VA Plat or Star Alliance gold

[Roflco]

hi all,

I've got an upcoming trip, and could either fly virgin or united. if I fly virgin, I'll probably qualify to VA Plat. Or, I can status match to United premier gold, and obtain star alliance gold on the trip for 18 months

I'm not really planning any more international trips over the next 2 years, so which do you think is the best value?

Will *A get me anything domestically? Is VA plat really just a couple of business class upgrades....?

What do you think?

 

[jackthomas]

I'd be going for the UA status...

VA platinum has pretty minimal benefits over Gold and *A can be useful for quick Trans-Tasman trips, future status matches or last minute Asian trips.
Do you have a preferred carrier? If its purely status based, I'd be going United but if you really prefer the Virgin product its a different story.

 

[Roflco]

Only reason I prefer VA is because I travel loads domestically (probably 15 trips pa) and that's who we fly for work.

Internationally I have no preference. I only do one trip every 2-3 years, and generally just book the cheapest economy seat that isn't yeti airways

 

[Muppet501st]

Only reason I prefer VA is because I travel loads domestically (probably 15 trips pa) and that's who we fly for work.

Internationally I have no preference. I only do one trip every 2-3 years, and generally just book the cheapest economy seat that isn't yeti airways

I'd go for VA WP, at least for domestic flying, can guest in more people into lounges and select row 3 at time of booking.

 

[dec540]

I'd go for the VA plat. There's always Star Alliance status matches if required for an overseas trip.

VA Plat will have the added benefit of a soft landing to gold if/when you have a slow travel year. Essentially it extends the main VA status benefits for a further year.

 

[TomVexille]

If' you're not going to be flying internationally at all, *G is pretty useless within Australia.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

I'm with everyone else – VA WP is the way to go. We all complain about it (and it could certainly be improved), but it's fine. Will make domestic flying much more comfortable than *G which is rather useless in Australia as TomVexille says.

If you do do any international travel and can be a bit flexible with who you book, VA WP can be useful (i.e. within the US on DL, or Asia with SQ). It's utterly useless in Europe.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Go for the VA Plat then use that to status match to Avianca Brasil to get *A Gold.

 

[bullerdude]

VA Plat and SkyTeam, OneWorld + Star Alliance Status Matches STILL Available Right Now... — God Save the Points

 

[kyanar]

If you can somehow get Air NZ to status match, you can get *AGold that also carries VA benefits (Lounge Access on all domestic VA flights, VA Plat benefits on VA X-Tasman)

 

[Roflco]

Thanks all, will be going for the VA plat and will try a status match next time I fly international

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Thanks all, will be going for the VA plat and will try a status match next time I fly international

Excellent choice.

If you can somehow get Air NZ to status match, you can get *AGold that also carries VA benefits (Lounge Access on all domestic VA flights, VA Plat benefits on VA X-Tasman)

I hadn't thought of that... there is so much *A crossover with VA. I know it's been said a million and one times around here, but seriously – it would make things so much simpler.

 

[Quickstatus]

What is the process of getting a Status Match and have people requested it more than once?

 

[esseeeayeenn]

What is the process of getting a Status Match and have people requested it more than once?

Impossible to answer in general - it depends who you are trying to match with - there are lots of threads on it here.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

What is the process of getting a Status Match and have people requested it more than once?

True to your name!

Are you talking a status match with VA? Or the status match to O6?

 

[Quickstatus]

Impossible to answer in general - it depends who you are trying to match with - there are lots of threads on it here.

VA WP to *A SG

 

[esseeeayeenn]

YOur best bet is Avianca Brasil.. I think there are links to the thread earlier in this thread.

 

[hedge]

YOur best bet is Avianca Brasil.. I think there are links to the thread earlier in this thread.

Yep, it isn't too hard with them. (Just need a bit of patience)