Virgin Australia Discover Gold (Status Match)

[sudoer]

I'd love to find a route originating in SYD, so that I don't have to use a positioning flight to MEL.

What is everyone else thinking status run wise?

SYD-xBNE-CNS in Elevate earns 70 SC return for $495. Get the extra 10 SC from Flybuys?

 

[Ade]

SYD-xBNE-CNS in Elevate earns 70 SC return for $495. Get the extra 10 SC from Flybuys?

Don't have Flybuys .. have to make all the 80 by flying only ... I like the SYD-xBNE-CNS, will look into it

 

[AIRwin]

I like the SYD-xBNE-CNS, will look into it

Can you add MEL in there?

 

[sudoer]

Can you add MEL in there?

SYD-xBNE-CNS and SYD-xMEL-CNS both earn the same SC (as a 0-750mi leg and a 750-1500mi leg)

If you are suggesting SYD-xMEL-xBNE-CNS then I believe the answer is no - I'm not seeing that as a valid routing in ExpertFlyer.

 

[sudoer]

Don't have Flybuys .. have to make all the 80 by flying only ... I like the SYD-xBNE-CNS, will look into it

You can book Elevate in one direction and Freedom in the other for 90 SC, cost $620.

 

[MooTime]

You can book Elevate in one direction and Freedom in the other for 90 SC, cost $620.

and then from the Freedom fare use points upgrade to Biz.

points req'd to upgrade from Freedom fare is very minimal. To burn some of your points etc.

 

[Mattg]

I've expressed interest to VA for this with the latest possible start date, not much point having Gold until the lounges reopen. I used a screenshot of my QFF app membership card given I wasn't issued with a 2021 expiry physical card, has anyone done the same and received approval?

Without VA flying SYD-CBR there's not much point in me holding VA status long term, but I will hit the 500 SC rollover cap with QFF for this year anyway, so I may as well credit 80 SC worth of flights to VA and get myself + a friend/family member a year of VA Gold.

I agree... how many Qantas Gold/Plat members are going to get the match, then get very disappointed when the lounges are closed/non-existent and they get barely any meaningful other benefits?

If VA’s plan is to convince Qantas customers to switch in the long term, I think they will be as disappointed as most of the QF Gold & Plat members are when they fly VA during the coming months and experience the inferior service.

Yes, I did also apply, but mainly because I already have some flights coming up with VA anyway. Am I excited about getting Velocity Gold status again? Not really, to be honest.

FWIW I plan to book a one-way SYD-BNK J flight for $349 to earn 50 SCs. I already have enough booked Y flights to cover the other 30 SCs.

 

[Legoman]

I've expressed interest to VA for this with the latest possible start date, not much point having Gold until the lounges reopen. I used a screenshot of my QFF app membership card given I wasn't issued with a 2021 expiry physical card, has anyone done the same and received approval?

I've done the same and haven't been rejected… yet. They say they're going to twiddle their thumbs for 7 days before you hear if you're approved or not. I too have no real tangible valid plastic gold QFF card since Qantas aren't posting anything out anymore for no doubt cost control reasons. I've also lost my Qantas baggage tag this morning too after the handlers somewhere appear to have ripped it off trying to lift an 11kg bag via the baggage tag. All that remains is the (very tightly) clamped on broken end of the rubber strap that used to secure it to the tie-on loops on the outside of my Samsonite duffel bag. Nice of them.

 

[Aus ATC]

Applied with my LTG physical card attached. We already have a VA flight booked in March, so won't have to burn my lounge passes in BNE. Now to think about the value of chasing the remaining SCs......

 

[albatross710]

Does family pooling work for accumulating the 80SC?

If I take Mrs Albatross away for a Christmas break BNE-CNS Elevate fare BNE-CBS-BNE, 40SC each does that get me to the 80SC while maintaining peace on the home front?

 

[Ade]

Does family pooling work for accumulating the 80SC?

Yes, family pooling, shopping are some of the ways you can accumulate 80 SC

I'm not sure if family pooling will work. I read the FAQ for status extension before I responded. It might still be possible, but I'm not sure. Can someone confirm?

 

[Gold Member]

Virgin Australia invites Qantas Frequent Flyer (Gold, Platinum and Platinum one members) and frequent flyer members of eligible oneworld® partner airlines, Emirates and Air New Zealand to fast track to Velocity elite membership with Discover Gold.*

Discover Gold expression of interest form | Virgin Australia

Please note:

• You must nominate the date on which you would like your Discover Gold Status trial to start. This date needs to be at least 7 days from today and no later than 4 January 2021.
• Please provide evidence of your Eligible Frequent Flyer Membership by uploading a colour image of the loyalty side of your membership card. Please upload your card image as a JPG or PNG file.
• Please nominate the day prior to any planned travel.

Someone remind me again how many International routes VA are flying right now and how many domestic lounges they’ve just permanently closed. Still, if you’ve fallen out of bed with Quannis then this Virgin Straya offer might work.

 

[Mattg]

This looks to be the same offer as discussed here - Velocity Status Match

The difference is that they've now extended the offer to Oneworld, Emirates & Air NZ frequent flyers and extended the expiry date.

 

[bladeau1981]

I have applied for this offer but only because it won't cost me anything and I have previously taken a few flights a year on Virgin. Not sure if I really want to fly Virgin enough to get the 80sc though to retain the gold in 3 months. I will see how things pan out come January. If this travel bubble with NZ opens up in time then that might be enough for me.

 

[Daver6]

Well not going very well for VA here. I applied last Monday and received an email stating that they'd be in touch within 7 days. Today is day number 8 and nothing. Not an idea way to win over new customers when they can't meet their own time lines on something as simple as this.

 

[MooTime]

Well not going very well for VA here. I applied last Monday and received an email stating that they'd be in touch within 7 days. Today is day number 8 and nothing. Not an idea way to win over new customers when they can't meet their own time lines on something as simple as this.

Try comparing Call centre wait times.
VA 2 mins
QF 90mins+

something so simple to answer a call, so simple yet so hard for QF. Cut staff at every chance, yet open Chairman's Lounge for 3 nobs!

The more heading to QF the better for me, less crowded lounges, who cares about a few that aren't around any longer.
Was in QF lounge last week in Hobart (thanks Qatar status match), OMG, line hundred's meters long, like Boxing Day sale, to receive couple party pies after fighting for a seat, woo!

 

[Daver6]

Try comparing Call centre wait times.
VA 2 mins
QF 90mins+

something so simple to answer a call, so simple yet so hard for QF. Cut staff at every chance, yet open Chairman's Lounge for 3 nobs!

The more heading to QF the better for me, less crowded lounges, who cares about a few that aren't around any longer.
Was in QF lounge last week in Hobart (thanks Qatar status match), OMG, line hundred's meters long, like Boxing Day sale, to receive couple party pies after fighting for a seat, woo!

While some of your points might be valid, none of them detract from my point.

Have you been into the CL to confirm that its only open to three knobs at a time? Do they allow non-knobs in and just limit it to three? The latter sounds pretty good to me. I reckon both the regular QF and VA lounges allow more than three knobs at a time in. Perhaps I should aspire to getting an invite so the knob to normal person ration is lower. Although perhaps I'm also considered a knob in your book...that could mess things about a little if I flew VA.

As for the QF HBA lounge. I guess it has been expanded greatly since my last visit a couple of years ago. There is no way it would have been big enough for a line to extender into the hundreds of metres. I think even a 50m line might be a stretch. However, this is fantastic news that the lounge is of a size large enough that it can safely accommodate such a long line.

</tongue in cheek>

 

[Mattg]

Well not going very well for VA here. I applied last Monday and received an email stating that they'd be in touch within 7 days. Today is day number 8 and nothing. Not an idea way to win over new customers when they can't meet their own time lines on something as simple as this.

Agreed. I also applied last Monday and have so far heard nothing. I need to book a flight soon and my business will go to QF if they can't get their act together.

I'm not even sure why I'm bothering at this point. The VA lounge is still closed at my home airport, their service in general lately has been woeful, and once international travel resumes it seems Velocity status is going to be even more useless than before.

 

[AusFlyer57]

Applied and got approved on Monday 14 Dec with gold status to start today (wed 16). However as of today, my new status is not reflected on my velocity account (despite Virgin saying that would happen) - not sure what’s going on there but travelling with them later this week so hope I can access the lounge

 

[sudoer]

Applied and got approved on Monday 14 Dec with gold status to start today (wed 16)

If you applied and got approval on the same day I guess they are prioritising applications by start date.