Platinum timing gotcha

[dxwell]

An interesting gotcha for an ex-VA WP dropping to SG (with 886 SC):
The grace period for WP was 12 August.
I booked flights on 12 August but I could not select economy X.
Rang the Velocity help line and they told me that "the WP privileges apply to the period you are WP, and as you are going to SG, you get the privileges of the status you hold at the time of flight".

Anyhoo, forewarned is forearmed. Book your flights early in the grace period.

 

[Pleb Status]

An interesting gotcha for an ex-VA WP dropping to SG (with 886 SC):
The grace period for WP was 12 August.
I booked flights on 12 August but I could not select economy X.
Rang the Velocity help line and they told me that "the WP privileges apply to the period you are WP, and as you are going to SG, you get the privileges of the status you hold at the time of flight".

Anyhoo, forewarned is forearmed. Book your flights early in the grace period.

When you say 'grace period', do you mean the 'review period' (which is 0 to 14 days after your review date) or the period between the end of the 'review period' and the card expiry date (which is 15 to 30 days after your review date)?

 

[ozjuice]

fair enough though.......

 

[dxwell]

period between the end of the 'review period' and the card expiry date

But in my ignorance I thought that the privileges were until the expiry period.

 

[dxwell]

Anyhoo, after a year of WP and only 114 to renew, I will choose to instead stay at SG and credit my SC to my wife to keep her at SG.
My thoughts on WP:
+ Free Economy X (but disappointed it was only for DOM flights, not long-haul)
+ Upgraded points BNE-LAX PE to J, but SG would give the same
+ Hilton Diamond - benefits only for New Orleans though at Waldorf. Non-existent benefits in Istanbul and LA.

- Didn't use the 4 J upgrades - was always cheaper to buy Getaway then bid for upgrade (50% saving). I could never find Business Rewards seats for any of the flights I was prepared to pay Freedom for (I searched a lot).
- Only ever the max 4 of us flying, so didn't use the extra lounge guest perk.
- Didn't really see any status recognition (DYKWHIA!!!)
- WP status is meaningless overseas (SQ, A3, DL, TK - yes, understand it is not star alliance)

Reiteration that SG is the sweet spot!

 

[Jack_OC]

+ Hilton Diamond - benefits only for New Orleans though at Waldorf. Non-existent benefits in Istanbul and LA.

Sounds like (a) you didn’t stay at many Hiltons and (b) you were unlucky. I have had exceptionally good experiences as HHonors Diamond. At a minimum, Diamond status gets guaranteed benefits such as free breakfast and executive lounge access (if there is a lounge). I have also got room upgrades almost every time, including to suites on a few occasions, plus of course bonus points etc. What hotels did you stay in in Istanbul and LA where you got no benefits?

- Didn't use the 4 J upgrades - was always cheaper to buy Getaway then bid for upgrade (50% saving). I could never find Business Rewards seats for any of the flights I was prepared to pay Freedom for (I searched a lot).
- Only ever the max 4 of us flying, so didn't use the extra lounge guest perk.
- Didn't really see any status recognition (DYKWHIA!!!)

I generally agree with all of that.

- WP status is meaningless overseas (SQ, A3, DL, TK - yes, understand it is not star alliance)

Any status (except PPS) is almost meaningless with SQ - even supposedly top tier KF gold status, except for lounge access, but a lower tier lounge in Changi! Very surprised you found it meaningless with DL though - I have had an almost embarrassing level of recognition as a VA Platinum with DL. And then there is EY - apart from First lounge access in AUH (which is awesome), I’ve also had op ups to First (long haul) on two occasions when flying EY as a VA Platinum.

 

[dxwell]

Sounds like (a) you didn’t stay at many Hiltons and (b) you were unlucky

For our accommodation in that period, I had Accor Gold and we had some very good upgrades and bonuses on that.
IST was at Hilton Istanbul Airport - 3/5
LAX was H Hotel - wife did get free breakfast
My wife said that Waldorf New Orleans was amazing! She got upgraded to a suite and took her conference delegates for drinks in her suite. They asked "Are you a rock star". So superb in that respect.

 

[ozjuice]

IMO. Hilton Diamond has been so good to me and still is. Etihad F lounge Abu Dhabi has been a real treat, Emirates LAX lounge is a big bonus, SQ Changi Lounge bonus.....Economy X on domestic is a good bonus. So personally WP has been good to me and i look forward to next year already.

 

[Muppet501st]

WP free YX , has to be one of the best perks for me, as flying domestic 80 times a year, more legroom and more shadows then before their introduction.

 

[PDog]

An interesting gotcha for an ex-VA WP dropping to SG (with 886 SC):
The grace period for WP was 12 August.
I booked flights on 12 August but I could not select economy X.
Rang the Velocity help line and they told me that "the WP privileges apply to the period you are WP, and as you are going to SG, you get the privileges of the status you hold at the time of flight".

Anyhoo, forewarned is forearmed. Book your flights early in the grace period.

Isn't it 1000 SC to obtain platinum, but only 800 to renew? So with 886 SC, you should keep your platinum!

I'm now gold, and what I miss about platinum is row 3 and the soft landing to gold! The EY first class lounge in AUH was amazing, but with EY's premium cabin surcharges and SQ's solid availability, I'm not sure when we'll be flying them again.