Virgin Platinum Pointless?

[Moopere]

What I'd really like on the VA gold/plat list is another hotel status match choice...........Starwood.

Frequent flying, frequent hoteling and frequent car hiring frequently go hand in hand

Yes, I agree. Its almost a given isn't it? You go somewhere, and frequently go somewhere (thus holding status) so it figures that a fair proportion of those trips are going to have a hotel stay involved at some point and similar possibility for car hire (though less certain I'd imagine).

SPG would be an obvious and well received addition - and as one has to choose between these benefits rather than gaining them all at the same time there isn't a lot of additional loss/risk for the hotel chains involved.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Yes, I agree. Its almost a given isn't it? You go somewhere, and frequently go somewhere (thus holding status) so it figures that a fair proportion of those trips are going to have a hotel stay involved at some point and similar possibility for car hire (though less certain I'd imagine).

SPG would be an obvious and well received addition - and as one has to choose between these benefits rather than gaining them all at the same time there isn't a lot of additional loss/risk for the hotel chains involved.

Earning SPG status is not that difficult, just direct your spend there, as I did
Saying this from my suite at the Westin Singapore.

 

[muppet]

was on an overbooked MEL -CBR this morning and got a J OP-UP on a saver fare.
I think WP probably was a factor.

 

[doczim]

great thread and cleared up a few misunderstandings that I had about VA WP. Very interesting about the guaranteed reward seat , i didn't realises the +-3 day thing. But the biggest one cleared up for me was that you cant get J class reward seats released via the VA WP line.

I was able to avail myself of some of, what was for me, the best benefits of QF WP being requesting Int J class reward seats for a family holiday to the USA. ticked a major bucket list for me.

Our company changed its airline from shared VA/QF to 100% VA. We were status matched so I thought that maybe I'd be able to do something similar in a year for another J International reward. While I don't have quite as many VA points as QF they accumulate fast especially with the CC earn as you all well know especially. I haven't got a VA earn credit card yet and now I'm not sure I will bother. in two minds now which horse to back so to speak. One thing that may just be my impression, but it does seem more common to hear about points upgrades from VA being successful than QF.

We've caught the J int travel bug now so just keep looking for ways to enjoy it, even to the point of saying we'd pay for it!

 

[pythonisman]

One thing that may just be my impression, but it does seem more common to hear about points upgrades from VA being successful than QF.

To hopefully clear it up for you -- if there's award seat availability with VA, points upgrades are confirmed 100% on the spot when you book them.
There's no waiting to see if your upgrade pulls through in the hours/days/weeks leading up to your flight. If it says there's a seat available on a flight, and you call up and book the upgrade, it's yours.

I booked the economy flight on the phone with the agent ready to do the upgrade on the spot and the process was over in about 2 minutes.

 

[doczim]

To hopefully clear it up for you -- if there's award seat availability with VA, points upgrades are confirmed 100% on the spot when you book them.
There's no waiting to see if your upgrade pulls through in the hours/days/weeks leading up to your flight. If it says there's a seat available on a flight, and you call up and book the upgrade, it's yours.

I booked the economy flight on the phone with the agent ready to do the upgrade on the spot and the process was over in about 2 minutes.

Now that is good! so I find where there are J reward seats via website, call up, purchase an upgradable fare and get them to do the upgrade in the same call? I assume the only difference then between buying a cheaper (upgradable) Y vs buying a PE, aside from the cost of ticket, would be that the PE would use less points to upgrade to J, rather than it give any more chance to upgrade from the higher paying fare as what you have said that does not seem part of the equation.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

Now that is good! so I find where there are J reward seats via website, call up, purchase an upgradable fare and get them to do the upgrade in the same call? I assume the only difference then between buying a cheaper (upgradable) Y vs buying a PE, aside from the cost of ticket, would be that the PE would use less points to upgrade to J, rather than it give any more chance to upgrade from the higher paying fare as what you have said that does not seem part of the equation.

Yes. Less points to upgrade PE to J than Y to J.

You don't have more or less chance based on holding a Y or PE ticket. If the reward seat is available..You can upgrade

 

[Denali]

Purchased PE and then upgrade will also earn more SC/points than purchasing Y and upgrade as you get points/SC on original fare purchased.

When I phoned to do this, I also asked them to waive the $30pp fee for phone bookings because my booking was a bit complex, they did. I think it had more to do with being WP.

 

[pythonisman]

Now that is good! so I find where there are J reward seats via website, call up, purchase an upgradable fare and get them to do the upgrade in the same call? I assume the only difference then between buying a cheaper (upgradable) Y vs buying a PE, aside from the cost of ticket, would be that the PE would use less points to upgrade to J, rather than it give any more chance to upgrade from the higher paying fare as what you have said that does not seem part of the equation.

Exactly. The only difference is the cost in points. Flexi Y is the same points cost to upgrade as "discount" W, "proper" W is less.

From: UpgradeMe Points | Velocity Frequent Flyer
Flexi -> Premium is 18k points
Flexi -> Business is 45k points
Premium saver -> Business is 45k points
Full Premium -> Business is 25k points

From what I'm aware there is no preference for upgrades from a premium seat versus flexi, it's just if there's availability or not. Upgrade / Award availability may fluctuate over time or with other factors.

Hope this helps.

 

[doczim]

Exactly. The only difference is the cost in points. Flexi Y is the same points cost to upgrade as "discount" W, "proper" W is less.

From: UpgradeMe Points | Velocity Frequent Flyer
Flexi -> Premium is 18k points
Flexi -> Business is 45k points
Premium saver -> Business is 45k points
Full Premium -> Business is 25k points

From what I'm aware there is no preference for upgrades from a premium seat versus flexi, it's just if there's availability or not. Upgrade / Award availability may fluctuate over time or with other factors.

Hope this helps.

very much so thanks pythonisman! nothing in concrete planned yet, but will start to look at availability at various times. and there I was seriously considering having to drop $20k plus for 3xJ class seat purchase. J class long haul bug was a bad bug to get !!

 

[pythonisman]

very much so thanks pythonisman! nothing in concrete planned yet, but will start to look at availability at various times. and there I was seriously considering having to drop $20k plus for 3xJ class seat purchase. J class long haul bug was a bad bug to get !!

Happy to help.
Also tell me about it. After a few nice long haul trips in J with VA/NZ/SQ I'm finding it way too easy to make it a pre-requisite to travel...

 

[doczim]

Happy to help.
Also tell me about it. After a few nice long haul trips in J with VA/NZ/SQ I'm finding it way too easy to make it a pre-requisite to travel...

i did a quick search in May of next year and all the dates I checked had reward seats and Y- purchase was around the $2100 mark and $2700 for PE- return inc all fees taxes etc. both quite reasonable IMO when they turn into guaranteed J Class (without the Points, SC & some perks) I nearly booked it then and there! I'm a little short on points for the Y- upgrade . Got to go look for a new VFF earn CC now! any recommendations?

 

[knasty]

i did a quick search in May of next year and all the dates I checked had reward seats and Y- purchase was around the $2100 mark and $2700 for PE- return inc all fees taxes etc. both quite reasonable IMO when they turn into guaranteed J Class (without the Points, SC & some perks) I nearly booked it then and there! I'm a little short on points for the Y- upgrade . Got to go look for a new VFF earn CC now! any recommendations?

I find NAB VFF Platinum to be pretty good. 40,000 points post pretty shortly after your first purchase.

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

September looks like a good month for Velocity credit cards!

NAB's offering 40 000 bonus points for an Amex (1.5 points/$) and Visa (0.5 points/$) combo

Virgin Money has 20 000 bonus points for a Visa that earns 1 point/$ (but back to 0.5 points/$ after $1 500 each month)

And Amex Platinum Edge gives you 10 000 bonus Membership Rewards points which go 1:1 into Velocity points

So there's 70 000 points for you right there for about $400

 

[doczim]

September looks like a good month for Velocity credit cards!

NAB's offering 40 000 bonus points for an Amex (1.5 points/$) and Visa (0.5 points/$) combo

Virgin Money has 20 000 bonus points for a Visa that earns 1 point/$ (but back to 0.5 points/$ after $1 500 each month)

And Amex Platinum Edge gives you 10 000 bonus Membership Rewards points which go 1:1 into Velocity points

So there's 70 000 points for you right there for about $400

I find NAB VFF Platinum to be pretty good. 40,000 points post pretty shortly after your first purchase.

thanks for these, I will check them out. We are going to Melb for a bit of r&r soon, to give the family a bit of a nice surprise, I was going to upgrade them on points, but will save those points for a bigger surprise!. Might use my 4 freebie cause I don't see a PER trip anytime soon for me.

 

[Homer]

There's been some discussion in this thread about the release of award seats by the VA Plat call centre. I just tried something like that today with a domestic flight and got two completely different results.

I needed a Z class (business award seat) where there were only J (revenue) seats left on the flight. The first person I spoke to in the VA call centre told me they were allowed to convert a W or J class to a Z class on request, provided that this conversion still left two J revenue seats remaining for sale. The flight I selected didn't have enough J seats for this to happen. A bit later I noticed another flight later in the day with six J seats for sale so I called again and spoke to a different agent. This one told me I had been given the wrong information from the previous agent and that they were not allowed to make Z class seats available if requested by a VA WP.

So who's right and who's wrong? I can't see anything in the published benefits about this.

 

[bullerdude]

There's been some discussion in this thread about the release of award seats by the VA Plat call centre. I just tried something like that today with a domestic flight and got two completely different results.

I needed a Z class (business award seat) where there were only J (revenue) seats left on the flight. The first person I spoke to in the VA call centre told me they were allowed to convert a W or J class to a Z class on request, provided that this conversion still left two J revenue seats remaining for sale. The flight I selected didn't have enough J seats for this to happen. A bit later I noticed another flight later in the day with six J seats for sale so I called again and spoke to a different agent. This one told me I had been given the wrong information from the previous agent and that they were not allowed to make Z class seats available if requested by a VA WP.

So who's right and who's wrong? I can't see anything in the published benefits about this.

There is no official policy (at least one that is publicly published) that allow for WP's to request reward seats be opened up. My guess is that the first agent made reference to the unofficial policy as they do allow further reward seats in certain cases - I had two J seats opened up on one flight but it was extremely painful to get it done and probably only went through because I made a complaint after receiving different advice from different agents.

 

[tinkybelle]

I think as the highest tier one should be able to request award seats. its ridiculous that we can't.
Im also unhappy that many chairmans lounge qantas members( and ones that only used points to fly)
were given free club ( higher than plat) membership when not even buying seats.
this "high tier for the boys" is starting to sound like the old boys qantas days.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So who's right and who's wrong? I can't see anything in the published benefits about this.

I haven't tried it recently, but every time I've tried in the past, the answer has been a resounding NO.

 

[danpez]

So after having WP for a year (just dropped to SG) here are my thoughts:

Row 3 - I got this just as much with SG, no noticeable difference
Etihad First Abu Dhabi - This was considerably better than the business lounge. Far less busy, with one in T1 and T3, and both have a creche. The lovely ladies took our daughter off us for 4 hours during a unavoidable 6 hour stopover so we could chill out. 15 min free massage available at the Spa (go Bamboo sticks!). You can only use it once, but once we went to T1 first then over to T3 and sneaked another one in! T3 lounge was very busy on one trip though, rush hour I was told.
Upgrades - Upgraded from Flexi on A330 BNE-PER. Flight was empty so had a hostess to myself. Only plane worth doing, check before you book.
Priority Guaranteed Flights - This was terrific. A mate in the UK got married and I didn't get much notice. The guaranteed seats meant I could fly all 3 of us (wife and daughter) return to the UK for free using points when all seats were already booked up.
General Treatment - I could say the smiles may have been just that little wider, but overall similar to SG.

Got a heap of trips coming over the next 9 months, so may go up by default again, but other than the Etihad Lounge I think I'll survive...