Qantas status match

[L1925]

Hi All

Has anyone had any recent luck with a status match for Virgin to Qantas via the non advertised tier accelerator program ?

I am Virgin Platinum and within the next couple weeks will hit my yearly status credits with qantas to recertify as qantas gold.

Just recertified last week for virgin platinum but over the next year will be flying more qantas than virgin due to a contract change at work

Have travelled about 25 qantas domestic flights this year with 3 months to go and have been qantas gold for about 3 years. Not sure if it makes a difference but currently have approx 550k qantas and 720k virgin regular points. i assume qantas would want a screen cap of from my virgin iphone app or a photo of the membership card

Thanks in advance

 

[juddles]

Hi there,

have you phoned Qantas? You appear to be in a situation that may favour something.

Your points accumulation with either airline is, IMHO not something taken into consideration.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Why would Qantas bump you up to Platinum when your employer has a contract that means you'll be flying Qantas?

25 domestic flights in 9 months - say you have 800 status credits - that's just over halfway to Platinum. On that run-rate, you wouldn't hit Platinum. How many status credits are you at now? What type of fares are you flying on? (deep discount economy? Y/B/H/K ? business?)

Qantas, like EVERY OTHER airline in a major alliance, has restrictions around giving out non-earned elite status. There are very real cost implications for the airline.
And in any case, the tier accelerator program - you won't be gifted status upfront. You're basically in the same position you are now.

However, if you persist......personally, I think you'll have better luck saying that all your travel is not related to your work.

Why? Personal travel is generally funded with post-tax money, whereas business/work travel is pre-tax.
That means when airlines track how much your potential lifetime value is (or "accessible income") - it's effectively 30%++ higher as an individual versus if you're another boring corporate flyer. Fundamentally to the airline, it means you're 'buying in' to the airline more than a corporate flyer even though you may spend less. Emotional 'buy-in' holds a lot of weight.

Best of luck! Let us know how it goes.

 

[justinbrett]

Why? Personal travel is generally funded with post-tax money, whereas business/work travel is pre-tax.

Sorry, but what are you getting at here? Both personal and business travellers pay tax to the airline, and the airline pays tax to the government. Although businesses will use the GST as an offset for the tax they have to pay, I really don’t get what your point is here.

 

[Mattg]

Qantas does still offer the Tier Accelerator program on a case-by-case basis. It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask them - the worst they can say is "no".

 

[Captain Halliday]

I think you'll have better luck saying that all your travel is not related to your work.

Why? Personal travel is generally funded with post-tax money, whereas business/work travel is pre-tax.
That means when airlines track how much your potential lifetime value is (or "accessible income") - it's effectively 30%++ higher as an individual versus if you're another boring corporate flyer. Fundamentally to the airline, it means you're 'buying in' to the airline more than a corporate flyer even though you may spend less. Emotional 'buy-in' holds a lot of weight.

Slightly off topic, but expanding on this...

@trippin_the_rift are you saying someone booking personal travel via Business Rewards portal may actually be unwittingly pushing down their PCV in the QF system?

 

[RichardMEL]

I could see QF offering a Gold challenge then go from there....

 

[L1925]

Hi all, thanks for the feedback, I will call qantas on monday and see what they say.

Trippin, to answer your points

1. Sitting on 755 status credits with more flights booked but they are with virgin. I could do a couple status runs.
2. By contract change I mean that we start another project where we will be flying more qantas flights based on the location. We can choose to fly with whever we want to
3. In relation to potential lifetime value, I am a company director of a small company with a combined number of flights around 200 per year. I tell the office manager who to book staff flights with being either qantas or virgin most of the time
4. More than half the flights i have been on this year are not booked by us, rather one of the large mining companies for me to fly to sites under a flex ticket. Many to site then back within a day.
5. I prefer to fly qantas, much better flight experience. Have had some delayed flights and stuff arounds but qantas have been accomodating.

 

[neljelpoo]

I’m a platinum on VA and recently got upgraded to gold on qantas via the accelerated offer with just 200 SC in 3 months. by and far my VA SC count sits around 1000-1200 most of the year.

and as juddles mentioned, your points doesn't matter. they asked me for a photo of my VA platinum card including expiry as well as activity statement for a whole year.

 

[L1925]

Hi All,

Just an update on this one.

I spoke to Qantas and the only offer for a status credit match is for bronze/silver QFF who have a higher virgin status level as they have not “experienced the qantas lounge experience”

I.e. if you have a higher virgin status level, qantas will status match however if you are virgin platinum they are not interested at all in a qantas status match to the same.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

however if you are virgin platinum they are not interested at all in a qantas status match to the same.

And why should they?

 

[L1925]

And why should they?

What is your point? Unless i am wrong this forum is for sharing flyer info

On the reverse side virgin are happy to match qantas gold or platinum

 

[GoldCanyon340]

What is your point? Unless i am wrong this forum is for sharing flyer info

On the reverse side virgin are happy to match qantas gold or platinum

My point is QF hands out status like sweets these days. DSC offers, status credits from credit cards and the upcoming Points Club and fast track Gold and Platinum from status challenges.

 

[Pushka]

What is your point? Unless i am wrong this forum is for sharing flyer info

On the reverse side virgin are happy to match qantas gold or platinum

I think it’s only for a very limited time of something like 3 months?

 

[TheRiddler]

On the reverse side virgin are happy to match qantas gold or platinum

Really? Anyone have recent success with this? Would VA status match a GF Gold and then possibly add an incentive Platinum accelerator?

 

[RichardMEL]

Did you ask for a Gold challenge at least? That would be reasonable (the usual earn 200 SC in3 months get Gold)

Also re VA WP not being mached - did they suggest they may match VA WP to QF Gold?

 

[L1925]

Really? Anyone have recent success with this? Would VA status match a GF Gold and then possibly add an incentive Platinum accelerator?

Yes, one of my work colleagues called virgin and they matched his QF gold

 

[L1925]

Unfort

Really? Anyone have recent success with this? Would VA status match a GF Gold and then possibly add an incentive Platinum accelerator?

Unfortunately no luck at all, already QF gold and they said no offers for me at all.

Sitting on a qantas flight from Perth to Sydney a5 the moment

 

[w2ttsy]

And why should they?

because its good business?

QF refuse to status match me to Plat so right now VA, DL and SG are getting all my business with quarterly PE or J flights to US, India and Europe.

Why should I start from the bottom rung again? Sure I could earn that back in a year, but I don't want to miss out on the perks in the mean time. Silver status match in exchange for VA plat is a slap in the face as well.

I've been in QF lounges before, they're nothing special that "I've yet to experience that with my current airline".

Perhaps a better way to put this. I am willing to do a layover in LAX for 4 hours to ensure i get the status credits with DL instead of flying direct to SFO with QF or AA.

 

[BAM1748]

I think with the Virgin cut backs and potential cutbacks QF aren’t going to need to status match to get people over the line and change.