Benefits of VA WP

[dxwell]

My wife and I both qualified for VA WP in the middle of this year.
We've had 9 VA flights since July and have had only two occasions where we were recognised as WP (we got Domestic J upgrades when flights were delayed).
Other than the row 3 selection (which has been superb, especially given the number of shadow middle seats we have scored), the reaction from VA staff has been "Meh, WP". I'm always polite and well presented.
Are my expectations inflated? Am I embracing the "W" in WP too closely?
Maybe we need something similar to the hotels threads of "How does hotel chain treat you...".

 

[Princess Fiona]

My wife and I both qualified for VA WP in the middle of this year.
We've had 9 VA flights since July and have had only two occasions where we were recognised as WP (we got Domestic J upgrades when flights were delayed).
Other than the row 3 selection (which has been superb, especially given the number of shadow middle seats we have scored), the reaction from VA staff has been "Meh, WP". I'm always polite and well presented.
Are my expectations inflated? Am I embracing the "W" in WP too closely?
Maybe we need something similar to the hotels threads of "How does hotel chain treat you...".

I have had very similar lacklustre experiences. The call centre is fantastic but other than that it’s all been very “meh”.

 

[Denali]

I was once on a flight and a manifest of some sort was in the galley, seemed half the flight had status so maybe we are a dime a dozen.

Other than row 3 or shadow, what else would you like?

 

[Pleb Status]

One thing QF is better at is 'ego stroking' and catering for the DYKWIA brigade.

 

[OzEire]

The ultimate benefit of the Velocity WP tier goes to Qantas elites. If Velocity didn't exist QF would treat its elites like vermin. Competition keeps em on their toes.

 

[pauly7]

I was once on a flight and a manifest of some sort was in the galley, seemed half the flight had status so maybe we are a dime a dozen.

Other than row 3 or shadow, what else would you like?

It’s actually relatively easy still to get row 3 as gold with VA without paying Shhh don’t tell the bean counters

Of course anyone can pay to have that WP privilege now on VA, so once I hit VA gold I don’t bother putting any more flights for WP it’s just not worth it.

 

[bean]

Its quite common for the priority boarding line to be longer than the normal one now...granted half the people in the line shouldn't even be there but the crew are to polite to turn them away...

Id like them to actually board platinum first and turn away all the queue jumpers who cant follow simple instructions. That really grinds my gears. Also economy pax using the business class toilet-if you want the privileges other have paid for then pay up yourself!

 

[jasecao]

I have seen many Sydney to Melbourne or vice versa flights have a very long priority boarding line, and most of them are gold or platinum, I always tell my workmates it my be easy to get status.

I think the call centre does treat the Platinum members nicely, in most of my experiences the ground staff are also nice, except one time a FA gave me a weird look (I fly normally in shorts and a polo)

the only time i felt i was treated badly was when I was lining up in the priority check in line and an older fella with gold status told me i was in the wrong line, and that i didn't belong in this line, I had to bite my tongue but managed to say I did belong in this line and proceeded to check in my bag. He must of thought i was an Asian tourist or something!

 

[OzEire]

While we are on Priority boarding, until recently it did actually seem to work most of the time. Although I'd rather board late, the battle for overhead space had forced me to start boarding earlier and priority made that easier.

However across six sectors this week past there was no priority boarding - yes signage and a lane, but single GA scanning who is positioned such that priority pax would be inconvenient to process. This is a growing trend I think.

Perhaps VA doesn't feel it needs to compete on this offering since it only exists in theory over at the competition.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

yes signage and a lane, but single GA scanning who is positioned such that priority pax would be inconvenient to process.

Where there's only one GA and the regular lane, you queue by your lonesome where the priority lane would have been. The GA will finish dealing with the current non-priority pax, then politely hold off the next pax and call you over. It's not ideal but it works.

 

[CPMaverick]

It makes no difference to my experience to be 'congratulated.' In fact it can make me uncomfortable at times. It seems to happen more often on the international routes IME.

The title of the thread is 'Benefits of WP', to me that means actual tangible benefits. I understand sometimes it is nice to be acknowledged, but it isn't exactly a published benefit either.

As long as I get my published benefits, and a smooth flight, I'm happy.

 

[clipped_wings]

the only time i felt i was treated badly was when I was lining up in the priority check in line and an older fella with gold status told me i was in the wrong line, and that i didn't belong in this line, I had to bite my tongue but managed to say I did belong in this line and proceeded to check in my bag. He must of thought i was an Asian tourist or something!

Wow, that is highly offensive. How awful that another passenger had the gall to size you up and decide if you were entitled to be in the line.

I have learnt never to judge any other person at the departure gate - especially International flights. I've seen some people dragging scruffy bags with frayed corners - quietly pass through the gate into the 777 Business Class cabin.

And here is me, wearing my Sunday best and smelling like a rose garden - meekly turning right with the other mere mortals and slumming it waaaay down in Row 46...........

 

[Haplo]

I agree with clipped_wings. It is wrong to judge someone just by the way you look or dressed.

 

[Lord_Lenny]

I find it depends on what your expectations are. I'm not too concerned about the whole ego-stroking DYKWIA thing, much like CPMaverick as long as I get the published benefits then I'm happy.

The two biggest benefits that I have appreciated are:

- The soft landing to Gold on expiration. I worked to ensure I hit Platinum last year, as I knew I wouldn't fly enough this year to requal as Gold and wanted the benefits in place for our upcoming Europe travels.

- Call Centre service. When we flew to NZ in July I stuffed up the booking process (long story to do with booking wrong dates initially and Lady_Lenny's passport expiring a good 2 years after we got married and her waiting to change her name until it did, and the knock on effects for her Velocity account and family pooling etc. plus a points upgrade on one leg) Not only did they bend over backwards to ensure that everything was changed and fixed and names corrected etc. but they waived all the change fees and had it all sorted within about 3hrs of me initially calling them. Absolutely fantastic service, and they did it all behind the scenes - I would have been on the phone for all of about 20min the entire time.

Now I can pretty much guarantee that the service I got from the call centre would have been nowhere near as seamless and stress free if I wasn't WP, and I really don't see them waiving the fees if I wasn't WP.