MarkD
Established Member
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2011
- Posts
- 1,307
- Qantas
- Silver
- Virgin
- Platinum
I went from 278 to 798 SCs over the weekend - I was hoping that would leave me with only 102 SCs to pick up to requalify gold - but, of course, the 298 SCs beyond the Gold qualification point were, in Velocity's view, earned before I was Gold. So unless I qualify for platinum (which, thanks to family pooling, seems likely) then those 298 SCs are completely useless, because my requal year started yesterday but those 298 'extra' SCs were earned on Saturday. A little frustrating to have the SCs disappear into no man's land - but good incentive to qualify for platinum!
I was going to be in a similar situation, as my gold year ended 30/11/11, with gold requal 30/11/12, therefor any SC earned prior to 30/11/11 were basically useless for requal, but counted for Platinum earn. What I did was book my first SC run during the Double SC period, on OOL-MEL-OOL, plus my usual end of year flights, will see my gold renew level reached before Christmas. Those Double SC really helped out on the quick renew level. Just to do a family Weekend away now on el cheapo airfares, and it will be Platinum. (I have a strange feeling the family pooling will die a sudden death, just like the initial "Per sector" SC earn when they released it, that was the biggest backflip ever where Gold was attainable for around $1500. so I will utilise it whilst I can.
The funny thing about family pooling, is a mate of mine flew to Dublin on Etihad, I told him about the pooling and set him up with his wife and two kids pooling to his account, by the time he gets back, he will be 100SC off Platinum, and he hasn't set foot on a Virgin aircraft. (Obviously he will still need to do the 8 sectors on VA, but not a bad deal regardless).
That last statement brings on my next question, not relevent to me, but obviously will be to others. Do flights taken by family members, where SC are pooled, count towards Status level achievement, ie a family of 5 travelling on pooled SC earn, does that count as 1 flight, or 5 flights, for the benefits of Status levels? I think I know the answer, or at least hope the answer would be one, as we would see 1 full fare Y trip to England achieve Platinum, which would devalue Platinum...... Maybe VA Platinum 1 next, for those that actually fly Virgin Frequently