Status Match rejected - any suggestions

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liebs

liebs

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Oct 20, 2006
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Any suggestions appreciated.
I'm current Qantas Gold - travelling around 30 domestic trips a year, maybe 5 privately.
Our company has now decided that travel can be with the carrier of OUR choice (formerly QF) and I find Virgin both cheaper and equally comfortable. I decided to see if Customer service would match my QF status if I travelled exclusively Virgin - seemed a reasonable request, but alas I'm told they don’t status match , but being a velocity member has fantastic privileges such as family pooling.

WOW, not what I expected.
Any suggestions whether I pursue the matter or accept this as strictly enforced policy?

Thanks
 
I wanted to do the same as was told no... seems crazy as its cost effective way to entice customers (genuine corp travellers) over.
 
The horse has well and truly bolted. VA did offer govt workers a status match recently, but they have had their large scale status match a couple of years back.
 
Given that there may be quite a few disenfranchised Qantas Frequent Flyers with all the changes of late, I doubt Virgin will offer any status matches, certainly not at their higher tiers.
 
liebs said:
Any suggestions appreciated.
I'm current Qantas Gold - travelling around 30 domestic trips a year, maybe 5 privately.
Our company has now decided that travel can be with the carrier of OUR choice (formerly QF) and I find Virgin both cheaper and equally comfortable. I decided to see if Customer service would match my QF status if I travelled exclusively Virgin - seemed a reasonable request, but alas I'm told they don’t status match , but being a velocity member has fantastic privileges such as family pooling.

WOW, not what I expected.
Any suggestions whether I pursue the matter or accept this as strictly enforced policy?

Thanks
Click to expand...

suggest contacting your VA account manager ( assuming you work for a company that has one?).. they can offer things like Pilot Gold.. The front line staff do not have that option
 
I don't know if i works th other way round, but I was able to get Air Berlin status matched to my Virgin Platinum. And now I can get into Qantas lounges by flashing the Air Berlin card.

Might be able to get Air Berlin Gold (matched from your qantas) and then use that to get in to Virgin lounge? You['ll have to check the relevant sites though
 
Interesting that VA wouldnt choose to have the status match opiton open all year - seems a no brainer to offer a few basic benefits upfront to Corp travellers who do substantial travel during the year.
In truth matching GOLD is not going to cost them a ton, but in my case it 35 flights a year they otherwise wouldnt have.

End of the days its their prerogative - but on the surface makes lttle business sense.
 
I know that VA and QF will do it if there is a reasonable number of you trying.

So, I suggest account manager (as has been suggested) of VA be contacted.

Usually then offer will be made to all eligible company staff and you'll have 2 weeks to accepted.

A relative worked for a company where contract went from VA to QF and QF jumped at status offer.
 
Yeh but big global companies (like mine) use Carlson Wagonlit for all their travel bookings and although we have choice we don't get direct access to the account managers :(
 
Status match would be nice but what's the concern? Lounge access? Why not purchase lounge membership and you'll be Gold before you know it.
 
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djchuckles said:
I don't know if i works th other way round, but I was able to get Air Berlin status matched to my Virgin Platinum. And now I can get into Qantas lounges by flashing the Air Berlin card.

Might be able to get Air Berlin Gold (matched from your qantas) and then use that to get in to Virgin lounge? You['ll have to check the relevant sites though
Click to expand...

Same here. And it does work the other way around as far as i understand it. AirBerlin is the perfect program for transitioning from one Australian program to the other as they offer a 5 month or so month status/ match chalenge good on both carriers.... i'm met the challenge and am now aiming to hedge my bets this year and get QF gold to go with my VA Plat.
 
As a business owner (albeit small at this stage) I would hope that staff who are given the option to choose their travel would pick the most cost effective travel to get the job done - notice I say cost effective, not cheapest. But I am a realist and I know that given incentives travellers, particularly those who aren't spending their own dime, will be swayed by perks like lounge access, priority luggage/boarding, seating, etc. This is why big companies clamp down on travel.

Personally I don't mind if a traveller is spending my profits on travelling as they choose, earning and enjoying status, so long as they get the task done. Heck, if they can treat clients to a nice lounge visit, all the better - and if they can arrive in a better frame of mind (after enjoying the perks) and win us a contract, well that's good too. Just don't get me started on "why fly direct when you can connect and collect."

Back on topic, if the OP was my staff member I would encourage them to seek a status match, I would support their claim with VA (using Pilot Gold if available) as I wouldn't want them to spend more of my money to sit in a QP when their primary task was to get from A to B and VA could offer that trip at a lower price.

My 2c.

OzE
 
JohnK said:
Status match would be nice but what's the concern? Lounge access? Why not purchase lounge membership and you'll be Gold before you know it.
Click to expand...

Agree with this one - I purchased life time Qantas Club membership in the last possible month.

I am now Lifetime silver and well on to the way for Life Time Gold.

Once I hit Life time gold, the membership will be worthless!
 
MelUser said:
Once I hit Life time gold, the membership will be worthless!
Click to expand...
Serious question but how easy was Lifetime Gold before Any Seat Awards?

And how easy is it going to be with all these changes since 01 July?
 
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