Silver will no longer have priority check-in on domestic

[samh004]

Whoa! I didn't know they only lasted 6 months. I always got the impression that they lasted one year. Oh well.

They previously lasted less than that, I think it was about 3 months, but they got a few complaints...

 

[StevePER]

I always thought this was the biggest benefit of Silver over Red. Naturally, if you rarely check in baggage.... but then for most of us elites, we travel a lot so we try to travel without checked baggage, and we take it for granted a lot that we always have this complimentary checked baggage allowance to fall back on.

Many people (including me) would be travelling for work and not care whether it costs their employer an extra $20. If they took away this benefit it might cost me $20 per year for the relatively infrequent holiday.

 

[jetlagger]

So if I am a whinger, so be it.... What’s brought on this downgrade in Silver membership? I would have thought that the relative benefit to Silver was easy enough to execute with no additional resources needed at the check-in, and it meant that Silver passengers – who obviously fly a lot, otherwise they would not be Silver – have a fairly quick check-in, or importantly, bag drop. Now we have to wait in the queue with all the others, taking up my valuable time ! The point is, the Virgin experience suddenly gets a lot worse - this was the most significant thing for me as a Silver flyer. Now I won't have it, despite being faithfull to the airline. This retrograde move makes no sense, if you have a bag drop, you still need to be in a queue, somewhere!

I somewhat agree with your concerns..
In my observations over the past couple of weeks/months at OOL airport check in, the priority line has been very busy with all airlines on any given day. Worst observations would be Jetstar, multiple flight departures at peak times.
However, as for Virgin, I think it would be fair to only allow Gold/Business for the premium priority check in. This would expediate the check in experience for the most 'valued" clientele.
Additionally, it would be fair to also have a priority check in desk/line for the Silver members, who obviously would enjoy some recognition for loyalty as well. This would of course be subject to space/signage/staff requirements.
This being said, would allow a more fairer & fluid arrangement at check in, whilst more importantly not reducing any past/current benefit on offer to the Silver members.
Just a thought..

 

[tuapekastar]

I haven't particularly noticed the check in queues (apart from one day a month or so ago - I think it was start of school hols or something - the check in lines at MEL T3 were incredibly long) because I have always OLCIed on DJ and have never had to check a bag (so far). If I was a DJ Silver and needed to check bags I would be very disappointed with this enhancement (even moreso if, as has been mentioned, flexi fares still get it) if there is no way of avoiding long queues as a result.

Back when I was a paid Qantas club member I regarded the priority check in benefit (since removed domestically I think - or has it been reinstated?) as only marginally below lounge access, particularly at busy times when there were very long queues. So while the dynamics of check in have been evolving over the past few years (online, totem pole, bag drop), priority check in has certainly been IMO quite a significant benefit.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

It seems that the "enhancement expert" must have left AMEX and has gone to Virgin ! - perhaps we will now get more joy at Amex

 

[hobo]

Thepriority lines are usually quite empty. Sure, every now and then it is busy,but not all that often. (guess it depends on the route)

Theyshould either

1. Call silver members first to come to the regular line, and then call red and non members, whilst gold and platinum continue in their seperate line whenever they want
2. Open the gold platinum line as per usual, and as soon as it quitens, open the additional lane for silvers.

Theextra luggage is the only real advantage of being silver now, which is notreally of use to some.

 

[LiamR]

If I was a silver, I'd be pretty angry. Some people might get the impression that benefits are starting to be taken away.

I noticed at Melbourne on Saturday (School holidays) there is two priority queues, Gold+Platinum and Silver+Flexi, interestingly the Gold/Plat line had 5 people in it, and the silver/flexi line was completely empty.

 

[Coathanger]

I was soft landed to Silver this month but my upcoming trips are in J so this doesn't have any immediate impact.

As a QP member it's great to have the option to check-in at the priority desk domestically (maybe twice a year if travelling with family with checked baggage or who don't have the Q Card for NGCI) and internationally when I need to. My corporate rate is about the same as the discounted Lounge membership for Silver so overall Qantas is in the lead for my needs.

 

[mannej]

Priority boarding and checkin on VX
and DL

Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

Saying that, you can still apply for international upgrades on QF, you can't on VA as a silver.

 

[tuapekastar]

Let's see if as many whingers voice their disgust like they did when QF did the same.

I think it is quite legitimate for FF members affected by this to be unhappy if there is no reasonable alternative available to avoid long check in queues. I have no real knowledge of these as on DJ I've (fortunately for me) always been to able to OLCI (or totem pole occasionally) and travel without checked baggage, but if they are really long queues that cannot be avoided, then I'd happily whinge, as you put it.

 

[Flashback]

I think it is quite legitimate for FF members affected by this to be unhappy if there is no reasonable alternative available to avoid long check in queues. I have no real knowledge of these as on DJ I've (fortunately for me) always been to able to OLCI (or totem pole occasionally) and travel without checked baggage, but if they are really long queues that cannot be avoided, then I'd happily whinge, as you put it.

Don't worry, I don't disagree.. I was just saying wait for it to happen like it did when QFF did the same

 

[Guile99]

Good point. Effectively a one-off purchase is rewarded more than ongoing loyalty.

Ai Ai, i second that!

 

[lovestotravel]

Virgin love enhancing that's for sure

 

[AaronBradford]

Virgin love enhancing that's for sure

Yep, they seem to have caught the QF disease.

 

[munitalP]

Yep, they seem to have caught the QF disease.

remembering that JB is only doing what he had put in place for QF. Mirrored airlines IMHO

 

[lovestotravel]

Really not sure why they are enhancing this

Back in Mid August in MEL they introduced a separate line for check-in for Silver and Flexi fares, so I guess Flexi's will be back with the Gold/Plats again

 

[pauly7]

Who is silver on DJ anyway... with Virgins track record of comping people who miss tier qualification marks by a country mile I doubt they have many Silver members anyway

 

[lovestotravel]

Who is silver on DJ anyway... with Virgins track record of comping people who miss tier qualification marks by a country mile I doubt they have many Silver members anyway

A few people on Facebook not happy!

 

[bullerdude]

Really not sure why they are enhancing this

Back in Mid August in MEL they introduced a separate line for check-in for Silver and Flexi fares, so I guess Flexi's will be back with the Gold/Plats again

Alternatively, I see this as the more likely outcome:

Line 1: Plat / Business
Line 2: Flexi / Gold

 

[lovestotravel]

Alternatively, I see this as the more likely outcome:

Line 1: Plat / Business
Line 2: Flexi / Gold

Maybe, and it would make much more sense, they just need their lounges to work the same way then