Thoughts re status....2 gold vs 1 plat/1silver

[blingy90]

Hi everyone,

Was looking to get some thoughts on what people think is more valuable.

I am currently gold and my partner is silver, however we have a bit of travel coming up and a big o/s trip at the end of the year which will earn big SCs. Essentially we will be able to either be both on Gold, or I can reach platinum and she can maintain silver. Im pretty up on the benefits off each status, but not quite sure wether it would be better for us both to be gold or go for 1x plat + 1x silver. Either scenario - earns the same amount of bonus points. And given that the VM 2-4-1 offer excludes the flexi fare now, the free upgrades for plat most likely will go unused for us. So with that all in mind - is one scenario more advantageous then the other? The only one that jumps out at me is the advantage of row 3 being plat!

Any thoughts or feedback is most welcome, thanks!

 

[smit0847]

I've faced this exact question and would advise as follows:

If you travel together more than 50% of the time, go 1 Plat, 1 Silver (the auto Row 3 is the best Plat benefit in my opinion). If you don't travel together more than 50% of the time, go 2 x Gold - its going to be pretty crummy if your partner regularly travels without you knowing you're Plat and they're only Silver.

By the way, having been Silver, Gold and now Plat, Plats don't get much more than Golds but Golds get HEAPS more than Silvers.

 

[Shano]

I am Plat and my wife is Silver.

She only does a couple of flights a year on her own so she is happy with the 2 x comp Lounge passes that she gets as a PS. If she was flying more frequently then I would arrange family pooling so that we both had SG status for the lounge access and priority boarding.

As mentioned above the Row 3 perk as a Plat is good, but I am just about ready to give up on Row 3. Too many flights where 3B&C are taken yet vacant in rows 4 through 7.

If I was doing frequent OS travel with VA partners I would probably be more selfish and keep WP for the First lounge access (although admittedly only at a few ports).

 

[dandandan]

Pretty much the same thoughts here. If your partner only really travels with you I think the Plat and Silver scenario would be best. The Hilton Diamond benefits are one thing to keep in mind when a Plat, the privileges I have received from being a Hilton Diamond are fantastic. You will also get access to some better lounges overseas when a Plat as well.

I've faced this exact question and would advise as follows:

If you travel together more than 50% of the time, go 1 Plat, 1 Silver (the auto Row 3 is the best Plat benefit in my opinion). If you don't travel together more than 50% of the time, go 2 x Gold - its going to be pretty crummy if your partner regularly travels without you knowing you're Plat and they're only Silver.

By the way, having been Silver, Gold and now Plat, Plats don't get much more than Golds but Golds get HEAPS more than Silvers.

 

[scwappy]

I would agree that if your partner does not travel significantly on their own than a platinum -silver option would be best. Better hotel option, more bonus points through certain suppliers eg agoda if you are platinum

 

[erkpod]

Considering that there is an OS trip coming up, I'd go Gold/Gold. Make sure that both of you are Gold & have your cards before you go - don't change levels overseas.

Having spent the last 2 months OS primarily on partner airlines, here's why (especially when OS):

Priority check-in for both.
Priority security for both (where available).
Priority baggage for both.
Lounge access for both where available - don't rely on guesting OS.


Make sure you have your gold cards with you and present them every time you need to. This is especially true if you were silver when the trip was booked as happened to me - DL & VX's systems did not automatically upgrade me to gold.

 

[dandandan]

You will get all of those benefits being Platinum, especially when they will both most likely be on the same booking.

Virgin's systems will not also automatically upgrade your status if you were at a lower level at the time of booking.

Considering that there is an OS trip coming up, I'd go Gold/Gold. Make sure that both of you are Gold & have your cards before you go - don't change levels overseas.

Having spent the last 2 months OS primarily on partner airlines, here's why (especially when OS):

Priority check-in for both.
Priority security for both (where available).
Priority baggage for both.
Lounge access for both where available - don't rely on guesting OS.


Make sure you have your gold cards with you and present them every time you need to. This is especially true if you were silver when the trip was booked as happened to me - DL & VX's systems did not automatically upgrade me to gold.

 

[blingy90]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback - really helpful!

My partner and I travel together all the time really, and if ever solo - it is usually me not her. So the Plat/Silver scenario probably would work better.

Just in regards to the "soft landing" with status drop down. Unless we do another overseas holiday in 2015 (which is a possibility), the chances of me maintaining platinum are very unlikely. Correct me if I'm wrong, say I reach platinum, come my review date - if you have not met the criteria to maintain plat, you will just drop down to Gold. Is that correct? And for that subsequent year as gold, are you still only required to get 400 SCs to maintain?

 

[erkpod]

You will get all of those benefits being Platinum, especially when they will both most likely be on the same booking.

Virgin's systems will not also automatically upgrade your status if you were at a lower level at the time of booking.

But if both people are together OS, the gold or plat will get those benefits but not the silver.

I would not want to be the silver person (for instance) going through the regular security lines in the US while the gold/plat avoids most of the people by going down the priority security line. Ditto for things like lounge access.

 

[robd]

But if both people are together OS, the gold or plat will get those benefits but not the silver.

I would not want to be the silver person (for instance) going through the regular security lines in the US while the gold/plat avoids most of the people by going down the priority security line. Ditto for things like lounge access.

If they're on the same PNR, the silver will get the same treatment as the Plat.

 

[smit0847]

But if both people are together OS, the gold or plat will get those benefits but not the silver.

I would not want to be the silver person (for instance) going through the regular security lines in the US while the gold/plat avoids most of the people by going down the priority security line. Ditto for things like lounge access.

Plat benefits apply to all your travelling party on the same booking. They're not going to turn away a Silver at priority check-in travelling with a Plat.

Don't you always travel by yourself anyway?

 

[smit0847]

As mentioned above the Row 3 perk as a Plat is good, but I am just about ready to give up on Row 3. Too many flights where 3B&C are taken yet vacant in rows 4 through 7.

I suspect 3B is being selected by a SG that wants Row 3 at all costs (i.e. picks it over 4A)

 

[smit0847]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback - really helpful!

My partner and I travel together all the time really, and if ever solo - it is usually me not her. So the Plat/Silver scenario probably would work better.

Just in regards to the "soft landing" with status drop down. Unless we do another overseas holiday in 2015 (which is a possibility), the chances of me maintaining platinum are very unlikely. Correct me if I'm wrong, say I reach platinum, come my review date - if you have not met the criteria to maintain plat, you will just drop down to Gold. Is that correct? And for that subsequent year as gold, are you still only required to get 400 SCs to maintain?

Yes, if you earn 0 status credits during your Plat year you drop down to Gold and then have to get 400 SCs in your Gold year to maintain Gold.

It seems like a no brainer to go 1 Plat, 1 Silver then. My partner winghed about only being Silver (even though we travel together 90% of the time) so I used pooling to bump him up to Gold - he very rarely uses the benefits (but everytime he sits in Row 3 with me there's the standard 'yes, yes, how the other half live!' joke).

Being Gold or Plat with VA makes travelling soooooo much nicer, especially once you learn the ins-and-outs of your home airport (like when are the best times to travel). One of the nicest memories I have of MEL airport the last 18 months is the numerous times I arrive into the Lounge after work on a Friday and look around for my partner who already has a seat, beer and snack waiting for me before a cheeky weekend away. You really don't need to fly J on 1 hour hops when you consider all the benefits you get with status.

 

[erkpod]

If they're on the same PNR, the silver will get the same treatment as the Plat.

Even OS?

I travel alone so there's only ever me on the PNR.

 

[Shano]

I suspect 3B is being selected by a SG that wants Row 3 at all costs (i.e. picks it over 4A)

And in yesterday's case, a NR

 

[bullerdude]

Definitely one Plat on Silver.

I as in the US recently and didn't have any trouble with ensuring my mate travelling with me received priority benefits and lounge on Delta and VA Long Haul etc, including the *A first lounge at LAX.

If travelling to Europe on Etihad Plats get access to the First lounge, however Golds only get access to the lounge in the other terminal (i.e. you have to leave the main international terminal to get to the lounge).

Row 3 is an obviously massive benefit which we all love. I've had multiple guests travelling me seating in Row 3.

This other one I have loved is the hilton diamond membership - it has resulted in me being upgraded every time I stay at hilton and it gets free breakfast and lounge access if available.

 

[Deewhy]

Most definitely plat and silver if you're the one traveling the most and she is most likely to accompany you. That'll give you two years of benefits for you with soft landing to gold if you happened not to travel enough to requal.

 

[serfty]

Even OS?

I travel alone so there's only ever me on the PNR.

Yes - and 1 WP travelling with 1 PS get access to better lounges here and there, such as AUH and LAX.

https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Status/InternationalLoungeAccess/index.htm