Whats the point of Platinum?

[Muppet501st]

I think having WP status yesterday had something to do with receiving 2 "J "op-ups (2 separate connecting flights booked on the lowest fare class) at the gates yesterday due to oversold flights. So being WP over SG you get first in line

 

[Marty_]

Also first in line for all waitlisted upgrades, including crucial international long haul ones!

 

[Lord_Lenny]

I have recently gotten it for the first time, a combination of regular work flights, generous status credit earn table from SQ on a SYD-LHR return with family pooling, and a status run weekend break. This is partly because I have always wanted it just for the sake of having it, but primarily to ensure the soft landing to Gold.

With the planned travel the wife and I are doing in the next 12-18mths, plus the fact I am potentially doing less for work next year I was in danger of not maintaining Gold past August 2017, with our next big overseas trip planned for Dec 2017/Jan 2018, having had a taste of international flying with status in July I am reluctant to give that up if at all possible, so a bit of extra work now means I can guarantee myself Gold for the next international flight I do, which should subsequently requal me for Gold anyway.

 

[Warks]

Is row 3 WP only? I fly with my GM and a lot of the time he finds his way into Row3 with me and he is Gold.

I'm SG and absolutely NEVER get row 3 any more no matter when I check in (actually I never check in at the airport so that might be the secret - but probably getting the centre seat). On a half empty SYD-TSV flight last week I was in row 4 both ways which is closer than normal (usually 5-6) but row 3 was empty! But then a couple of pax got 'honoured' with the window seats on that row. Not sure why but they came from behind me. J was empty too.

 

[sausagefingers]

I'm SG and absolutely NEVER get row 3 any more no matter when I check in (actually I never check in at the airport so that might be the secret - but probably getting the centre seat). On a half empty SYD-TSV flight last week I was in row 4 both ways which is closer than normal (usually 5-6) but row 3 was empty! But then a couple of pax got 'honoured' with the window seats on that row. Not sure why but they came from behind me. J was empty too.

My work flights are booked with corporate traveller so I always call and ask for row 3. I am WP and have never been gold but I assume gold could prob do the same? is it first in? or wp only.

 

[Marty_]

It is well-known that row 3 is for WP only. It does not matter if it's empty, or there is only 1 person sitting in it. The exceptions are very few and far between.

If a WP is travelling with a companion then they make an exception for the companion.

 

[tea&coffee]

I'm WP and the only benefit is Row 3.

But the devalue with EY changes, recent lounge downgrades and their total inability to assist with Code Share partners has resulted in me shifting to the competitor.

VA use to be a great option but it's totally tanked in the last 12 months.

 

[Bolthead]

I have been WP for 4-5 years now and I have found it t be invaluable at times. Not so much with domestic flights as I rarely get an upgrade however with Etihad and VA long haul I have have had unexpected upgrades either at checkin or at the gate which I can only assume is because of my status. For the record SQ has never given me an upgrade. (which I believe is a well known issue) Lat week on Delta from SJO-LAX the cabin supervisor made an effort to welcome us on board. We were in J but he made reference to my WP and proceeded to tell us the best places to eat in LAX. I didn't see him talk to anyone else in the cabin.

It's all hairy fairy stuff but I think WP is worth it.

 

[N11]

I'm SG and absolutely NEVER get row 3 any more no matter when I check in (actually I never check in at the airport so that might be the secret - but probably getting the centre seat). On a half empty SYD-TSV flight last week I was in row 4 both ways which is closer than normal (usually 5-6) but row 3 was empty! But then a couple of pax got 'honoured' with the window seats on that row. Not sure why but they came from behind me. J was empty too.

a lovely lady at MEL lounge counter did change my return flight seat from row 5 to row 3 last week when i start to belive row 3 is only for WP.
And there are 4 pax in row 3 that day so it is definitely not empty

 

[Quickstatus]

I've wondering right now whether to bother requalifying for platinum or trying to move up elsewhere instead... the only real benefits I find that are of use are:

• Row 3
• EY AUH first lounge
• 3 guests in the lounge
• 14% more points earned from flying than gold

Am I forgetting anything? There's nothing else that you get as a gold that spending some points won't make up for?

Unfortunately thats about it

 

[Denali]

The annoying thing is that hubbys HHonors Diamond is going to drop next year and hes been WP for about 3yrs now and VA advises he needs to drop to SG and then requal for WP to get the Diamond benefit again.

Very annoying and hubby pratically breaks out at the idea of dropping in status.

My plan is to wait until late next year and trigger my own HH Diamond benefit but the HHonors benefit should be more than a one only bite of the apple.

 

[NZflygirl]

It is well-known that row 3 is for WP only. It does not matter if it's empty, or there is only 1 person sitting in it. The exceptions are very few and far between.

If a WP is travelling with a companion then they make an exception for the companion.

They give row 3 to NZ Gold and above also so presumably other partner airlines with status too. Only fair as VA gold etc have access to NZ seating FF seating options also.

 

[ozjuice]

I have been put in Row 3 before even when SG, but you can't can't book the seats until WP so I guess it's a benefit but no exclusive.

 

[Daver6]

The annoying thing is that hubbys HHonors Diamond is going to drop next year and hes been WP for about 3yrs now and VA advises he needs to drop to SG and then requal for WP to get the Diamond benefit again.

Very annoying and hubby pratically breaks out at the idea of dropping in status.

My plan is to wait until late next year and trigger my own HH Diamond benefit but the HHonors benefit should be more than a one only bite of the apple.

That's interesting. Having been VA SG and taking up HH gold, I then dropped down in both programs. I then got VA SG again, but could not use the HH gold benefit. VA told me that it is a one off thing that can only be done once for the lifetime of the program. I could still claim HH diamond if I ever get to VA WP.

So either:
1) It is different for SG and WP
2) It has changed in the last couple of years
3) You have been misinformed

Hopefully it isn't 3) as your husband would be pretty unimpressed.

 

[Denali]

That's interesting. Having been VA SG and taking up HH gold, I then dropped down in both programs. I then got VA SG again, but could not use the HH gold benefit. VA told me that it is a one off thing that can only be done once for the lifetime of the program. I could still claim HH diamond if I ever get to VA WP.

So either:
1) It is different for SG and WP
2) It has changed in the last couple of years
3) You have been misinformed

Hopefully it isn't 3) as your husband would be pretty unimpressed.

The post from Velocity is either buried on this forum or in Facebook but Im sure if I ask 3 times, I will get 3 different answers.

 

[ozjuice]

[h=3]Quoted from ABT



Maintaining your Hilton or IHG status[/h]While free hotel status is a fantastic companion to your frequent flyer status, you only get it the first time you hit Velocity Platinum – not when you simply retain that level after clocking up enough flights.
(Of course, if you drop from Velocity Platinum to Gold but later climb back up the ladder, you'll get a second shot at this free top-tier status with either Hilton or IHG.)

 

[Daver6]

[h=3]Quoted from ABT



Maintaining your Hilton or IHG status[/h]While free hotel status is a fantastic companion to your frequent flyer status, you only get it the first time you hit Velocity Platinum – not when you simply retain that level after clocking up enough flights.
(Of course, if you drop from Velocity Platinum to Gold but later climb back up the ladder, you'll get a second shot at this free top-tier status with either Hilton or IHG.)

Pardon my ignorance, but what is ABT?

Any mention of similar scenario going from gold down to silver and back to gold?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It is well-known that row 3 is for WP only. It does not matter if it's empty, or there is only 1 person sitting in it. The exceptions are very few and far between.

It will probably come as no surprise, but I disagree with this. IME it's well known that just about anyone can lob into row 3 if they know how to game the system and there's spare seats and as for being left empty or only 1 WP in the row and the rest left as shadows ... just wow??? Do you actually fly on VA, Marty? WPs get first bite of the cherry and that's about it, unless they've made some very recent changes.

VA told me that it is a one off thing that can only be done once for the lifetime of the program.

IIRC correctly, the bounce down and up to regain the comp was canned some time back. I believe the Ts&Cs state a "once only benefit" but I also seem to recall it being argued it may be read as a "once only per tier, benefit". I think there were a number of people reporting that it did appear to have been stopped. That was one of those "unwritten" benefits which some refuse to believe ever existed as it was never a written benefit to gain it multiple times, but should really be classed as good whilst they survive. Others may have some more recent examples.

 

[ozjuice]

Australian Business Traveller - Unbiased business travel news, reviews and advice. Your essential resource for flights, airports, hotels and frequent flyer rewards But that quote may be a little dated if Swanning_it is right in their assessment of changes made.

 

[Princess Fiona]

IIRC correctly, the bounce down and up to regain the comp was canned some time back. I believe the Ts&Cs state a "once only benefit" but I also seem to recall it being argued it may be read as a "once only per tier, benefit". I think there were a number of people reporting that it did appear to have been stopped. That was one of those "unwritten" benefits which some refuse to believe ever existed as it was never a written benefit to gain it multiple times, but should really be classed as good whilst they survive. Others may have some more recent examples.

Yep, they fixed this up. No longer possible to re-use.
Happened to a family member in the past 12 months, VA advised "One time only per Velocity account at each level". Previously their IT was not capable of knowing if you'd used it once before at Platinum