Maintain Status Offers Plat/Gold Silver (Two return flights or other)‏

[Qld4101]

Nothing for me, i will requal for Plat prior to my review date but a little annoyed that everyone else that isn't flying enough are getting these offers (including my wife) but I'm not getting anything.......

 

[anchew]

Re: Virgin - offer to keep Gold Status

Got an email from Virgin offering me to keep my Gold Status if I book two business return flights
Has anyone taken this offer andf if yes, did you find a cheap business class ticket? Thx!

CBR-SYD is $399 each way, which probably is the cheapest out there.

 

[jdlover23]

If u end up in the US, you can do LAX-SFO in F return for $477 ai

 

[drewbles]

If u end up in the US, you can do LAX-SFO in F return for $477 ai

The offer does say 'Business Class' though. Whilst F is above, I wonder if it counts? The only services with J are typically Caribbean and Trans-Con SFO/LAX-JFK routes (at least on AA; I have no idea about DL transcon).

 

[jdlover23]

The offer does say 'Business Class' though. Whilst F is above, I wonder if it counts? The only services with J are typically Caribbean and Trans-Con SFO/LAX-JFK routes (at least on AA; I have no idea about DL transcon).

Hmm interesting you are prob right, I'd read the t&cs and got distracted by Delta which included P,F,A etc I'd have thought in F should count but no guarantee

 

[jdlover23]

Then again I think the highest fare class on VX is D,J etc and they don't make it easy to work out what class you are booking in

 

[MissBurrill]

+1. I have only flown one 10 status credit flight with DJ and received the above offer to maintain silver membership. I will just purchase lounge access a few days prior to expiry so as to avoid the hefty lounge membership fee. No other real benefit of maintaining silver for me.

Good idea. I flew 20 status credits and received the 1 Business return or 2 Flexi return offer.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The offer does say 'Business Class' though. Whilst F is above, I wonder if it counts? The only services with J are typically Caribbean and Trans-Con SFO/LAX-JFK routes (at least on AA; I have no idea about DL transcon).

The email clearly lists First class fare classes F,A in the terms and conditions for Delta

 

[jpk]

For those with the 2x flexy offer, MEL-NTL is $165 each way which is the cheapest I have found so far.
$660 all in. Pooling the 2 for 1 credit card offer would make this attractive.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

looks like someone’s a little desperate to keep hold of premium flyers.

It's a crying shame they're not desperate to keep hold of proven (VA) flyers

 

[Deleted member 29185]

it may not please some of their loyal frequent flyers. I am guessing VA's current attitude is "our loyal customers will understand what we are trying to achieve - which is to capture our competitor's market"

Fine, but I'M not trying to win the competitors market......in fact I may be joining the competitors market. All in all, for some of the proven VA frequent flyers this is yet another slap in the face and ............ it sucks. Offering incentives is nice, but be fair about it. That's all I expect and for almost 12 months now, VA have most definitely not been fair about it to many of us, supposedly valued customers.

 

[amaroo]

IIRC some here thought QF were desperate offering the recent double status credits

FWIW I think its just good business to maintain and or grow your premium/customer base - doesn't matter if you're VA or QF. Offers like these & DSC provide a competitive edge...long may they last!

 

[ms1]

IIRC some here thought QF were desperate offering the recent double status credits

FWIW I think its just good business to maintain and or grow your premium/customer base - doesn't matter if you're VA or QF. Offers like these & DSC provide a competitive edge...long may they last!

It's all well and good to grow your premium customer base but what I think swanning_it is arguing (and I very much agree) is that VA don't seem to be showing loyalty to those premium members who didn't receive status matches and other offers highlighted in this thread but rather earnt the status credits to reach their respective membership levels.

 

[amaroo]

It's all well and good to grow your premium customer base but what I think swanning_it is arguing (and I very much agree) is that VA don't seem to be showing loyalty to those premium members who didn't receive status matches and other offers highlighted in this thread but rather earnt the status credits to reach their respective membership levels.

TBF VA hasn't got much of a premium customer base. Any airline moving from a LCC model to a 3 class service needs a high level of premium customers.

Has JB's honeymoon period come to an end?

It's obvious that the current customer base of VA isn't cutting it. If it was - they wouldn't be making such huge changes to their business model.

IMO VA members should be well pleased they have what appears to be a very good CEO at the helm.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

what I think swanning_it is arguing (and I very much agree) is that VA don't seem to be showing loyalty to those premium members

I actually used the term proven rather than premium, but yes, having just read all this thread (I didn't see it yesterday so didn't know about 'till just before) I find myself being reluctantly drawn from the mildly annoyed and bemused attitude of 10 months ago to a feeling of anger right now.

TBF VA hasn't got much of a premium customer base. It's obvious that the current customer base of VA isn't cutting it.

You make a lot of assumptions there, but let's just leave the quip to one side for a moment and address your primary thrust that VA need premium flyers. Premium flyers can be just as easily found in their existing customer base. Just because a client cannot see value in buying a more expensive product simply because it's more expensive does not necessarily make that client less premium....perhaps just more canny. Read the many posts here on AFF from flyers stating they view BFOD in its aggregate and not singularly. It's up to VA to make their premium product worthwhile. Plenty here on AFF don't yet see it as worth the extra lot to get little.

What I'm getting angry about is the fact VA seem to think to grow their premium customer base they have to forget their current customers and reel in a new bunch. What rubbish! By all means attract new customers, but by offering their loyal customers similar incentives to the newbies may just entice their existing clients to purchase more premium products, if the aggregate BFOD works with them. By not addressing those issues, VAs costly new fish may, by and large, be very similar to the ones cast aside.

I've also stated for many months now, VA is moving their model outside my aggregate BFOD tipping point. My answer is to shift my purchasing to where the aggregate BFOD works for me, but VA can also change that outcome. Some of those SCs being scattered about to all and sundry right now, directed toward the VA regulars would (at least in my case) alter the swing of the aggregate BFOD assessments.

EDIT: I'd also like to add, those loose SCs being thrown around right now are supposed to be loyalty credits or perhaps even frequent flyer credits. The way VA are handing them out rewards neither loyalty nor frequent flying (with VA). That cheapens what is supposed to be a push for premium customers. Degrading OUR loyalty scheme is yet another slap in the face,

 

[amaroo]

You make a lot of assumptions there,

Didn't help that you selectively cut two sentences into one. The meaning/meassage has been strangled into something else.

There is only one way a company can quickly grow their business......growing your customer base has to be good for all VA customers. An airline that flounders doesn't serve the few, for very long.

The status freebies won't last longer than 2, 3 or 4 years however, this very initiative may mean the company lives for very many more years.

People are funny - some QF WP1 have the dirts that QF are handing out double status credits....they complain about lounges being full, op-up's being degraded & so forth.

Seems a LCC trying to improve their station or a full service airline trying to save theirs - have the same issues. Seems pleasing your current customer base is a difficult task!

 

[greenfish]

I guess the risk of alienating existing customers is pretty low - at least in Virgin's opinion. They have a few strengths including:

1. VA converts can be evangelical and hence reluctant to lose face when new customers preferenced over themselves
2. VA existing customers have little choice as QF won't status match them, so a switch to QF is painful

So it isn't nice, but the cold hard facts are that VA view the risk of losing existing premium customers to be low, so hence will continue to chase non VA premium pax with offers not available to loyal customers.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I guess the risk of alienating existing customers is pretty low - at least in Virgin's opinion. They have a few strengths including:

1. VA converts can be evangelical and hence reluctant to lose face when new customers preferenced over themselves
2. VA existing customers have little choice as QF won't status match them, so a switch to QF is painful

So it isn't nice, but the cold hard facts are that VA view the risk of losing exiting premium customers to be low, so hence will continue to chase non VA premium pax with offers not available to loyal customers.

I used to be very pro-DJ. Evangelical? No, but I was vocal in my support and similarly, I'm now also vocal in my disapproval.

We aren't all talking about QF. Remember as was pointed out above, many of the DJ loyalists don't want status if it means being ripped off with fares. The other thing of course is a well timed QF switch may not be painful at all. ATA (even though I disagree with that approach and wouldn't do it myself).

 

[greenfish]

swanning_it, I think you're the exception to the rule though. It isn't just the lounge access. It's the best Y seating, the baggage benefits etc. One thing I worked out was how well treated I was when there were problems on QF as a Platinum.

As I was also self-funded I am acutely aware of costs, but flying mostly BNE - CBR, I had exactly two choices. Even if I was flying on a JQ or Tiger route, I'm not sure I'd be happy to go for no status and hence have no priority when there are problems.

 

[MichaelD]

I got nothing, and I'll fly 2400SCs with DJ this year, so with family pooling all 3 of us will maintain Platinum.

But...unlike most here, I'm not miffed at all. In fact, I think this is a GREAT idea by Virgin. I look forward to getting a similar offer if I am ever a bit short one year.