Virgin Australia recently shared an email with me to invite me to connect my Flybuys account with them, and in doing so offered the opportunity to join their Velocity Gold membership.
It's a pretty exciting opportunity to try out their services and enjoy this benefit, so I wanted to share my application process details with you (below), so you can get a sense of the process and the terms and conditions around it.
Hi Vu Long,
It's our pleasure to invite you to apply to Explore Gold, a free and exclusive three-month taste of Velocity Gold membership1. This is your exclusive opportunity to experience the very best of Virgin Australia's premium products and services. Once approved you will receive:
To be eligible5 for this offer, all you will need to do is:
Make sure you're the linked member in your flybuys household (check your flybuys My Account to confirm)
Apply before 11:59 PM on Sunday 21 May 2017
In accepting this invitation, you will also be placed on the fast-track to maintaining full Gold membership for a further twelve months6 if you complete reduced requirements of earning 80 Status Credits (normally 400 Status Credits to maintain Gold)7 and fly at least one Eligible Sector8.
Terms and Conditions
1. Gold benefits not included in three month Explore Gold membership offer are Guaranteed Economy Reward Seats for annual trip to any Australian destination, Membership pause for Parental Leave, complimentary membership with our car hire and hotel partners.
2. Membership and entry to the Virgin Australia Lounge is subject to the Virgin Australia Lounge Terms and Conditions available at virginaustralia.com/lounge. From 10 January 2017 Velocity Gold members departing Los Angeles on Virgin Australia operated flights to Australia and travelling in Premium Economy or Economy Classes will not be entitled to lounge access. This is a temporary measure and for your comfort alternative arrangements will be communicated to you prior to your flight.
3. 75% Points bonus applicable with Virgin Samoa, Hertz, Europcar, Thrifty, Cover-More Travel Insurance, Airport Parking, Brunel Limousines, Virgin Australia Holidays and Cruisepilot.
4. Available at selected ports
5. To be eligible you need to be a member of both flybuys and Velocity Frequent Flyer and be personally sent this offer. This offer is limited and you will need to apply before 11:59 PM on Sunday 21 May 2017 or this offer will expire.
6. Full Gold membership benefits can be found at velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Status/GoldStatus/
7. Find out more about the Status Credit requirements for Velocity membership levels.
8. An Eligible Sector means a flight journey, from an origin to a destination, that has been flown; purchased using cash or an Accepted Payment Card; that has not been purchased in whole or in part using Velocity Points; or that has not been booked as a Reward Seat; where Virgin Australia is the marketing carrier (this means that the flight number starts with a VA prefix).
9. Premium Entry and Premium Exit is available to Platinum and Gold members travelling with carry-on luggage only.
View the full Terms and Conditions of Explore Gold and Velocity Frequent Flyer membership
2. Approval confirmation for Virgin Australia's Velocity Explore Gold program
Then it's a matter of waiting if they do indeed approve your membership to be upgraded to their "Explore Gold" level.
Dear Mr Tran,
Congratulations, your Explore Gold application has been successful.
Explore Gold is your three month taste of Velocity Gold membership. You'll have the opportunity to experience the best of Virgin Australia's premium products and services^.
For more information on your Explore Gold membership, please visit the Velocity Frequent Flyer website.
Your new membership pack containing your new card and additional information will be with you shortly. Please note, access to our airline partner lounges and benefits will only be available upon presentation of your new Gold membership card.
Should you have any questions regarding your new membership level, please contact us directly on 13 18 75 in Australia, 0800 230 875 in New Zealand or +61 2 8667 5924 internationally for priority assistance.
Yours sincerely,
Velocity Frequent Flyer
Terms and Conditions
^ Gold benefits not included in this three months trial of Velocity Gold membership include Guaranteed Economy Reward Seats for an annual family trip to any Australian destination, Membership Pause for Parental Leave, and complimentary membership with our car hire and hotel partners.
To earn and redeem Velocity Points you must be a Velocity member. Velocity membership and Points earn and redemption are subject to the member Terms and Conditions, as amended from time to time.
3. Exploring the Virgin Australia's Velocity Explore Gold program
Well, I hope that helps you make an involved decision about the program and what to expect. Happy travels!
It's a pretty exciting opportunity to try out their services and enjoy this benefit, so I wanted to share my application process details with you (below), so you can get a sense of the process and the terms and conditions around it.
1. Invite to Virgin Australia's Velocity Explore Gold program
 |
| Explore Gold offer email |
Hi Vu Long,
It's our pleasure to invite you to apply to Explore Gold, a free and exclusive three-month taste of Velocity Gold membership1. This is your exclusive opportunity to experience the very best of Virgin Australia's premium products and services. Once approved you will receive:
- Access to over 150 lounges2
- A 75% Velocity Points bonus when flying Virgin Australia3
- Priority Check-in4
- Priority Boarding4 and more
To be eligible5 for this offer, all you will need to do is:
Make sure you're the linked member in your flybuys household (check your flybuys My Account to confirm)
Apply before 11:59 PM on Sunday 21 May 2017
In accepting this invitation, you will also be placed on the fast-track to maintaining full Gold membership for a further twelve months6 if you complete reduced requirements of earning 80 Status Credits (normally 400 Status Credits to maintain Gold)7 and fly at least one Eligible Sector8.
Terms and Conditions
1. Gold benefits not included in three month Explore Gold membership offer are Guaranteed Economy Reward Seats for annual trip to any Australian destination, Membership pause for Parental Leave, complimentary membership with our car hire and hotel partners.
2. Membership and entry to the Virgin Australia Lounge is subject to the Virgin Australia Lounge Terms and Conditions available at virginaustralia.com/lounge. From 10 January 2017 Velocity Gold members departing Los Angeles on Virgin Australia operated flights to Australia and travelling in Premium Economy or Economy Classes will not be entitled to lounge access. This is a temporary measure and for your comfort alternative arrangements will be communicated to you prior to your flight.
3. 75% Points bonus applicable with Virgin Samoa, Hertz, Europcar, Thrifty, Cover-More Travel Insurance, Airport Parking, Brunel Limousines, Virgin Australia Holidays and Cruisepilot.
4. Available at selected ports
5. To be eligible you need to be a member of both flybuys and Velocity Frequent Flyer and be personally sent this offer. This offer is limited and you will need to apply before 11:59 PM on Sunday 21 May 2017 or this offer will expire.
6. Full Gold membership benefits can be found at velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Status/GoldStatus/
7. Find out more about the Status Credit requirements for Velocity membership levels.
8. An Eligible Sector means a flight journey, from an origin to a destination, that has been flown; purchased using cash or an Accepted Payment Card; that has not been purchased in whole or in part using Velocity Points; or that has not been booked as a Reward Seat; where Virgin Australia is the marketing carrier (this means that the flight number starts with a VA prefix).
9. Premium Entry and Premium Exit is available to Platinum and Gold members travelling with carry-on luggage only.
View the full Terms and Conditions of Explore Gold and Velocity Frequent Flyer membership
2. Approval confirmation for Virgin Australia's Velocity Explore Gold program
Then it's a matter of waiting if they do indeed approve your membership to be upgraded to their "Explore Gold" level.
 |
| Confirmation for successful "Explore Gold"application |
Dear Mr Tran,
Congratulations, your Explore Gold application has been successful.
Explore Gold is your three month taste of Velocity Gold membership. You'll have the opportunity to experience the best of Virgin Australia's premium products and services^.
For more information on your Explore Gold membership, please visit the Velocity Frequent Flyer website.
Your new membership pack containing your new card and additional information will be with you shortly. Please note, access to our airline partner lounges and benefits will only be available upon presentation of your new Gold membership card.
Should you have any questions regarding your new membership level, please contact us directly on 13 18 75 in Australia, 0800 230 875 in New Zealand or +61 2 8667 5924 internationally for priority assistance.
Yours sincerely,
Velocity Frequent Flyer
Terms and Conditions
^ Gold benefits not included in this three months trial of Velocity Gold membership include Guaranteed Economy Reward Seats for an annual family trip to any Australian destination, Membership Pause for Parental Leave, and complimentary membership with our car hire and hotel partners.
To earn and redeem Velocity Points you must be a Velocity member. Velocity membership and Points earn and redemption are subject to the member Terms and Conditions, as amended from time to time.
3. Exploring the Virgin Australia's Velocity Explore Gold program
After exploring the program within the logged in area of Velocity Frequent Flyer website, I did notice that the Explore Gold doesn't give entirely all the typical Gold membership benefits. That's not to say it's not worth it to apply, of course, any fast track way to enjoy some benefits while working on building up your loyalty with an airline is better than none.
 |
| "My Benefits" screen |
Here's some I noticed that were omitted that are normally part of the full Gold level:
- Complimentary Partner Membership - Hotels option is missing (screenshot below)
- Complimentary Partner Membership - Car hire is missing (screenshot below)
Well, I hope that helps you make an involved decision about the program and what to expect. Happy travels!
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