Free Airberlin Silver status for 4 months

[Mattg]

We're flying in 2 weeks so sounds unlikely we'll be in possession of TopBonus cards - maybe I can print temporary card on the website?

That trick is interesting - any reason why I wouldn't just switch the number back on the websites of the airlines we're flying (CX, BA)?

You can always try printing a screenshot of the website

The main reason I say you would need to use the Qatar or RJ website is because most airlines' websites won't actually allow you to do this. (Qantas' website won't even let you change the number on your booking before you've checked in!)

 

[Mattg]

Can anyone tell me/ direct me to the benefits on VA with Topbonus silver?

Check this page under the "benefits" tab:

https://topbonus.airberlin.com/en/web/tb/virgin

That page appears to claim that Silver cardholders receive priority boarding on VA - I'm not sure that's the case but the other Silver benefits should apply.

 

[Guvner]

We're flying in 2 weeks so sounds unlikely we'll be in possession of TopBonus cards - maybe I can print temporary card on the website?

That trick is interesting - any reason why I wouldn't just switch the number back on the websites of the airlines we're flying (CX, BA)?

I signed up for this and received my card yesterday.

The physical card is not Silver anyway, it's "Classic" or QF Bronze You get that for the 4 months and if you attain ongoing Silver you get the new physical Silver card (from what I can ascertain)

. I would take my Classic card and take a printout of the Silver Card (if that's possible) or open the app on my phone to show my status, use the Business or Priority lane and tell them your waiting on your new card.

 

[petercr]

So would I use this instead of my VA Red or QF Bronze FF card when I check in and thus expect Silver benefits? Going to Europe in April / May on SQ so there may be some extra benefits for me?

 

[Guvner]

Not sure about SQ, they are not Oneworld.

 

[Mattg]

So would I use this instead of my VA Red or QF Bronze FF card when I check in and thus expect Silver benefits? Going to Europe in April / May on SQ so there may be some extra benefits for me?

Correct, assuming you were actually flying Qantas or Virgin - Singapore Airlines is not an Air Berlin partner.

Also note that this current promotion only gives you status for 4 months unfortunately. If you registered now, you'd only get the benefits until the end of March 2017 (unless you qualified for the fast-track to extend the status for another year).

 

[petercr]

I might hold off clicking the promo button for a couple of weeks then as we leave on 8th April... We're going via SYD from BNE with VA so that should give us some benefit at the 'local' end. I'm more of an 'infrequent flyer' but just seeing what I can do to make the trip as comfortable as possible.

 

[Daver6]

That's a good question. In theory, you should be entitled to the benefits of your Topbonus status without having to change the FF number on your booking/s. Assuming that Air Berlin sends out membership cards (and current indications are that they do, but it could take a few weeks) then you should be able to just show your card when you check in to use the priority counters etc.

Failing that, there is a trick that you can use... input your Topbonus number into the booking, then log into either the Royal Jordanian or Qatar Airways website after checking in (and once you've used your status entitlements) to change the FF number back to your Qantas one.

You most certainly do NOT need to have your AB FF number on the booking to make use of the benefits. Having said that a while back I was AB SG and had a massive disagreement with the checkin staff in ADL about this. I needed the extra baggage allowance. They wanted to charge me unless I changed the FF on the booking. Eventually the agent changed the number without my consent. Got the the QP in ADL and took it up with them to change it. At first they argued with me and eventually the manager came to find me in the lounge to apologise and acknowledged the ground staff were wrong and had changed it back.

 

[Mattg]

I might hold off clicking the promo button for a couple of weeks then as we leave on 8th April... We're going via SYD from BNE with VA so that should give us some benefit at the 'local' end. I'm more of an 'infrequent flyer' but just seeing what I can do to make the trip as comfortable as possible.

Just beware that the promo ends on 30 November.

You most certainly do NOT need to have your AB FF number on the booking to make use of the benefits. Having said that a while back I was AB SG and had a massive disagreement with the checkin staff in ADL about this. I needed the extra baggage allowance. They wanted to charge me unless I changed the FF on the booking. Eventually the agent changed the number without my consent. Got the the QP in ADL and took it up with them to change it. At first they argued with me and eventually the manager came to find me in the lounge to apologise and acknowledged the ground staff were wrong and had changed it back.

That's really annoying! You're right, there is no rule that says you have to credit the flight to that program in order to use the status benefits - but for some reason airline staff don't seem to like you doing that.

I guess it works both ways - I flew Air Berlin earlier this year and wanted to use my QF status benefits but credit the flight to VA where I had no status. (By the way, this is a very bad idea as I now know that you can't earn VA status credits on AB!) The lady actually removed the "priority" tag she had just placed on my luggage!

 

[Daver6]

I guess it works both ways - I flew Air Berlin earlier this year and wanted to use my QF status benefits but credit the flight to VA where I had no status. (By the way, this is a very bad idea as I now know that you can't earn VA status credits on AB!) The lady actually removed the "priority" tag she had just placed on my luggage!

I wonder if the real issue was the staff just didn't know how to deal with it on their computer system. At first they sent me to the sales counter to pay for the extra bag. I suspect without having the FF number in the system they might not have known how to waive the bag fee? Who knows. Their incompetence should not be the passengers problem.

 

[Mattg]

I wonder if the real issue was the staff just didn't know how to deal with it on their computer system. At first they sent me to the sales counter to pay for the extra bag. I suspect without having the FF number in the system they might not have known how to waive the bag fee? Who knows. Their incompetence should not be the passengers problem.

My understanding is that most airlines' systems allow separate FF numbers to be entered for the purposes of using status benefits (aka. FQTS), and for earning points/status credits (FQTV).

Having said that, not all airlines have computer systems that can handle this. And of those that do, I'm guessing not all ground staff know how to use them.

 

[auspal]

I have registered, do they send a card ?

 

[petercr]

Just beware that the promo ends on 30 November.

I should have at least 1VA domestic flight before the end of March so will try...

 

[Guvner]

I have registered, do they send a card ?

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....in-silver-status-4-a-79101-3.html#post1544820

 

[PDog]

Help please!
I have my first Qantas flight in years coming up in March- will I get the 50% bonus FF points as silver? We're flying F from Auckland to Melb on Emirates, so I don't see any other benefits for me? Am I missing any key info?

Thanks in advance

 

[Flyer]

Help please!
I have my first Qantas flight in years coming up in March- will I get the 50% bonus FF points as silver? We're flying F from Auckland to Melb on Emirates, so I don't see any other benefits for me? Am I missing any key info?

Thanks in advance

With this offer they way you are getting QFF silver benefits is through their OW partnership i.e. AB Silver gives you OW ruby. As far as I'm aware the QF status bonus only applies to QFF Silver and not OW ruby. So if you are already flying F I don't think you would get any further benefit out of OW ruby status.

 

[opusman]

Amazing there are so many people on AFF for whom 4 months of OW Ruby is this exciting

 

[auspal]

Thanks Guvner.

 

[freakyfly]

I have just done this as I am flying on Jetstar to Hawaii but am only QFF bronze and would like a pass to the Qantas Club for reciprocal silver QFF. I fly December 4th so it may be too late but I'll try. Any idea how it would work to get the QC pass?

 

[opusman]

I have just done this as I am flying on Jetstar to Hawaii but am only QFF bronze and would like a pass to the Qantas Club for reciprocal silver QFF. I fly December 4th so it may be too late but I'll try. Any idea how it would work to get the QC pass?

You won't get a QC pass. This gives you OW Ruby status which QF will recognise, but it doesn't mean you're actually QF silver.