Virgin Australia fliers will have to wait a little longer before they can take full advantage of the new loyalty program benefits that were expected to debut early this year. While no specific date has yet been revealed, the new phase of the Velocity Frequent Flyer loyalty program is now set to launch sometime before June.
Announced last fall as a new partnership between BP, one of Australia’s largest fuel suppliers, and Virgin Australia, Australia's second-largest airline, the multi-year deal will eventually allow travelers to earn points by simply swiping their Velocity card at various BP retailers.
The partnership was a strategic move by Virgin Australia to increase the profitably of its already lucrative and award-winning loyalty program by incorporating revenue from purchases extending beyond the airline industry.
At the time of its announcement, the arrangement was considered to be milestone for the airline industry. The Virgin Australia and BP partnership marked the first time an Australian loyalty program has negotiated a deal with a fuel supplier, effectively bridging the market gap in
allowing fliers to collect rewards on such a vital, everyday commodity.
The suspension of the launch date comes after Neil Thompson, CEO of the Velocity Frequent Flyer loyalty program, recently announced his resignation. And as a suitable internal candidate cannot be found, a global search for Mr. Thompson’s replacement has begun. During this time both BP and Virgin Australia plan to further tweak the details of their agreement.
"You want to make sure all of your ducks are in a row so to speak," Virgin chief executive John Borghetti told The Australian Financial Review. "This is huge for us. We're very focused on making sure it is right."
In the meantime, more than 4.5 million Velocity Frequent Flyer members can still enjoy the world-class loyalty program’s wide range of existing benefits. Alongside the hundreds of products in the Velocity Rewards Store, members can earn free flights, flight upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, and access to a host of entertainment events.