Free First Free Stuff post for 2018 "VA Companion Gold" - the gift of gold

[Matt_01]

In 2018 I am jumping straight out of the blocks with my Free Stuff posts. Up for grabs is a VA Companion Gold give away.

This year I was flying a bit more with SQ and VA and as result I can now gift gold but have no one to give it to. MrsM already has QF WP1 partner offer so does not need this one as well. I am also following the lead of NZflygirl who made a similar offer last year and has graciously allowed me to borrow some of her content.

I have not been through this gifting process before, however the VA CC confirmed I can do this. Like most of my Free Stuff posts there are a few condition, being:

• You will be currently VA Silver, I will ask for evidence.
• You can be QF silver but no higher, however you will need to have a VA FF account.
• AFF member for last 6 months
• Posts 50

Also from a personal perspective I would prefer to give this to someone who will get some use out of it, e.g. a moderate traveler who normally has to fly on the cheapest VA flights, earning stuff all SC and ideally someone that could retain the SG but just needs a hand to get there. If selected, you will need to provide me with your name and VA FF number, I need to give your details to VA. If you are not comfortable providing this detail don’t throw your hat in the ring.

So in the interests of not just putting your hand up, post a favourite airline experience (doesn’t need to be VA in particular, nor a novel), or a picture of your favourite travel destination.

I am travelling for the next week or so when I get home I will write down the usernames of those who have expressed an interest and meet the above conditions, put them in a hat and ask MissM select one at random.

I’ll contact the recipient the seeking evidence of your VA silver card with expiry date. If it can not be provided a new name will be selected.

All the best.

 

[Sdtravel]

This is such an awesome and generous offer. Great contribution Matt_01. I have no use for it as im in the QF camp but i hope someone here can.

 

[Steady]

This is such an awesome and generous offer. Great contribution Matt_01. I have no use for it as im in the QF camp but i hope someone here can.

I’ll second all of that Sdtravel

 

[MicoPico]

very generous offer!

I am a QF silver, and a VA member with no status, so not sure if I meet all your criteria, but I would be grateful if I can be considered a candidate in the offer

I have a long haul VA flight planned in the 2nd half of the year and usually fly a few times with VA domestically a year.

Attached is a photo of my favourite destination taken at the bell tower of the Cattedrale di Samta Maia del Fiore in Florence last year when my wife and I celebrate a major anniversary. We were blown away by the architecture, history, shopping, people and of course the food!

 

[SydneySwan]

Wonderful offer!

I am VA silver and QF lifetime silver but unlikely to ever get to QA lifetime gold as I hardly fly QF these days.

My favourite amusing airline experience was a 1993 BA flight from HEL to LHR. There were several announcements over the PA looking for a passenger of surname Gooch to identify himself. He didn't and eventually there was a longish delay whilst his luggage was offloaded. After this had been done, the pilot made an announcement along the lines of 'Good evening ladies and gentleman, my name is Captain Gooch.........'. It brought the house down. The captain took time out to explain that as far as he knew he was not related to passenger Gooch.

 

[get me outta here]

Just got my new VA red card in the mail today so I'm out since I just tumbed all the way down from Silver.

 

[Denali]

Very nice offer ♥

 

[JohnK]

Very generous offer as usual @Matt_01.

 

[Buzzard]

Nice offer @Matt_01. I'd apply myself but think there are more deserving members out there. +1 is VA Gold ATM so if I fly VA I fly with her. Otherwise I fly QF.

 

[suze2000]

Hmm all my flying is VA these days because hubby is VA Platinum, but I have no status myself as I family pool to him (he flies a lot for work). Whether this qualifies me I do not know - I admit though that I probably don't fly enough to reach silver, but I would like a shot at gold! Either way, a wonderfully generous offer.

Best flying experience? Lauda Air in 1997 Coming home from Vienna. The plane was half empty in Y and made a surprise stop (not on my booking anyway) in Dubai - then not the behemoth it is today - at night and it looked beautiful from the air as we were landing. Then another half empty flight to Singapore, which is still the best airport in the world, and another half-empty flight home to Perth.

Best travel experience? It's my profile pic. The volcano on Tanna Island in Vanuatu surprising me while hubby was taking a pic. Unforgettable.

 

[hroebuck79]

Wow, what an amazingly generous offer!

I am a VA Silver, and a QF red. After several years of being VA Plat and slowly bumped down to Silver after changing jobs after having my kids, I travel only really for leisure (with the occasional business trip - but I am now self employed so fly on the cheapest saver tickets!).

Would love to be considered for your generous offer - not sure I meet the number of posts criteria though :-(

Anyway, whoever you chose is lucky, and hopefully some good karma comes you way as a thankyou!

 

[glasszon]

Very generous offer, I was the lucky recipient of the companion gold from NZflygirl, it functions as a full gold membership and in particular I really enjoyed getting the BP at the lounge and skipping the whole check-in process altogether and I have went on and re-qualified for gold for next year.

Best of luck for all participants, travel will never be the same once you get gold membership.

 

[debgow]

Matt_01, what a very generous offer. I would love to be considered. I am only able to just about maintain Velocity Silver for the past couple of years. I have to pay for all my own flights, so do tend to buy the cheapest class of fare.
My airline story- I remember a few years back got upgraded to business with a 4 year old on Singapore Airlines. I didn’t even realise as they didn’t tell me anything. It was only when we were ushered to our seats I found out. Wasn’t even a Kris Flyer member.

Also one of my favourite travel destinations is KL. This photo is from Skybar at Traders Hotel.

 

[dsotm]

Thanks Matt, I'd like to throw my hat into the ring please. I was a frequent biz-class flyer in the early 2010's but slowly dropped back to Y and Red I've had multitudes of memorable flights. Once on a Delta flight in the US, my sound recordist got the purser on the loudspeaker to ask all the passengers to sing me Happy Birthday. The FA gave me a miniature bottle of Baileys with a candle on top. And another.... and another....

 

[Matt_01]

As not many that have thrown their hat in the ring, I plan to put all the names in the hat for the random draw. I am still travelling so the offer will remain open until 1 Apr 18. I was only in KL a little over a week ago nothing as flash as the Sky Bar just wandering around KLCC park on a non-work day and prior to flying to SIN.

Second Free Stuff post will be something for those in the QF camp, unfortunately not a free QF SG membership.

 

[annielee]

Would like to put my hand up eventhough there are more deserving member and not sure whether i qualify for it
QF silver now and no status with VA, but would love to try VA lounge and other benefits as im planning for a Northern Europe trip end of the year, and some domestic and trans-tasman flying with the family.

Thanks for your generosity... and enjoy your trip in KL, i just came back from there yesterday

 

[debgow]

Wow, KL is popular at the moment. I leave on the 10th for 9 days.

 

[MikeG]

I'm VA Silver... Is this still up for grabs?

 

[yld200]

I'd love to throw my name into the mixer for such a generous offer. I may not technically qualify so I have no problem with being ruled out.

I'm currently a QF Bronze but only 10 SC away from silver which I'll reach in a few weeks with a trip to HKG for work. I don't have any status with VA and have no chance of reaching Gold with QF when my status resets in June. This is actually the first time I will ever even reach Silver with any program at all so I'm a little excited by that.

I've just started a new position with work which includes some travel to Asia a few times a year which is all in Y on the cheapest fares available so having lounge access and some additional perks will help make the slug in Y a little easier.

I feel like I've only just started to have airline experiences since joining AFF. My favourite has to be flying on SQ in suites after a generous points offer from NAB which helped the cause.

Photo is of my favourite tacos in NYC Chelsea market.

 

[MikeG]

I'm VA Silver... Is this still up for grabs?

Sorry the post was so brief, I was interrupted with other stuff.

I'm taking the family to NZ with VA later this year so Gold would help to get us into the lounge, and to hopefully gain extra FF points on that trip.

Happy to discuss if you think I'm worthy.

Mike