Qantas to fast track airline loyalty program status

[MooTime]

I assume I haven't been matched. I submitted on Friday 27th. VA Platinum, but half my status comes from my partner when we travel together. Most of my flying is international, so they may not want to match me at this time. I have emailed them but radio silence.

That's why I'm not applying, family pooling of VA isn't recognised by Qantas. Which is fair enough.

Do many other loyalty programs worldwide have this family pooling?
It is convenient I must say & does encourage family trips on an airline.

Any thoughts on QF ever considering this?

 

[_flyer]

That's why I'm not applying, family pooling of VA isn't recognised by Qantas. Which is fair enough.

Do many other loyalty programs worldwide have this family pooling?
It is convenient I must say & does encourage family trips on an airline.

Any thoughts on QF ever considering this?

I still find it odd, as I would have hit gold regardless - simply on my own flying.

 

[stig_aus]

That's why I'm not applying, family pooling of VA isn't recognised by Qantas. Which is fair enough.

Do many other loyalty programs worldwide have this family pooling?
It is convenient I must say & does encourage family trips on an airline.

Any thoughts on QF ever considering this?

My VA Gold was partially achieved through family pooling and I've been approved for the Status Fast Track. No harm in giving it a shot.

 

[Rebus]

I submitted the requested details on Tuesday and was accepted into the Status Fast Track program today.

I note that the QF webpage states that if you earn the required 100 status credits you will be granted Gold status 'for at least 12 months'. Has anyone clarified what this will mean in practice i.e. is it linked to your membership anniversary?

 

[Mattg]

I’m sure they’re overwhelmed with applications so I wouldn’t expect such a swift response. I’m sure either way they’d let us know whether we’re successful or not.

According to this media release from today, they've so far received "several thousand" applications.

 

[Maccaj73]

I got knocked back because I asked for a challenge previously, was granted the challenge in Feb 2020 and nearly successfully completed it then COVID hit in March.... bit unfair to not be given another go I think, have asked for it to be escalated and reconsidered but not holding my breath...

 

[oliver_adl]

I'm waiting on mine to be processed; looks promising and I have a 3 leg trip already booked which would fulfil the 100 status credits before Christmas anyway.

VA shifted a few too many upcoming bookings/times already and the slow lounge re-openings mean if QF goes well in the next month am moving my 50+ business flights a year to QF probably.

I'd hit Gold pretty quickly anyway so the only benefit of this challenge I think is that I'll earn a few more QF points on the upcoming bookings.

 

[SeaWolf]

Just got an acceptance email now (I sent my docs Tuesday morning). Seems like they're working through them fairly quickly, so that's a good thing. I'm starting mine a bit later on (mid-March) as I'm planning an Easter getaway and I think work travel will have resumed by then as well.

Also (and correct me if I'm wrong on this one), as my current status rollover is the end of February then I should get through to Feb 2022 once I qualify, plus the subsequent year (to 2023). That's how it works with QFF, isn't it? The rollover date always stays the same, even if you go up a tier.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I haven't received any further correspondence after applying online. Anyone else not heard anything yet?

 

[oliver_adl]

Anyone else getting replies addressed to the wrong person?

I submitted mine and got a unique 'code' in the subject. Now I've received another email addressed to another surname with a different 'code' in the subject. It's the same template email from the same person (Aina, might be a bot...) Bit curious; wonder if Qantas has some data handling problem...

 

[Nathant123]

I’m still waiting for Velocity to get back to me with my statement. I suppose they’re inundated with statement requests as well!

 

[oliver_adl]

I’m still waiting for Velocity to get back to me with my statement. I suppose they’re inundated with statement requests as well!

You can extract it yourself from the activity section; just have to filter the view so it just shows flights and not all other things like points transfers and so on.

 

[Jousams]

mine was accepted with an extract of the online activity section with SC earn filtered out.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

What happens if your challenge runs across two membership years?

My current membership year ends 31 May 2021.

If I am accepted for the challenge and set the starting date as 31 March to run through 30 June 2021, does that mean my status is extended until 31 May 2022 or 31 May 2023?

 

[exceladdict]

Approved just now. Have to respond and nominate the start of my 90 days allowing for 10 days to activate the temporary upgrade. Time to get planning!

Were you given a deadline for when you'd have to nominate the start of your 90 days? Travel for me next year is still to be confirmed, so ideally I wouldn't have to nominate for quite some time...

 

[hydrabyss]

No details were provided. But the QF pitch to VA status pax was referred to as "cheeky" and that VA would respond "in a few days".

To be clear, I'm not trying to derail the thread. My aim is just to alert VA status pax thinking of jumping ship that VA has something in the pipeline.

Here's hoping enough jump ship or plane to be more correct and priority boarding on VA will be like it was 8 years ago. Lounges will be less crowded, at least the ones that are still left and I will be able to get my bag above my seat instead of it being taken by someone sitting 3 rows further down.

 

[mad_atta]

I submitted my EOI back when the Executive Traveller article came out, but haven't heard anything. I qualified via 3 different airlines - VA Plat, OZ Diamond and NZ Elite, so would have thought one way or another that would get me over the line at least to be considered but I've heard nothing so far.

As it happens I'm about to hit Points Club Plus so if I do end up deciding to fly QF much more this year, at least I'll have pub access, which will make life a bit more pleasant.

 

[Dee#]

I'm having a similar dilemma to you. My most frequent route is SYD-CBR and at the moment VA simply do not fly it and it's quite unclear what their future offering and the future of CBR lounge will be.
For me, doing the status match with QF is about hedging my bets. I don't particularly want to abandon VA, but if they don't fly where I need to go then there won't be much choice.

Me too. Hedging my bets.
My most frequent is Perth-Darwin return. Virgin are ok and cheaper than Q. But they are not reopening the lounge in Darwin. Why? It was large and busy before covid.
A lot easier to redeem FF's on Virgin for free seats.
But Virgin is only paired with Etihad (not flying out of Perth or Darwin) or Singapore air which is Silk (dont like it) out of Darwin. So too few options to Europe and all those FF points and SCs with Virgin partners when we can go again.
Qantas Biz Perth-London direct is looking like a real option now 17hrs is a bit of a stretch-but when?. Not going Qatar after the disgusting incident (and fare gouging) on principle, and there are too many mini-wars with missiles being thrown around in middle east, Ethiopia, and ex-Russian states.

 

[Dee#]

Mr Dee and I have just submitted our EOI and got onto Virgin for 18 month record. I never got my plastic card membership to 2021 in June either. But Oz post has been shocking for 6 months.
Wont be using my Qatar platinum match I guess!

 

[Zinger]

Yay! I finally received a reply to my EOI.

Has anyone been approved when using a print up of your activity from the Velocity site together with a screen shot of the name, Velocity number, tier and review date on the left hand side of the My Velocity page?