Will Hotel benefits be reset?

[moa999]

Another question for the Velocity Reps here.

Obviously the status match and in particular the Hilton status was very popular among a number of members of this forum.

Now that we are 18 months past the initial match, can we ask whether the status will ever be refreshed particularly for Platinum members who have continued to requalify with Virgin, but due to travel patterns (eg. primarily Australian domestic locations without Hiltons may be unable to hold the hotel status)

Consider the following cases.

1.
Qantas Plat, matched to Virgin Plat in Sep-2011
Activated hotel status immediately - given Hilton Diamond till Mar 2013.
Misses out on requalifying as Plat and dropped to Virgin Gold in Sep-2012 (soft landing)
Dropped by Hilton to Hilton Blue/Silver in Mar 2013
Immediately able to activate Hilton Gold
If manages to fly the 1000 SCs in period will go back to to Platinum and get hotel status again.

2.
Qantas Plat, matched to Virgin Plat in Sep-2011
Activated hotel status immediately - given Hilton Diamond till Mar 2013.
Requalified Virgin Plat in Aug-2012
Dropped by Hilton to Hilton Blue/Silver in Mar 2013
Unable to reactivate hotel status despite requalifying Platinum and being more loyal to Virgin

 

[777]

Hmm. Another way of saying to Virgin "you realise there's a bug where people can get this twice?". They may find it easier to remove the bug than renegotiate the terms with Hilton!

 

[oz_mark]

Hmm. Another way of saying to Virgin "you realise there's a bug where people can get this twice?". They may find it easier to remove the bug than renegotiate the terms with Hilton!

Not so sure, I had thought that, but after reading the rulebook, I am not so sure:

Once at a level:

17.1 Gold and Platinum Members are entitled to enrol once into:

(a) one car hire program with a Program Partner (Car Hire Partner Program);
(b) one hotel program with a Program Partner (Hotel Partner Program); and
(c) one travel service with a Program Partner (Travel Service Partner Program), for the duration of their Velocity Frequent Flyer Membership at that Membership Level.

But can get the other level:

17.12 In the event of a Member being downgraded or upgraded to a different Membership Level, Members will retain their Complimentary Partner Membership and/or Complimentary Annual Subscription with the Program Partner until the Complimentary Partner Membership or Complimentary Annual Subscription expires. If the Member has become eligible for a different level of membership offered by the Program Partner in their respective Car Hire Partner Program, Hotel Partner Program or Travel Service Partner Program and wishes to enrol in that membership level, the Member can complete this enrolment through the 'My Benefits' section of the Velocity Frequent Flyer website.

I do however think that the result of complaining about it will just be a tightening up of the provisions, rather than a relaxation of the provisions!

 

[bullerdude]

I look at this in a different light - A once of Hilton membership (as it is if you retain Plat) is not a Velocity Benefit, it's a first year bonus.

Virgin,if your going to advertise Hilton membership as an included status benefit - which is want you do on the Velocity website @ Platinum Membership | Velocity Frequent Flyer - then it needs to be an actual ongoing benefit!

 

[Neverlate]

Hi friends,
I too received the status match from Virgin matching Gold QF. I placed most of my travel with virgin after match, I was happy with there service and the added benefits over QF.
I took up the offer of Hilton and booked where possible Hilton Accom, at times 2 rooms on the same reservation, it seems Hilton only recognizes the as single stays. I would have stayed around 7 nights through out the last 12 months.

Last Friday I received in the mail a silver membership card from Hilton, I understand if I haven't qualified for the minimum nights, however VA do advertise if you hold a Gold Membership you can be compted with Gold Hilton membership. I have reqaulified for VA Gold so I would have imagined the advertised Gold Hilton membership would be in continuance.

No one likes benefits taken away,with my stays ahead I would have booked Hilton I am now looking at other options.

With that said I was thankful for the Gold Hilton benefits while I had them.

Your comments are welcome.

NL

 

[bullerdude]

Actually, now that I think about a little more, I read the Terms and Conditions and saying that we are entitled to one complimentary membership (i.e. either Hilton or IHG) for the duration of the VFF membership at your current membership level

Gold and Platinum members are entitled to enrol once into:
(a) one car hire program with a Car Hire Partner;
(b) one hotel program with a Hotel Partner; and
(c) one travel service with a Program Partner,
for the duration of the Velocity Frequent Flyer membership at that membership Level within Velocity Frequent Flyer.

In other words, If I enrol in Hilton Diamond, I am entitled to maintain that membership for the duration of my Platinum membership.

Thus, if people are being downgraded from Diamond whilst maintaining Platinum then VA may be breaching the Terms and Consitions

VFF, a reponse to this would be much appreciated, to clarifyt the situation.

Edit: I realise I am ignoring some of the other T+C's but this one is unclear and can be interpreted as I have described.

Edit 2: I also realise the that 'for the duration' comment may only relate the (c) - but that is not how it reads as currently written. I think it clearly reads, once into each if A, B and C for the duration.

 

[markis10]

Actually, now that I think about a little more, I read the Terms and Conditions and saying that we are entitled to one complimentary membership (i.e. either Hilton or IHG) for the duration of the VFF membership at your current membership level



In other words, If I enrol in Hilton Diamond, I am entitled to maintain that membership for the duration of my Platinum membership.

Thus, if people are being downgraded from Diamond whilst maintaining Platinum then VA may be breaching the Terms and Consitions

VFF, a reponse to this would be much appreciated, to clarifyt the situation.

Edit: I realise I am ignoring some of the other T+C's but this one is unclear and can be interpreted as I have described.

Edit 2: I also realise the that 'for the duration' comment may only relate the (c) - but that is not how it reads as currently written. I think it clearly reads, once into each if A, B and C for the duration.

The terms and conditions say you are entitled to enroll once during the duration, not be a member, big difference.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

17.12 If the Member has become eligible for a different level of membership offered by the Program Partner .... and wishes to enrol in that membership level, the Member can complete this enrolment through the 'My Benefits' section of the Velocity Frequent Flyer website.

Gold and Platinum members are entitled to enrol once into:
(a) one car hire program with a Car Hire Partner;
(b) one hotel program with a Hotel Partner; and
(c) one travel service with a Program Partner,
for the duration of the Velocity Frequent Flyer membership at that membership Level within Velocity Frequent Flyer.

I agree with markis10. Have another read bullerdude, of the first line of the quote. The clause is talking about an entitlement to enrol once per membership level. I believe the bit about the duration is referring to the right to enrol is for the duration of that VFF tier, ie. if I leave the enrolling until after my VFF status drops, I lose the right to enrol even though I did have it previously. Use it or lose it, I think is the colloquial term.

Reading both quoted clauses together (oz-mark and bullerdudes) it does however seem to suggest we have an entitlement to apply for a partner status comp once per membership level. So the talk of oscillating between VA gold and VA plat to retain partner status ad infinitum does not appear to be supported by the T&Cs but having partner gold (or equiv) and then moving to partner plat (or equiv) seems perfectly above board.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Actually after re-reading that quote from bullerdude numerous times, I actually think the meaning can change dependent upon where the emphasis is placed and/or how it's read.

Gold and Platinum members are entitled to enrol once for the duration of the Velocity Frequent Flyer membership at that membership Level within Velocity Frequent Flyer.

OR

Gold and Platinum members are entitled to enrol once into a partner programme for the duration of the Velocity Frequent Flyer membership at that membership Level within Velocity Frequent Flyer.

Both those statements have different meanings and the second is the statement actually made by the T&Cs. I'm sort of swaying toward bullerdudes reading of it.

Where's the English teachers of the forum to assist?

 

[777]

Probably worth noting that in reality the benefit is actually being offered (and the costs worn) by Hilton via a promotion with VFF. I would be very surprised if Hilton saw any value in offering ongoing Diamond to people who didn't actually stay with them much as opposed to offering them promotionally once-off to induce people to stay with them.

My bigger concern (and maybe VFF can answer this) is about how long they will continue to offer the benefit. When does the arrangement with Hilton expire? I have been comped Hilton Diamond for one year, requalled for a second year but am making absolutely no effort to requal this year due to devaluation in the program and increase in stay requirements. But Mrs 777 is plat with Virgin and has never pulled the trigger on her Hilton membership. In an ideal world i'd like her to do that early next year so we can add another year or two but i know there's no guarantee the offer will still exist then.

 

[markis10]

In an ideal world i'd like her to do that early next year so we can add another year or two but i know there's no guarantee the offer will still exist then.

I would pull the trigger now, it's good for two years if done so.

 

[serfty]

Be careful what you wish for ... I'm with 777 on this.

With Pooling and a bit of forethought it can be quite simple thing to use the current situation to optimise the benefits while flying VA and its partners.

 

[777]

I would pull the trigger now, it's good for two years if done so.

Yes, but one of those two years is redundant as she will be traveling with me and my status is good til 3/2014. So if I leave it another year it's potentially good til early 2016 if I choose my dates right.

 

[777]

Of course I could always pool to my 2yo next year and get him to Hilton diamond. Not sure how well go booking in his name or using *spouse stays free* though.

 

[markis10]

Yes, but one of those two years is redundant as she will be traveling with me and my status is good til 3/2014. So if I leave it another year it's potentially good til early 2016 if I choose my dates right.

Doing it now locks in that extra year, there is nothing to say the benefit will be on offer next year??

 

[oz_mark]

In other words, If I enrol in Hilton Diamond, I am entitled to maintain that membership for the duration of my Platinum membership.

Your entitled to enrol, but another clause determines the period of membership:

17.3 Gold and Platinum Members who enrol into a Car Hire Partner Program, Hotel Partner Program or Travel Service Partner Program will receive a minimum of 12 months complimentary membership in the program from the date of their enrolment in the program. (Complimentary Annual Subscription)

 

[777]

Doing it now locks in that extra year, there is nothing to say the benefit will be on offer next year??

Hence my question above.