Two month trial of Platinum Plus

[aus_flyer]

I noticed this in the MEL lounge today. It's where the old security checkpoint was.
I wonder if this is earmarked for P+ from October 1st.

Don’t think so

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I noticed this in the MEL lounge today. It's where the old security checkpoint was.
I wonder if this is earmarked for P+ from October 1st.

Nice if it was! It’s been used as an overflow lounge for the last couple of years during peak times.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Nice if it was! It’s been used as an overflow lounge for the last couple of years during peak times.

And outside of that time it seems to be taken over as a staff room...

 

[kairos1901]

Looking forward to the Aussie Call Centre

Another perk that hasn’t been mentioned much is the increase in baggage from 3.23kg to 5x32kg bags!

Useful for moving interstate?

And for me, I have been hit with $60-$90 excess baggage fees for a 26kg bag several times this year, so I will welcome that change

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Looking forward to the Aussie Call Centre

Another perk that hasn’t been mentioned much is the increase in baggage from 3.23kg to 5x32kg bags!

Useful for moving interstate?

And for me, I have been hit with $60-$90 excess baggage fees for a 26kg bag several times this year, so I will welcome that change

I can't help but think it's a little silly that you have to climb all the way to Plat Plus on VA to bring even a single 32kg bag in economy on domestic without being hit with a fee, whereas on Qantas, 32kg is standard from Silver and up, and given to Qantas Club as well.

 

[AirAdl]

The VA app is long way behind. flying flex and LT Gold with Qantas you can you choose before or after flights on the day of departure. The down side they are three times the price and I can go VA Business normally for less.
Va flex you ring call centres and they tell you if done over the phone pay the fair difference in day of departure. Wtf
So Platinum plus is really a nothing status as one of the perks is to fly after which I was interested in.
So lack of lounges and coughty apps maybe time to go back to old QF sadly

 

[simmomelb]

If the Beyond Lounges & Singapore first class lounges are officially added as a Plat+ benefit, that would be well worthwhile IMO, and really, I think it should be offered given the yearly spend required.
Other than that, the other benefits really are minimal for the extra dollars.
For those chasing it, you'd definitely want to take advantage of any DSC or TSC offers, which can significantly reduce the yearly spend required.

 

[simmomelb]

So Platinum plus is really a nothing status as one of the perks is to fly after which I was interested in.

Which you get, so why are you disappointed that this is an available feature of Plat + ?

"Need some extra time? Introducing Fly Later

With Fly Later you can request to be moved to a later domestic flight on the same day that suits your schedule (subject to availability)"

 

[AirAdl]

If the Beyond Lounges & Singapore first class lounges are officially added as a Plat+ benefit, that would be well worthwhile IMO, and really, I think it should be offered given the yearly spend required.
Other than that, the other benefits really are minimal for the extra dollars.
For those chasing it, you'd definitely want to take advantage of any DSC or TSC offers, which can significantly reduce the yearly spend required.

Agree with the above if beyond and sq 1 st lounge added I'll be happy.

 

[ben95]

Agree with the above if beyond and sq 1 st lounge added I'll be happy.

Or priority access to business reward seat so I can stop fighting with mileage brokers and their bots and actually able to redeem my points for business class travel. That cost velocity 0 dollars to provide and is already what Qantas does.

 

[Sequel]

Flown several times since the P+ trial started, including to NZ and back on VA. Noticed absolutely nothing different!

 

[simmomelb]

Flown several times since the P+ trial started, including to NZ and back on VA. Noticed absolutely nothing different!

Out of MEL, SYD or BNE to Queenstown?

 

[Sequel]

BNE-ZQN. Other flights have been BNE-SYD/ADL.

 

[simmomelb]

Well, this will definitely be my last year on Platinum and I'll start spreading our bus spend more evenly now.
With these targeted DSC & TSC offers going to only a handful of members, and the huge reduction in status credits, I'd have to double or triple my flights with VA, (which I could if I went exclusive with them, where available) but unless they unleash some major upgrades to the lounges, food, beverages and offer more lounges, I really just don't see the point anymore.
I've been platinum for years and totally understand why they needed to make it harder to achieve, but after seeing these targeted offers never landing in my inbox, it's a bit of a slap in the face to their loyal customers, in my view. Very disappointing.
It's not even worth aiming for Plat + now all has been revealed, I mean spending that sort of money and having no lounge on VA short haul, are you kidding me! They have third-party lounge options that could be arranged in a flash.

 

[ma1tr!x]

If you’re a P+ you’ve flown $18,000 worth of revenue for the airline. Surely they can spring for some lounge access.

No it's clearly reserved for people that may only fly with Virgin once in a while but have some degree of fame and/or influence.

 

[aus_flyer]

No it's clearly reserved for people that may only fly with Virgin once in a while but have some degree of fame and/or influence.

The Beyond lounge doesn’t seem to fit with Virgin’s model of being a “value carrier”.

 

[simmomelb]

The Beyond lounge doesn’t seem to fit with Virgin’s model of being a “value carrier”.

Virgin Australia (VA2) is a very confused airline; one part of it thinks it's a value carrier, the other part thinks it's a full-service airline. It's time they sorted that out.
I was surprised they held on to the Beyond Lounges after 2020. To me, they would never have done that unless they had greater long-term plans, because it's likely much cheaper to keep them open for the VIP's (very high value/high profile/CEO's etc) than close them and have to start from scratch again in the future, for however they wish to utilise them.
Virgin & the Velocity team are running in-person, paid-for, "group discussions" (market research) from next week to get customer feedback and suggestions on the "Virgin Frequent Flyer Experience". That should be interesting for those who have been invited.
It might give some insight into their future plans.

 

[kairos1901]

I can't help but think it's a little silly that you have to climb all the way to Plat Plus on VA to bring even a single 32kg bag in economy on domestic without being hit with a fee, whereas on Qantas, 32kg is standard from Silver and up, and given to Qantas Club as well.

Yes, you make a fair point! It does seem a little silly.
160kg is certainly Pack-Horse Territory!

 

[kairos1901]

I also would welcome at least 4 x Beyond Invitations per year for Platinum Plus.

Interesting stat I came across this week; I called Virgin Customer Support on the 2nd of October, as my account had not been upgraded from Platinum yet. She advised that it would happen shortly as they "had 600,000 Platinum Plus members to upgrade"

- Based on released numbers from Virgin stating that they have 12million Velocity members, this is about 5% of all travellers.

- Is this the kind of number that others expected?

- It will be interesting to see in about 2 years how many P+ will be left once everyone is requalifying based on the minimum $18,000 spend alone (excluding DSC/TSC)

 

[aus_flyer]

I also would welcome at least 4 x Beyond Invitations per year for Platinum Plus.

Interesting stat I came across this week; I called Virgin Customer Support on the 2nd of October, as my account had not been upgraded from Platinum yet. She advised that it would happen shortly as they "had 600,000 Platinum Plus members to upgrade"

- Based on released numbers from Virgin stating that they have 12million Velocity members, this is about 5% of all travellers.

- Is this the kind of number that others expected?

- It will be interesting to see in about 2 years how many P+ will be left once everyone is requalifying based on the minimum $18,000 spend alone (excluding DSC/TSC)

Um... no. There's only a very small number of Platinum Plus members.