East Coast rewards after February 2015?

[ModernRailways]

So I've just had a look at the East Coast site.

Have I got this right?
They're giving double points in March (4 points per £ spent), so normally:
£1 spent = 2 points
Say a first class return from Edinburgh to London is £60 (I tend to have one trip to London every year and for almost 5 hours, I'd prefer the comfort compared to the frankly awful seats in standard)
I would need 12,000 points (after June 1st 2015), therefore, need to spend £6000 to get that free ticket.
Compared to EC Rewards, I could get that journey for 900 points (£900)
Bit harsh, isn't it?

That is correct.

Even with East Coast when you bought an eVoucher, 500 points (£500 spent) meant £5.00 eVoucher. With VTEC it equates to £2.50. That's half of the EC value. That's crazy! It means I must spend around £10,000 just to get a £50 eVoucher! What a f***ing joke - but this is clearly what the public prefer!

I also noticed a few newspapers today had mention of the rewards scheme and that Passenger Focus were planning on also joining the fight to go back to the old scheme. The problem is, Stagecoach (Sorry, Virgin) East Coast likely have a contract with Nectar and I doubt they'll be able to just change back to the old style scheme without penalty from Nectar and when they need to get as much money as possible from the franchise it's unlikely they will want to spend additional money on reverting back.


Does anyone know when/where you can swap Nectar points for a VTEC ticket? I can only see the option for the eVoucher (mentioned earlier). Is that all that is on offer and in fact no specific VTEC tickets, but just a crappy eVoucher for their services (which as mentioned is crazily priced)?

 

[Starmill]

I really really don't get why the nectar points can be used to buy vouchers only for EC Advances. Not WC advances, not EC walk up tickets. Why can't they just be used to buy any ticket from the EC website!?

 

[ModernRailways]

I really really don't get why the nectar points can be used to buy vouchers only for EC Advances. Not WC advances, not EC walk up tickets. Why can't they just be used to buy any ticket from the EC website!?

It's what customers wanted.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Even with East Coast when you bought an eVoucher, 500 points (£500 spent) meant £5.00 eVoucher. With VTEC it equates to £2.50. That's half of the EC value.

You get two Nectar points per £1 spent, which means 1000 points (a £5 voucher) costs £500. That's the same value as the old Rewards scheme, although the use of the voucher is more limited than under the old scheme. The issue is the loss of "free" travel tickets.

High spenders will lose out under the new scheme because the vouchers have such poor value (just as they did under EC, which is why nobody bothered with them). I presume that Stagecoach assume that these high spenders will continue to travel with them and will continue to use their website to buy tickets. If the high spenders stop travelling we'll see a new scheme come in- maybe something like Traveller (although VTWC appear to be phasing this out by stealth)- but if they don't stop travelling then we won't.

Low spenders will probably benefit under the new scheme. My father travelled infrequently on cheap advances and resented the fact his rewards points were almost useless. He'll benefit under Nectar because he does most of his shopping at Sainsburys.

I found it interesting that Arriva emailed their XC and Chiltern databases about a new "loyalty" scheme for those TOCs. I wonder what they are thinking of? It certainly wouldn't do Grand Central (which uses XC's booking system, and is still losing money on the Yorkshire to London trains) any harm to have a jibe at Virgin Trains...

 

[telstarbox]

I've just booked some free Rewards tickets as ToD. Can I use any card to collect the tickets with the code?

 

[ModernRailways]

You get two Nectar points per £1 spent, which means 1000 points (a £5 voucher) costs £500. That's the same value as the old Rewards scheme, although the use of the voucher is more limited than under the old scheme. The issue is the loss of "free" travel tickets.

Ah yes, I thought it was £1 spent=1 point.

 

[crehld]

I've just booked some free Rewards tickets as ToD. Can I use any card to collect the tickets with the code?

I've just done the same and my email confirmation says "To collect your tickets, you must have both a credit/debit card and your ticket booking reference" - so I assume that means any valid card.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the availability of fares at Inverness and Edinburgh and I was able to select my preferred trains with ease. I had thought VTEC might restrict their availability from 1 March!

 

[ModernRailways]

I've just done the same and my email confirmation says "To collect your tickets, you must have both a credit/debit card and your ticket booking reference" - so I assume that means any valid card.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the availability of fares at Inverness and Edinburgh and I was able to select my preferred trains with ease. I had thought VTEC might restrict their availability from 1 March!

I imagine if they reduced availability there would be more complaints.

They want people to forget the old scheme, by limiting the numbers would mean, potentially people will lose out and as such in September would only cause the whole Rewards switch rise up again. By putting as many free tickets out there means people will spend them and forget the whole situation (for the most part anyway).

 

[Tetchytyke]

I had thought VTEC might restrict their availability from 1 March!

Nah, they'll have loads of availability- the sooner it is gone and the "free" tickets are gone the better.

 

[Hadders]

I've just booked some free Rewards tickets as ToD. Can I use any card to collect the tickets with the code?

Yes - any card will do.

 

[Mojo]

I got an email last night to say hurry up you have reward points expiring in the next month, except I don't; I spent all my points two months ago

 

[CockneySparrow]

Ah yes, I thought it was £1 spent=1 point.

No, that's only if you shop in Sainsburys

 

[MikeWh]

Ah yes, I thought it was £1 spent=1 point.

No, that's only if you shop in Sainsburys

And only after 1st April. It's £1 spent = 2 points at the moment.

 

[trainophile]

Might be of interest... (Edit: Just noticed the date of the article, has it already been posted in this thread? Apologies if so.)

http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/ne...new-east-coast-operator-not-to-slash-benefits

Passenger watchdog urges new East Coast operator not to slash benefits
27th February 2015
As the new East Coast service swings into action, the independent watchdog urges the new operator not to slash passenger benefits.

On Sunday, Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) will start running and big improvements will be delivered for passengers over the course of the franchise. But passengers who were members of the East Coast Rewards scheme were told that it would be switched to Nectar points – greatly reducing the benefit on offer. They also have just six months to use up existing Rewards points.

Passenger Focus has called on VTEC to reconsider its decision.

David Sidebottom, passenger director at Passenger Focus, said:
“Passengers tell us that train companies should do more to demonstrate that they value them. The Rewards scheme did that, so taking it away doesn’t send the right signals and could put the new operator in a bad light with passengers from the start.

“When passengers signed up to the scheme they were told their points would be valid for two years. Even though we assume this change is legally fine, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth of loyal passengers and doesn’t feel much like the train company is on their side.”

The watchdog has written to VTEC, setting out the case for a rethink over Rewards. At the very least it says existing Rewards points should be honoured as promised – for two years.

 

[island]

Once points have been converted you've got 6 months to 'spend' them on tickets. You can book up to 12 weeks ahead so you could be travelling well into 2016 with a Rewards ticket, unless VTEC impose a cut off.

You must book by the 30-SEP-15, 12 weeks from which is 23-DMR-15 by my reckoning.

 

[Cletus]

Had an email the other day

We are emailing you to let you know that you have Rewards Points in your account which are due to expire within the next month. They are as follows:

13 Points will be expiring on 29 March 2015
13 Points will be expiring on 08 April 2015
You'll lose these Points if you don't use them before they expire so take a look at the range of rewards we have on offer, starting at just 50 Points, and decide how you'd like to spend yours. If you haven't got enough Points to redeem a reward, you could choose to convert your Points into Nectar Points. Click here to find out more.

To redeem your Points, please log in to your Rewards account.

Yours sincerely,

The Virgin Trains East Coast Team

Had another email today

About the email we sent you...

We're sorry to say we accidentally hit send on some emails we've been testing. You were probably a bit puzzled that we emailed you on Sunday to say your Rewards Points were due to expire in the next 30 days, when in fact they were not.

The final date for using Rewards Points is 30 September 2015 and some Points will expire before then - you can check when your Rewards Points are going to expire by looking in your account on our website. We will also send you an email reminder if your Points are close to expiry

Sorry again. Our web support team will be happy to lend a hand if you need any information about your Points. Just let us know.

The Virgin Trains East Coast Team

Whoops!

 

[ModernRailways]

I'm confused by the closure.

VTEC say they are closing the service and that all points expire on 30th September.

According to my account my points expire in 2017. Surely, it should say 30/09/2015? Obviously, the 30th September is the cut off but it would make sense to at least have the correct date inputted on the page since they are telling people to check there.


Click to view a larger image size.

 

[ainsworth74]

I would guess that's the original expiry date and they've not modified the software yet to take account of the change.

 

[table38]

Having received the "that's all folks" email today, rather irritatingly I have 250 points left which are just not enough for a ticket, so what to do!

I don't have a Nectar card, and I usually buy cheap First Class Advances, so the Free WiFi and Lounge vouchers are not very appealing.

Looks like the only option is to cash them in for a £2.50 eVoucher

 

[Deerfold]

Having received the "that's all folks" email today, rather irritatingly I have 250 points left which are just not enough for a ticket, so what to do!

I don't have a Nectar card, and I usually buy cheap First Class Advances, so the Free WiFi and Lounge vouchers are not very appealing.

Looks like the only option is to cash them in for a £2.50 eVoucher

Probably worth picking up a Nectar card and using them for £11.25 of VTEC advance tickets even if you bin the card afterwards unless you don't want Nectar to have your name and address.

 

[fireftrm]

Probably worth picking up a Nectar card and using them for £11.25 of VTEC advance tickets even if you bin the card afterwards unless you don't want Nectar to have your name and address.

Where do you get £11.25 from? As far as I can tell 250 Nectar points are worth nothing, needing 500 points for the first level of £2.50. VTEC are 'generously' offering 50% additional value, so the 500 points are exchangeable for £3.75.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Until the end of May that is.

 

[Hadders]

Just received an interesting email from Chiltern Railways. I wonder if they're considering an EC style scheme (although free tickets on Chiltern wouldn't be as attractive as on EC although if the other Arriva companies XC, ATW and GC were included then it could work)

Tell us how you like to be rewarded


Hi Hadders

We all like getting rewards, especially if it’s in exchange for train tickets!

We know you may have been affected due to the recent disruption, but at Chiltern we're always looking at ways to improve our service to you and to thank our customers.

We are carrying out some research and would like to know if you use loyalty schemes and how they affect your purchasing decisions.

Please take a moment to answer some questions about loyalty schemes and tell us what treats you like getting back.

Start the survey

 

[Deerfold]

Where do you get £11.25 from? As far as I can tell 250 Nectar points are worth nothing, needing 500 points for the first level of £2.50. VTEC are 'generously' offering 50% additional value, so the 500 points are exchangeable for £3.75.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Until the end of May that is.

Transferred EC Rewards points get 6 Nectar points each - so table38 would get 1500 Nectar points.

 

[fireftrm]

Oh yippee do, wowser

 

[Deerfold]

Oh yippee do, wowser

I didn't say it was wonderful, just a better bet than £2.50 worth of travel.

 

[Essexman]

Got the email today. 5052 points. That's 21 standard class or 13 first class singles, in addition to the dozen or so free first class tickets I've already had. Virgin's email goes on to extol benefits of Nectar scheme - hardly a match.

 

[Kite159]

Just received an interesting email from Chiltern Railways. I wonder if they're considering an EC style scheme (although free tickets on Chiltern wouldn't be as attractive as on EC although if the other Arriva companies XC, ATW and GC were included then it could work)

I've had that email from XC & GC, pretty much the same survey with regarding loyalty schemes.

Maybe Arriva have worked out that the cost of providing a loyalty scheme is worth it for the benefits it might bring with additional sales.

I will put 10p on it being another Nectar scheme, or maybe they will do things differently and go with Tesco
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Silly question, is there any way to seeing how many freebie tickets you have left to redeem on the new site?

 

[CallySleeper]

Silly question, is there any way to seeing how many freebie tickets you have left to redeem on the new site?

http://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/rewards/east-coast-rewards/my-rewards/

 

[dfurn]

I have a question for people who have previously redeemed East Coast Rewards tickets. I have one Reward ticket to book and although today I can book advance fare tickets on Thursday 4th June there are no £0 tickets showing. The latest date I can see £0 Reward availability is Friday 29th May. Does East Coast tend to hold back the availability of Reward tickets and is it likely £0 tickets will eventually turn up? Or if they are not available now will that continue to be the case? I realise there's nothing certain in the new Virgin East Coast world; I'm just wondering what has happened in the past.

 

[Deerfold]

I have a question for people who have previously redeemed East Coast Rewards tickets. I have one Reward ticket to book and although today I can book advance fare tickets on Thursday 4th June there are no £0 tickets showing. The latest date I can see £0 Reward availability is Friday 29th May. Does East Coast tend to hold back the availability of Reward tickets and is it likely £0 tickets will eventually turn up? Or if they are not available now will that continue to be the case? I realise there's nothing certain in the new Virgin East Coast world; I'm just wondering what has happened in the past.

I believe availability for Rewards tickets usually lags about a week behind availability for Advances.