Article: Velocity Gold vs Platinum Status: What’s the Difference?

[Mr H]

You did fail to mention my reasoning of 'not too hard' to achieve certain status.........with DSC offers and family pooling.

Yes, that's true. And if the offerings align with your travel plans and if your family travels and are willing to tip their status credits into your pot then great. If that brings enough then I guess you will find it easy, but if it doesn't bring enough (it would not even get me to silver) then you won't. For example, 15 status credits (fare with luggage) each way Melbourne to Sydney is 34 return flights. Even if they were all at DSC (which they won't be), that's 17 return flights. And I'm not sure whether you would have had to fly the 8 VA sectors yourself or whether they can also be pooled. That looks like quite a hard ask for most people, especially if only using leisure travel.

 

[andye]

Yes, that's true. And if the offerings align with your travel plans and if your family travels and are willing to tip their status credits into your pot then great. If that brings enough then I guess you will find it easy, but if it doesn't bring enough (it would not even get me to silver) then you won't. For example, 15 status credits (fare with luggage) each way Melbourne to Sydney is 34 return flights. Even if they were all at DSC (which they won't be), that's 17 return flights. And I'm not sure whether you would have had to fly the 8 VA sectors yourself or whether they can also be pooled. That looks like quite a hard ask for most people, especially if only using leisure travel.

The sectors can't be pooled, have to be flown by the primary member

 

[MooTime]

Yes, that's true. And if the offerings align with your travel plans and if your family travels and are willing to tip their status credits into your pot then great. If that brings enough then I guess you will find it easy, but if it doesn't bring enough (it would not even get me to silver) then you won't. For example, 15 status credits (fare with luggage) each way Melbourne to Sydney is 34 return flights. Even if they were all at DSC (which they won't be), that's 17 return flights. And I'm not sure whether you would have had to fly the 8 VA sectors yourself or whether they can also be pooled. That looks like quite a hard ask for most people, especially if only using leisure travel.

Yes I agree, but a high status level like Platinum shouldn't be attainted too easily anyway.

simply MEL-SYD flights would be many trips no doubt, used to do them for work & was a very slow build up of SC's, but throw in a DSC longer journey or family pooling, odd J class paid trip (remembering there're as cheap as ever been at $299 on many jaunts) throw in some CC's that offer 100 SC's & some Flybuys, there are a few ways to get your SC's up.
Is it still worth it for some with it's WP perks, def not for everybody.

reverting to my original post, I probably should've said 'in my circumstances' with some of the above ways I haven't found it too difficult.

Platinum shouldn't be easy to attain, but on AFF there's more than enough info/tips on how to get there little easier.

 

[Stealthflyer]

Economy X is a great Platinum benefit that keeps me in VA for domestic. I have used the generous luggage limits quite a few times when I used to go for work in the Solomons, lots of books for schools, etc. My change of job, however, will probably mean I'm on my last year of Plat.

Economy X is a major drawcard for me too.

 

[Nexus9]

I always recoil a little from statements that XX Tier is not too hard to achieve.

In my experience, when I have travelled enough to have status it did not feel difficult to achieve, but when I have not travelled much it has looked so far beyond the horizon to be unimaginable.

Basically, it is down to whether you travel for work, especially if your employer springs for flexible fares. Occasional leisure travellers (like I am now and likely to remain) will probably not attain status and would not make good use of status if they got it. I mean, is there any point in getting status if you're only going to use it for lounge access for next year's status runs?

I think it is a cheap customer retention tool for the airlines though - if you are not using the lounge then you are not costing them any money.
However when it comes to booking your next flight who are you going to go to first - the airline that gives you lounge access or the one that doesn't?
This is why I have never really understood Virgin not having a lifetime status for longtime frequent flyers.

 

[Mr H]

I think it is a cheap customer retention tool for the airlines though - if you are not using the lounge then you are not costing them any money.
However when it comes to booking your next flight who are you going to go to first - the airline that gives you lounge access or the one that doesn't?
This is why I have never really understood Virgin not having a lifetime status for longtime frequent flyers.

I guess they have run the analytics and think they will make less money from ex road warriors taking occasional leisure flights in deep discount economy than they will make from current road warriors chasing status for the 15th year in a row or former status holders forking out for premium fares because they can't bear not having lounge access. And I guess those airlines that do offer lifetime status ran the analytics and came to a different conclusion.

 

[Digicola]

I guess they have run the analytics and think they will make less money from ex road warriors taking occasional leisure flights in deep discount economy than they will make from current road warriors chasing status for the 15th year in a row or former status holders forking out for premium fares because they can't bear not having lounge access. And I guess those airlines that do offer lifetime status ran the analytics and came to a different conclusion.

This shouldn’t be an either/or situation. Lifetime status assures you’ll get permanent revenue from those customers. If given a choice of accruing status with QF or VA who would you pursue given that QF status also means benefits on JQ. It means potentially leaving revenue on the table from those current road warriors as you say.

I actually wonder if it has something to do with the networks. VA has to pay partners when VFFs use their networks be it for miles or lounge access etc. Maybe thats where the numbers don’t make sense whereas QF would fly people themselves? Either way since QF charges substantially more and the threshold is miles away they’d have made more than enough of a return.

 

[Mr H]

This shouldn’t be an either/or situation. Lifetime status assures you’ll get permanent revenue from those customers. If given a choice of accruing status with QF or VA who would you pursue given that QF status also means benefits on JQ. It means potentially leaving revenue on the table from those current road warriors as you say.

I actually wonder if it has something to do with the networks. VA has to pay partners when VFFs use their networks be it for miles or lounge access etc. Maybe thats where the numbers don’t make sense whereas QF would fly people themselves? Either way since QF charges substantially more and the threshold is miles away they’d have made more than enough of a return.

Maybe I'm perverse but if I had lifetime status and were still travelling a lot, I would be looking to status match to another airline and maintain status on that one so I have more options open to me.

 

[paulmcnamara]

I find, and I'm not sure how many people will have the same family size, platinum is worth it just for the free Economy X. With relatives interstate its not unusual to book a whole row of Economy X with myself, partner and 4 adult children. Business upgrades from choice fares would be a better deal and make plat more desirable. Mind you always fly Economy X going on outbound holidays and treat ourselves to a business class upgrade when returning so we do see the value in Platinum. With double SC promotions and a little judicious planning platinum is relatively easily obtainable