Kick in the teeth for Flybuys - Virgin Velocity's surcharges to start Jan 1
If you are lucky enough to find a Virgin business-class award seat between Australia and Los Angeles you'll be walloped with a Qantas-like surcharge of $230 each way in addition to the normal taxes. This starts on Monday Jan 1 2019. It applies whether your scarce-as-hens-teeth award seat is on Virgin or Delta.
This money-grab will also apply to all other awards, but at lower levels initially. $50 will be added to each business award between Aus & NZ for example.
And in the other direction it's worse - if you're trying to get to Europe an Etihad award seat already attracts a $500 fine imposed by Etihad on unfortunate Velocity members trying to use their points there.
Impacts the value of Velocity points, it's hardly worth crossing the street to collect Flybuys now. And if you're paying a fee for a Velocity credit-card, that might be worth reviewing on Jan 1.