Platinum for 70k points

[Lemon_Party]

A data point for those interested:

I ended up 8 SCs short of requalifying for platinum this year and called the contact centre to clarify whether flights flown on the review date count for that year (they do).
The agent asked if I had any flights to book in the small window left and said as an alternate they could sell me the 8 SCs required for 70k VA points.
I declined as a bit steep for me but wasn’t aware this was an option so thought I’d share...

 

[Pleb Status]

A data point for those interested:

I ended up 8 SCs short of requalifying for platinum this year and called the contact centre to clarify whether flights flown on the review date count for that year (they do).
The agent asked if I had any flights to book in the small window left and said as an alternate they could sell me the 8 SCs required for 70k VA points.
I declined as a bit steep for me but wasn’t aware this was an option so thought I’d share...

An interesting development.

I agree that 70k is very steep for only 8SC. It may be a flat fee which covers a deficit of up to say 50SC, at which the offer would be slightly better value.

Although I am not a fan of status runs, a day trip sounds like it could be required....

 

[clipped_wings]

Sad they didn't comp you the Plat Status. I do understand there has to be a line drawn somewhere, but if you'd met all sectors etc, I think 8 SC short is a bit stiff.

 

[Pleb Status]

Sad they didn't comp you the Plat Status. I do understand there has to be a line drawn somewhere, but if you'd met all sectors etc, I think 8 SC short is a bit stiff.

To clarify, I have easily requalified WP for 2020/21. I was suggesting that the OP may need to take day trip to get the 8SC they require...

 

[Lemon_Party]

Sad they didn't comp you the Plat Status. I do understand there has to be a line drawn somewhere, but if you'd met all sectors etc, I think 8 SC short is a bit stiff.

I did think they'd offer me something to keep me platinum, I wasn't expecting it for free but 10-20k points was probably around my limit. I had thought they may offer an extension of a week or something, but rules are rules.

To clarify, I have easily requalified WP for 2020/21. I was suggesting that the OP may need to take day trip to get the 8SC they require...

To be fair, I'd accepted I'd drop to gold this year as I had a spell with QF to go for gold with them (trying to improve award availability so I can spend some of these CC bonuses...) but once I got that I went back to VA and ended up being much closer than I'd thought. I had two trips in the last few days at short notice on flex fares. In the end today was the last day to fit in a status hop and it wasn't feasible.
Though I thought about it hard!
I should get back up above 1000 SC's soon enough.

 

[Pleb Status]

I did think they'd offer me something to keep me platinum, I wasn't expecting it for free but 10-20k points was probably around my limit. I had thought they may offer an extension of a week or something, but rules are rules.

To be fair, I'd accepted I'd drop to gold this year as I had a spell with QF to go for gold with them (trying to improve award availability so I can spend some of these CC bonuses...) but once I got that I went back to VA and ended up being much closer than I'd thought. I had two trips in the last few days at short notice on flex fares. In the end today was the last day to fit in a status hop and it wasn't feasible.
Though I thought about it hard!
I should get back up above 1000 SC's soon enough.

I think both VA and QF are getting a little harder on the status comps as VA have offered two DSC promotions this rolling year and QF at least three.

There will be some who take full advantage of the 'leg up' that the DSC promotions provide and then want further 'assistance' when they fall short.

 

[Carrots]

My turn to see if I'll get comped.

Well and truly over the SC however am one sector short. Next to no flying this year and trip cancelled this month that would've tipped me over. And naturally have 3 flights the week after Review.

Shall report back how I fair.

 

[Ade]

A data point for those interested:

I ended up 8 SCs short of requalifying for platinum this year and called the contact centre to clarify whether flights flown on the review date count for that year (they do).
The agent asked if I had any flights to book in the small window left and said as an alternate they could sell me the 8 SCs required for 70k VA points.
I declined as a bit steep for me but wasn’t aware this was an option so thought I’d share...

For 8 SC, I'd think 10K VFF points sounds fair.

I'm thinking the cheapest fare between SYD and MEL would fetch 7 SC, and a reward ticket between SYD and MEL is around 7000 points. So in my opinion 10K for 8 SC sounds fair.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I think both VA and QF are getting a little harder on the status comps as VA have offered two DSC promotions this rolling year and QF at least three.

There will be some who take full advantage of the 'leg up' that the DSC promotions provide and then want further 'assistance' when they fall short.

At least with the rolling expiry dates with VA you don't have to start from scratch as you would with QF!

 

[clipped_wings]

Mr Clipped will drop to SG after our Biggest/Funnest (I hope) Family Holiday with Points in January next year and we'll be left simmering with no SC and a lowly 100k in points.

I can't bear the thought of falling below this tier - so the only solution is to cough up the cash and fly revenue somewhere. Singapore F on the A380 seems to be the clear winner - after the Japanese bid fell through (once they'd admitted they were recommencing whaling activities for eating and not research). I'm hoping this will keep hubby above the Gold Line and ensure I am taken care of in the manner to which I have become so deservedly accustomed

 

[ozstamps]

Plenty of reports here in another recent thread Plat was granted when a few SC short.

Hang up and ask another agent would be my first response, if someone told me they would not bump me.

Happened to my partner in past few months. Nuisance really, as it got our review dates well out ot Sync! I HATE these rolling ever changing reviews and prefer the US annual system, but the current strange system suits many here it seems. And we are stuck with it.

Anyway a dirt cheapie flight gets 14 SC. I'd have sat on a plane for 2 hours to have got the 14 SC for sure. Sat at gate for 20 mins and came back on same plane.

 

[mapnz]

For 8 Status points a status run to Coles supermarket will do the deed.
(Just fill you cupboard with items that do not expire from Coles )

 

[GSP]

Anyway a dirt cheapie flight gets 14 SC. I'd have sat on a plane for 2 hours to have got the 14 SC for sure. Sat at gate for 20 mins and came back on same plane.

At least go to the lounge and gorge/drink as much as you can for a few hours to make it semi worthwhile.

 

[GSP]

For 8 Status points a status run to Coles supermarket will do the deed.
(Just fill you cupboard with items that do not expire from Coles )

$800 is a faily hefty shot on items potentially not on special. Also delay in posting of SC's.

Edit: would also screw up your Flybuy's offers. If one was getting regular $50 spend for x points, they'll then start getting $250+ spend for x points.

 

[mapnz]

$800 is a faily hefty shot on items potentially not on special. Also delay in posting of SC's.

Edit: would also screw up your Flybuy's offers. If one was getting regular $50 spend for x points, they'll then start getting $250+ spend for x points.

Yeah my normal grocery bill is $500 so $800 is a bit higher . Perhaps a trip to Liquorland and First Choice Liquor too ?
August cole's purchases I thought are posted as August SC on the Virgin account is that not correct ???

 

[GSP]

Yeah my normal grocery bill is $500 so $800 is a bit higher . Perhaps a trip to Liquorland and First Choice Liquor too ?
August cole's purchases I thought are posted as August SC on the Virgin account is that not correct ???

That is indeed a hefty bill. The SC's for the spend in August would be credited 1 September or thereabouts, or probably out of luck on that front given only 8 days.

As the OP has pointed out, he'll drop to Gold but will now need 228 to get back to Plat which he said he'll sort out again soon enough and start a new 12 month period of Plat.

 

[Carrots]

Update to my 1 sector short. Finally called yesterday......"Given you've been a loyal customer for X years we'll be happy to waive the final sector as a goodwill gesture just this one time"
Hopefully they've processed it properly!