Bonus VA status credits offer - March 2024

[clifford]

On the QF side, they're still in damage control mode. Dropping DSC now will piss a lot of frequent flyers off.

I haven't seen anything worthwhile coming out of the "new" management.

In fact, they seem to have clamped down on the availability of various International business rewards (at least for those I've been looking at).

Doesn't bode well for the future.

 

[Nate-Dawg]

Does anyone know what the Activity Date for these bonus status credits would be? My review date is 2nd April and I've already requalified for Gold this year (no chance of hitting Platinum based on flying patterns over the next couple of months). I have a few domestic flights to book before 28th March and was planning to book them as reward seats (if available) as I have no need for more status credits before 2nd April. However, if the Activity Date for the bonus credits is after 2nd April, I may book Choice fares to get some status credits for next year's requalification.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Does anyone know what the Activity Date for these bonus status credits would be? My review date is 2nd April and I've already requalified for Gold this year (no chance of hitting Platinum based on flying patterns over the next couple of months). I have a few domestic flights to book before 28th March and was planning to book them as reward seats (if available) as I have no need for more status credits before 2nd April. However, if the Activity Date for the bonus credits is after 2nd April, I may book Choice fares to get some status credits for next year's requalification.

Generally the DSC activity dates will be the same dates that you flew.

 

[harryhv]

"The bonus Status Credits will be awarded at the conclusion of the campaign based on the total flights flown during the Promotion Period."

Meaning it's useless for anyone whose review date is in the next 3 months and looking for a boost towards their renewal.

This promo is just too complicated, you know they're going to struggle with the sums at the end of the period, pay up late or not at all and you'll waste hours on the phone trying to sort it out.

 

[oz_mark]

Generally the DSC activity dates will be the same dates that you flew.

Except in this case, they'll all be awarded at the end when they know hw many flights you've taken.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Except in this case, they'll all be awarded at the end when they know hw many flights you've taken.

Noted. You may get lucky and have the SC credited after 28 March, but I wouldn't be hanging my hat on it.

 

[HSB44]

Seems skewed towards regular business travellers angling for Platinum

 

[jase05]

Seems skewed towards regular business travellers angling for Platinum

How so?
Regular business travellers would have absolutely no problem making Platinum.
It’s one of the easiest programs there is to make top tier in.

 

[QF WP]

How so?
Regular business travellers would have absolutely no problem making Platinum.
It’s one of the easiest programs there is to make top tier in.

For those that might have Gold confirmed with travel and either:

A) Looking at more travel this year and/or
B) looking at personal travel that they could access

There’s plenty of people that this will help them achieve a higher status regardless of where they are now. It’s no DSC offer but it’s better than nothing

 

[jase05]

For those that might have Gold confirmed with travel and either:

A) Looking at more travel this year and/or
B) looking at personal travel that they could access

There’s plenty of people that this will help them achieve a higher status regardless of where they are now. It’s no DSC offer but it’s better than nothing

Absolutely plenty it will help and I don’t have an issue with it as it seems like a decent enough offer. I just don’t think it’s aimed at regular business travellers as they would most likely have high status already

 

[QF WP]

Regular business travellers don’t always fly on Choice or Flex fares. They are unlikely to be employed by companies that have corporate fare deals with VA, that again would be the minority.

I’d also say that the vast majority of VA FF’s are Silver or Gold, so are keen to go up the elite status ladder.

The only ones to say categorically who they would be targeting with this promo would be VA Marketing. I very much doubt they’re targeting Bronze members though

 

[HSB44]

OK fair enough, wasn't meaning to stir up a debate.

I just think the March 28 cut off is a bit challenging.

It would have been better from my perspective to extend the overall travel eligibility period a bit longer, but then just potentially carve out some of the time around Easter as an exclusion ... But I guess VA are being run by the bean counters now so they must know what they are doing

 

[Bagpuss]

OK fair enough, wasn't meaning to stir up a debate.

I just think the March 28 cut off is a bit challenging.

It would have been better from my perspective to extend the overall travel eligibility period a bit longer, but then just potentially carve out some of the time around Easter as an exclusion ... But I guess VA are being run by the bean counters now so they must know what they are doing

Due to the covid status extensions, you'll find there's a high percentage of people who have a review date of 28th February.

So it covers a status run and also covers if people want a boost at the start of the year.

Also, March 28 mainly gets around giving the boost over Easter in part.

 

[Carrots]

Last years Feb/March Double Status Points offer was not dissimilar, if anything it was actually more constrained -

Marketing email/annoucement on 1/2
Activate and Book by 10/2
Travel by 31/3 (which was a week prior to Easter)

On the flipside, QF's offering in March last year was book within a 5 or 6 day window for travel up to 12months out.

These various iterations all have/had positives and negatives.

 

[AIRwin]

Queensland Summer sale on now coinciding with the bonus status credits offer:

Cheap flights to Queensland | Virgin Australia

Find your next holiday destination! Book your flight to Queensland with Virgin Australia. Find the best fare for the right price.

specials.virginaustralia.com

 

[ozstamps]

My review date is March 14.

Booked 4 short flights between March 15 and March 28.

With pooling, 170 handy bonus SC towards next year, along with the normal = 310 extra towards the 800 I need for Plat.

10% off too using the current AFL Promo code.

Happy to eat the crumbs off the table.

Not quite as good as before - but nothing is in life these days.

 

[travelislife]

How so?
Regular business travellers would have absolutely no problem making Platinum.
It’s one of the easiest programs there is to make top tier in.

Don’t 100% agree. I do SYD-MEL return weekly. Approx 90-100 sectors a year. A lot of BIS time! If that is Lite fares only that is only 450-500 status credits. Just keeps gold. So need to make sure enough choice fares getting in to the mix.

 

[travelislife]

Actually thinking about this more, lots on here don’t like the ‘easy status’ and that it should be for actual Frequent Flyers. So why shouldn’t say 30 sectors flown in 12 months qualify for gold and 50 sectors qualify for platinum. The definition of a frequent flyer!

 

[levelnine]

Actually thinking about this more, lots on here don’t like the ‘easy status’ and that it should be for actual Frequent Flyers. So why shouldn’t say 30 sectors flown in 12 months qualify for gold and 50 sectors qualify for platinum. The definition of a frequent flyer!

Because that suits your particular circumstances but not those of the airline?

There's a reason carriers around the world are going in precisely the opposite direction and allowing people to acquire top tier status without stepping foot on a plane.

 

[ben95]

opposite direction and allowing people to acquire top tier status without stepping foot on a plane.

If I run an airline those are the best “frequent flyer” for me. The less they step foot on a plane the less money I have to spend in giving them FF benefits.

The regular top tier members spend a lot of money but then it also costs a lot (or lost revenue from someone that’s willing to pay) to run all the lounges, the free economy X or free WiFi or upgrades because you also uses them a lot.