I hold an ANZ Travel Rewards card that I love the benefits of, but they have closed off applications for it.
Same thing for other institutions linked to Velocity cards like Amex and Westpac.
What do you think will happen to the features of the cards?
Obviously only time will tell, I'm just curious what people are thinking.
Unless the new owners of Virgin make major changes to the airline, the existing Velocity credit cards will probably stay as is in my opinion.
Maybe with a reduced earn/redemption rate most likely
It does make the ANZ travel rewards card almost redundant now if there is no free domestic travel and virgin lounge passes. Will they waive the annual fee?
I sent a "secure mail" last week to request exactly this. No response yet. Might call later in the week if I have time available.
Hi, get anywhere with this? I have been offered 50% reduction and they keep the flights and points.
I did ask how they justify this. The way I see it, they have been making money while I have been using the card (put 50k plus through it domestically) and aren't out of pocket for anything. Yet I haven't received any benefit for me. Yet I'm expected to be out of pocket $110??
They've updated their website and I doubt it.
https://www.anz.com.au/personal/credit-cards/using/anz-rewar…
ANZ is closely monitoring the situation with Virgin Australia and at this point of time, Air travel benefits continue to be fulfilled. If there are any changes, ANZ will contact you to advise next steps.
To learn more or re-book your impacted flight, please call the ANZ Rewards Centre on 1300 367 763 (Mon to Fri 8am to 8pm AEST excl. national public holidays).
How can they seriously say “Air travel benefits continue to be fulfilled”? VA is no longer flying, right?
They're still flying, just not such a big network in terms of destinations and frequencies
For the record I phoned ANZ today and after a 30 second conversation (after 30 minutes of wait time on hold…) they pretty happily refunded $220 of the annual fee for me.
It's worth a phone call.
Lucky. I'm in my 2nd year - i booked my flights last year for Easter 2020 that i couldn't use, which is now a Virgin credit voucher I need to re book before October.
Wonder if it will work for my 2nd year annual fee…
Did you also have to close the card?
You were lucky. I was in a 30 min call with 3 different departments and after all that they didn't refund me the annual fee.
Same reason mentioned by blueyez -
ANZ is closely monitoring the situation with Virgin Australia and at this point of time, Air travel benefits continue to be fulfilled. If there are any changes, ANZ will contact you to advise next steps.
Just called and got $170 waived off the annual fee.
Very fair IMO
$170 waived, and you keep, or already used the flight credit? (which may be worth nothing now anyway)
Do you have any record of the person you spoke to? I got passed on to the next person 4 times. After 4 agents and an hour, the best they could offer was 50% back.
I never got to use the flight, and I said they can keep the points. The points cant be transferred on for flights anyway (which is why I got the card). While I have been using the card, ANZ have been making $$$ and as I said, I didn't use the flight, points or lounge passes.
I would prefer the value of the included domestic flight for the ANZ travel rewards.
What I booked last year was worth $450 - much more than the annual fee.
I'm not in a rush to see the annual fee waived, maybe they'll offer flights with another airline if Virgin ceases to exist..
However I feel differently about the Amex Velocity Platinum card free flights as the annual fee is quite high… And I'm looking to close the card. Amex have already sent an email about monitoring the situation;
Virgin Australia announced today that they are entering voluntary administration. Velocity Frequent Flyer while owned by the Virgin Australia Group is a separate company and not in voluntary administration. As an American Express Velocity Card Member, we appreciate the uncertainty this creates.
We want to let you know that as a valued American Express customer, no matter what happens next we remain committed to ensuring you will continue to enjoy a Card with the benefits you value.
As the situation continues to develop, we'll be in touch to make certain you have the latest updates on your Card and what we're doing to back our customers and partners during these unprecedented times.
Probably force people to choose between the banks loyalty program and qantas going forward.