Family pool status credits - family living overseas

[Ade]

Dear AFF folks,

I've got a question on family pooling of status credits.

I live in Australia and my parents live in India. My parents visit me once every year and I visit them 2-3 times each year.

I'm QF Gold ATM and on my way to become QF Platinum this year. I'd like to have *A Gold as well. I used to travel w/ SQ 4 years ago, but later switched to QF & CX and as a result lost my miles with SQ (I was and am still a novice when it comes to air travel and didn't realize that my miles expire, until I saw an email from SQ reminding me of the same - IKR, rookie mistakes)

Now, I'd like to get back on the *A bus and was looking at Turkish Airlines, which gives *AGold with just one J flight from SYD-DXB return for roughly A$4.5-5K - that's one option or I've got a mate working at United, who could whip her magic and get me 40% discounted J fares on United metal

I was also thinking that with my parents visiting me and they usually fly SQ or Thai - it must be possible for me pool their SC's to my Velocity account. However, when I read the T&C's for Velocity family pooling, I understand that the family members must be living in the same address. But as my parents are living in India and I'm in Australia - is there any way to get around this ?

Has anyone faced this situation before?

 

[serfty]

Has anyone faced this situation before?

But as my parents are living in India and I'm in Australia - is there any way to get around this ?

Yes, and some have lied about their address. In some cases Velocity have subsequently cancelled accounts spooling after asking for verification. It's your risk.

Also note that the maximum number of members in a family pool aged over 18 years is 2.

 

[Ade]

Yes, and some have lied about their address. In some cases Velocity have subsequently cancelled accounts spooling after asking for verification. It's your risk.

Also note that the maximum number of members in a family pool aged over 18 years is 2.

Thank you Serfty. Let me think about this then - doesn't sound to be worth the risk

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

You can't pool Royal Orchid SC into VFF, even via SQ's KF.
Royal Orchid is not in the same alliance as VFF.
So if your parents flew TG from their home city in India via BKK to Aust, or you flew TG from Au to BKK, and then to DEL/IXE, Royal Orchid SC they earn cannot come into VFF.
Even *A do not allow transfer of SC, I have joined SQ's KF, and my points from flying
AirNZ have appeared in my KF account, but not the SC from the times I flew with AirNZ, they have not appeared anywhere in my KF account.
Pooling of SC is only allowed with in VFF, so if your parents or you flew SQ, with the VA flight number, then yes, it can work that SC of one of them can come to you, or both can come to you.
But if you bring *A into the equation, family pooling of SC is not possible, when you bring VFF into it.
*A and VFF do not mix.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Sorry Mods, indulge me this one bit, will keep quiet on this thread after.
As for earning points for flying on the other hand, that is a possibility of you having a gain of VFF from flying *A airlines.
SQ KF points or miles, can be tranferred to VFF at a discount.
Ie, if you flew a lot of SQ and TG or AirNZ flights, and other *A airlines, and then have a lot of points in your KF account, you can transfer those KF points or miles, into VFF, at a discount.
For 5000 KF miles, you will get 0.6451612, or 3225 VFF points.

 

[dajop]

As your parents have no other address in Australia, and Virgin do not allow members to join in India I would guess the chances of detection are low, particularly if there is a shared surname. But at your own risk.

I know of at least two people who moved outside of Australia/New Zealand and did not want to close their accounts/use their Velocity points at the time they moved so maintain their accounts at their parents address, with no dramas.

 

[Ade]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my question and apologies for the delay in my response. The responses are greatly helpful and I'll consider all the above when making my decision.

I'm also being gently reminded by my roommate who is a VFF Gold that I need to switch loyalties from QF and see how the grass is greener on the other side

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

The grass is greener if you do fly with VA's partners, esp SQ.
SQ's J product is very good.
And yes, I have used it in the past ADL - SIN many years ago, and will do again MEL - WLG.
Not only their lounges.