Free Amex flight now with Virgin Blue [ONLY] effective Oct 1

[myturn]

I've asked the possibility of Virgin improving their offer to us AMEX platinum cardholders following my post on perthhacks.blogspot. com Perth Hacks - cheap tips, hints and tricks about maybe giving us Virgin Lounge access.

The Twitter person has asked people up the Virgin ranks and we are "still waiting to hear (twitter/VirginBlue/status/18583549751)

 

[straitman]

I've asked the possibility of Virgin improving their offer to us AMEX platinum cardholders following my post on perthhacks.blogspot. com Perth Hacks - cheap tips, hints and tricks about maybe giving us Virgin Lounge access.

The Twitter person has asked people up the Virgin ranks and we are "still waiting to hear (twitter/VirginBlue/status/18583549751)

myturn,

Welcome to AFF.

Could you please elaborate upon your post as I have no idea what you want Virgin to improve.

 

[anat0l]

myturn,

Welcome to AFF.

Could you please elaborate upon your post as I have no idea what you want Virgin to improve.

myturn is referring to this blog post on his blog.

It summarises most of the sentiments in this thread about pros and cons of the free flight being with DJ rather than QF; for myturn, his post goes on to say that he would probably cancel his Amex Platinum now, but if Velocity threw in free lounge access with the deal/card, he might change his mind.

 

[straitman]

myturn is referring to this blog post on his blog.

It summarises most of the sentiments in this thread about pros and cons of the free flight being with DJ rather than QF; for myturn, his post goes on to say that he would probably cancel his Amex Platinum now, but if Velocity threw in free lounge access with the deal/card, he might change his mind.

anat0l,

Thanks. As someone who does not normally read peoples blogs this sounded like something alien to me.

 

[nlagalle]

myturn is referring to this blog post on his blog.

It summarises most of the sentiments in this thread about pros and cons of the free flight being with DJ rather than QF; for myturn, his post goes on to say that he would probably cancel his Amex Platinum now, but if Velocity threw in free lounge access with the deal/card, he might change his mind.

Mind you, if you had an AMEX plat charge card you would have access via the Priority pass card!

 

[Homer]

Mind you, if you had an AMEX plat charge card you would have access via the Priority pass card!

I think most of the complaints about the lack of access to “The Lounge” are coming from those with an AMEX Platinum credit card which doesn’t include a Priority Pass card.

 

[myturn]

yeah never heard of the priority pass card. My platinum card is the run of the mill $395 card. Should be getting an email from Virgin Blue some time today in response to the suggestion.

 

[nlagalle]

yeah never heard of the priority pass card. My platinum card is the run of the mill $395 card. Should be getting an email from Virgin Blue some time today in response to the suggestion.

Sorry I forgot to mention the priority pass card is for platinum charge card holders.

I would be interested in their reply, however as QF never gave you QC access, I'm not sure DJ would..

 

[anat0l]

I would be interested in their reply, however as QF never gave you QC access, I'm not sure DJ would..

Agreed.

The Lounge access costs about the same as QP access which was never offered in the current version of the scheme. Amex were doing this new deal with DJ to supposedly save money, weren't they?

I can almost imagine some people crying to Amex for some other form of compensation if they already have The Lounge access (e.g. via paid subscription or Velocity Gold). What would you give them?

Perhaps The Lounge access vouchers.... (i.e. similar to some credit cards offering 2 free QP passes per year)

 

[oz_mark]

Sorry I forgot to mention the priority pass card is for platinum charge card holders.

I would be interested in their reply, however as QF never gave you QC access, I'm not sure DJ would..

It would depend on whether DJ would be willing to negotiate on the matter. As DJ already have facilities for single entry by payment, there may be some ability for Amex and DJ to negotiate something. Having said that, lounge access outside priority pass is more the domain of the charge card.

 

[myturn]

seems like there is nothing Virgin is going to do about improving the offering. I guess when AMEX loses some platinum card holders, they may start pressuring Virgin to do better.

has anyone tried cancelling their card or has already cancelled their card/ it would be interesting to see if AMEX is willing to negotiate to retain their customers.. in the past this particular card AMEX is quite willing to cancel without asking much though.:-|

 

[straitman]

seems like there is nothing Virgin is going to do about improving the offering. I guess when AMEX loses some platinum card holders, they may start pressuring Virgin to do better.

has anyone tried cancelling their card or has already cancelled their card/ it would be interesting to see if AMEX is willing to negotiate to retain their customers.. in the past this particular card AMEX is quite willing to cancel without asking much though.:-|

Would someone like to enlighten me as to why people are up in arms that their free flight has switched to DJ :?:

Most people here seem to fly QF more often than not BUT one flight a year to a much greater variety of destinations does not seem like such a backward step as some people are making out.

Am I missing something :?:

 

[anat0l]

Would someone like to enlighten me as to why people are up in arms that their free flight has switched to DJ :?:

Most people here seem to fly QF more often than not BUT one flight a year to a much greater variety of destinations does not seem like such a backward step as some people are making out.

Am I missing something :?:

It's a "perceived" loss of value.

Some of us got a letter enticing us to sign up for a Amex Plat (sometimes co-branded) by explaining that although the fee was large, it was paid off easily through use and exploitation of benefits. So, for example, there was a line item in this bit of marketing material that estimated the cost of a return flight on QF and showed that this, along with a free flight from the points you would earn and the travel insurance, added up to more than the card fee, meaning that you would be getting your money's worth with Amex Plat.

People may not actively detest the change for that reason but they may decide to use that as a means of negotiating a better deal out of Amex (as people will do for all credit cards, i.e. pick on something then threaten to cancel the card to try and get something else).

 

[straitman]

It's a "perceived" loss of value.

Some of us got a letter enticing us to sign up for a Amex Plat (sometimes co-branded) by explaining that although the fee was large, it was paid off easily through use and exploitation of benefits. So, for example, there was a line item in this bit of marketing material that estimated the cost of a return flight on QF and showed that this, along with a free flight from the points you would earn and the travel insurance, added up to more than the card fee, meaning that you would be getting your money's worth with Amex Plat.

People may not actively detest the change for that reason but they may decide to use that as a means of negotiating a better deal out of Amex (as people will do for all credit cards, i.e. pick on something then threaten to cancel the card to try and get something else).

Thanks anat0l,

I already understood all that but really wanted to understand if there was something else that I was missing.

One could just as easily argue that with the opening up of more available routes that the value has increased. No matter which way they do things it will be better for some, worse for some and some simply won't care. :shock:

Personally my initial reaction was disappointment but I will simply use the flight for a longer flight that I would otherwise have had to pay for and use the lounge access, if needed, provided under Priority Pass. If there is not a lounge where I'm going, well it is only one flight :!:

 

[drewbles]

Amex's response will be 'If you don't like it, you can change to a QF Ultimate card (at $55/year more thank you very much)'.

With some pushing, you should be able to get them to reduce this to $250/year instead of the $450 they're asking for. That'll give you your QF flight, but of course, it reduces your other benefits (you don't have the concierge service etc).

To me, $250/year, 1.5 QFF points (and bonus 1 per dollar on QF spend), free flight (on first QF spend of the year) and the reasonable insurance was enough for me to change from the Plat CC to the QF Ultimate card.

 

[serfty]

...
Am I missing something :?:

DJ may be on the "no fly list" for some.

 

[anat0l]

it reduces your other benefits (you don't have the concierge service etc).

AFAICT Amex Plat credit cards do not get concierge service. I don't think I do. Amex Plat charge cards have access to this service, as well as - IIRC - the ability to sweep to QF without full opt-in of QF Direct.

DJ may be on the "no fly list" for some.

That's no more facetious than saying QF may be on the "no fly list" for others.

 

[nlagalle]

Amex's response will be 'If you don't like it, you can change to a QF Ultimate card (at $55/year more thank you very much)'.

With some pushing, you should be able to get them to reduce this to $250/year instead of the $450 they're asking for. That'll give you your QF flight, but of course, it reduces your other benefits (you don't have the concierge service etc).

I wonder if you can get it for free as a plat charge card holder? I know that currently I only pay the fee on my plat charge and no other card.

 

[drewbles]

AFAICT Amex Plat credit cards do not get concierge service. I don't think I do. Amex Plat charge cards have access to this service, as well as - IIRC - the ability to sweep to QF without full opt-in of QF Direct.

If they don't have the concierge service, it was a feature that was removed as I have used it in the past to get concert tickets and other items. They were hopeless, but I did try and use them.

The non-direct sweep is different yes, but the Platinum CC doesn't offer *any* QF earn (You have to change to a QF branded card with direct sweep for that).

 

[drron]

Well the ability to grt your free flight on DJ instead of QF is a positive for me.Cant fly QF out of MCY.