Unwritten VA Platinum benefits?

[grubbidok]

Wow I forgot about the gifting of a card to a partner. I’m over 1300 SC, so now I can get my wife a Gold? That will make a huge difference as we are starting to travel together a lot and the points multiplier will be great.

You should be able to do it now (if renewed). But if it is for your partner I have found it more efficient to flick over to family pooling as soon as I renew WP status. As it also includes Mrs G's flying this way, we have been able to get her WP instead of just SG the last few years.

 

[Marty_]

I find that Platinum becomes very helpful when things go wrong.

I could mention many situations, but one of the most memorable was a cancelled flight from CBR to MEL. They called me shortly before I left home for the airport to let me know. Because the next available VA flight would have seen me pushing it very tight for my connection, they put me on a Qantas flight with the fee for an extra bag paid (lower status on QF at the time meant I had a smaller baggage allowance). The QF flight was then delayed quite a bit at the last minute, so I arrived at MEL VA check-in after the flight I was trying to connect to had closed (MEL - PER). There must have been about 10mins until scheduled departure. They re-opened the flight for me on the condition that I "run fast" to the gate. Sure enough, a staff member was waiting for me at the gate (which was otherwise closed) and I was the last on the plane by a long shot.

Made it to Perth as planned, on time, and didn't have to cancel my evening speaking engagement!

At the time, whilst it was stressful, I thought they had gone the extra mile to deal with a very unfortunate chain of events.

Since then there have been a couple situations where cancellations, delays and other issues have seen me treated extremely well. I recall an occasion where there was only one other flight option with 2 seats available. Me and another plat got the 2 seats whilst everyone else got a night in a hotel.

 

[ozstamps]

The one occasion I really remember being really thankful for Plat stats was arriving at SYD lounge one morning just as the once a day SYD-Launceston had pushed back at gate. Got there late to a truck breakdown in Harbour tunnel.

Anyway that is not Virgin's issue in any way.

Agent at lounge said - 'sorry Sir, your aircraft has just pushed back, and there is only 1 flight a day to Launceston, and you have missed it.'

We had a pre-paid hotel, and rental car, and stuff all booked, and thought that was that, as on cheapie tickets. It was only a weekend trip so going next day, not worth bothering with.

Agent tapped on keyboard for a few minutes, and handed over boarding passes for SYD-MEL and MEL-LCN which luckily all connected fine. I was expecting the "and your cost for this will be .." speech, but she handed them over with a smile and said - 'enjoy your weekend' or something.

We were both Plats, but this really was unexpected, and MOST appreciated. They might have done the same for the Clampetts on their once a decade holiday, but I doubt it. These kind of things are never 'published' benefits, and should never be expected - but they clearly do occur at times.

 

[CPMaverick]

I wish I could say VA's bent over backwards for me as a Platinum, but they haven't. I've had mostly good experiences with VA and like flying them in general, but my standout experiences are unfortunately bad ones. When I've complained about those, I didn't feel like anyone really cared.

Honestly, if Platinum weren't so easy to obtain, I'd probably stop at Gold. I wish they offered something above Platinum, because I end up crediting my VA flights elsewhere after re-qualifying. I could easily reach 1500 SC without any pooling, but don't see any benefit (gifting Gold doesn't do much for me).

 

[Marty_]

I must say it mystifies me when I see negative experiences written up, especially repeated ones. It makes me wonder if I am just easily pleased.

I've been on a plane, on average, once every 3 days for the past year. I suspect that hasn't changed much since 2014. The overwhelming majority of those have been VA flights. I have not had ONE negative experience... Unless you count one time the bloke on the check-in counter was grumpy and put me in a middle seat. That was December 2017. I can't think of anything else. I can, however, call to mind significant positive experiences.

I've always felt that VA look after me well.

 

[ozstamps]

Honestly, if Platinum weren't so easy to obtain, I'd probably stop at Gold

​

Yes as I have posted often, the differences between Gold and Platinum are negligible from where I sit, and I can see for many it is hardly worth bothering with the extra flying.

Both get early cabin seating, priority boarding, lounge access, fly ahead etc.

The only real difference are the 4 upgrades, which to me are not worth using now there is no GUARANTEE of an A330 on SYD-PER as they can get swapped out for 737s at no notice these days. I had expire this month. No way am I buying Flexi fares at $1000s to maybe sit in a 737.

Virgin might be well advised to make them usable on mid tier fare buckets. AND good and valid for Pacific and HK flights as well on Virgin metal on those fare buckets.

Right now my hunch is a LOT are left expired, which should tell someone in there they are not much of a carrot for flyers.

 

[Happy Dude]

And on the flipside....

WP got me diddly when we missed our SYD-CBR connection after our bags came our practically last, and soaking wet, from the DPS flight.

We got to the transfer desk with the flight still open but the check-in agent said that, to have any chance, we'd need to take our bags on the bus and check in at the dom terminal, but added that we probably wouldn't make it in time. The premium entry wouldn't/couldn't help and by the time we schlepped everything down to the checkin desk - the bus stops a long away from there for some reason - the transfer agents prophecy had come true and we spent the next four hours in the lounge waiting for the next flight with enough seats to get us home. Ruined our Father's Day plans.

 

[Must...Fly!]

And on the flipside....

WP got me diddly when we missed our SYD-CBR connection after our bags came our practically last, and soaking wet, from the DPS flight.

We got to the transfer desk with the flight still open but the check-in agent said that, to have any chance, we'd need to take our bags on the bus and check in at the dom terminal, but added that we probably wouldn't make it in time. The premium entry wouldn't/couldn't help and by the time we schlepped everything down to the checkin desk - the bus stops a long away from there for some reason - the transfer agents prophecy had come true and we spent the next four hours in the lounge waiting for the next flight with enough seats to get us home. Ruined our Father's Day plans.

Don't know if there was anything they really could've done there. If the bags won't make it there's not much point, and they gave you the only option they really had. How many flights were there between you getting to the lounge and getting on the flight with enough seats, or was it next available?

 

[Notyourbag]

I was on the VA569 to Perth last Friday which was delayed from 7pm to 10.30am the next day!! VA offered to give me a blanket and they might keep the lounge open but couldn't put passengers up in a hotel as it wasn't their fault / crew / mechanical fault.

Thankfully being a Sydney resident I caught an uber back home. I did ask if they could comp me to business for the inconvenience which they managed to do (dispute originally saying J was full).

 

[Jack_OC]

I was on the VA569 to Perth last Friday which was delayed from 7pm to 10.30am the next day!! VA offered to give me a blanket and they might keep the lounge open but couldn't put passengers up in a hotel as it wasn't their fault / crew / mechanical fault.

Thankfully being a Sydney resident I caught an uber back home. I did ask if they could comp me to business for the inconvenience which they managed to do (dispute originally saying J was full).

I must say I find the way you frame this as being a bit "glass half empty"!

I wouldn't necessarily expect them to put local residents up in a hotel in this situation (it would be interesting to know if they made different arrangements for affected pax who were not local).

In any case, giving you a free upgrade to Business was IMHO a far more valuable way of compensating you, and certainly far more than the vast majority of other passengers would have received. Personally, I'd be delighted with that as a gesture to make up for the delay.

Regarding your comment that they originally said J was full - it may well have been, but due to the 15 hour+ delay, some pax may have decided to make alternative arrangements or perhaps not travel at all, thus freeing up some seats.

 

[Happy Dude]

Don't know if there was anything they really could've done there. If the bags won't make it there's not much point, and they gave you the only option they really had. How many flights were there between you getting to the lounge and getting on the flight with enough seats, or was it next available?

Yeah I reckon you're right. Can't help be peeved about not getting priority bags though. I think there were two flights before the one were put on but they were chockers. I will be avoiding SYD Int wherever possible in the future. Other options aren't much better unfortunately, except perhaps MEL. My fault for living in so far from civilisation.

 

[Matt_01]

I must say it mystifies me when I see negative experiences written up, especially repeated ones. It makes me wonder if I am just easily pleased.

I've been on a plane, on average, once every 3 days for the past year. I suspect that hasn't changed much since 2014. The overwhelming majority of those have been VA flights. I have not had ONE negative experience... Unless you count one time the bloke on the check-in counter was grumpy and put me in a middle seat. That was December 2017. I can't think of anything else. I can, however, call to mind significant positive experiences.

I've always felt that VA look after me well.

Travelling at your rate I would suggest that you are not "easily pleased", but are just have become used to it. I am in a similar situation and travel a lot, not because I want to it is just the situation I am in. Since using that flight tracker available via AFF it is telling me that I travel between 150-170 sectors on an annual basis, basically living on plans and in airports. I have been doing this for 8 years.

I have come to expect little from any airline and have status with QF (WP1), VA (WP) SQ (*G). I also work in an industry that when we get things right all those on the receiving end of change may tell 1-3 others what the experience was like. Get it wrong and they tell everyone. I think threads such as this are similar. Sure I have had bad experiences with VA, but also have with QF, SQ, and a number of other airlines but at the end of the day it is just a flight.

In the spirit of the thread and positive experiences. Happy to fly VA the priority boarding is better than QF and Y+ is free, however the snacks are average at best

Most notable WP experience was around 3 years ago. Was flying MEL-SYD-CNS (VA) and onward to NRT (JQ) the following day. I had booked the suggested VA flights however with a 40 minute hour connection time in SYD I questioned if and asked if I could get on an earlier flight. It was not the connection time that worried me it was the fact that the flight from MEL-SYD in the evening peak and 40 minutes can easily be lost, VA CC advised I would not miss the flight to CNS, it was a married flight.

So arrived at MEL and all MEL-SYD flights delayed by 30-60 minutes. Eventually boarded and informed the CSM I had a connection to CNS and would like to get to CNS that evening due to international connection the following day, response was "I will speak with the Captain". At the time of push back in MEL it was about boarding time in SYD to CNS. On decent the CSM came back and said the connecting flight was held back for me. When We landed there were VA staff waiting with a boarding pass (although I had one). As I entered the aircraft, an embraer 190 it seemed like every passenger was looking at the front to see who caused the delay. At least I was in 1A so there was no walk of shame and I did not have to sit next to another passenger.

 

[serfty]

...
Yes as I have posted often, the differences between Gold and Platinum are negligible from where I sit, and I can see for many it is hardly worth bothering with the extra flying.

Both get early cabin seating, priority boarding, lounge access, fly ahead etc.
...

WP get free access to Economy X seating on domestic services.

... the 4 upgrades, which to me are not worth using now there is no GUARANTEE of an A330 on SYD-PER as they can get swapped out for 737s at no notice these days. I had expire this month. No way am I buying Flexi fares at $1000s to maybe sit in a 737. ...

The most these upgrades can be worth on domestic flights is 9900 Velocity points each.

 

[Bagpuss]

now there is no GUARANTEE of an A330 on SYD-PER as they can get swapped out for 737s at no notice these days.

Unless an airline operates a single fleet, they will never guarantee a type of aircraft.
That said that don't even guarantee the flight you book on will even operate at all, let alone on time.

From the Virgin Australia website when booking a flight:

We will always do our best to get you to your destination on time, however, we do not guarantee flight times or schedules and they do not form part of your contract with us.

 

[Bagpuss]

WP get free access to Economy X seating on domestic services.
The most these upgrades can be worth on domestic flights is 9900 Velocity points each.

If you have a gateway fare, for Perth > MEL/SYD/BNE the upgrade to business in points is 30,000.

Thought the "most" in points would be the "Any Seat" reward booking.

9,900 in points is the minimum for Perth > MEL/SYD/BNE if you have a Freedom fare.

 

[Bagpuss]

ANY airline woud fix it for FREE??

Boy have you got some very rude shocks ahead of you, in the airline world.

The comment can't be 100% dismissed.

There's a 24-hour rule that lets you cancel a flight for free — here's how to use it

“The [DOT] requires U.S. and foreign airlines offering flights to or from the United States to allow reservations to be held at the quoted fare without payment, or canceled without penalty, for at least 24 hours after the reservation is made,” a DOT spokesperson told "Travel + Leisure."

 

[Bagpuss]

Boy have you got some very rude shocks ahead of you, in the airline world.

Just like reading your posts most of the time.

 

[Notyourbag]

I must say I find the way you frame this as being a bit "glass half empty"!

I wouldn't necessarily expect them to put local residents up in a hotel in this situation (it would be interesting to know if they made different arrangements for affected pax who were not local).

In any case, giving you a free upgrade to Business was IMHO a far more valuable way of compensating you, and certainly far more than the vast majority of other passengers would have received. Personally, I'd be delighted with that as a gesture to make up for the delay.

Regarding your comment that they originally said J was full - it may well have been, but due to the 15 hour+ delay, some pax may have decided to make alternative arrangements or perhaps not travel at all, thus freeing up some seats.

I heard a Perth based resident ask if they could be put up in a hotel due to the delay and the request was refused.

Agreed with the free upgrade was a surprise when I cheekily asked although it was interesting the 330 the following day wasn't loaded with menus, hot towels and the J bathroom was out of order.

Back to the topic - I also get Economy Plus for free on SYD-LAX flights. Currently it's 6/6 when asking at check-in. I believe that's a non advertised benefit for long haul.

 

[serfty]

9,900 in points is the minimum for Perth > MEL/SYD/BNE if you have a Freedom fare.

Exactly, and the only way these certs can be used is from a Freedom fare ... hence the 9.9K

 

[CPMaverick]

The comment can't be 100% dismissed.

There's a 24-hour rule that lets you cancel a flight for free — here's how to use it

“The [DOT] requires U.S. and foreign airlines offering flights to or from the United States to allow reservations to be held at the quoted fare without payment, or canceled without penalty, for at least 24 hours after the reservation is made,” a DOT spokesperson told "Travel + Leisure."

I think the comment can still be dismissed. It was not relevant for the flight being discussed in the quote. The comment mentioned 'any' airline which is patently false.

In general the US policy is useful, but only applies to one VA destination. It is interesting that it appears to apply to flights leaving Australia, which I didn't realize. I'm not sure how this works in practice.