Gold annual family trip - is it really a bonus?

[LonePine]

I am currently silver with a few VA trips scheduled in the next few months but not quite enough to get gold. One of the gold status rewards is the "Annual family trip" but we are only a family of three and don't seem to have finding theoretical reward seats at the times and destinations we are looking at. Is this status bonus worth the extra to strive for gold?

 

[Simo]

Status makes everything easier.

 

[hgwells01]

If you know you want to travel at Xmas or school holidays/peak periods when there is little availability then it might be of use to you.

 

[toowongman]

I am currently silver with a few VA trips scheduled in the next few months but not quite enough to get gold. One of the gold status rewards is the "Annual family trip" but we are only a family of three and don't seem to have finding theoretical reward seats at the times and destinations we are looking at. Is this status bonus worth the extra to strive for gold?

Life gets much much easier when you reach Gold. Priority checkin, boarding, baggage, SYD direct entry with HLO, lounge + guest, better seat selection, free baggage, more points, different help desk, emails get returned quicker. Plus the other stuff.

 

[hummel]

How does this benefit work for platinum members?

I'm after MEL-PPT flights during peak Christmas holidays for two people. No availability to be seen.

Using AirNZ as a partner, would this work?

 

[Fruitcake]

How does this benefit work for platinum members?

16.3 Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip
16.3.1 VRPL guarantees that Platinum Members can make one booking for up to four guests on:
(a) Virgin Australia domestic Economy Reward Class return flights; or
(b) Economy Reward Class return flights departing from Australia (or from New Zealand if the Platinum Member is a New Zealand based Member) to any international destination to which the Virgin Australia or an Airline Partner flies;
in each Total Benefit Period (Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip).
16.3.2 The Platinum Member must be included and travelling in the booking for the Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip.
16.3.3 The request for the Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip on domestic flights must:
(a) be made at least six months prior to the desired date of departure; and
(b) allow for a three day booking window for each flight (one day either side of the desired departure and return dates).
16.3.4 If the Platinum Member chooses to redeem Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip on international flights, the Platinum Member can call the Velocity Frequent Flyer Membership Contact Centre to request a booking. The following conditions apply to a request by a Platinum Member under this clause 16.3.4:
(a) The request must:
(i) include the desired departure and return dates, destination and number of guests travelling;
(ii) be made at least six months prior to the desired date of departure; and
(iii) allow for a seven day booking window for each flight (three days either side of the desired departure and return dates).
(b) The airline and flight will be chosen at VRPL's discretion.
(c) If there is no direct flight available from the Platinum Member's desired airport of departure in Australia, VRPL may offer to fly the Platinum Member and their travelling guests to a more suitable Australian airport for departure, at VRPL’s expense.



The other obscure benefit I've always pondered is the "priority economy seat purchase" where a platinum can apparently bump pax off a flight!

 

[markis10]

I am currently silver with a few VA trips scheduled in the next few months but not quite enough to get gold. One of the gold status rewards is the "Annual family trip" but we are only a family of three and don't seem to have finding theoretical reward seats at the times and destinations we are looking at. Is this status bonus worth the extra to strive for gold?

I am thinking your overlooking one of the better benefits - lounge access????

 

[hummel]

16.3 Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip
16.3.1 VRPL guarantees that Platinum Members can make one booking for up to four guests on:
(a) Virgin Australia domestic Economy Reward Class return flights; or
(b) Economy Reward Class return flights departing from Australia (or from New Zealand if the Platinum Member is a New Zealand based Member) to any international destination to which the Virgin Australia or an Airline Partner flies;
in each Total Benefit Period (Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip).
16.3.2 The Platinum Member must be included and travelling in the booking for the Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip.
16.3.3 The request for the Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip on domestic flights must:
(a) be made at least six months prior to the desired date of departure; and
(b) allow for a three day booking window for each flight (one day either side of the desired departure and return dates).
16.3.4 If the Platinum Member chooses to redeem Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip on international flights, the Platinum Member can call the Velocity Frequent Flyer Membership Contact Centre to request a booking. The following conditions apply to a request by a Platinum Member under this clause 16.3.4:
(a) The request must:
(i) include the desired departure and return dates, destination and number of guests travelling;
(ii) be made at least six months prior to the desired date of departure; and
(iii) allow for a seven day booking window for each flight (three days either side of the desired departure and return dates).
(b) The airline and flight will be chosen at VRPL's discretion.
(c) If there is no direct flight available from the Platinum Member's desired airport of departure in Australia, VRPL may offer to fly the Platinum Member and their travelling guests to a more suitable Australian airport for departure, at VRPL’s expense.

Not sure how I missed this and surprisingly it spells it out clearly! (unlike the rest of the VA website)

I'll make WP in June and honeymoon not till January so lets see what happens!

 

[Virgin Bart]

I've always wondered with this one... What do they charge for the flight? I mean, I'm sure all seats are achievable for the right price...?

 

[muppet]

The other obscure benefit I've always pondered is the "priority economy seat purchase" where a platinum can apparently bump pax off a flight!

I have used the QF version for a WP, on a sold out flight.
Cost about $500 from memory ADL-MEL.

 

[medhead]

16.3.1 and 16.3.3(a) make this practically useless for me. I want a business award not economy. We often plan family trips less than 6 months in advance.

 

[LonePine]

I am thinking your overlooking one of the better benefits - lounge access????

Work pays at the moment

 

[VA777]

I used it earlier this year (there is a Gold version) for a family trip to PER later this year and got exactly the flights I wanted for the four of us.

 

[thegurio]

The other thing is that in the event of a delay etc. I do believe you are treated much better. Added to that, if you need 'fly ahead' or something along those lines they do tend to do a bit more, plus the ability to sit a bit further up the plane always helps.

 

[polishedarrow]

How do these seats work? Plats have 4 guaranteed intl flights - are these paid for with points, how do you redeem them?