Virgin improves its frequent flyer programme
April 7th, 2010 by Tim Uden
Virgin’s Australian and US-based airlines have now joined forces so members of Velocity (the frequent flyer programme of Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue, Polynesian Blue and V Australia) can now earn points when they fly on Virgin America and members of Elevate (Virgin America’s frequent flyer programme) can now earn points with Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue and V Australia.
By the end of the year, members of either airline’s frequent flyer programme will also be able to redeem points on any participating Virgin-branded airline.
At this point Elevate members can not yet earn points on Virgin Atlantic, even though Virgin Blue’s Velocity members have been earning points on Virgin Atlantic flights for years. In addition to Virgin’s own airlines, Velocity members can also earn points with Airlines PNG, Delta, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Skywest.
The Virgin Group’s other airlines: Air Asia and Nigerian Eagle Airlines (formerly Virgin Nigeria) do not participate in either programme.
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July 7th, 2010 at 6.53 pm
The article gives the light in which we can observe the reality.
June 3rd, 2011 at 9.43 am
The article take what to us?
June 3rd, 2011 at 7.58 pm
While the above article sounds all purple, pink and fluffy with good newsu2026 but be careful because it it isnu2019t. Letu2019s go through key features shall we?nNo Black out dates u2013 sureu2026 accrue those points but be prepared to accrue them for years if youu2019re an economy paasenger u2013 especially if youu2019re buying promo deals. Oh, and you can only redeem on flightsu2026 thereu2019s no shop for other merchandise. nSimple -pay per dollar u2013 in others you better fly with us Business class if you want those points. Try building points with promo fares. sure you can book a flight for as little 2500 pointsu2026 if youu2019re happy just flying anywhere instead of somewhere specific. nBook any class of travel you wantu2026 just don;t buy base fares or fares that provide you with a deal. npoints don;t ever expire but if youu2019re a deal hunter then you may have to fly many times in order to accrue enough points for a meaningful flight u2013 especially if youu2019re heading across country. nUltimately, the Elevate point system here is misrepresentative of what is actually applied when you fly. I recently completed an international Itinerary that took me to Australia on VAustralia (a Virgin company) then flew twice on Virgin Blue inside Australia (a virgin company) only to be told when I got back that I would not receive full points because I bought promo fares and traveled on airlines that werenu2019t owned by Virgin America (hello! Theyu2019re Virgin Companies. Also, I flew during a period where Elevate was offering double points and I still didnu2019t end up with enough points to fly to Vegas even! Sou2026 unless youu2019re prepared to fly full price with this company (or whomever their affiliates are if not Bransonu2019s own airlines globally) then be prepared to be disappointed. Interesting fact u2013 in order for me to get a free flight through Elevate from LA to Washington DC, I would have had to complete this itin. 12 times! Fly with another programu2026 this oneu2019s just that little too obviously elitist.