Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

[pshepvic]

Interesting news. It must be close. You should have said, "Yeah, I was reading the details about Platinum this morning, pretty good huh? What did you think the best benefit of all was?"

I wasn't quick enough!

750 qual and 600 retain!...........DJ WP?

I personally think the Qualification level will be 1000 though, and requal at 800, ie. double gold. Honestly don't think it will be triple gold as some might have said before. That would make it 1500, and therefore higher than QF, which I think would be very unlikely, particularly when trying to lure those customers.


Based on that prediction above, as it stands I'll be at 727 SCs by the end of this week, with 4 months to go until any of those SCs drop off, and my flying has kicked up another notch this month. I now only have to do 3 more return MEL-SYD in PE and one in full Y, and I'll be over the magic 1000 mark.

Under the old SC system it would have been more difficult, as in PE I didn't come close to doubling my SCs over full Y (sometimes with only a small fare difference it was as little as 210 points or 2.1 SCs in the new scale difference). So the new SCs are definitely working for me!

For those who had a go at those of us who took the Gold status match, I think mine has proven it's worth to VA!

 

[DJ 1D]

750 qual and 600 retain!...........DJ WP?

I hope it's at least 1000, or even 1200. Would like to see it as a significant jump from Gold with significant perks as well!

 

[LiamR]

I hope it's at least 1000, or even 1200. Would like to see it as a significant jump from Gold with significant perks as well!

On that note.. What hard perks do you think we are going to see? What physical benefits...

 

[pshepvic]

I hope it's at least 1000, or even 1200. Would like to see it as a significant jump from Gold with significant perks as well!

I'd cope with 1200 ... Then I'd have to do 6 MEL-SYD return in PE, which I think is doable by November

Any more than that level and I think it's set too high and that it will be a very small group of people, at least initially

 

[DJ 1D]

On that note.. What hard perks do you think we are going to see? What physical benefits...

There was a good thread earlier about what we'd like to see...here's my post (mostly quoting antycbr's excellent ideas).

I'd cope with 1200 ... Then I'd have to do 6 MEL-SYD return in PE, which I think is doable by November

Any more than that level and I think it's set too high and that it will be a very small group of people, at least initially

I certainly hope it's a fairly small group initially. I think if it is going to have some really special features then it needs to be somewhat "exclusive". And frankly, there are so many excellent benefits for Golds now that they'll need to make Platinum pretty amazing to make it much different.

 

[pshepvic]

I certainly hope it's a fairly small group initially. I think if it is going to have some really special features then it needs to be somewhat "exclusive". And frankly, there are so many excellent benefits for Golds now that they'll need to make Platinum pretty amazing to make it much different.

That's what I'm counting on - considering one of their Gold benefits Qantas can't even offer to Platinum!

I think there might be a few things we've never seen before. Or should I say I'm hoping there will be?!

 

[DJ 1D]

That's what I'm counting on - considering one of their Gold benefits Qantas can't even offer to Platinum!

I think there might be a few things we've never seen before. Or should I say I'm hoping there will be?!

Me too!

Based on their track record I think it's a fair bet to say that they've got a few aces up their sleeve...

...hopefully only another day or two to wait!

 

[LiamR]

That's what I'm counting on - considering one of their Gold benefits Qantas can't even offer to Platinum!

I think there might be a few things we've never seen before. Or should I say I'm hoping there will be?!

I think Virgin will come up with a few 'Our of the box' ideas. It's in their nature.

I'm sure when they do announce it, we will be trying to adjust to new ideas, new benefits. Something we wouldn't think we would need, yet in 6mths we couldn't live without.

I can imagine Virgin Australia doing it while we are on the F Lounge run. Hijacking out entire Qantas orientated day, into a huge Virgin Australia discussion.

 

[Justchecking]

And just thinking about this, it really is in virgins interests to stay small in terms of elite pax. While the numbers aren't huge they can afford the anytime access and other goodies. But as soon as too many qualify it becomes a significant additional cost to them.

 

[connieguy]

For those who had a go at those of us who took the Gold status match, I think mine has proven it's worth to VA!

My company just did a corp deal and received 2 x VA Gold cards. I can tell you that was a good deal that VA did as those Gold 2 cards will earn a spend of at least A$30k over the first year that would have gone to QF or to other OW carriers.

I like VA as they create a good image of listening to and caring for their FFers, unlike another Oz based airline.

 

[notzac]

On that note.. What hard perks do you think we are going to see? What physical benefits...

FLounge access with EY! *hopeful*

 

[Deleted member 29185]

The Lounges makes me wonder. They've just spent quite a tidy sum on MEL and BNE with more to come on the others, not to mention the new OOL, MKY and at least one other, so plats don't seem to have been catered for yet with own Lounge facilities. SYD is definitely do-able with the upstairs section possibly for a plat/J lounge.

As for the Plat level, 750 qual would have the effect of luring FFers like me to spend perhaps just a bit more on our travel. 1000 or 1200 would make it pointless, for me that is, unless they reintroduced sector earns and allowed some creative flying. So I guess it's whether DJ want Plat to be the elite of the crop, or whether they want to entice silver and golds to spend that bit more with an incentive, although thinking about it, it might also be about retaining loyalty, in which case a higher qual would work for them as well! Guess we'll have to wait and see

 

[notzac]

Am hoping that it's 1000 to qualify, 800 to retain. Naturally my running SC total definitely has something to do with me saying that, but I imagine VA don't want to make it too easy..

 

[Major]

For Plat it really comes down to " what benefits do I receive that are not already available as Gold ". If those benefits are not significant then VA would find it hard to justify a 750 SC ( or higher ) requirement.

There is a limit to what VA can offer for loyalty and I'm sure their bean counters have costed it to the cent, but if the bar is set too high ( in SC terms ) then it may just be not worth it.
A very small percentage of Velocity members spent more time in an aircraft seat than their TV seat at home and they will qualify as Plat with ease. Then there are those that will need to closely examine the benefits before committing additional expenditure or consider a possible SC run.

As far as I'm concerned these exciting changes can't come soon enough. I eagerly await.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

although thinking about it, it might also be about retaining loyalty, in which case a higher qual would work for them as well! Guess we'll have to wait and see

In thinking about this, the best way for DJ to retain loyalty is to offer lifetime status. Most FFers (I imagine) are at those levels because of business and as such will eventually drop off.......along with their status. By offering lifetime status, they give members a target to strive for during their business life, to enjoy during retirement, thereby ensuring loyalty to get there.

If Plat is set too high and no lifetime status introduced, many golds will simply shop for the cheapest price for the product they want (and perhaps retain gold over numerous airlines) which is contrary to what DJ would want (I'd assume, in my limited knowledge).

 

[pshepvic]

In thinking about this, the best way for DJ to retain loyalty is to offer lifetime status. Most FFers (I imagine) are at those levels because of business and as such will eventually drop off.......along with their status. By offering lifetime status, they give members a target to strive for during their business life, to enjoy during retirement, thereby ensuring loyalty to get there.

If Plat is set too high and no lifetime status introduced, many golds will simply shop for the cheapest price for the product they want (and perhaps retain gold over numerous airlines) which is contrary to what DJ would want (I'd assume, in my limited knowledge).

If they bring in lifetime status I hope they consider age in the equation! I've had a good 20 years flying QF and will probably hit LTG within 5-7 years. Will be difficult for me to hit any lifetime status with DJ before I retire, and chances are the amount of flying I do will drop at that point anyway. Maybe the lifetime qualification rate could drop based on how many years you have left! Wishful thinking? Probably...

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Some of the US airlines have good lifetime schemes. (Not including AA, because you don't even need to fly to achieve it) I think that UA has 1, 2 and 3 million mile BIS milestones. LH has a 10 consecutive years at Senator level (and over 50) to get Senator lifetime.

 

[Noob]

The thing is new Virgin Australia Lounges are of a standard equal and in some instances greater than Qantas J lounges. Virgin's frequent flyer base is smaller and I would assume it is not required at this stage to have separate lounges.

So Virgin Australia appears to be modeling it's lounges so they cater both for the "Qantas Club" market and the "Qantas Business Lounge" market.

 

[markis10]

The thing is new Virgin Australia Lounges are of a standard equal and in some instances greater than Qantas J lounges. Virgin's frequent flyer base is smaller and I would assume it is not required at this stage to have separate lounges. .

While I support DJ in their changes I would in no way say their lounges are the equivalent to a QF J lounge, on the basis of food offerings and drinks alone QF beat them hands down, not to mention the reading material on offer or the workstations on offer measured by numbers! The thing that DJ does stand out in the lounge area is their always available Barista!

 

[antycbr]

In thinking about this, the best way for DJ to retain loyalty is to offer lifetime status. Most FFers (I imagine) are at those levels because of business and as such will eventually drop off.......along with their status. By offering lifetime status, they give members a target to strive for during their business life, to enjoy during retirement, thereby ensuring loyalty to get there.

It seems that they are tracking lifetime status already, remember that they celebrated their first millionaire (old SC scheme) in April 2011. I guess this would be divided by 100 as part of the SC implementation, meaning 10,000 SC. These numbers are in the same ballpark as QF, so I expect there might be something very similar in the new Velocity, recognising flying dating back to the original launch of Velocity.

It certainly gives you something to strive towards.