Surprise! You've turned Gold!

[notmensa]

Yeah, a sincere message would be much nicer. Particularly for those who are oh-so-close to the next status level.

 

[gilby08]

Well 1st media report is now out here: Virgin Blue "error" upgrades passengers to gold status - Software - Technology - News - iTnews.com.au

Now to wait for nonews to publish their story!!

 

[Blackadder]

Those two statements sum me up.... (except lounge access via AA)

Goodness, no, it could not be a marketing stunt!!! I would be really really interested to know what snafu caused it!

Ditto, I guess I will stick to the Red Rat and Oneworld.

 

[oliverd]

I guess the retraction email will be following shortly.

That was very prescient! I just received the retraction. My three year old - who was also upgraded to Gold - hasn't got the "Oops" email yet. Maybe I'll have to ask her if she'll let me into the lounge next time we go on holidays

Anyway, not a very good PR move. I fly almost exclusively with QF (but only just make Silver level each year), so after receiving that offer I was considering switching allegiance. I'm now less inclined to consider switching than I was before...

 

[djfuzz]

Chalk me up as another who thought there was a status match happening - and also someone who seriously would have considered giving DJ a whirl again.

Didn't get a chance to check things out here until just now, so must say it's a bit disappointing. Terrible PR move for Virgin (pretty much another iSnack 2.0), will turn far more people away than it will attract.

 

[straitman]

I didn't get the email which probably means I need to update my email address to DJ :!: :shock:

 

[bnroz]

Can i just ask, what if someone who received this upgrade to Gold (which i did), and between when they got the upgrade email to when they got the sorry retractable email they booked a flight with DJ or VA knowing that they have gold, etc..... tell you what i thought about booking a flight with them as soon as got the free gold upgrade, i wonder if anyone did and what would happen if they booked this just because they got the free gold upgrade?

 

[el_rooto]

I got given an upgrade to gold on Virgin... And have done no flying with them for 3yr

Hi all,

I got given a bump to Velocity gold, even though I've done no flying with them for a LONG time... (3yrs) :S

Hi Velocity Membership Number:
We’ve got a treat for you - a free upgrade to Velocity Gold! Given you came so close to making it on your own, we wanted to say thanks so much for your ongoing commitment to the Virgin Blue Group, we really love having you around.

To find out what’s in store for you over the next 12 months, please keep reading.

Does this make sense to anyone?

 

[samh004]

I don't see why a free lounge pass wouldn't be possible, would drive sales too as you'd need a ticket to use it. But whatever, will fly QF to SYD next month with my sister. As planned.

Can i just ask, what if someone who received this upgrade to Gold (which i did), and between when they got the upgrade email to when they got the sorry retractable email they booked a flight with DJ or VA knowing that they have gold, etc..... tell you what i thought about booking a flight with them as soon as got the free gold upgrade, i wonder if anyone did and what would happen if they booked this just because they got the free gold upgrade?

I did think about this. You'd have a pretty strong case for getting refunded, as only the Velocity Rewards site was down, not the other sites, but oh well.

 

[Mal]

i wonder if anyone did and what would happen if they booked this just because they got the free gold upgrade?

If that occurred, my advice would be for that person to contact Virgin Blue and advise that they only booked the flight on the advice of the email, and wished to cancel it with no penalty.

I doubt Velocity/Virgin Blue would offer anything more than that. They're hardly going to give away 2 million lounge passes, free flights or upgrade 2 million people to Gold...

 

[Mal]

Re: I got given an upgrade to gold on Virgin... And have done no flying with them for

It was an email sent out in mistake.

A lot more discussion in this other thread: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/virgin-blue-velocity/surprise-youve-turned-gold-20216.html

 

[straitman]

I doubt Velocity/Virgin Blue would offer anything more than that. They're hardly going to give away 2 million lounge passes, free flights or upgrade 2 million people to Gold...

Stranger things have happened :!:

 

[straitman]

Re: I got given an upgrade to gold on Virgin... And have done no flying with them for

A lot more discussion in this other thread:

I have sent a note to the moderators about merging the threads.

 

[ked999]

it could be an error, but i also wonder if it is a Virgin publicity stunt - not one that I agree with.

 

[Warks]

Well it was exciting while it lasted. Only just got the "Oh cough" email now.

So what if you are the person who DID just make Gold? Will they retract your Gold too?:mrgreen:

 

[Blackadder]

Just got the oops e-mail here, ahh back to a mere Virgin pleb.

 

[tuapekastar]

The e-mail looked exciting, but deep down the logical person in me I knew it was most likely an error. I would have tried them out.

There'll likely just be an apology (as some have received already) a bit of ongoing embarrassment for a while, then it'll be largely forgotten.

Now if it went to people who genuinely just missed Gold and is retracted from them...:shock:

I can't subscribe to the viral marketing theory...it would have pi55ed off too many people.

A one-off 'come and try' lounge pass would be nice though!

 

[pauly7]

When crazydave has a look at this thread (i'm tipping not this afternoon as he might be a little busy!), he'll note the number of people who are prepared to give DJ a go, but dont want to lose the (perceived or otherwise) benefits of their status / qp membership on qf.


Another round of status matching might get quite a number across.

I agree... when crazydave is brave enough to front up will be interesting to hear how it all went so wrong.

For the record I got it, was really excited - thought DJ had FINALLY put together a decent promotion to get Qantas elites to try them out again - I actually went to the DJ website to check out their prices..... then I came here....

Then I got a typically stupid DJ 'apology' OOOPS....

And so reaffirms again that they have a way to go to win my business back.

SO crazydave, how about a comp for SG members here to make it up?!

 

[albatross710]

I think this will be good grist for e-marketing classes and text books across the land. What they learned and how they developed a new program from this learning experience.

A marketing junior who had responsibility for running the query on the database this month will probably be moving on.

2,000,000 frequent flyers lodge complaints and force the company to make good the offer.

Maybe I was imagining that last one.

 

[fortymilliondaggers]

Can i just ask, what if someone who received this upgrade to Gold (which i did), and between when they got the upgrade email to when they got the sorry retractable email they booked a flight with DJ or VA knowing that they have gold, etc..... tell you what i thought about booking a flight with them as soon as got the free gold upgrade, i wonder if anyone did and what would happen if they booked this just because they got the free gold upgrade?

I thought about this too.

The Gold email would probably be a term of the contract. Beacuse it was sent out in mistake, Virgin did not intend it to be a term sot hey would have the option of either honouring the contract, or rescinding it.

I reckon you'd probably be entitled to a refund on your flights or a free lounge pass.