New Tier above platinum

[token01]

Small bump here regarding a tier above platinum.

Personally since qantas WP /WP1 status is locked in for the foreseeable future / VA has been more attractive to fly due to a mixture of less cancellations and better pricing in some J routes I have started to rack up a lot of sector credits.

I just wanted to see what sort of status credit balances people are sitting on and what peoples thoughts are on va next status tier

I'm currently on around 3000 so far for this membership year with my year to be recalculated in December

Any predictions when Bain /VFF will announce this. I remember some statement from one of their loyalty heads who said they wouldn't do a cookie cutter qf comparison but I'm sure it will be in the ballpark.....

And lifetime counters ????

And also. Wether doing 10000 a year might allow beyond access ???

 

[jase05]

End of February for me but withe flights already booked and some others to still be booked I should finish somewhere between 3-4k SC’s. Another tier would be great and definitely lifetime counters would be a bonus too.
I’m not convinced either will happen so will just keep gifting Platinum to family or perhaps with one of these partnerships I might be able to credit some of the flights to them for status

 

[flyingfan]

That’s a lot of VA flying in my books. I’ve accrued enough to gift gold and with some luck plat but that’ll be it. I personally can’t see them doing a level beyond plat or lifetime status but sometimes they surprise. IMHO they’re not going to throw a lot of new money at the FF program.

 

[dandandan]

I think these things are all possible if Virgin is to relist again anytime soon.

 

[Milefest]

Introducing a tier above platinum or lifetime status is baggage for the buyer that Bain intends to sell to. I'd be surprised to see any major changes to the FF program that isn't related to driving cost efficiency for their balance sheets.

Regarding beyond membership, I'm doubtful they'd ever reveal the criteria to "earn" that tier but if they did I'd imagine it would be revenue based spend rather than SC earn.

 

[RadioBusinessTraveller]

I’ll be in the same boat with around 4000 status credits this year. Will be interesting to see what VA do about another tier.
Does anyone know if you can gift more than one membership in a year? Eg I’ve gifted platinum already this year and already have enough SC’s to technically gift another platinum membership.

 

[jase05]

I’ll be in the same boat with around 4000 status credits this year. Will be interesting to see what VA do about another tier.
Does anyone know if you can gift more than one membership in a year? Eg I’ve gifted platinum already this year and already have enough SC’s to technically gift another platinum membership.

Yes, I’ve done it several times

 

[pauly7]

I think these things are all possible if Virgin is to relist again anytime soon.

Possible I suppose but personally I think what Bain really need to do is make the current Platinum level more attractive and distinguishable from Gold with more hard benefits.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Not sure that it's the priority. Sorting out benefits on partner airlines for golds and platinums would be a good starting point. As per reports from this forum there are clearly some issues that need sorting with the QR and UA side of things for example.

 

[oz_mark]

I've heard they are reviewing things, but they weren't looking at just copying what other airlines do. So, who knows what they will do.

 

[UP4014]

Bain will only spend money on more benefits if it returns more profit and increases value.

Pauly7 has it I think, they need to improve in the platinum world to lure more business travel.

 

[Bagpuss]

Afraid this has come up for many, many years. I don't see this happening. For this to happen, I think they need to join an airline alliance mainly because ff'ers will mainly use this benefit internationally .

 

[RadioBusinessTraveller]

Yes, I’ve done it several times

A follow up to this...I tried to make this happen today and was told by someone in the overseas call centre that because i had nominated someone for companion Platinum already this membership year, it was not possible to do it again. Frustrating and ridiculous.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

A follow up to this...I tried to make this happen today and was told by someone in the overseas call centre that because i had nominated someone for companion Platinum already this membership year, it was not possible to do it again. Frustrating and ridiculous.

On that note, what has happened to the Brisbane call centre?? As a long-term SG (and recent WP) I've been transferred offshore for all of my recent calls. Admittedly they haven't ballsed anything up, but I also haven't asked for much either. Bain cutting costs again??

 

[AIRwin]

On that note, what has happened to the Brisbane call centre?? As a long-term SG (and recent WP) I've been transferred offshore for all of my recent calls.

After hours?

 

[jase05]

A follow up to this...I tried to make this happen today and was told by someone in the overseas call centre that because i had nominated someone for companion Platinum already this membership year, it was not possible to do it again. Frustrating and ridiculous.

I hope this isn’t a enhancement
Have done it as late as last year.
This year I have already gifted one and have just ticked over enough to gift another so I too will be calling up and enquiring about it

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

After hours?

Nope - 8am

 

[antycbr]

Nope - 8am

Agreed. International award bookings used to be overseas call centres but domestic itineraries were Brisbane. Since about April everything has been handled overseas

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Agreed. International award bookings used to be overseas call centres but domestic itineraries were Brisbane. Since about April everything has been handled overseas

It will be interesting to see how well this works out for everyone...

 

[antycbr]

It will be interesting to see how well this works out for everyone...

VA at least don’t have a OneWorld Award to book, but on the other hand they’re buddies with QR… and we know what ticketing issues with them are like.