Free Virgin flights - Eligible Sectors

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theevilmuppet

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Hi all,

I understand that the flights that are included with cards such as the Velocity Platinum and Platinum Edge American Express cards are not meant to award the cardholder with either Velocity Points nor Status Credits, however my attempts to get an answer from American Express have proven completely futile.

I'm at a point where I have the required Status Credits for the upgrade to Platinum Velocity status, however I need 4 more Eligible Sectors to get the upgrade. I have both a Velocity Platinum and Platinum Edge card so can easily get 4 sectors with the complimentary flights but have been unable to get anything approaching an answer from American Express.

Can anyone confirm (based on experience), whether or not they saw their Eligible Sector count increase after taking advantage of these free flights?
 
Hi all,

I understand that the flights that are included with cards such as the Velocity Platinum and Platinum Edge American Express cards are not meant to award the cardholder with either Velocity Points nor Status Credits, however my attempts to get an answer from American Express have proven completely futile.

I'm at a point where I have the required Status Credits for the upgrade to Platinum Velocity status, however I need 4 more Eligible Sectors to get the upgrade. I have both a Velocity Platinum and Platinum Edge card so can easily get 4 sectors with the complimentary flights but have been unable to get anything approaching an answer from American Express.

Can anyone confirm (based on experience), whether or not they saw their Eligible Sector count increase after taking advantage of these free flights?

I have ever done one complimentary flight on my AmEx Edge card. From memory, I recall it posted as a normal paid flight (saver class I think). I am sure more knowledgable members will provide better (more informed) repossess to your question.
 
Mine (from the Platinum Reserve) came up as "Not Valid For Earn", for both points and Status Credits.
 
Mine (from the Platinum Reserve) came up as "Not Valid For Earn", for both points and Status Credits.

Thank you for the reply. I completely understand your reply and it is in line with statements made in my original message, but doesn't address my question.

Did the flight increment your Eligible Sector count?
 
Thank you for the reply. I completely understand your reply and it is in line with statements made in my original message, but doesn't address my question.

Did the flight increment your Eligible Sector count?

It needs to be valid for earn to be a qualifying sector for status as per the program rules.
 
My wife's one last year didn't earn or change the eligible sector count
 
This isn't an answer to the question but I flew return from Sydney to Perth on a redemption on my Reserve card, put down my Krisflyer number on the booking instead and received 50% of the miles (2,038)
 
I have never got status or pts on an Australian flt but did get both on syd ZQN.
 
With the platinum edge Amex free domestic flight, specifically we have only been unsuccessful in crediting to Velocity.
 
I got points for a flight I did last year and SC but did one last week and it came up as NOT VALID FOR EARN.. In other news, had a family member booked on EY to LHR as an award seat in J and they got points into velocity.. LOL
 
Does amex give any flexibility with these bookings at all? I was hoping to maybe book SYD-MCY but just one way for two people.
 
Thanks for the reply, however you've not been overly precise.

Looking at the policy in detail (available at the Velocity Rewards website) the following can be observed:

The specific clauses of interest are in section 21.2.2, which references section 20.4 with regard to Status Credit earn. There are two subclauses that are not completely clear with regard to this point:

Clause 20.4.2(d), which specifies "Reward Seat tickets" as ineligible. None of American Express, Virgin Australia or Velocity Rewards identify these tickets as Reward Seat tickets.
Clause 20.4.2(j), which specifies "tickets which are subject to any specific provisions excluding the accumulation Status Credits which may include, for example and without limitation, discounted or complimentary tickets" as ineligible. American Express make no such provision in their terms and conditions seemingly.

Can you please point out where I am incorrect in my assessment?
 
Thanks for the reply, however you've not been overly precise.

Looking at the policy in detail (available at the Velocity Rewards website) the following can be observed:

The specific clauses of interest are in section 21.2.2, which references section 20.4 with regard to Status Credit earn. There are two subclauses that are not completely clear with regard to this point:

Clause 20.4.2(d), which specifies "Reward Seat tickets" as ineligible. None of American Express, Virgin Australia or Velocity Rewards identify these tickets as Reward Seat tickets.
Clause 20.4.2(j), which specifies "tickets which are subject to any specific provisions excluding the accumulation Status Credits which may include, for example and without limitation, discounted or complimentary tickets" as ineligible. American Express make no such provision in their terms and conditions seemingly.

Can you please point out where I am incorrect in my assessment?

I called Virgin to query this the first time I took the free flight and it didn't credit; the rep was clear it didn't earn

If Amex ticket into a non-earning class, this clause would probably cover the non-earning of Status Credits:
20.1.14 Status Credits will be awarded to Members based on the fare class ticketed and travelled. If a Member upgrades to a higher cabin of travel by means other than by paying the full fare difference between the original fare class ticketed and the new higher cabin fare, the Status Credit earn rate for the original fare class ticketed will be applied.

.

The initial definition of Eligible Sector Is:

Eligible Sector means a Flight Sector:
(a) that has been flown;
(b) that has not been booked as a Reward Seat;
(c) where Virgin Australia is the Marketing Carrier

I guessn VA would say that it has been booked as a reward seat by Amex if it is in a reward booking class

 
Experience shows that with the Amex "free flight", no velocity points, SC's or eligible sectors are earned for travel on domestic segments.

The fare shows as $0 irrespective of the booking class.
 
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I had this exact discussion with Vff last month. Cut a long story short it books into a revenue class but is a promotional ticket, hence doesn't earn credits and not upgradeable. I pointed out this is not clear on the Amex website as it just says it books into Saver and they said they'd look at updating the wording for clarity.
 
Experience shows that with the Amex "free flight", no velocity points,

Not completely true, since some changes to the velocity program made in November, on the Amex free flights we had in December we in effect earnt velocity points at a rate of 0.37 points per mile or should that be 0.5 pts per mile/1.35 ;):idea:
 
Thanks for the reply, however you've not been overly precise.

Looking at the policy in detail (available at the Velocity Rewards website) the following can be observed:

The specific clauses of interest are in section 21.2.2, which references section 20.4 with regard to Status Credit earn. There are two subclauses that are not completely clear with regard to this point:

Clause 20.4.2(d), which specifies "Reward Seat tickets" as ineligible. None of American Express, Virgin Australia or Velocity Rewards identify these tickets as Reward Seat tickets.
Clause 20.4.2(j), which specifies "tickets which are subject to any specific provisions excluding the accumulation Status Credits which may include, for example and without limitation, discounted or complimentary tickets" as ineligible. American Express make no such provision in their terms and conditions seemingly.

Can you please point out where I am incorrect in my assessment?

I can't see anything that is unclear. 20.4.2 tell us all the tickets that don't earn status credits. 20.4.2(d) is irrelevant, as you note. 20.4.2(j) excludes tickets with specific provisions excluding accumulation of Status credits.

The free Amex flights do have specific provisions that exclude earning points, which could be considered to extend to Status credits. Amex platinum edge, page 18 clause 10: https://icm.aexp-static.com//Intern...U_en/shared/pdfs/PlatEdge_InsuranceFlight.pdf

The clause also states that complimentary tickets may be ineligible - The Amex flights are clearly marketed as complimentary.

In any case 21.2.2 states that eligible sectors are determined at VA's sole discretion, with the implication that non earning flights are ineligible.

I called Virgin to query this the first time I took the free flight and it didn't credit; the rep was clear it didn't earn

If Amex ticket into a non-earning class, this clause would probably cover the non-earning of Status Credits:
20.1.14 Status Credits will be awarded to Members based on the fare class ticketed and travelled. If a Member upgrades to a higher cabin of travel by means other than by paying the full fare difference between the original fare class ticketed and the new higher cabin fare, the Status Credit earn rate for the original fare class ticketed will be applied.

.

The initial definition of Eligible Sector Is:

Eligible Sector means a Flight Sector:
(a) that has been flown;
(b) that has not been booked as a Reward Seat;
(c) where Virgin Australia is the Marketing Carrier

I guessn VA would say that it has been booked as a reward seat by Amex if it is in a reward booking class


21.2.2 is the relevant clause. Eligible is determined at VA's sole discretion. No doubt VA would argue they have exercised that discretion in relation to Amex flights.
 
Not completely true, since some changes to the velocity program made in November, on the Amex free flights we had in December we in effect earnt velocity points at a rate of 0.37 points per mile or should that be 0.5 pts per mile/1.35 ;):idea:
One does not earn Velocity points on a set per mile basis on domestic flights - it's based on the fare.
 
One does not earn Velocity points on a set per mile basis on domestic flights - it's based on the fare.

Yes one can earn velocity points on a mileage basis, without explaining it explicitly, it is similar to how one can redeem velocity points on Thai airways or United. This is one way to earn them on the Amex promo fares.

(As an aside VA domestic tickets booked outside Australia issued by other carriers default to mileage based earn even if solely domestic itinerary).
 
This is what is shown on my Virgin Atlantic account, after getting my free flight:

Date Activity description Mileage Tier points
14 Nov 2014 V Australia AKL-SYD Discounted Economy Class 671 0
 
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