Virgin Australia re-boots inflight WiFi, offers Gold and Platinum status matches
The news comes as the carrier offers a new status-match offering for guests of other airlines’ loyalty programs that are on a Gold level and above, and a new earn-and-burn partnership with leading Australian retailer Myer.
On the connectivity front, Virgin Australia has partnered with Intelsat, one of the largest satellite communication services in the world, with more than 50 active satellites currently in service, to launch high-speed in-flight WiFi.
Virgin Australia Group Chief Customer and Digital Officer, Paul Jones, said the majority of the remaining aircraft in the airline’s fleet (approximately 80 per cent) will be fitted with WiFi over the next 18 months and the move was aimed at improving the carrier’s inflight offering.
“We are laser focussed on creating great travel experiences for our guests when they fly with Virgin Australia,” he said.
“We also listen to our guests, and overwhelming they told us that WiFi was important to them, and so we’re really pleased to be bringing it back.
“Our guests value choice and having in-flight WiFi will give them more flexibility on how they spend their time onboard,” Jones said.
According to the carrier, high speed In-flight WiFi will be complimentary for Business Class guests as well as Beyond and Platinum Velocity Frequent Flyer members, while a “nominal fee” will be payable by all other guests to access the service.
From today, Velocity Frequent Flyer, the loyalty program of Virgin Australia, is inviting Platinum and Gold (or above) frequent flyer members of competitor airlines to apply for Velocity Gold Status under a new fast-track trial membership.
According to the carrier, by submitting a short application via the ‘Switch-A-Roo’ campaign website by 26 September 2022, Gold members and above of competitor airline loyalty programs can apply to receive a 3-month Velocity Discover Gold Status trial membership.
Perks of the Velocity Gold membership include complimentary Lounge access, priority boarding, preferential seating, higher checked baggage allowances, and bonus Points when customers book and fly with Virgin Australia.
To retain the Velocity Gold membership for 12-months, the new member is only required to book one eligible flight and earn 80 Status Credits during the 3-month Discover Gold trial membership.
For Platinum (or above) members of an eligible frequent flyer program wanting to fast track to Velocity Platinum status for 12 months, they have to do is earn 200 Status Credits (normally 1,000) during the 3-month Discover Gold trial membership.
Velocity Frequent Flyer CEO, Nick Rohrlach, said the airline had received a significant number of requests from members of other loyalty programs to switch to Velocity Frequent Flyer.
“Virgin Australia is known for being playful, and the Switch-A-Roo campaign is a really great example of us putting our energetic spirit on show for well-travelled Australians who are looking to switch their loyalty to a modern and vibrant airline,” he said.
“Since the July school holidays, we have been inundated with requests from customers of competitor airlines who want to move their loyalty to Virgin Australia, but don’t want to start from the bottom of the status ranks.
“The Switch-A-Roo campaign is a game changer for these members who can now almost immediately climb to Velocity Gold status by submitting a simple application on the Velocity website.
“We know we have a compelling offer for business and leisure travellers who have less discretionary spend amid rising inflation but want to fly with an airline who offers some of the best value airfares in the market, lounges, preferential seating, priority security screening and boarding, checked baggage and all the comforts Virgin Australia can provide their guests without the high price tag.
“We also know we can offer something no one else can, and that’s our wonderful people, who deliver our service with a smile no matter what seat number is on your boarding pass. Importantly, our operational performance is also really strong, and we’ve achieved record low cancellation rates over the past few weeks.
“Virgin Australia was the first airline in the country to bring genuine competition to the market and today is another instalment of our service to Australian travellers. We look forward to welcoming our new Velocity members onboard Virgin Australia flights as they make the switch,” Rohrlach said.
Velocity Frequent Flyer and Myer have announced the first stage of a new partnership that is set to benefit millions of Australians.
From today, members of Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer loyalty program can use their Points to shop Myer’s extensive online range of leading Australian and international brands at myer.com.au.
The marquee, retail exclusive partnership between both the iconic brands, collectively provides Myer customers and Velocity members greater value and rewards than ever before, with shoppers now able to use Velocity Points to pay for part – or all – of their purchase.
Velocity Points can be redeemed on myer.com.au, with customers who are both Velocity Frequent Flyer and Myer one members continuing to receive benefits of Myer one – even when they shop with Velocity Points.
The partnership coincides with Velocity today announcing the membership base for the loyalty program has grown to more than 10.9 million members, aimed at creating more value for Velocity Frequent Flyer members and Myer customers amid rising inflation, while driving further customer engagement for both brands.
“We are excited to welcome Myer into the Virgin Australia Group family with another incredible partnership that offers significant choice and value to our members,” Rohrlach said.
“Myer is loved for its quality brands and commitment to value which makes the national department store a fantastic partner in the expansion of the Velocity program and we are already looking forward to what is next for customers as part of the partnership.
“We are incredibly focussed on providing our members more ways to redeem Points by unlocking new partnerships and rewards that have significant value and meaning to them. We are also proud to have welcomed United Airlines, Qatar Airways, 7-Eleven and Medibank to Velocity in the last 18 months, as the program continues to go from strength to strength.
“As Australians face rising inflation, we know that value is more important than ever and our members will easily find impactful ways to use their Points online at Myer to stretch their dollar further,” he said.
To use Velocity Points online at Myer, shoppers simply need to select Velocity Points from the payment dropdown upon checkout – either full Points, or Points plus Pay.