Forum Opinion - Level above WP?

[tomasp]

What do you all think, should Velocity introduce a level above WP? And if so, what perks should it have?

My thoughts would be yes... Reduce WP from 800 maintenance to 600 maintenance and bring in another level at 1,000 maintenance...

Perks could be something along the lines of guaranteed business class reward seat bookings for you and anyone travelling on your booking (domestic and international), separate/upgraded section of lounge with better offerings, priority before priority boarding, partner platinum offering... and maybe a higher rate of points & status earning?

 

[Hvr]

Be careful what you wish for, it won't be beneficial long term.

To have clearly defined benefits for a higher level they would need to reduce the benefits of the lower levels.

You only need to look at Qantas with their introduction of WP1 and subsequent degradation of WP level benefits.

 

[oz_mark]

There is little point in bringing in a level just a bit above the current platinum. You'd end up with people wanting another level, and then another.

Do what Qantas did and make it way above the current level. You don't hear many asking for another level there anymore!

 

[tomasp]

True,

That is why I suggested lowering WP to 600 maintenance instead of 800 and introducing new level at 1000 maintenance... seems a bit of a gap between 400 for SG and 800 for WP with extremely little benefit. I think as it currently stand with SG and WP the cost-reward ratio to move up is way off.

 

[Jack_OC]

True,

That is why I suggested lowering WP to 600 maintenance instead of 800 and introducing new level at 1000 maintenance... seems a bit of a gap between 400 for SG and 800 for WP with extremely little benefit. I think as it currently stand with SG and WP the cost-reward ratio to move up is way off.

The gap between the SCs required for Gold vs Platinum is already very small. On many occasions over the past 3 years I have earned 560 SCs+ on a single trip (a J rtn from MEL to Europe). Also, as a result of Family Pooling, it's possible to get a lot of SCs without doing much flying at all. Therefore, IMHO, reducing the threshold for Platinum would be ridiculous. To be honest, I think the relative ease of getting to Platinum with VA is one of the reasons why they are reluctant to give meaningful benefits to go along with it.

Having said that, VA is not in a position to even match the benefits that come with QF Platinum status, never mind P1. They have no domestic J lounge equivalents; no international F lounges (of their own); a very limited international network (of their own), which means any benefits related to international travel (in particular award/upgrade availability) would be worthless to many people. One benefit they could look at is making the 4 free Y to J upgrades redeemable on Elevate fares instead of just Freedom - that would really make Platinum worthwhile - and/or making the hotel status matches an ongoing benefit rather than (supposedly) 1 year only. I'd be happy if they increased the qualification/retention thresholds for Platinum in return for those changes (suit of armour now on ).

 

[CPMaverick]

Yes, there is room for it. But no, you don't reduce the current Platinum threshold. It's fine the way it is. The problem is WP is too easy to attain, when you add in family pooling it is even more so. And then very little reward to continue on flying VA.

I've already requalified for WP and actively giving my business to other airlines (or crediting VA to DL), because I would rather get status somewhere else instead of just earning points with VA. And I don't even family pool.

1500 would be a good step, with 1200 requal. Additional perks could be:
- Reimbursement for APEC Business Travel Card
- Upgrade certs good from any fare class domestically and/or upgrade certs for international J or PE
- Complimentary stand-by for any fare
- Complimentary EconomyX seating on international flights
- Ability to gift Velocity status

There are plenty of potential perks out there now that aren't currently at the WP level. Partly because they have devalued WP, but still, it is there.

The gap between the SCs required for Gold vs Platinum is already very small. ...

I'd be happy if they increased the qualification/retention thresholds for Platinum in return for those changes (suit of armour now on ).

Agree completely!

 

[grubbidok]

I think a fourth tier is a terrible idea - the best and easiest way to make a higher tier have value is to reduce the value of the lower tiers!

A much better idea for incentivising continued post-WP-qualification travel would be to bring in life-time status

 

[CPMaverick]

Nah, lifetime status is not a carrot for me. Several years of loyalty to get lifetime VA Silver? Not worth it. I'm over 600k on a couple airlines lifetime but still not flying just to achieve that.

Higher tier, absolutely it would motivate me. It works well for many other airlines, even ones whose third tier is much more difficult to achieve than VA's. Just has to be done right.

 

[williamsf1]

maybe something like the current VIP status for members that get to 4000 SC pa with 3000sc of that on VA Code

1000 is way too low and easy to get

 

[Lemon_Party]

The gap between the SCs required for Gold vs Platinum is already very small. On many occasions over the past 3 years I have earned 560 SCs+ on a single trip (a J rtn from MEL to Europe). Also, as a result of Family Pooling, it's possible to get a lot of SCs without doing much flying at all. Therefore, IMHO, reducing the threshold for Platinum would be ridiculous. To be honest, I think the relative ease of getting to Platinum with VA is one of the reasons why they are reluctant to give meaningful benefits to go along with it.

Completely agree - VA platinum is already simple to achieve with limited flying.

Yes, there is room for it. But no, you don't reduce the current Platinum threshold. It's fine the way it is. The problem is WP is too easy to attain, when you add in family pooling it is even more so. And then very little reward to continue on flying VA.

The introduction of economy X domestically gives an incentive now - I'd been looking at trying to go for gold QF once VA plat requalified, but having extra leg room and space almost balances out against VA's terrible food. Also the points earn rate is quite good if you fly on flexi fares - 10x air fare means you can rack up a balance pretty quickly.

The best thing they could give to reward more flying for me would be extra upgrade certs, and even better would be for any fare class as you note.

 

[Muppet501st]

Completely agree - VA platinum is already simple to achieve with limited flying.



The introduction of economy X domestically gives an incentive now - I'd been looking at trying to go for gold QF once VA plat requalified, but having extra leg room and space almost balances out against VA's terrible food. Also the points earn rate is quite good if you fly on flexi fares - 10x air fare means you can rack up a balance pretty quickly.

The best thing they could give to reward more flying for me would be extra upgrade certs, and even better would be for any fare class as you note.

Or WP Comp upgrades on long haul flights

 

[Ribbo83]

Completely agree - VA platinum is already simple to achieve with limited flying.



The introduction of economy X domestically gives an incentive now - I'd been looking at trying to go for gold QF once VA plat requalified, but having extra leg room and space almost balances out against VA's terrible food. Also the points earn rate is quite good if you fly on flexi fares - 10x air fare means you can rack up a balance pretty quickly.

The best thing they could give to reward more flying for me would be extra upgrade certs, and even better would be for any fare class as you note.

I managed to get an upgrade comp upgrade cert. out of HBA the other day on an elivate fare. I was happy to do it on points but they insisted i use an upgrade cert. as I still had some left. I pointed out that I was on an elivate fare not a freedom but it didn't seem to bother them?

 

[Pleb Status]

After experiencing a couple of years of QF P1, it would be a massive NO to a VA P1 or equivalent.

In reality, all QF did with P1 was reinstate some of the benefits that they had stripped away from WP over the years. The implementation of the increased P1 'service' benefits was patchy at best and were therefore effectively worthless. Alot of the useful benefits that QF P1 get over QF WP (domestic extra leg room seating for example), we get as VA WP.

If VA were to do anything, an increase in benefits to WP would be a better solution, with a small increase in the SC earn requirement if required.

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

Yep I'd vote for an increase in WP benefits along with raising the bar to get and keep WP.

 

[JohnK]

I'd say Platinum, Gold and Silver is just about right. More levels would confuse things. And it's too easy to get Gold now. If anything I'd increase Platinum to 1200/1000 and Gold to 600/500.

 

[Pleb Status]

I'd say Platinum, Gold and Silver is just about right. More levels would confuse things. And it's too easy to get Gold now. If anything I'd increase Platinum to 1200/1000 and Gold to 600/500.

I would limit (or eliminate) family pooling before any increase in thresholds...

 

[JohnK]

I would limit (or eliminate) family pooling before any increase in thresholds...

I think you're right. Wife and I just need 200 SCs each and we make Gold. One trip to Thailand is 180 SCs for both of us. When we start paying for daughter in ~13 months it will be even easier.

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

What about making family pooling for points only? As a WP I want there to be fewer status pax and more status benefits but the number of people making redemptions is less visible to me.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

If VA were to do anything, an increase in benefits to WP would be a better solution, with a small increase in the SC earn requirement if required.

This! Given that there's so little difference anyway between Gold and Plat for domestic flyers (extra legroom if flying economy, 4 upgrades each year if you buy a Freedom fare and a couple of extra guests in the lounge), I wouldn't really see the point in *another* level above Platinum but below The Club where enough benefits could be offered to make an actual difference, because that's barely the case now with Platinum vs Gold.

 

[shanemelb1968]

I think there should definitely be a level above Platinum, but the benefits should be new, not stripped from Platinum.
Some suggestions: Additional complimentary upgrades (possibly with ability to upgrade from a Saver fare); guaranteed business reward seats;
Another thing that would be a drawcard (for me at least) would be that if business class isn't full, Platinum Plus (or whatever they decide to call it) can be upgraded free at the lounge. Some benefits of this would also be that they can cater for a full business class cabin all the time, so no more of the "Full catering not assured" when upgrading.

For very frequent flyers, there needs to be an incentive to remain loyal. I usually achieve platinum within about 3 months of my review date, then pool my points and status credits to get my partner to platinum, plus then gift a gold membership to somebody else. The pooling and gifting is great for others, but doesn't really offer me a reason to stay loyal. I know alot of people that, as soon as they hit Platinum with Virgin, switch to Qantas to build up status with them.

The way it is at the moment, there is no incentive to remain loyal to Virgin after achieving Platinum.