Velocity has announced changes to points earning on Delta and Air New Zealand services. For Delta, Velocity are introducing a new points bonus for silver and above members. In the case of Air New Zealand, the ability to earn points on Trans Pacific flights is being removed.
Delta Air Lines Points Bonus
Velocity will be adding a status bonus to the Delta earn tables from 31 July 2017. As a result Velocity Platinum, Gold and Silver members will earn more points when flying on Delta services.
As a result of the points bonus, Velocity members will gain the same status boost that would apply when flying Virgin Australia. The bonus will be 50% for silver, 75% for Gold and 100% for Platinum members.
Removal of earn on Air New Zealand Trans Pacific flights
Velocity have also announced that members will no longer earn when flying Trans Pacific flights on Air New Zealand. At present there is a carve out of various Pacific flights from earning, and this will extend the exclusions.
As a result of the change, members of Velocity will earn when flying Air New Zealand on
- New Zealand domestic flights
- Trans Tasman flights (between Australia and New Zealand)
The change is set to take effect for flights from November 1, 2017. As this has just been announced, Velocity members with tickets booked prior to July 10 will be eligible to earn points.
This particular change is being mirrored by Air New Zealand Airpoints program. Members of the Airponts program will no longer earn points on Virgin Australia Trans Pacific flights. Again, this change will take effect from November 1, 2017.
While the airlines have not advised a reason for the removal of the points earning, it may be related to the increased points earning on Delta. While Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia have been moving apart, Delta and Virgin Australia have been more closely aligning there services.