on redemption's for 4 months
hahaha, yes. It's kind of like when we all believed the statement from the Chinese Govt when they said there was no evidence of Human to Human transmission of the Corona Virus. And we all know how that ended
A stretch of a comparison? Communist dictatorship posing as a democracy vs. a Frequent Flyer program with a good governance process in place.
Because Velocity Frequent Flyer is a very profitable division of the business, it is possible that the program might be picked up / purchased by someone else (albeit probably at a huge discount and making points worthless).
I had placed a redemption order last Friday (processed) to offset cost of technology for home schooling. Wondering if it'll come.
Need new devices as one on hand do not work with school apps :(
There's a 4 week pause on redemption (could be longer). Apparently Velocity is a separate company and they are not in administration…
https://experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com/member-support/…
Bottom line is cah out ( if you can) at .4 cent a pt or possibly get 1.1 cents a pt if recovers at same previous rate . Choose your gamble wisely .
Does this mean orders placed before today will still be fulfilled/honoured?
They have now put all redemptions on hold for 4 weeks.
FYI, this appears to be fur FUTURE redemptions:
"We’ve made the difficult decision to pause all redemptions for an initial period of four weeks, effective immediately. This means your members won’t be able to redeem their Points for rewards during the pause."
Pretty sure it's for future redemptions but take a look here:
https://experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com/member-support/…
How would it be meant any other way?
FYI, this appears to be fur FUTURE redemptions:
As opposed to? Past.. redemptions….? What..?
So, I thought I would start a thread about who has 'potentially' lost the most Virgin points on OZB.
I've only lost 100k.
Not lost yet Bud lol !
I thought the velocity part is a separate company.
Not anymore. Virgin acquired 100% of Velocity late last year.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-virgin-australia-velocity…
From the AFR……
"Redemptions on Velocity frequent flyer points have been temporarily paused for four weeks after Virgin went into voluntary administration this morning.
The pause follows the Velocity site crashing last night as it was overloaded with members trying to redeem all their points as the inevitability of the airline entering administration grew.
Points will remain in members' accounts and they can continue to earn points through the pause.
Velocity also warned members that the four week period may be extended.
Velocity is not itself in voluntary administration."
@Ocker: No mention of whether orders made before the pause on redemptions will be fulfilled. Cheeky buggers.
Still a separate entity within Virgin managed by a Trustee to ensure the customers interests somewhat protected.
Still waiting for my JB Hifi gift card, redeemed on 4th April. If no show, then i lost 20K points
Still waiting on my JB Hifi cards from 2nd April. Not looking good. 105k points lost if I don't get them.
They just arrived now! There may be hope for yours too.
415 points…..
Frozen velocity points. Fail
Luckily I 'only' had 165k after redeeming some gift cards..but one of my friends has been accumulating for years and had a little more than 2mil…F
Hopefully they're able to recover!
Freak! 2mil! I would have transferred that out as soon as Velocity to Krisflyer was devalued.
560K …
I managed to order an iMac last night @554k … lets see if they deliver :)
i'd been thinking of cashing out for the last few weeks, snooze and lose I guess.
Anyone have a contact email for Velocity support?
It seems the velocity rewards is actually a different entity to Virgin itself and supposedly it isn't going into receivership. Having said that I would spend my points too just to be safe if I could get into the damn site.
So glad I transferred them to Kris Flyer miles before they stopped them
90k here :(
have some faith for the loyalty program!
All accounts have been frozen. Bye bye points.
Lol on the website you can still shop to earn Velocity points but you can't redeem them, lol.
Naturally, they're happy to take your money, but oh no, don't try to spend what you purchased.
I look at points as a bonus. Something nice to have and redeem, but it doesn't influence my decision on what to buy. Treat it as a bonus and you won't despair if the airline crashes and your points burn.
i had about 100k points and a few weeks ago redeemed about 90k of them for an automatic pasta machine. Been a bit slow in delivery so hopefully it still arrives! I'll lose about 10k points but whatever
Had 236k. After 3 hours of trying - at 1am managed to order a Dyson Space Age Fan Purifier and a Beats Speaker for 230k points fulfilled by Harvey Norman. No idea if it will be supplied but I'm really hoping it is. Got confirmation email and order. I think 30 mins later they had severed the link to the velocity store.
Managed to order a GoPro last night, Received the confirmation email as well. Fingers crossed Harvey norman fulfil it.
Likewise. Received confirmation on an order for a pair of Bose headphones to be fulfilled by Harvey Norman as well.
I ordered some stuff online, they deducted my points but I did not get any confirmation email… What do you think is going to happen?
try go directly to https://shop.velocityfrequentflyer.com/