What to Do with Velocity Points? Trying to Earn Gold

timmsy23 on 25/10/2018 - 10:24

Hi,

I have about 65k velocity points and this is steadily increasing with credit card / flybuys conversion. Am waiting for a good offer on the Amex Explorer which I will transfer the points to velocity, which will probably put me to ~140k points.

I don't really know how to spend these points wisely. I feel trapped in needing to buy my many overseas flights in cash so I can earn status credits so I can push closer to gold (I missed out by ~50 status credits last year).

I don't really want to waste them on gift cards. I am thinking of potentially spending them on the Velocity 'Any Seat' flights which do earn status, but there isn't a discount on them from what I am aware.

I've got several trips booked in (with flight centre + price match + youi rewards gift cards pay $850 for $1000 - which I might add is no longer viable as flight centre are stopping/have stopped price match).

My next trip I'll need to book will be to south america which I'd like to use the points if I can, but at this rate I'll need status for to earn gold.

Any help would be great!

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Comments

  • freestyle18 on 25/10/2018 - 11:23
    +1

    If you feel trapped then why are you doing it? It's only useful if you fly certain airlines/routes frequently?

  • nubix on 25/10/2018 - 11:35

    do you do a lot of domestic travel? i wouldn't bother trying to chase it otherwise

    • timmsy23 on 25/10/2018 - 12:02

      Yes, probably ~6 domestic return trips a year, but it varies.

      • timmsy23 on 25/10/2018 - 12:03

        But Silver gives me 2 lounge passes, and ANZ Travel Rewards gives me 2 lounge passes, so I could probably get by without Gold..

  • spiff on 25/10/2018 - 11:44
    +1

    Velocity doesn't have a viable route to South America. Your best bet would be to use points to get to LA but that is a huge detour. Qantas points are better for South America as they have a direct flight to Santiago.

    As for conversion of points, try to wait until November or May as Velocity's bonus points offers on conversion are usually run during these months.

    Why do you need/want gold status?

    • timmsy23 on 25/10/2018 - 12:01

      Hmmm that was an oversight by me.. I just assumed that virgin or a partner airline would go to South America. Thanks for the info!

      The way I generally travel is fly into 1 city then do a tour and depart from another city. A lot of tours I'm looking at start in Rio de Janeiro and end in Lima. Is it painful (or even possible) to use Qantas points for multi destination flights? I could get one of the many cards that has a bunch of qantas points if there's no way I can earn velocity.

      Still leaves me with a question of what to do with my virgin points. I've just been spending 5000 points to upgrade to business from Brisbane to Canberra (1 way) for my work trips.

      • nubix on 25/10/2018 - 12:05

        should be able to get to south america on delta

        • timmsy23 on 25/10/2018 - 12:12

          It seems to be only LA I think: https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/airline-par…

          I love travel, but hate the process of finding and booking tickets. It sounds silly, but I'm looking at the Amex Explorer with $400 travel credits so it just forces my hand and I don't have to constantly look at Skyscanner, battle with Flight Centre about their stupid Captains Package etc etc. I've heard their prices are generally competitive anyway (but they don't price match). I don't have an Amex now anyway, so I want it for shop small, cashbacks, increased earn on spend etc..

      • spiff on 25/10/2018 - 12:10
        +1

        I would recommend using Velocity points for Krisflyer redemptions because it has relatively low taxes compared to Etihad. Delta Airlines to USA isn't bad either. But if you do think Krisflyer is a good option then maybe transfer your Velocity to Krisflyer before 1 Jan 2019 because of the pending devaluation.

  • Diji1 on 25/10/2018 - 11:59

    So you're asking how a wise person would use tokens they, um, earned (seriously?) by using an incentive program which causes large losses to it's users and causes them to feel trapped as they chase a status icon created by the very people that are gaining their money.

    Doe this sound like something a wise person would do?

    • timmsy23 on 25/10/2018 - 12:09

      When you say it like that, not at all!

  • timmsy23 on 25/10/2018 - 12:05

    I seem to get close each time, this year will be no different. Cairns in a month, Sri Lanka in December, Japan in March, NZ in July - all with either Virgin or Singapore Airlines - so I get status there.

  • Heracles26 on 25/10/2018 - 13:32

    I have over 300,000 points but no idea what to do with them either!

    • pantsparty on 25/10/2018 - 13:37

      Book reward flights overseas in business class!

  • pantsparty on 25/10/2018 - 13:37

    Is being a gold member that much better than having no status? Is it worth chasing?

    • freestyle18 on 26/10/2018 - 13:37

      yes if you like gold things

  • WhatWhoWhyUsername on 25/10/2018 - 16:35
    +1

    this feels like you're trying to chase the jackpot in pokies…

  • AusGP on 25/10/2018 - 19:07

    There's no point chasing gold unless it's for the convenience of being first in queue for rescheduling when flights get cancelled. I've had Flybuys Pilot Gold and also my wife has Velocity Gold - the lounges are great but tbh not a dealbreaker for me. I find unlimited priority pass in Aus much more enticing.

    The lounges don't really make too much of a difference most of the time with Virgin (they're nice but for a domestic flight why get to the airport early anyway?)

    Transfer your points out to Krisflyer before the new year and use it for business class or first class redemptions.

    • jason andrade on 15/11/2018 - 07:52

      Not completely true AusGP! In terms of why Gold helps

      • Yes it helps to have status for rescheduling purposes
      • Priority checkin is also useful - not so much when you're travelling offpeak but during peak (and especially school holiday travel) it can save you a lot of time in the queue (45+ minutes!)
      • Priority boarding doesn't seem like a big deal but it's a convenience, especially if you're just travelling with a bag and want to actually have room for it in the overhead locker
      • Just as with Silver, you get an extra bag allowance. Not a big deal domestically but really useful internationally (can save you $100+ on each leg in the US)
      • You get to the airport early because you don't have the stress of missing your flight due to traffic (especially in Sydney) and that just depends on how you are wired.. (or you might not care but your partner does..)
      • Where a flight is oversold, you have more chance of staying on it when looking at status (compared to being bumped to the next flight)

      There's a number of other minor points but in short, VA Gold was worth chasing if you:
      - Flew at least once a year internationally (even in economy but definitely if in PE or Biz)
      - Also flew more than half a dozen times domestically in the calendar year
      - Wanted to maximize your use of FF points earn (and redemption) - e.g. if you have an aim for a free business class trip in 3Y or 5Y..

  • tukulzz on 20/11/2018 - 10:56

    If anyone want to sell their velocity points, im looking to buy 23K points for $230 Thanks

  • coolsteps on 21/11/2018 - 00:16

    best wait for flybuys or coles mc gold offers. or status match offers . i dont chase status points. already have enough cards like diners and priority pass that give me free lounge access

  • Uzb9811 on 28/11/2018 - 06:38

    Not sure if you’ve seen, but the Explorer sign on bonus of 100k is back: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/416430.

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