From platinum to gold - feeling the impact?

[shuuy]

VA platinum for 5-6 years, and post-COVID now Gold.

Don't fly as much, fine. But I'm surprised that of things that I got comfortable with as a platinum, I can't do as gold. For example, on this morning's flight:

• Can't fly-ahead free
• No free economyX
• No in-flight free wifi

I guess this means VA gold vs plat is sufficiently differentiated?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Yes, toward the end of COVID in 2021 fly ahead for Choice was restricted to just Platinum members. The other two have always been the case (well, WiFi since it was reintroduced)

 

[Notyourbag]

Haven't felt the pinch (and haven't flown VA as much) but am flying next month with my mom on her birthday and my sister. Can only take 1 into the lounge (or send both in) vs being Platinum for 8 years and never took more than 1 person into the lounge

 

[Bundy Bear]

Haven't felt the pinch (and haven't flown VA as much) but am flying next month with my mom on her birthday and my sister. Can only take 1 into the lounge (or send both in) vs being Platinum for 8 years and never took more than 1 person into the lounge

Upgrade one of them.

Platinum is good but gold sits in the middle, I just want lounge, you can always buy Economy X.

 

[Human]

I made Platinum for the first time last year and I've been pleasantly surprised by the difference it makes. I've particularly appreciated the 3 things that the OP listed, especially since inflight internet has been rolled out. Fly Ahead is great too, so if I arrive at the airport earlier than expected I'm not wasting time hanging around waiting for my flight.

I've easily requalified for another year, but I'm so enjoying the benefits that in future I'd actually consider a status run if needed -- I never thought I'd do that!

 

[Notyourbag]

Upgrade one of them.

Platinum is good but gold sits in the middle, I just want lounge, you can always buy Economy X.

Economy X doesn't come with lounge access though?

 

[SilverFlamingo]

Economy X doesn't come with lounge access though?

That’s their point. They value gold as the sweet spot for the lounge access .. and can buy economy x if they want.

 

[JohnK]

Expectations drop remarkably when you don't fly as much. The things that mattered 4 years ago are less important or not as important.

With some luck the past 12 months I have a chance to get back to Platinum for the first time in 10 years.

I guess the biggest benefits will be the SilverKris Lounge in SIN and a few added kilos of luggage allowance. I don't Fly enough to worry about the other benefits.

Once Platinum the plan is to get wife to Gold next year so when I drop back down to Gold both of us will have Gold for another 12 months and that means all 3 of us can access the SQ lounges without worrying about them bending rules to allow daughter into daughter.

 

[Digicola]

I guess the biggest benefits will be the SilverKris Lounge in SIN

Have I missed something or are you about to be extremely disappointed and sent to the lounge next door

 

[Notyourbag]

I

Have I missed something or are you about to be extremely disappointed and sent to the lounge next door

Maybe John's referencing outside of Singapore every other SQ lounge is a silver Kris lounge.

 

[JohnK]

Have I missed something or are you about to be extremely disappointed and sent to the lounge next door

I must be mistaken. The Krisflyer Gold lounge in SIN is very predictable. I was under the impression that VA Platinum had access to SilverKris Lounge in SIN.

All good. Pretty much confirms no point going for VA Platinum unless you will already make it with travel planned.

 

[ozstamps]

We were in Silver Kris Lounge in SIN a couple of times this month and superb.

No idea what the Star Gold Lounge next door is like (but can guess it was not too shabby) but the Silver Kris was near unbeatable. Omelette chefs even at midnight, French Champagne in abundance, top end VSOP cognac, Sleeping rooms, wonderful showers etc, and enough food to feed several 1000 people it looked like!

Virgin Plats also use the superb Etihad FIRST lounge in Abu Dhabi .. also a stunning benefit.

We checked through 7 pieces of baggage Seattle-SIN-SYD, which was pretty handy too.

 

[TMP]

We were in Silver Kris Lounge in SIN a couple of times this month and superb.

No idea what the Star Gold Lounge next door is like (but can guess it was not too shabby) but the Silver Kris was near unbeatable. Omelette chefs even at midnight, French Champagne in abundance, top end VSOP cognac, Sleeping rooms, wonderful showers etc, and enough food to feed several 1000 people it looked like!

Virgin Plats also use the superb Etihad FIRST lounge in Abu Dhabi .. also a stunning benefit.

We checked through 7 pieces of baggage Seattle-SIN-SYD, which was pretty handy too.

The updated / new Gold lounge in SIN is very good too (including showers now inside the lounge)

 

[Bagpuss]

I guess the biggest benefits will be the SilverKris Lounge in SIN and a few added kilos of luggage allowance. I don't Fly enough to worry about the other benefits.

Velocity Platinum's and Gold's both get access to the "KrisFlyer Gold Lounge" in SIN.

You'll only get into the "SilverKris Lounge" in SIN if you're flying in business or first class.

Whilst the lounges are very close together, there's a big difference between the offerings.

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/us/flying-withus/before-the-flight/lounges/silverkris/

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/us/flying-withus/before-the-flight/lounges/krisflyergold/

 

[Digicola]

Velocity Platinum's and Gold's both get access to the "KrisFlyer Gold Lounge" in SIN.

You'll only get into the "SilverKris Lounge" in SIN if you're flying in business or first class.

Whilst the lounges are very close together, there's a big difference between the offerings.

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/us/flying-withus/before-the-flight/lounges/silverkris/

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/us/flying-withus/before-the-flight/lounges/krisflyergold/

Air NZ elites do get access when flying between SIN and NZ. When VA tried to negotiate a similar deal for WP the answer was no.

 

[clifford]

Air NZ elites do get access when flying between SIN and NZ. When VA tried to negotiate a similar deal for WP the answer was no.

I'm surprised to hear that. It sounds very un-SQ like.

 

[JohnK]

Velocity Platinum's and Gold's both get access to the "KrisFlyer Gold Lounge" in SIN.

You'll only get into the "SilverKris Lounge" in SIN if you're flying in business or first class.

Whilst the lounges are very close together, there's a big difference between the offerings.

Yes I do realise there's a big difference which is why I was hoping we'd get to visit the SilverKris in SIN.

The KrisFlyer Gold lounge is adequate but very predictable when it comes to food. The food is not very exciting and almost the same each visit. Bland chicken, some pasta with mushroom/chicken is OK and in the morning it's powdered egg. The sandwiches are OK and usually grab a few to take-away.

 

[Bagpuss]

Yes I do realise there's a big difference which is why I was hoping we'd get to visit the SilverKris in SIN.

The KrisFlyer Gold lounge is adequate but very predictable when it comes to food. The food is not very exciting and almost the same each visit. Bland chicken, some pasta with mushroom/chicken is OK and in the morning it's powdered egg. The sandwiches are OK and usually grab a few to take-away.

From my side, I've been in the "SilverKris Lounge", granted I've mainly been there at breakfast times I've never found any of the food that appealing. I've always just grabbed the cooked breakfast pack.

Whilst it's an unfavorable comment, unless you're at a lounge in which offer an element of a restaurant style (where it's waiter style and a menu) such as :

Etihad : Abu Dhabi - First Class Lounge
Virgin Atlantic : New York - ClubHouse at JFK

To me, all airlines fit into two categories :

1) Bulk standard run of the mill (with some fancy looking lounges)
2) Overcrowded and awful (which obviously, when not busy they fit into the bulk standard category)

 

[JohnK]

To me, all airlines fit into two categories :

1) Bulk standard run of the mill (with some fancy looking lounges)
2) Overcrowded and awful (which obviously, when not busy they fit into the bulk standard category)

I don't disagree with your assessment but think there are some exceptions to the rule that in theory do not make sense

- SQ BKK SilverKris Lounge has some nice food on offer well above slop quality
- EK BKK/BNE/HKG/SIN business lounges have so really nice food and most days have multiple choices such as beef, lamb, fish, seafood etc

I don't know who caters EK in those airports but at least the food resembles food. Personally I feel that if an airline has a lounge then the food on offer has to be above slop quality. Nok lounge at DMK really surprised me. How do airlines such as VA and to a lesser extent QF struggle? Everything goes to low bidder?

 

[Bagpuss]

I don't know who caters EK in those airports but at least the food resembles food. Personally I feel that if an airline has a lounge then the food on offer has to be above slop quality. Nok lounge at DMK really surprised me. How do airlines such as VA and to a lesser extent QF struggle? Everything goes to low bidder?

With VA, they don't operate any lounge they are fully outsourced. The only Virgin staff are on the reception desk. You'll see the operator name on the entry door.
QF's issue is that their loyalty base isn't the airline, its the frequent flyer program which is turn is for lounge access so their lounges tend to be overcrowded.

I think what's maybe not so clear or in my opinion who pays for them. Really if you're flying business class, Virgin Australia pays for entry. If you're getting in via Velocity or a partner airline Velocity pays. Though I'd imagine a bit of a complex model and it's really Virgin Australia, so it's a race to the bottom in terms of operational cost.