Triple status credits on Virgin Australia

[MooTime]

Newly minted Platinum after the weekend run CBR-MEL-ADL- AFF DINNER - ADL-MEL-CBR. That was easy. Plus 330/800 SC to kick off the run to retain over the next 12 months

Was your anniversary date while you were in radelaide?
Perfect timing if so.

Otherwise the 330 SC would just accumulate. On the way to gifting gold at 500SC.

 

[BassDogg]

Impeccable timing - I received Pilot Gold last week with 80 status credits required to maintain gold for a year.

1 return Choice flight Mel-Adl will get me gold for a year

And they honoured the gold. What a treat!

 

[ozstamps]

Been a while since there was even a general use Double SC offer - anything likely for forward travel does anyone think?

 

[elanshin]

Been a while since there was even a general use Double SC offer - anything likely for forward travel does anyone think?

Unlikely, padding the books are likely done for now. With QR coming onboard the need for a bloated book diminishes as you can just present QR as the cornerstone investor for any future listing.

 

[ozstamps]

AFAIK the Qatar deal is not even approved yet. Likely yes - certain - No.

And if it is, will not occur until sometime in 2025.

I don't think these promos are is about 'padding the books' but simply adding to year-end revenue. They are a business. Extra discretionary travel = money in the bank. SC have zero cost to them essentially. Extra MILES cost them actual money, especially if redeemed on partners etc.

Virgin did a DSC last October open to all, for flights to be taken by year-end. We may see another. Who knows.

Double Status Credits - October 2023

Looks like Point Hacks has been given the exclusive on a new DSC offer - on for a week from tomorrow (24 October), but travel needs to be completed by the end of the year. Virgin Australia brings back Double Status Credits!

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[MooTime]

Virgin did a DSC last October open to all, for flights to be taken by year-end. We may see another. Who knows.

Double Status Credits - October 2023

Looks like Point Hacks has been given the exclusive on a new DSC offer - on for a week from tomorrow (24 October), but travel needs to be completed by the end of the year. Virgin Australia brings back Double Status Credits!

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Yes last October, but they didn't do a Triple SC offer last year so I'm tipping we're done with DSC offers for 2024.

Had a DSC offers in early July.

Feb 2025 my guess.

 

[ozstamps]

'Had a DSC offers in early July.'

That was strictly targeted though.

 

[jase05]

I don’t think we will see one until next year again now although you never know.

 

[daft009]

So I have enough SC for platinum, just need 2 sectors.

Guaranteed reward seats for family of 4, even during school holidays is the biggest perk that I can see

Only made it to gold because of this triple SC offer. Never had status before

 

[sudoer]

Guaranteed reward seats for family of 4, even during school holidays is the biggest perk that I can see

Fly ahead on non-flex fares, free EconomyX and free wifi (when not in J) are the usual drawcards.

 

[MooTime]

So I have enough SC for platinum, just need 2 sectors.

Guaranteed reward seats for family of 4, even during school holidays is the biggest perk that I can see

Only made it to gold because of this triple SC offer. Never had status before

Yes I called the call centre to use the 4 guarantee international rewards. Nothing 3 days either side.
On school holidays, thought you beauty.

But the call centre staffer could see 2 rewards seats (eco) that I couldn't. Had 2 in J already. Grabbed them. Strange so didn't really use the benefit in the end.

July school holidays reward seats get snapped up very quickly, some days I'm not even sure they release any.
Like Fiji Airways.

 

[travelislife]

Yes I called the call centre to use the 4 guarantee international rewards. Nothing 3 days either side.
On school holidays, thought you beauty.

But the call centre staffer could see 2 rewards seats (eco) that I couldn't. Had 2 in J already. Grabbed them. Strange so didn't really use the benefit in the end.

July school holidays reward seats get snapped up very quickly, some days I'm not even sure they release any.
Like Fiji Airways.

I had same thing trying to use that benefit. Nothing online, but in the end managed to get all the flights I wanted for our family of 4 to/from SYD-DPS without using the platinum guarantee benefit in the end. Bit odd really how they could see more reward seats than what was shown online for their own metal.

 

[MooTime]

I had same thing trying to use that benefit. Nothing online, but in the end managed to get all the flights I wanted for our family of 4 to/from SYD-DPS without using the platinum guarantee benefit in the end. Bit odd really how they could see more reward seats than what was shown online for their own metal.

Must be more than a coincidence.

Maybe once they know we're WP and intend to use the guarantee benefit, they hit a magic button and up pops our required reward seats.
Guess saves any further escalation stuffing around, we're permitted the benefit so it's simply granted.

Have to say however they work it, we received what we were entitled to do so happy WP campers.

 

[Happy Dude]

It's supposed to be guaranteed. Not sure why there's any pushback or debate by VA.

 

[PERLHR]

Must be more than a coincidence.

Maybe once they know we're WP and intend to use the guarantee benefit, they hit a magic button and up pops our required reward seats.
Guess saves any further escalation stuffing around, we're permitted the benefit so it's simply granted.

Have to say however they work it, we received what we were entitled to do so happy WP campers.

Was it many more points to use this "guaranteed" service? I can see the benefits just as long as they don't fleece you for like X3 the amount of points if it was readily available. My head is kinda saying...well it's a benefit but you pay for it with more points?

 

[MooTime]

Was it many more points to use this "guaranteed" service? I can see the benefits just as long as they don't fleece you for like X3 the amount of points if it was readily available. My head is kinda saying...well it's a benefit but you pay for it with more points?

Nah nah classic reward points value, no more no less.
They if you like release reward eco seats for you, guarantee. Great underrated perk really. Especially for peak times to peak destinations. Do it early & of course your in EcoX too.

Similar to QF WP perk, but for economy only, but guarantee.

To get your exact day you'd want zero availability 3 days either side of your preferred day for international.

 

[oz_mark]

It's supposed to be guaranteed. Not sure why there's any pushback or debate by VA.

I'm not sure I'm seeing either, just some observations of what happens in practise

 

[travelislife]

It's supposed to be guaranteed. Not sure why there's any pushback or debate by VA.

It's not about pushback or debate. That isn't what's happened here in what's been described. It's more that the benefit only applies if there is no award seats +/- 3 days of the date you want. Whilst online this has been the case (none available so benefit should be used), when calling up, the call centre has said can't use the benefit as there is seats available, that they can see (and book if you follow through) but we can't seem to see online. It is that discrepancy that is being discussed.

 

[travelislife]

Nah nah classic reward points value, no more no less.
They if you like release reward eco seats for you, guarantee. Great underrated perk really. Especially for peak times to peak destinations. Do it early & of course your in EcoX too.

Similar to QF WP perk, but for economy only, but guarantee.

To get your exact day you'd want zero availability 3 days either side of your preferred day for international.

It's the zero availability bit +/- 3 days that is the tricky bit, especially when trying to book early for say school holidays. From my experience there may be zero availability on the flight you actually want on say SYD-DPS on the Friday or Saturday at the start of school holidays, but there will still be availability on say the Wednesday when everyone is still at school, so you can't use the guaranteed booking benefit, as they say you can just book the Wednesday flight.

So then it becomes a gamble if you want to wait it out until there is essentially 6 days of zero availability. To then call up and you should get the seats on the Friday/Saturday flight that you want. But still needs to be 6 months out from travel.

 

[MooTime]

It's the zero availability bit +/- 3 days that is the tricky bit, especially when trying to book early for say school holidays. From my experience there may be zero availability on the flight you actually want on say SYD-DPS on the Friday or Saturday at the start of school holidays, but there will still be availability on say the Wednesday when everyone is still at school, so you can't use the guaranteed booking benefit, as they say you can just book the Wednesday flight.

So then it becomes a gamble if you want to wait it out until there is essentially 6 days of zero availability. To then call up and you should get the seats on the Friday/Saturday flight that you want. But still needs to be 6 months out from travel.

Yeah 6 days but your essentially just waiting for that Wednesday to not have any reward seats as other days on hols will be taken.
Worst case you could depart on the Monday.
But if you want say the 4 seats, it wouldn't take much for there not to be 4 reward seats available.
No gamble waiting until 6.5momths out.
Could grab the 1 or 2 reward seats on the Wednesday, exhaust the allocation, callup to get your preferred Saturday dept seats, then just pay the 5k cancellation point fee.
Or wait for a hopeful flight change for free cancellation.

As always few ways hedge your bets on this game.