Very true. I'm a completely self-funded intl. traveler and I can only retain Platinum with QF each year with my international travels. I sometimes fly domestic for work, so that brings in about 100SC each year, otherwise everything else is self-funded.
www.executivetraveller.com
Maybe but it really depends on where you fly. Certainly if you are keeping to entirely domestic travel VA could be a solid option. But if you're travelling overseas be it the Tasman or the Pacific, all those Virgin Australia benefits won't be useful to you. I think the key here is how easy it is to maintain status after the promotion and 12 month "trial". 80 status credits seems pretty straight-forward that's like a choice fare to a long haul domestic destination basically, but afterwards collecting those 400 status credits to renew will be... interesting. Now if they have a double status credits promotion then yeah, I could definitely see booking two Flex tickets on a domestic long haul or heaven forbid a business ticket could put you in the running for VA Gold. But as someone who now has status with the three major alliances Star Alliance (United), SkyTeam (Delta) and OneWorld (Qantas), it may be unattainable!
It's complicated! I mean if you are solely a domestic traveller then it's actually only 500 status credits to renew Gold with QF as you earn a 50 status credit bonus after flying 500 status credits in a program year with Qantas/JetStar. Then there is QF Green tier which once you earn through doing a number of simple activities you can redeem for a further 50 SCs per program year. Then you have more airline options in JQ (in addition to QF) whereby even if you get a Starter Plus fare you'll earn a decent stack of SCs to say nothing of the Max fare. For instance, I earned 100 SCs this year flying JQ MAX from SYD to PER on a fare that was $300 during one of JQ's fire sales last year.
You do realise there are benefits for flying VA international partners as SG or WP, lounge access etc, earning SCs etc.
My understanding is the partner benefits are mixed and unclear at best. Say what you will about holding United Premier Gold status or Delta Gold medallion but you know what you are getting across the alliance: extra checked bags, priority everything (including IRROPs handling), lounge access and most importantly certainty, certainty that the partner airlines you see today are likely partners airlines you'll see in a year's time. The same cannot be said about Virgin status.
Each to their own in effort to benefit from status etc. We all look after our own benefits of interest & use, fair enough if you prefer QF, I understand, yes lounge network. Btw was in Virgin Lounge couple weeks ago and had a shower.
VA not comparable to QF in terms of routes, they won't suit everybody.
Where?
