Does VA WP have better access to Velocity reward seats

[Quickstatus]

I have looked at transpacific routes and I am unable to see any difference between WP and Red in terms of velocity award seats in J cabin.

Any views?

 

[notzac]

Not in my experience, no.

 

[Quickstatus]

Im thinking of not chasing VA WP anymore

I dont think there is any point of difference that is worthwhile.

The 4x domestic comp upgrade is not worth much as I dont travel trans continental to Perth

Maybe luggage, however if I am already paying for premium there is not much difference

More points per flight? - yawn,,,,.

Even the Delta discount economy comfort is being removed and now its on request 72 hours prior to flight for plat and 24 hours for Gold. Which really means - no chance (though its free)

extra luggage for travelling companions on same Delta itinerary is same for plats and golds.

Lounge access the same, LAX Star alliance lounge bus vs first lounge some diff in champers but I dont tend to drink alcohol before flight.

FF tix availability most likely the same

Even upgrade with points is no difference


Any other worthwhile point of difference

 

[SimonF]

Im thinking of not chasing VA WP anymore

I dont think there is any point of difference that is worthwhile.

The 4x domestic comp upgrade is not worth much as I dont travel trans continental to Perth

Maybe luggage, however if I am already paying for premium there is not much difference

More points per flight? - yawn,,,,.

Even the Delta discount economy comfort is being removed and now its on request 72 hours prior to flight for plat and 24 hours for Gold. Which really means - no chance (though its free)

extra luggage for travelling companions on same Delta itinerary is same for plats and golds.

Lounge access the same, LAX Star alliance lounge bus vs first lounge some diff in champers but I dont tend to drink alcohol before flight.

FF tix availability most likely the same

Even upgrade with points is no difference


Any other worthwhile point of difference

Perhaps the biggest intangible benefit is when something goes wrong in theory you will be looked after the best. Like flight cancelled or you make a mistake etc.

 

[Quickstatus]

Perhaps the biggest intangible benefit is when something goes wrong in theory you will be looked after the best. Like flight cancelled or you make a mistake etc.

Yes thanks for that, intangible though it is, there is some credence to that...

Oh and plat can invite more people into lounge

 

[rtyuiop]

Access to a better lounge in AUH, but you'd need to be going through there an awful lot to get excited about that!

 

[Mogul]

Ring the Platinum line. I have just booked a couple of reward J tickets on Singapore Airlines that were showing as unavailable on the net, but was able to have them released whilst on the phone. I am only Gold as well.

Worth a try.

 

[SimonF]

Yes thanks for that, intangible though it is, there is some credence to that...

Oh and plat can invite more people into lounge

I'm yet to invite anyone into a virgin lounge.

 

[pblackie]

Flew out of AUH on Tuesday, 1st Lounge is a roped off area in the premium lounge whilst they refit their lounges.

 

[jpk]

Gold is definitely the sweet spot, same as in QFF. There's also an argument to be made for alternating plat/gold in order to keep up the side benefits, eg: Hilton status. The earning rate is the main thing that keeps me flying with them, but burning can be frustrating. It feels to me like long haul reward seat availability has dried up a lot compared to the past. I suspect frequent flyer winter is now upon us, the good times are over.

 

[danielt25]

access to row 3 when booking online on domestic seats is about the only real benefit for me over Gold

Im thinking of not chasing VA WP anymore

I dont think there is any point of difference that is worthwhile.

The 4x domestic comp upgrade is not worth much as I dont travel trans continental to Perth

Maybe luggage, however if I am already paying for premium there is not much difference

More points per flight? - yawn,,,,.

Even the Delta discount economy comfort is being removed and now its on request 72 hours prior to flight for plat and 24 hours for Gold. Which really means - no chance (though its free)

extra luggage for travelling companions on same Delta itinerary is same for plats and golds.

Lounge access the same, LAX Star alliance lounge bus vs first lounge some diff in champers but I dont tend to drink alcohol before flight.

FF tix availability most likely the same

Even upgrade with points is no difference


Any other worthwhile point of difference

 

[andye]

I was pleased to still have access to row three, 2 weeks after officially dropping to Gold-the seat booking screen still said Platinum.

I was surprised to be reoffered the car/hotel deals on dropping to Gold (though thought I might get another bite if requalified for Platinum).

 

[MarkD]

Not quite sure how they work. Their Platinum Guarantee is a joke. I want to go to LAX in January, and even though the website says no availability, they magically find availability that does not show on the website, every 7 days. Effectively making the platinum guarantee useless for travel except on the one day a week they want to let you use it. Bit disillusioned and PO'ed trying to actually use the points they encouraged me to accumulate.
How the hell are is it a benefit to ME as a customer, if I can only use it when they want me to use it. Might as well just go buy a toaster with the points, at least they are able to be used FFS

 

[MarkD]

UPDATE. They called me back, apologised for the error and I got the seats I needed. Excellent result, and great follow up service from VA.

 

[danielt25]

sometimes I prefer to get a row with a spare seat next to it (blocked) rather than row 3 where the adjacent seat cannot be blocked. This is probably available for gold as well (seat blocking).

Not really worth chasing platinum for the domestic travel I do.