Platinum devalued [Hard to Effectively Use Platinum Upgrades]

[juliusg]

Wife and I Plats for 10 years, we're 100 SC short and were contemplating a status run. Upon attempting to use our 4 upgrade certificates we can't get Perth in October, and the Flex fares on the triangle are almost the same as business! VA has degraded Velocity since Bain, such that when Rex starts Perth we are out of here.

 

[Steven of Mysore]

Wife and I Plats for 10 years, we're 100 SC short and were contemplating a status run. Upon attempting to use our 4 upgrade certificates we can't get Perth in October, and the Flex fares on the triangle are almost the same as business! VA has degraded Velocity since Bain, such that when Rex starts Perth we are out of here.

Try Bali and back

 

[jase05]

Wife and I Plats for 10 years, we're 100 SC short and were contemplating a status run. Upon attempting to use our 4 upgrade certificates we can't get Perth in October, and the Flex fares on the triangle are almost the same as business! VA has degraded Velocity since Bain, such that when Rex starts Perth we are out of here.

Obviously doesn’t suit everyone but I hardly ever use points for domestic flights. I’ve found Velocity great for SQ, QR and EY long haul premium cabins which suits us better.
Plenty of availability on UA in J to the US with minimal fees too

 

[harryhv]

Bali - ugh, sitting up all night on the way home with not even a blanket. no, anyway this is a terrible time to buy any Virgin ticket, any air ticket in fact.

Assuming that "in Oct" is a misprint, you mean you want to fly soon but there's no flight to Perth with 2 biz award seats till Oct. Actually the same applies to Bali.

Now, we're expecting the offer of double SC's from about 30 Jan, then you'll be able to pick up 110 SC's for a short flight in paid biz... and come back on Rex.

Also expecting Virgin's paid biz fares for Feb onwards - which had been heftily marked up for 2024 - to be marked back down to earth by the end of Jan.

Bottom line, if possible don't buy any Virgin tickets before 30 Jan

 

[Steven of Mysore]

Bali - ugh, sitting up all night on the way home with not even a blanket. no, anyway this is a terrible time to buy any Virgin ticket, any air ticket in fact.

Assuming that "in Oct" is a misprint, you mean you want to fly soon but there's no flight to Perth with 2 biz award seats till Oct. Actually the same applies to Bali.

Now, we're expecting the offer of double SC's from about 30 Jan, then you'll be able to pick up 110 SC's for a short flight in paid biz... and come back on Rex.

Also expecting Virgin's paid biz fares for Feb onwards - which had been heftily marked up for 2024 - to be marked back down to earth by the end of Jan.

Bottom line, if possible don't buy any Virgin tickets before 30 Jan

Not all Bali flights are night time and yes, like the other respondent, Oct is correct?

 

[juliusg]

Bali - ugh, sitting up all night on the way home with not even a blanket. no, anyway this is a terrible time to buy any Virgin ticket, any air ticket in fact.

Assuming that "in Oct" is a misprint, you mean you want to fly soon but there's no flight to Perth with 2 biz award seats till Oct. Actually the same applies to Bali.

Now, we're expecting the offer of double SC's from about 30 Jan, then you'll be able to pick up 110 SC's for a short flight in paid biz... and come back on Rex.

Also expecting Virgin's paid biz fares for Feb onwards - which had been heftily marked up for 2024 - to be marked back down to earth by the end of Jan.

Bottom line, if possible don't buy any Virgin tickets before 30 Jan

Thanks, Harry!

 

[Bagpuss]

Wife and I Plats for 10 years, we're 100 SC short and were contemplating a status run. Upon attempting to use our 4 upgrade certificates we can't get Perth in October, and the Flex fares on the triangle are almost the same as business! VA has degraded Velocity since Bain, such that when Rex starts Perth we are out of here.

The has been the case for a long time. There's reports that whilst they release 2 reward seats, 1 will show and if the second one hasn't been taken it appears around 24 hours later.

You can of course upgrade from a choice fare : Velocity unlocks Platinum Complimentary Upgrades on cheaper fares

 

[juliusg]

Today we tried to use our 8 upgrade certs Sydney > Melb rtn, to be told it is Flexi fare only after end March. So much for using 2 x certs per leg on a Choice fare, that was 'special' until end March. We are now about to lose 8 upgrade certs as our review date approaches. Pretty well worthless perk, not worth stretching to Plat which we have done for 10 years, Gold will now be adequate. Velocity has followed QFF down the mega profit road at the expense of our loyalty.

 

[Bagpuss]

Today we tried to use our 8 upgrade certs Sydney > Melb rtn, to be told it is Flexi fare only after end March. So much for using 2 x certs per leg on a Choice fare, that was 'special' until end March.

Which is the exact promotion they are running.

Everything is devalued when a promotion ends. (Prior covid it was always a flexi fare with reward seat availability, there have been various promotions since covid.)

I think must of us expect for this promotion to be changed so it's actually part of the offering going forward.

 

[ozstamps]

'I think most of us expect for this promotion to be changed so it's actually part of the offering going forward.'

I sadly cannot see it changing after March 31 to be valid for all Choice Fares going forward. Does anyone else?

 

[TY24]

The only real benefit I noticed since progressing from Gold to Platinum was the complementary Economy X seating. I gave up trying to use the 'free' upgrades.

I earned my VA Platinum through FIFO travel which I no longer do, I see no need to even bother trying to retain it.

 

[PERLHR]

I've said before, its worthless and that was really from and to Perth. Looks like for other points of origin and destinations it's just as poor. Yes it needs to be revamped into something a bit more achievable! They must be laughing at the lack of use ...

 

[ozstamps]

With a new incoming CEO at some point, and with the IPO clearly delayed, and with today's announced unexpected QANTAS loss (and the chaos and massive bad press that has gone on in there for the past year) keeping a few juicy bennies for top flyers would be savvy tactics.

Adding a lifetime Platinum tier is an aspirational benefit after say 10 straight years as a Plat, and is one many would aim for if it were added. And would spend a lot of money chasing. Their new partner United woke up to that juicy long term loyalty benefit of that, 20 years back. Unless you fly paid Virgin flights, it is of no real use, so 'handcuffs' many to the airline for future travel.

Virgin have taken their eye off the ball a little in the past year in the prevailing 'cost-cutting' climate of cutting all benefits humanly possible.

Some of the current fleet STILL do not even have biz class dividers now - a cost-cutting and pretty lazy move, and the usual private Biz Class cabin experience is not guaranteed on all aircraft now. Nor is WiFi. So even using these Plat certs for upgrades is a patchy 'benefit' right now. I'd hate to use mine on a flight with no Wi-Fi and a stream of pax using the Biz Class loos.

The long-standing system seemed fair - one upgrade per domestic flight. Bring it back - easy for all to follow. Plats only get 4 a year. Virgin are totally in control of upgrade inventory at all times, so they cannot lose really. It really is one of the only plusses of Plat over Gold now. Airlines MUST have carrots and sticks.

The recent pared back and pretty convoluted 'not even double status credits' was very badly fluffed, seeing QANTAS offered it for flights for a year out. I managed to use it by pure luck, but most ignored it as too restrictive.

 

[TY24]

Adding a lifetime Platinum tier is an aspirational benefit after say 10 straight years as a Plat, and is one many would aim for if it were added.

In a world where VA LTP is a thing, I hope it's more achievable than QF's LTP, which is the equivalent of retaining Platinum every year for 50 years...

 

[ozstamps]

United's Lifetime Star Alliance Gold is a million flown miles.

I got that very easily, on the cusp of 2 million really, and you can nominate a companion to get one too for life, which I did. PLUS Marriott/Bonvoy Gold Membership forever too.

https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/mileageplus/premier/million-miler-program.html

If it was a dumb idea they'd have fine-tuned it - but they never have, for 20 or 25 years.

Virgin need to look at a few similar innovative things. VERY little real cost to them. Future owners can of course move the goalposts at any time. (If they dare!)

ASPIRATIONAL goals are essential in any scheme. United's global SYSTEMWIDE upgrades were another such juicy carrot for top tier flyers. We got six per year.

Many were the times I'd fly SYD-SFO-IAD-deep South America (Brazil/Chile/Argentina/Uruguay) for a few $1000 return and had all flights upgraded and fully confirmed in advance. 30 hours of wide body flying all upgraded for one Cert. Virgin's new rejigged domestic joke system in 737s is a laugh in comparison. Going back to one upgrade per domestic flight seems very sensible.

 

[jase05]

LTP would definitely be a good idea but it still has to be a pretty lofty target that many will try to reach but many will also fail to get to.
Something like 30k status credits and only ones you have earnt yourself, pooling doesn’t count.
For any top goal you still only want a limited amount to reach it. VA Platinum is far too easy as it is under the current model IMO

 

[PERLHR]

With a new incoming CEO at some point, and with the IPO clearly delayed, and with today's announced unexpected QANTAS loss (and the chaos and massive bad press that has gone on in there for the past year) keeping a few juicy bennies for top flyers would be savvy tactics.

Adding a lifetime Platinum tier is an aspirational benefit after say 10 straight years as a Plat, and is one many would aim for if it were added. And would spend a lot of money chasing. Their new partner United woke up to that juicy long term loyalty benefit of that, 20 years back. Unless you fly paid virgin flights, Virgin it is of no real use, so 'handcuffs' many to the airline for future travel.

Virgin have taken their eye off the ball a little in the past year in the prevailing 'cost-cutting' climate of cutting all benefits humanly possible.

Some of the current fleet STILL do not even have biz class dividers now - a cost-cutting and pretty lazy move, and the usual private Biz class cabin experience is not guaranteed on all aircraft now. Nor is WiFi. So even using these Plat certs for upgrades is a patchy 'benefit' right now. I'd hate to use mine on a flight with no Wi-Fi and a stream of pax using the Biz class loos.

The long-standing system seemed fair - one upgrade per domestic flight. Bring it back - easy for all to follow. Plats only get 4 a year. Virgin are totally in control of upgrade inventory at all times, so they cannot lose really. It really is one of the only plusses of Plat over Gold now. Airlines MUST have carrots and sticks.

The recent pared back and pretty convoluted 'not even double status credits' was very badly fluffed, seeing QANTAS offered it for flights for a year out. I managed to use it by pure luck, but most ignored it as too restrictive.

Beautifully said .. absolutely.

 

[Bagpuss]

With a new incoming CEO at some point, and with the IPO clearly delayed, and with today's announced unexpected QANTAS loss (and the chaos and massive bad press that has gone on in there for the past year) keeping a few juicy bennies for top flyers would be savvy tactics.

Velocity is a separate company to Virgin Australia.
It has it's own CEO, totally separate from the airline. (This was more highlighted when Virgin Australia went into administration and Velocity had given the airline a secured loan.)

In terms of your comments around the business class divider, yes annoying but it's being addressed. I don't think a capex spend over of $100 million on aircraft seating is cost-cutting when they haven't done too much with seating for a long time.

 

[PERLHR]

In terms of your comments around the business class divider, yes annoying but it's being addressed

That almost sounds like any Company blurb. . But when?

 

[Bagpuss]

That almost sounds like any Company blurb. . But when?

When it gets installed.
On the other page there's comments of delays getting approvals. Ideally they would have installed with the seating to refurb to save rolling to aircraft back in for engineering work.

Aviation approvals are very slow. If I remember right, the last one or two a330's had to be delivered with the original business class seats because the approval for the suites took way too long. (That would have had a massive cost.)