Gold status or save points?

[marcoakis]

Hi folks,

I'm currently a Silver member, with 270SC. I've been trying to accumulate as many velocity points as possible in the last 2-3 months... I currently sit at 60k.

Now with the new promo that allows us to earn SC while burning points, I'm not sure if I should burn some of those 60k points to achieve Gold Status... or if I'm better off saving the velocity points for an overseas upgrade (which is only available to Gold members) or if I ever accumulate 200k a business class MEL-LAX.

My usual travel patterns are:

- Every 4 weeks, I travel to Adelaide from Melb economy/flexi (Just me)
- We travel to America/Mexico at least once a year (family pooling)
- Most of my purchases are made with AMEX Velocity Platinum (from groceries to an upcoming medical procedure worth $20k)

I have a 3 week holiday in America in July, which will give me a nice bump in velocity points and SC, however I'll still be silver... that means no lounge access, no priority boarding, nada.

Am I better off saving all the velocity points for a future J to LAX or Europe with my wife (that otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford) or should I take advantage of the promo and burn those points to travel to ADL J and achieve Gold status before our 3 week holiday in America?

I'm sure the seasoned AFF will have good advice

 

[smit0847]

Hi marcoakis

I was actually in a very similar position to you 6 months ago - travel interstate (mainly MEL-ADL-MEL - living in MEL but all family in ADL) once a month, yearly overseas trip, reasonable though not high CC spend. I was silver for some time but a family pool SQ trip to CDG bumped me over the Gold.

I would absolutely use the points to get to Gold. IMO there is hardly any difference from Bronze to Silver but there is a MASSIVE difference between Silver and Gold (far more than between Gold and Platinum IMO). You get priority everything (check-in, seat selection, luggage, security, boarding, call centre etc) as well as the coveted lounge access (I think the MEL dom lounge is the best in Australia). I've found it makes travelling a whole lot more enjoyable. I LOVE being Gold and hope to never slide back to Silver.

The problem with saving up your points is that you will need a LOT for J to LAX. I believe its currently 190,000+ per person return, so nearly 400K for the 2 of you (500K for Europe). I know from my flying and spending habits that will take a LOT of time to save up and I would value the day-to-day benefits of Gold status much more than a 1-off trip of a lifetime in the distant future.

You and your partner should both sign-up for a Virgin Flyer CC if you dont already have one - they will give you each 4 2-4-1 flights each year. My partner and I use these to great effect.

PM me if you want any more information - it sounds like our travel patterns are pretty similar.

 

[markis10]

I woudl go for Gold as well, the fact your earn more points will probably mean the points spend are easily re earned in the following year on top of what you would have got as Silver, with baggage and lounge access savings also to factor in.

 

[lobo76]

I woudl go for Gold as well, the fact your earn more points will probably mean the points spend are easily re earned in the following year on top of what you would have got as Silver, with baggage and lounge access savings also to factor in.

Agreed on this and smit's points. Gold makes travel FAR more relaxing and enjoyable. If you fly every month it'll make a huge difference AND your points ear will be +75% so you'll be ahead in the longer term, points wise. Maybe you should look at one of the status runs?

 

[marcoakis]

Thanks for your insights guys... very valuable.

It seems like I'll take advantage of the SC promo and use the points to travel J and reach Gold in 2-3 flights. Saving 400k points is nearly impossible for me at this point given my travel patterns.

If I redeem flights using points (Business Rewards), would I still be eligible to earn while burning?

According to the press release: "To be eligible for this offer, members must book and travel on a Virgin Australia (VA) marketed and operated flight in a Reward Seat Fare Class (X, P or Z) between 13 January and 30 June 2013."

Not sure what is X, P or Z.

 

[smit0847]

Thanks for your insights guys... very valuable.

It seems like I'll take advantage of the SC promo and use the points to travel J and reach Gold in 2-3 flights. Saving 400k points is nearly impossible for me at this point given my travel patterns.

If I redeem flights using points (Business Rewards), would I still be eligible to earn while burning?

According to the press release: "To be eligible for this offer, members must book and travel on a Virgin Australia (VA) marketed and operated flight in a Reward Seat Fare Class (X, P or Z) between 13 January and 30 June 2013."

Not sure what is X, P or Z.

I believe all Business Reward seats are one of these 3 fare classes (Im sure someone here will confirm this for me).

The reward options with the new Sabre system today seem to be changing by the minute but if you were to book today, using your ADL-MEL example, look for flights that connect you via SYD or CBR but only cost 13,800 points each way (max pay, min points). This will give you twice the amount of SCs (40+40 each way) as a direct flight, for the same cost (and you'll get to experience 2 x the J experience). A return J redemption this way would earn you 160 SCs and can easily be done in a weekend if necessary.

Have a good look into the Virgin Flyer CCs - these 2-4-1 flights also earn full SCs.

 

[marcoakis]

I believe all Business Reward seats are one of these 3 fare classes (Im sure someone here will confirm this for me).

The reward options with the new Sabre system today seem to be changing by the minute but if you were to book today, using your ADL-MEL example, look for flights that connect you via SYD or CBR but only cost 13,800 points each way (max pay, min points). This will give you twice the amount of SCs (40+40 each way) as a direct flight, for the same cost (and you'll get to experience 2 x the J experience). A return J redemption this way would earn you 160 SCs and can easily be done in a weekend if necessary.

Have a good look into the Virgin Flyer CCs - these 2-4-1 flights also earn full SCs.

Sent you PM

 

[BrentH]

I'm in a similar situation.

SYD-OOL (stopping in MEL) in Reward Business = 13800 pts + $18.71 (100 SC)

If you're family pooling, travel with your partner, do it return (OOL-MEL-SYD return x 2pax), and rack up 400 SC's in a weekend.

I reckon your best bet is to fly MEL-OOL Flexi at $179 each way (rather than MEL-SYD Saver or Flexi), to get the extra SC's per pax per flight. The cost per SC is very low into OOL ($6.01) on Flexi.

Total SC's Earned: 520
New SC Balance: 790
Total Cost: $790.84

Now you're only 210 SC's away from Platinum

(If you only want to get past the 500 SC's post, do it alone and it will give you a balance of 530 SC's for $395.42 + 27600 points.)

 

[Beta4Me]

I see that the Virgin Flyer CCs come from Citibank. I only just got a Clear Platinum from Citi to do a big BT for the promo period. Would this just-issued card preclude me from getting the Virgin Flyer for the 4-2-1 flights?

 

[leemin]

Go for Gold!