1 SC short of renewing gold

[ajobbins]

Review date coming up on the 28th and I am currently 1 SC short of renewing gold, and have no further travel booked this month.

I will be due a few SC from Flybuys spend, but they won't credit until a number of days past the month. Does anyone know if those will count and get me over the line? The Flybuys SC seem to have an 'Activity date' of the last day of the month they were earned.

Last year they took a couple of weeks to re-confirm my gold (the 14 March 2017 date below), even though I had re-qualified (and and a bit more) ahead of the 28 Feb last year. I'm hoping this will allow them to count the Flybuys SC, but I don't want to miss out on another year of gold for 1SC!

 

[Chief Wiggum]

How many SC did you accrue last year... was it more than 400... ? Maybe give the FF CS guys a call and beg-for-mercy

I know QF once "comped" me Platinum renewal when I was 5 SC short (1180) at the end of my FF year, but I had accrued 1440 and 1285 SC in the previous FF years. Worth a try. YMMV.

 

[clipped_wings]

If they don't renew you as Gold with a lousy 1 point deficit, they are sinking to new depths.

 

[ajobbins]

My SC balance right now (For last 12 months) is 444. Some of those I think will drop off before the 28th as I have a couple of flights late Feb 2017

 

[Spacetravel]

Ring them and see. Otherwise you could go spend $100 at coles or a cheapest status run you could find.

 

[ajobbins]

Otherwise you could go spend $100 at coles or a cheapest status run you could find.

I've already spent a few hundred dollarydoos at Coles so far this month, just nervous they won't apply in time or won't count because they will hit my account after the 28th of Feb.

 

[clipped_wings]

Go to your Velocity FF account summary page, scroll down to the part that says "Upgrade to Platinum" and click the Show Detail tab on the right hand side. It will bring up a small table to illustrate your SC over the coming 12 months. You may be better informed as to your potential decline or accrual.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Coles FB only do a transfer for SC purposes once a month, and if its not in the time scale cycle, the SC might post into Mar 18.
Never seen them post SC from Coles FB more than once a month.
Go on a short hop, 5 SC for cheapo seat, return is 10 ain't it?
Getaway starts at 5 SC but Elevate for a bit or quite a sum more will start at 10, of course this depends on the city you live in, or town.

 

[oz_mark]

As annoying as the 2 week review period may be, it seems to be there so these end of membership year SCs can arrive and be taken into account.
As FlyBuys are recognised as being made on the last day of the month, then I think you will be alright.
If not, and they downgrade you, get on the phone for a manual review...

 

[pauly7]

If they don't renew you as Gold with a lousy 1 point deficit, they are sinking to new depths.

I guess in VA’s defence where are they supposed to draw the line... 2sc short? 3?...

 

[flydoc]

From Velocity T&C:

21.1.11 Status Credits are valid for 365 days from

(a) the travel date of the eligible flight, or

(b)the date that the Status Credits earned from a Status Credits Partner Transaction are credited to the Velocity Membership Account.

Based on this I’m not sure that you can rely on Flybuys SC having an activity date of the last day of the month in which they were earned, nor on the review period.

Double check upcoming SC expiry dates in your account then, as others have suggested, phone and make your case. HUACA if no joy initially. Good luck.

 

[clipped_wings]

I guess in VA’s defence where are they supposed to draw the line... 2sc short? 3?...

I see your point and it's a valid one. However I would like to think anything under 5 could be subject to a favorable discretionary review, especially if there is a decent earn history. By that I mean solid flying, not accrual through double points bonus or family pooling etc.

 

[Ralphie]

I was comped the 5sc difference I needed to earn platinum this year, let alone maintaining status. It was even before my renew date. (It was just after a flight which I expected would give me enough credits but I assumed the wrong fare bucket and fell 5 short.)

(I did have an upcoming trip booked that was going to earn the credits needed, so they may have seen that as good enough.)

So I’d like to assume you get comped the 1sc needed. Good luck!

 

[GSP]

You probably would be right, but if not and you drop to Silver, the "Show Detail" tab to upgrade to Platinum will then presumably be a chart of what's required to update to Gold. Not sure of your travel in March, but if you are only a little bit short taking into account the 1SC and the late Feb '17 flights that will milk your balance, you would just need to get back above 500 (so make up another 100+) quicker than you lose it post March.

 

[Matt_01]

Do you need to fly in March. I am pretty sure that VA will give you a months grace period if you have bookings within the next 4 weeks of your renewal date. You need to ring and arrange it with the CC, if you do not get the response you are after HUCA.

This information was provided to me via the call center a few years back, however I was told a similar thing last year when I enquired about options. I discovered I had the required SC to retain WP (via SQ and DL) about 5 weeks out from my renewal date but had not taken VA flights in the preceding 12 months.

If it is that important and you are SC run inclined it could give you an option.

 

[Happy Dude]

I was keen to get WP before a particular flight but I made an error in calculating SC's earned from FB and fell 3 short. When I emailed them to request a lift to WP pointing out that I've got enough travel in the pipeline the very next week to get to WP anyways, they shrugged off the request saying it wouldn't be fair to other members who have worked hard to earn WP etc etc.

So I took my flight but it did leave a bad taste in my mouth and I thought about a separation. The tiff didn't last long because I was bumped up to WP prior to the next flight for some reason.

I reckon if your FB SC lands before 14 March you'll be gold.

 

[Pleb Status]

I would think the OP will be fine with the remaining SC coming from FB in March (and crediting on 28 Feb)...

So I took my flight but it did leave a bad taste in my mouth and I thought about a separation. The tiff didn't last long because I was bumped up to WP prior to the next flight for some reason.

You can ask for special treatment (if you feel the need) but you should never be disappointed if you do not receive it...

 

[Matt_01]

I was keen to get WP before a particular flight but I made an error in calculating SC's earned from FB and fell 3 short. When I emailed them to request a lift to WP pointing out that I've got enough travel in the pipeline the very next week to get to WP anyways, they shrugged off the request saying it wouldn't be fair to other members who have worked hard to earn WP etc etc.

So I took my flight but it did leave a bad taste in my mouth and I thought about a separation. The tiff didn't last long because I was bumped up to WP prior to the next flight for some reason.

I reckon if your FB SC lands before 14 March you'll be gold.

Was your to gain or retain, I think they treat these differently, with retain there may be more leniency.

 

[Happy Dude]

Was your to gain or retain, I think they treat these differently, with retain there may be more leniency.

Mine was to gain.

 

[Happy Dude]

You can ask for special treatment (if you feel the need) but you should never be disappointed if you do not receive it...

Well yes generally, but in this instance, why not? I had a pretty good case, am a relatively good customer, and thanks to this site, know that plenty of others get comped - which made their response all the more disappointing, not to mention straight up BS.

They comped me anyway so maybe they realised they were being be-atches.