Virgin Australia launches 'coronavirus status extension' plan

[aaronm]

My status review date is 10/4 and I would have already requalified for Platinum. Does that mean the status credits I earned in the last 12 months will count towards the next status review (in 2021) at the end of the status extension period?

If not, this extension doesn’t help much. Suspect there may be a few in the same boat with their regular review date being around April/May. I have enough flights booked already to requal in 2020 but the big-earning international trips seem pretty unlikely to go ahead at this point.

 

[knagelli]

Does that mean the status credits I earned in the last 12 months will count towards the next status review (in 2021) at the end of the status extension period?

I suspect there is no mention of flight sectors/status credits being carried forward. However as they are giving status extension , it does not make sense to gift status credits if they were not to be carried forward. It's tricky.

 

[jasecao]

Im pretty sure we will have to requalify once the review date occurs and 1 year extension happens

I too already retained with a review date in June, meaning the bonus status won't count to the requalify as well

like most things this helps the majority, but there are always people that it won't help as much

Just hope they pull through this and we can all be in the air again.

 

[MooTime]

I suspect there is no mention of flight sectors/status credits being carried forward. However as they are giving status extension , it does not make sense to gift status credits if they were not to be carried forward. It's tricky.

well if you have your review date later this year, more so towards very end of the year, these status gift may help some get to the next level by their review date, hence being on next level for another 12months.
I suspect this unless your current level is locked in now which i doubt.

 

[SteveL]

My status review date is 25 May 2020, and I had already requalified for Gold. At this stage I am still unsure whether this extension makes any difference to me or not? Will the status credits I have accumulated in the last 10 months carry forward to the requalification period for the 2021 renewal? Or do I have to start again on 26 May 2020 - in which case the extension has been of no befiit at all. I'm afraid the "clarification email" has left me even more confused

 

[grubbidok]

I'm a bit confused by this too. I re-qualified on my status review date of March 20. I received an email yesterday saying that my review has been "extended by 1 year" until March 30, 2021. I still don't understand what this means. My account shows the SCs have indeed reset to 0. Do I get a 1 year extension, or do I just get a 10 day one?

I honestly don't think I would be able to make WP by next March given the travel environment over the coming year (where usually I travel enough to make WP *and* gift WP to my wife).

 

[ozstamps]

A cage full of trained Chimps could not have messed this extension email up any worse.

The wheels seem to have totally fallen off there and no-one checks anything any more.

The dopey Velocity anniversary date system confuses it wildly.

Then when you go up or down a level that date changes - a madhouse if you pool with a partner or family member

All USA carriers and Hotel chains count Calendar year and everyone can understand it.

Hilton just extended status by a fully year so everyone knows where they stand.

What you book in 2021 is all that counts then.

 

[jase05]

A cage full of trained Chimps could not have messed this extension email up any worse.

The wheels seem to have totally fallen off there and no-one checks anything any more.

The dopey Velocity anniversary date system confuses it wildly.

Then when you go up or down a level that date changes - a madhouse if you pool with a partner or family member

All USA carriers and Hotel chains count Calendar year and everyone can understand it.

Hilton just extended status by a fully year so everyone knows where they stand.

What you book in 2021 is all that counts then.

The rolling date system works ok when everything is fine but as soon as you throw in variables like we have now it makes it an absolute nightmare and I don’t think even anyone with a degree in physics can work it out.
Im probably one of the lucky ones as my date isn’t until the end of January and I have already re-qualified for Platinum but for people who have review dates just gone or are coming up soon I hope they can get some clarity going forward. As we have seen with the QF system, neither is perfect and both will probably have some winners and losers

 

[Must...Fly!]

A cage full of trained Chimps could not have messed this extension email up any worse.

The wheels seem to have totally fallen off there and no-one checks anything any more.

The dopey Velocity anniversary date system confuses it wildly.

Then when you go up or down a level that date changes - a madhouse if you pool with a partner or family member

All USA carriers and Hotel chains count Calendar year and everyone can understand it.

Hilton just extended status by a fully year so everyone knows where they stand.

What you book in 2021 is all that counts then.

The "dopey" rolling year works in the customer's favour. Calendar year is needlessly restrictive.

 

[jase05]

Article from ET explains a little bit more

Virgin Australia restores Velocity status for past elite members

If you recently held – but have since lost – Velocity Silver, Gold or Platinum status, there's a surprise waiting for you.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[hydrabyss]

The "dopey" rolling year works in the customer's favour. Calendar year is needlessly restrictive.

Nothing worse than joining a program mid year and having to start again six months later.

 

[ozstamps]

Nothing worse than joining a program mid year and having to start again six months later.

NOTHING worse? You really must be kidding.

The 150 million members of the US airline schemes all seem to manage the idea very well. And have done for 50 years.

Easy to follow and easy to plan around.

Jan 1 to Dec 31 flights are what counts for them all.

Worked well before Virgin was started, and will still work well long after Virgin is just an entry in Wikipedia.

 

[hydrabyss]

NOTHING worse? You really must be kidding.

The 150 million members of the US airline schemes all seem to manage the idea very well. And have done for 50 years.

Easy to follow and easy to plan around.

Jan 1 to Dec 31 flights are what counts for them all.

Worked well before Virgin was started, and will still work well long after Virgin is just an entry in Wikipedia.

I decided to get Rydges status again but only started staying in August so managed 7 stays, so 3 short to get to 10 for Black status. Hilton make it easier by offering a challenge but not many do.

 

[Must...Fly!]

NOTHING worse? You really must be kidding.

The 150 million members of the US airline schemes all seem to manage the idea very well. And have done for 50 years.

Easy to follow and easy to plan around.

Jan 1 to Dec 31 flights are what counts for them all.

Worked well before Virgin was started, and will still work well long after Virgin is just an entry in Wikipedia.

Oh yes, American carriers really are the most generous panacea of frequent flyer programs..../s

Delta's miles aren't nicknamed skypesos for nothing.

While I'm at it, the American carriers are getting billions and billions in help from the White House. So they haven't done too well over the years either, despite cushy government regulation and consolidation in the industry.

You might have to update that Wikipedia article for a number of airlines, but Virgin won't be the only one with the asterisk next to their name. (* Collapsed during COVID-19 outbreak).

PS Velocity was worth at least $750,000,000 before the pandemic blindsided the entire world. So perhaps they were doing something right.

 

[ozstamps]

American carriers are getting billions and billions in help from the White House. So they haven't done too well over the years either, despite cushy government regulation and consolidation in the industry.

You really should do the most basic research before making such incorrent statements. The US airline majors have been incredibly profitable in recent years. See below. Please do the most BASIC research on areas you know nothing about. Such as this.

Warren Buffett owns the major stake in near all of the majors including Delta. He might know a tiny bit more about investing than you.

The Feds gave them assistance, which they accepted with open arms. Why wouldn't they? But they have been very profitable in recent years.

 

[jase05]

You really should do the most basic research before making such incorrent statements. The US airline majors have been incredibly profitable in recent years. See below. Please do the most BASIC research on areas you know nothing about. Such as this.

Warren Buffett owns the major stake in near all of the majors including Delta. He might know a tiny bit more about investing than you.

The Feds gave them assistance, which they accepted with open arms. Why wouldn't they? But they have been very profitable in recent years.

AA also have $34bn in debt

 

[Must...Fly!]

AA also have $34bn in debt

Exactly right.

Those who do proper research would be aware of the significant debt loads.

Especially when accusing others of knowing nothing about the industry.

 

[jase05]

Well Mrs Jase and I both got our first batch of 70SC’s today. Let’s hope VA is around long enough for us to make any use of it

 

[hydrabyss]

I got the 70 which pooled to my partner who is gold on 997 now. She has not received any as of yet.

So I gather these will expire in 12 months so for some will have no benefit.

 

[Matt_01]

With some of the media reports out there, correct or otherwise I am starting to think what does it matter. WP status in in airline that may not exist is not that useful.