Status match, other goodies for Virgin members

[GoldCanyon340]

Here's a random thought. If VA do restructure and come out of this, I wonder if they might try poach QF status pax with a status match?

Possible but only if Virgin2 has the product to back it up. For Platinums and above at least VA lounges are (were) poorer than QF J lounges domestically and the international network of partners and lounges is (was) woeful compared to Oneworld products.

 

[jakeseven7]

Here's a random thought. If VA do restructure and come out of this, I wonder if they might try poach QF status pax with a status match?

Anything is possible I suppose but they have done it before and long term clearly it did not work out.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

It was actually only back to row 7 with the convertible seats - I remember this as row 8 had foot rests. Another facit was often when travelling with awork associate (on the same booking) we would be allocated B/C or D/E and if in rows 3-7, we would negotiate the middle seat because, 1) "Middle" & 2) due to less use the seat cushion was harder and you sat higher in it. Back then you could not preallocate a seat easily.

Ah yes you're right. I knew there was a 28J config loaded as it was a great sight for staff travellers I must have been thinking after the removal of domestic F but before the aircraft were refurbed thus giving two rows of the old F seats and a moveable curtain down to row 7.

 

[flyingfan]

Anything is possible I suppose but they have done it before and long term clearly it did not work out.

Indeed, IMHO VA's proposition was pretty compelling - several status matches, good lounges (I don't think separate J lounges were necessary) apart from SYD which was crowded too often, family pooling, excellent onboard J food, great service, WP loyalty partners etc. No lifetime status but it was easy enough to get status.

Looks like if VA survives they'll need a very different approach to compete with QF. I just hate the thought of them going downmarket against JQ.

 

[Jack_OC]

Hey guys, I'm one of those people looking to jump ship. Fresh out of the Virgin section where I have spent the last several years. Switched my earning cards to QF, so looks like i'll be coming for the ride over here for some time.

I'd LOVE for them to offer a status match as exactly am currently Platinum Velocity and it breaks my heart to be starting at nothing bronze? However like others mentioned with Virgin struggling to keep its head above the water QF have no reason to offer status match or anything else as I suspect I am likely one of many switching over.

QF have offered status challenges for some time to those with status in other programs. When I approached them about this a few years ago, I was QF Bronze, but VA Platinum and SQ Gold. I had held VA/SQ status for a few years, and was able to show a sustained track record of a lot of spend with those airlines. QF still only offered me a status challenge, when at that time they could have reasonably assumed that they would have had a bit of work to do to lure me away from VA/SQ.

Incidentally, when discussing this with QF, they also commented that they view VA Platinum as equivalent to QF Gold, but they were willing to offer me a Platinum challenge on account of my SQ status.

The way I see it, QF now will have much less of an incentive to offer anything to VA frequent flyers. They may or may not have a viable competitor in Australia after this plays out, but even if they do, it's quite possible that even the new competitor won't recognise VA status.

 

[Daver6]

Possible but only if Virgin2 has the product to back it up. For Platinums and above at least VA lounges are (were) poorer than QF J lounges domestically and the international network of partners and lounges is (was) woeful compared to Oneworld products.

Perhaps V2 might join an alliance. That you'd think would have been something that really hurt VA.

 

[travel_bug]

Perhaps V2 might join an alliance. That you'd think would have been something that really hurt VA.

That would be amazing. Some of those hodge podge random partnerships with other airlines like Alitalia have been such a pain to get the advertised benefits from. I even got an email from Velocity confirming that they know some partners don't always hold up their end of the bargain and would reimburse me for any costs incurred when I flew with them around and out of Italy.

I had to have a half hour discussion with check in staff at Milan Malpensa earlier this year regarding VA's partnership with Alitalia and the free extra piece of check in luggage I was entitled to as a VA Plat. I was lucky that I could communicate in Italian and got the check in person I did who actually took the time to check with some form of management or head office after I showed them the link on Alitalia's own website.

I wonder if they would go SkyTeam or Star Alliance though as their current partners appear to be a mix.

 

[flyingfan]

Drifting OT... an alliance might be attractive to many of us but I think it might fall under unnecessary spending and 'mismanagement.' Very much doubt the topic of joining would come up in the next 3 years, if VA pulls through.

Back on topic there might be some encouragement and a bit of good-taste marketing (rather than dancing on VA's grave) but again very, very doubtful QF has to do anything but just wait for VA's ex-customers to beat a path to its door. I hope it doesn't go down that way.

 

[Jack_OC]

Drifting OT... an alliance might be attractive to many of us but I think it might fall under unnecessary spending and 'mismanagement.' Very much doubt the topic of joining would come up in the next 3 years, if VA pulls through.

Back on topic there might be some encouragement and a bit of good-taste marketing (rather than dancing on VA's grave) but again very, very doubtful QF has to do anything but just wait for VA's ex-customers to beat a path to its door. I hope it doesn't go down that way.

I also doubt if an alliance would let them in any time soon. My understanding is that it's not just a simple matter of an airline saying "we want in" - the existing members all have to be satisfied that it's in the alliance's interests, and none of them are going to want a new member that may or may not be financially viable/stable (which really won't become clear for some time, even in the best case scenario).

 

[serfty]

Unless you're trying to poach, why would QF, or anyone else for that matter, 'status match'. Basically rewarding someone for not being a customer.....

Back when Ansett went under, Qantas certainly did not overtly status match.

I know a of a few who had been Ansett elites, simply began booking their business class fares on the International operated domestic Tag legs such as QF21, QF124 etc. to get lounge access.

Back then domestic Business class did not provide for lounge access whereas international (even on domestic segments) did.

Soon enough, they had build up enough status for complimentary lounge access anyway.

 

[suze2000]

Having spent a bit of time in both QF and VA lounges in the last year, I dispute the assertion that QF lounges are better than VA's. The QF J lounge might be better but I've never noticed a difference to the QP domestically except for the booze is available an hour earlier (which it is in the VA lounge anyway). And there are always far fewer people in the VA lounge. And less children.

This is domestic lounges of course... Does VA even have an international lounge offering or do/did they just use their partner lounges? (very much enjoyed the SQ lounges on our recent trip to Thailand).

 

[albatross710]

It’s an interesting competitive analysis not generally covered In the marketing textbooks.

VA FF with status and no airline wants an Airline without flights to compete for the non-business.

in the future restricted market QF will already have enough loyal flyers to give enough pax at suitable prices.

if there is a need to offer VA Status to capture travelers at least it would be good to know they can actually generate the revenue.

There is no business case.

 

[hossein_au]

...
VA FF with status and no airline wants an Airline without flights to compete for the non-business.
...

I don't mean to be rude, but I have no idea what the above sentence means.

 

[hossein_au]

Having spent a bit of time in both QF and VA lounges in the last year, I dispute the assertion that QF lounges are better than VA's. The QF J lounge might be better but I've never noticed a difference to the QP domestically except for the booze is available an hour earlier (which it is in the VA lounge anyway). And there are always far fewer people in the VA lounge. And less children.

I don't know about "less children", but I absolutely agree that I did not find much of a difference between QF J and VA domestic lounges. The latter was set up to be 'chic' while the former was set up as more 'classy'. Food in QF J was frequently better than VA, but sometimes VA was better. I am not a wine connoisseur, but I found both had drinkable wine. Cheese platters were available more often, and for longer period of time, in VA lounges. Both lounges were very busy at times, especially in MEL and SYD.

But this is all in the past... I'm just reminiscing.... the only lounge I frequent these days is the one in my home

 

[smlynarz]

I find it so weird that technically there is a price to joining the Qantas program, particularly since it gets waived so frequently/free promo codes are everywhere.

Yet I know 2 people (one was a housemate and one pays for my flights!) who both paid!

 

[smlynarz]

Hey guys, I'm one of those people looking to jump ship. Fresh out of the Virgin section where I have spent the last several years. Switched my earning cards to QF, so looks like i'll be coming for the ride over here for some time.

I'd LOVE for them to offer a status match as exactly am currently Platinum Velocity and it breaks my heart to be starting at nothing bronze? However like others mentioned with Virgin struggling to keep its head above the water QF have no reason to offer status match or anything else as I suspect I am likely one of many switching over.

Could you status match to another OW airline? Use that for lounge access etc and then credit to QF to build up your SC... Can be a bit tricky but definitely do-able!

 

[Jack_OC]

I don't know about "less children", but I absolutely agree that I did not find much of a difference between QF J and VA domestic lounges. The latter was set up to be 'chic' while the former was set up as more 'classy'. Food in QF J was frequently better than VA, but sometimes VA was better. I am not a wine connoisseur, but I found both had drinkable wine. Cheese platters were available more often, and for longer period of time, in VA lounges. Both lounges were very busy at times, especially in MEL and SYD.

But this is all in the past... I'm just reminiscing.... the only lounge I frequent these days is the one in my home

Did you mean QF J lounges, i.e. domestic Business Lounges, or Qantas Clubs? Food in QF J lounges is pretty much always significantly better than VA lounges IMHO. Qantas Clubs are similar to VA lounges in most respects in my view - although Qantas lounges all serve spirits (unlike VA Lounges) which is a big plus for some. I also don't know where the idea comes from that there are fewer children in the VA lounges compared to QF J lounges. I would say the opposite if anything, not that it's an issue either way for me.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

If there is effectively no competition then everything that was offered as an attempt to beat the competition will be withdrawn.
So far from there being status matches for VFFs as a lure to join QFF, we will be saying goodbye to DSCs and everything else.

 

[Jack_OC]

If there is effectively no competition then everything that was offered as an attempt to beat the competition will be withdrawn.
So far from there being status matches for VFFs as a lure to join QFF, we will be saying goodbye to DSCs and everything else.

I agree up to a point, but VA was not QF's only competitor by any stretch of the imagination. VA has never really been a serious competitor for international travel, so QF will still need to compete with lots of other international carriers if/when we get back to normal. I've taken liberal advantage of QF DSC offers over the years, but never on a domestic booking.

 

[serfty]

If there is effectively no competition then everything that was offered as an attempt to beat the competition will be withdrawn

I remember the "quality" of the wines available in the QP's in the years after the Golden Wing demise. I'd sip one red, sip the other, try 50/50 and when none of that (often) didn't do it for me I'd go have a HP.