Arrival and On Flight Changes since Announcement...

[VA FF]

I have just started this to see what everyone has found of the new status (Platinum Only) since it came out..

A few people have stated they were comped a PE as a platinum, free meal service, a newspaper and so forth..

I am yet to fly, gotta wait till next week.. trying to see the consistency of this type of thing happening or occasional one offs for fortunate members..

 

[Andyzx]

have heard that it includes experiances like

• flight simulator training
• behind the scenes tour

might be fun

 

[dk4]

have heard that it includes experiances like

• flight simulator training
• behind the scenes tour

Perhaps you are confusing Qantas' approach to P1, with Virgin Platinum?!

Anyways, VA FF, excellent idea for a thread!! What are the (experienced) unwritten benefits of VFF Platinum???

 

[VA FF]

Perhaps you are confusing Qantas' approach to P1, with Virgin Platinum?!

Anyways, VA FF, excellent idea for a thread!! What are the (experienced) unwritten benefits of VFF Platinum???

Sorry Should have been more specific, it was obviously for Virgin, well being on a Virgin board I didn't think I needed to note that

 

[DJ 1D]

A Platinum behind me was obviously upgraded at the lounge. He received full PE benefits.

I asked the staff and since the Plat is so new they couldn't really answer.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

A Platinum behind me was obviously upgraded at the lounge. He received full PE benefits.

Now that has me wondering :shock:

Surely DJ are enticing all these new status matched plats (and golds and silver) to actually purchase the premium seats rather than give them away??

If full benefit PE/J upgrades become par for the course, I'll be aiming for plat very soon!

 

[DJ 1D]

It was interesting - you can usually tell who is a paid PE if they have the water/headsets already at the seats. On my flight tonight myself and 1F did, as did 2A and 2C.

So 1A and 1C, and 2D and 2F did not. All seats full. But the staff gave them all free food and drink. Maybe this is a new perk...?

 

[VA FF]

It was interesting - you can usually tell who is a paid PE if they have the water/headsets already at the seats. On my flight tonight myself and 1F did, as did 2A and 2C.

So 1A and 1C, and 2D and 2F did not. All seats full. But the staff gave them all free food and drink. Maybe this is a new perk...?

I have noticed this, the last 4 PE flights I have been next to a comp upgrade and they got full service, now the taster has ended I'll see if I ever get any of these..

 

[markis10]

I have had full service on the opup, lets hope the opup thread starts to get some posts.

 

[Justchecking]

It was interesting - you can usually tell who is a paid PE if they have the water/headsets already at the seats. On my flight tonight myself and 1F did, as did 2A and 2C.

So 1A and 1C, and 2D and 2F did not. All seats full. But the staff gave them all free food and drink. Maybe this is a new perk...?

Now was the entire flight also full? If so then thats the reason why are there not because they were comped PE as a platinum perk. They received full benefits because they were each sitting next to a paid PE pax. There would have to be empty seats elsewhere on the plane to claim they were plat freebies.

 

[markis10]

My BNE SYD flight yesterday had 2 pax in PE and a full cabin in Y including 10 DJ staff, I was impressed!

 

[LiamR]

There is no mention in crew training that Platinums get free upgrades onboard, or free food.

The problem with crew doing this from the start (as a goodwill gesture), is that it sets high expectations for future flights, that once the buzz from Platinum dies down, won't be offered as often, but people might expect it ("But he gave me free drinks last week").

Crew are now encouraged to offer free newspapers do Golds & Platinums. Not sure if this has been happening or not.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Now was the entire flight also full? If so then thats the reason why are there not because they were comped PE as a platinum perk. They received full benefits because they were each sitting next to a paid PE pax. There would have to be empty seats elsewhere on the plane to claim they were plat freebies.

That's been my experience as well. Seems when the Y seats are sold, they'll op-up the status pax and continue to sell Y....hence absolutely no seats left on some flights for transferring PE/J pax (which I'm not whinging about, just noting)!

My BNE SYD flight yesterday had 2 pax in PE and a full cabin in Y including 10 DJ staff, I was impressed!

10.... :shock:, on a normal 737 flight? That must be part of the Virgin America swap, surely!

 

[markis10]

The ten were deadheading and not even seated in row three of the BSI. Included two technical crew, I don't begrudge deadheading crew getting J, but found the approach by DJ refreshing, not that it makes too much difference on a one hour flight!

 

[VA FF]

There is no mention in crew training that Platinums get free upgrades onboard, or free food.

The problem with crew doing this from the start (as a goodwill gesture), is that it sets high expectations for future flights, that once the buzz from Platinum dies down, won't be offered as often, but people might expect it ("But he gave me free drinks last week").

Crew are now encouraged to offer free newspapers do Golds & Platinums. Not sure if this has been happening or not.

Now Platinum has been around a while, a few changes I have noticed, Always asked if I want a newspaper, always seated row 3, regularly moved to rows 1 or 2 when I ask if they can, 50% of the time it is full PE and half it is just the seat allocation..

You get good service at the Check-in desk now compared to before I think, well at GC anyway, maybe as they wouldn't see as many Platinums there?

 

[medhead]

Now Platinum has been around a while, a few changes I have noticed, Always asked if I want a newspaper, always seated row 3, regularly moved to rows 1 or 2 when I ask if they can, 50% of the time it is full PE and half it is just the seat allocation..

You get good service at the Check-in desk now compared to before I think, well at GC anyway, maybe as they wouldn't see as many Platinums there?

Yep, I noticed those things as well. Unfortunately, while the velocity website thinks I'm platinum, Gold showed up on my last 2 BPs obtained by checking in at the airport. Also confirmed with the cabin crew on board that their list has me as gold. But I was platinum on my web check in BP.

 

[serfty]

If one's status changed after booking, perhaps it's not being refreshed?

 

[LiamR]

Yep, I noticed those things as well. Unfortunately, while the velocity website thinks I'm platinum, Gold showed up on my last 2 BPs obtained by checking in at the airport. Also confirmed with the cabin crew on board that their list has me as gold. But I was platinum on my web check in BP.

You'll need to ask the checkin staff or lounge staff to remove your Velocity Number and put it back into your booking. Then they'll reissue a boarding pass and your status should appear on your boarding pass.

IIRC the guest contact centre can help with this too.