Virgin Australia Discover Gold (Status Match)

[Guvner]

I got a bit excited for a moment but then read the following:
"If you have previously held a Silver, Gold or Platinum status membership with Velocity Frequent Flyer, then you will not qualify for a Discover Gold membership. This also applies to members that have ever held a Pilot Gold trial membership."
Had a status match to Plat through work about 10 years ago, which then lapsed so looks like it's not a goer for me (and I would think quite a few others).

The period has been reduced to 2 years for the current promo.

 

[Matt_01]

That's a great idea! I wonder if it would work though?

Cannot see why it wouldn't, when QBR was called something else and there was the requirement to have at least one other traveller to fly at least once on the account I set up another QFF using a different email address using my middle. I only used it once a year until the rules changed and I saw little risk as I only used it domestically, may be more problematic for international and passport matching.

 

[dairyfloss]

Received an email stating my request to match has been approved… took about 6 hours from submission to approval. Here’s the detail in the response:

Hi, We’ve reviewed your Switch-a-roo status match application and are pleased to confirm that your application has now been approved. Congratulations! The upgrade into Switch-a-roo Discover Gold 3-months trial status will be applied to your membership account within the next 48 hours. Your trial Gold Status will last for three months from the date it is applied to your Velocity Frequent Flyer account. To view your new benefit period in Discover Gold, please log into your velocity membership account and head to "My Velocity" and then click on "My Status". If you are a frequent flyer with equivalent of Velocity Gold Status and if you earn 80 Status Credits and fly at least one Eligible Sector during your 3-months Switch-a-roo Discover Gold trial, you’ll be eligible to maintain Gold Status with Velocity for a further 12 months. If you are a frequent flyer with equivalent of Velocity Platinum Status and you earn 200 Status Credits and fly at least two Eligible Sector’s during your 3-month Switch-a-roo Discover Gold trial, you’ll be eligible to be upgraded to Platinum Status with Velocity for a further 12 months. To be eligible for a fast track to Velocity Platinum Status all 200 Status Credits must be earned by flying on flights that are operated by Virgin Australia and start with a VA flight number. For more information on the Switch-a-roo Discover Gold trial, please see the webpage.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

One of the key questions I asked earlier (i.e. when does the promo end), seems to be answered with their updated promotion:

Offer available for a limited time between 13 – 26 September 2022 and is subject to availability, so get in fast!

Supposing I email Virgin on the 26th to request Gold status, that would mean that I have until Christmas Day to take the Virgin flight in question to earn those 80 status credits to continue receiving Gold benefits (supposing of course Virgin doesn't end the promotion sooner due to limited quantity but I doubt that will happen) which makes me now want to book that J flight on Virgin for mid to late December.

-RooFlyer88

 

[stratosp]

Applied in the morning and approved the same day by noon. Used my AY Platinum (digital card), and now planning to complete the requirements for VA platinum fast-track

Like others, I didn't get a response from my Discover Gold request last month via the red@ email address. But this Switcharoo process is very quick.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[dairyfloss]

Received an email stating my request to match has been approved… took about 6 hours from submission to approval. Here’s the detail in the response:


Cheers,
Matt.

Status has updated to Gold in the last 30 mins or so.

Applied 12:02PM [AEST] 13-Sep
Approved 5:55PM 13-Sep
Status Upgraded ~2:00PM 14-Sep

Review date is 14 Dec 2022, and status is good to 14 Jan 2023

Now I just need to find a cheap and easy 200SCs, and a good excuse for the mrs as to why I should spend money at all on it!

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[jamdav93]

Similar to you @dairyfloss

Applied: 09:45AM 13-Sep
Approved: 2:51PM 13-Sep
Status Upgraded: ~2:00PM 14-Sep

Just booked a return fare on VA from MEL-ADL same day as my status run for QAN. Going to be a full 48 hours of flying!

 

[RooFlyer]

Well, it took them almost a full day to approve me . Don't think I've been this pleased about a status match for a long time.

 

[ferntree]

Now I just need to find a cheap and easy 200SCs, and a good excuse for the mrs as to why I should spend money at all on it!

Cheers,
Matt.

Just tell her that if you knock off a cool 1,000 SCs over and above then you can get her a nice shiney platinum card of her own!

 

[wilso1]

I applied for this about 3 weeks ago and received a reply earlier this week rejecting my application, this is the reply,

We just received a response from our team regarding your Status Match request.

They reviewed your account and verified that you previously hold a higher Tier Status with Velocity. As per our offer's terms, please note that members who were once a Silver, Gold or Platinum membership with Velocity will not qualify for a Discover Gold membership. This also applies to members that have ever held a Pilot Gold trial membership.

Thus, we regret to advise that your application for Discover Gold has been unsuccessful. You can also find the details mentioned on our website through the below link.

I think its a bit steep to try on that you once were something at Virgin when these guys went broke and everyone lost out.

I think the whole thing is a bit of a gimmick, we will stick with Qantas, they are better airline allround.

 

[MooTime]

I applied for this about 3 weeks ago and received a reply earlier this week rejecting my application, this is the reply,

We just received a response from our team regarding your Status Match request.

They reviewed your account and verified that you previously hold a higher Tier Status with Velocity. As per our offer's terms, please note that members who were once a Silver, Gold or Platinum membership with Velocity will not qualify for a Discover Gold membership. This also applies to members that have ever held a Pilot Gold trial membership.

Thus, we regret to advise that your application for Discover Gold has been unsuccessful. You can also find the details mentioned on our website through the below link.

I think its a bit steep to try on that you once were something at Virgin when these guys went broke and everyone lost out.

I think the whole thing is a bit of a gimmick, we will stick with Qantas, they are better airline allround.

I think if you check QF are broke too, if wasn't a listed company where they can raise funds via a Capital Raise, among other methods, I dare say they'd be in a little strife too.
I don't think too many people lost out with VA's changing of ownership in recent times.

Anyway disagreeing with the T&C's is one thing, but to apply for a service knowing your going against the T&C's you honestly can't be upset.
That's why T&C's exist.

 

[tdimdad]

Would this provide an easy path to VA Platinum? I'd be eligible for the Gold status match but if I clock the required 200SC in 3 months, would VA lift the status to Platinum? And would it be worth it - what extras would I get when most of my VA-associated travel would be domestic or nearby (NZ, SIN)?

 

[MooTime]

Would this provide an easy path to VA Platinum? I'd be eligible for the Gold status match but if I clock the required 200SC in 3 months, would VA lift the status to Platinum? And would it be worth it - what extras would I get when most of my VA-associated travel would be domestic or nearby (NZ, SIN)?

Economy X is the sealer for me, it's a ripper. And you never get bumped like on QF row 4.
3 guests into lounge & 4 x upgrades from Flex booking to J cabin, only useful on trans con or to DRW from MEL or SYD as the price is vastly different from flex to J.
The rest is neither here nor there IMO.

 

[jase05]

Economy X is the sealer for me, it's a ripper. And you never get bumped like on QF row 4.
3 guests into lounge & 4 x upgrades from Flex booking to J cabin, only useful on trans con or to DRW from MEL or SYD as the price is vastly different from flex to J.
The rest is neither here nor there IMO.

Free WiFi soon

 

[dairyfloss]

Economy X is the sealer for me, it's a ripper. And you never get bumped like on QF row 4.
3 guests into lounge & 4 x upgrades from Flex booking to J cabin, only useful on trans con or to DRW from MEL or SYD as the price is vastly different from flex to J.
The rest is neither here nor there IMO.

This is helpful for my pitch to the wife on making the 200 SCs I need! Also I think the partner airline (SQ) and hotel benefits (Hilton Diamond) may add to that.

With SQ lounges, is it only the Gold KrisLounge that you get in SIN, or do they make the SilverKris lounge(s) available to VA WP?

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[AIRwin]

With SQ lounges, is it only the Gold KrisLounge that you get in SIN, or do they make the SilverKris lounge(s) available to VA WP?

I believe it's KrisFlyer Gold in Economy class:

International lounge access

Discover our network of partner airline-operated lounges, available for access when traveling on flights operated by our esteemed international partners.

www.virginaustralia.com

 

[dairyfloss]

I believe it's KrisFlyer Gold in Economy class:

International lounge access

Discover our network of partner airline-operated lounges, available for access when traveling on flights operated by our esteemed international partners.

www.virginaustralia.com

Thanks - I feared that might be the case

 

[wilso1]

I think if you check QF are broke too, if wasn't a listed company where they can raise funds via a Capital Raise, among other methods, I dare say they'd be in a little strife too.
I don't think too many people lost out with VA's changing of ownership in recent times.

Anyway disagreeing with the T&C's is one thing, but to apply for a service knowing your going against the T&C's you honestly can't be upset.
That's why T&C's exist.

You are obviously a Virgin fan, I don't get on them enough to be one and I doubt I will be one now.

I am not sure what you were reading but I am not upset, I couldn't care less to be honest. I am platinum with Qantas, I would be lucky to fly once a year with Virgin, simply sent an email as it was noted on this website. I travel OS a lot and it may have come in handy with other airlines.

I also didn't apply against the T&C, I applied based on what I seen on here.

I think you will find the article on FF today was a different offer, these guys at Virgin are now having something called switcharoo, it sure looks like they are going out of their way to chase down the Qantas customers. Its very obvious its a gimmick, if they wanted good paying customers they would have taken me, I am platinum, it's a no brainer....

In the good old days they just gave us good customer service, but sadly in today's world this doesn't exist anymore, and this comment includes Qantas, they are the better of what we have on offer in this county.

As for your comment on people losing out, I think they are a very naive thing to say, maybe you should talk to the old shareholders or employees, I am sure they would disagree.

 

[MooTime]

You are obviously a Virgin fan, I don't get on them enough to be one and I doubt I will be one now.

I am not sure what you were reading but I am not upset, I couldn't care less to be honest. I am platinum with Qantas, I would be lucky to fly once a year with Virgin, simply sent an email as it was noted on this website. I travel OS a lot and it may have come in handy with other airlines.

I also didn't apply against the T&C, I applied based on what I seen on here.

I think you will find the article on FF today was a different offer, these guys at Virgin are now having something called switcharoo, it sure looks like they are going out of their way to chase down the Qantas customers. Its very obvious its a gimmick, if they wanted good paying customers they would have taken me, I am platinum, it's a no brainer....

In the good old days they just gave us good customer service, but sadly in today's world this doesn't exist anymore, and this comment includes Qantas, they are the better of what we have on offer in this county.

As for your comment on people losing out, I think they are a very naive thing to say, maybe you should talk to the old shareholders or employees, I am sure they would disagree.

Cool.
I didn't say nobody lost out.

Yes the VA shareholders, yes they did loose out, apologies.

Employees of all airlines have suffered also.
Thanks.

 

[MattA]

Thanks - I feared that might be the case

Can confirm. I was in SIN over the weekend travelling SQ Y as WA WP. Gold lounge only. Had to show my Virgin card on entry too even though it was printed on the BP that I had access to the Gold lounge. As it happened I had the physical card with me so not sure if a digital one would have sufficed (I didn't have to show a card to enter the SQ lounge in MEL so it may just depend on the agent).

The SIN Gold lounge is certainly a much nicer space than the old (pre-renovation) one (and it has toilets now!) but not as big and not as nice as the SilverKris/J lounge next door. Much more limited food selection -- the items provided were very similar to what was in the SilverKris J lounge when I was there back in August, just with much less variety/choice.