Changing Over

[boylero]

Got a note today..........

Dear All, we are changing from Qantas to Virgin (and partners) for all domestic and international flights. Status match from Qantas is offered to all employees

Looks like I may be reading this forum some more now

 

[straitman]

Got a note today..........



Looks like I may be reading this forum some more now

There are a lot worse things in life than reading this forum more or flying Virgin.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Got a note today..........Looks like I may be reading this forum some more now

Yeah wow congratulations! :mrgreen:......Man have you got it made! As one of the super-elite SMed brigade, you'll be treated like royalty! Fed grapes on a chaise longue by skimpily dressed, well tanned demigods one minute.......showered with gifts of useful value the next! Holy cow I envy you.

A word of warning though, after a few short months of your company returning the loyalty, the demigods are dismissed, the grapes turn to goat droppings and the gifts evaporate. That's the VA way of thanking loyalty. Advise your company to continue to use QF as that's the only way to cement in those extraordinary offerings! Show distain and indifference to VA and they'll treat you like royalty for ever. Show loyalty and you'll be coughped on from a great height.

Welcome to the VA camp! :shock:

 

[yohy?!]

And take most of the discourse/banter on this board with a bucket of rock salt :mrgreen:

 

[Deleted member 29185]

And take most of the discourse/banter on this board with a bucket of rock salt :mrgreen:

I call it like I experience it yohy! Read back to posts pre-SM era. I was actually very supportive of an airline who worked for me and treated me like they actually appreciated my custom.

Discourse it is...........but banter? Certainly not my comments. I'm neither jovial nor friendly when I think of the discusting way the VA marketing machine has treated their formally loyal customers.

 

[straitman]

I call it like I experience it yohy! Read back to posts pre-SM era. I was actually very supportive of an airline who worked for me and treated me like they actually appreciated my custom.

Discourse it is...........but banter? Certainly not my comments. I'm neither jovial nor friendly when I think of the discusting way the VA marketing machine has treated their formally loyal customers.

Just a reminder that there are a lot here who disagree with you though.

It really is quite subjective IMHO.

 

[serfty]

Of course you can get used to employing the AirNZ lounges in both SYD and MEL international rather than the Qantas First Lounges (although a joint lounge with EH is to open next year in SYD).

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Just a reminder that there are a lot here who disagree with you though.

It really is quite subjective IMHO.

Yes of course and I fully respect that. I did say it is what I've experienced......not what everyone's experienced.

 

[pat25d]

Yes of course and I fully respect that. I did say it is what I've experienced......not what everyone's experienced.

Is all this just because you missed out on some targeted offers?

I'm a BIS Platinum and didn't get any special SC offers this year too. Do I care? Why would I, if Virgin wants to target other customers more than so be it. I guess we have 3 choices though:

1. Accept it and be happy
2. Not accept it and leave
3. Whine and moan on AFF/Facebook

I pick 1.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Is all this just because you missed out on some targeted offers?

No, not at all. It's becasue I've missed out on ALL targeted offers.

You may be happy to be taken for granted, I'm not and yes I have chosen a course of action. There is no harm in warning others though of this pathetic policy of rewarding the unloyal and/or unproven and flicking the bird to your status (and proven) customers. I know very few companies who so blatantly do that and expect no backlash. I don't mind when people point out VAs positives, so why do people object to me pointing out a glaring negative?

 

[pat25d]

It's not really a negative because people shouldn't be expecting anything over what is advertised or specified as a benefit.

Thats sort of like saying it is a negative when you don't receive an op-up. It's more a neutral. As long as you get what you pay for that's all they should be expected to provide.


Just because others receive more benefits doesn't or shouldn't diminish your value judgement.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Just because others receive more benefits doesn't or shouldn't diminish your value judgement.

Ah, but you see it does to me.

It's a little thing called appreciation. That's what FF programmes are all about.

To put it in context, let's look at HH....the Hilton chain rewards programme. If you were a diamond member and HH decided to do a SM with no conditions attached (no challenge).....any status programme matched even Aclub gold (which can be secured for a lowly rental spend of 10 rentals with Europcar...or possibly about $400). Then HH decided to do a "Great Getaway Promotion" of up to 40% off but only valid for SMed non-customers not you scabby HH diamonds who only got there by spending money with Hilton (perhaps in excess of $10K), only the new golden elite which presumably are going to outspend the old tried and true HH status members. I could safely bet my left testicl_ there would be an absolute outcry here on AFF, yet VA do the exact same thing and people say, " Oh that's OK, let them treat me like dirt, after all I am only a loyal customer, not a special SMed golden child".

As I said, you may be happy to be treated like that. I find it an appalling way to treat loyalty but it seems for daring to speak out again VA, I'm ostracised as a whinger. Fair enough, but this funny anomaly has been noticed in other recent threads as well (the VA ATA removal as opposed to the QF one etc etc). No accusations here, but I sometimes wonder if there might not be a VA contingent here on AFF that would prefer to belittle the whinger rather than address the issue.

I might hastily add the other reason for this anomaly might be the fact we've been without QF competition for so long, many are prepared to pat VA on the head for biting their leg rather than scolding them.

 

[straitman]

Ah, but you see it does to me.

It's a little thing called appreciation. That's what FF programmes are all about.

To put it in context, let's look at HH....the Hilton chain rewards programme. If you were a diamond member and HH decided to do a SM with no conditions attached (no challenge).....any status programme matched even Aclub gold (which can be secured for a lowly rental spend of 10 rentals with Europcar...or possibly about $400). Then HH decided to do a "Great Getaway Promotion" of up to 40% off but only valid for SMed non-customers not you scabby HH diamonds who only got there by spending money with Hilton (perhaps in excess of $10K), only the new golden elite which presumably are going to outspend the old tried and true HH status members. I could safely bet my left testicl_ there would be an absolute outcry here on AFF, yet VA do the exact same thing and people say, " Oh that's OK, let them treat me like dirt, after all I am only a loyal customer, not a special SMed golden child".

As I said, you may be happy to be treated like that. I find it an appalling way to treat loyalty but it seems for daring to speak out again VA, I'm ostracised as a whinger. Fair enough, but this funny anomaly has been noticed in other recent threads as well (the VA ATA removal as opposed to the QF one etc etc). No accusations here, but I sometimes wonder if there might not be a VA contingent here on AFF that would prefer to belittle the whinger rather than address the issue.

I might hastily add the other reason for this anomaly might be the fact we've been without QF competition for so long, many are prepared to pat VA on the head for biting their leg rather than scolding them.

I think one reason why many here are tolerating the DJ changes more than you are, is that they have seen this all before with the constant 'enhancements' from QF over the years. They simply see these DJ changes as an equalisation and certainly nothing worse that QF has done in the past.

 

[munitalP]

I think one reason why many here are tolerating the DJ changes more than you are, is that they have seen this all before with the constant 'enhancements' from QF over the years. They simply see these DJ changes as an equalisation and certainly nothing worse that QF has done in the past.

Thats a fair assessment. I was VA Gold when status matched to VA WP, I guess I was slightly taken back with the sudden influx of newbies, after all, I had done the hard yards sticking to them blue seats in summer and had put up with the less than average service at times - well thats how I felt at the time.

Now I look at the whole thing as well - ho hum. I had earned Hilton Diamond just prior to the status match as well thanks to a fast track... again, nose out of joint because now with all the VA status matched diamonds, my service would diminish. Has it happened? I have no gauge. The Hilton treats me very well, I believe they can "see" the frequent stayers.

 

[straitman]

The Hilton treats me very well, I believe they can "see" the frequent stayers.

They sure can. A couple of months ago I was advised on checkin at HSW that it was my 30th stay at their hotel.