Secure Sentinel ?

[eckorock]

Hi all,

I'm a Velocity Gold (expiring in 2 weeks .. 60 SC away from retaining)

Just wondering if , before my status goes down to Silver, I should sign up for any of the perks like Secure Sentinel ?
Has anyone had to use them before and were they any good?

I imagine if my Credit card was stolen I would just ring the CC company or issuing bank directly right?

 

[BrentH]

It can't hurt I guess.

(No idea if they expire early if your status expires though, but the website says it's a "12 month" membership.)

You're not going to do a Status Run for those extra SC's?

Return MEL-OOL or similar in Flexi, (or 2x in discount economy with a partner if you have Family Pooling set up,) would get you the 60 SC's you need.

 

[grubbidok]

I agree, it can't hurt. Also agree with BrentH on other point. With reward flights counting I would have thought it would be worth a few points to get the 60SCs if you've not got the cash (and I've always found availability good - I just booked my mum on a reward flight 3 days before). It's not like you're a long way off.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

You're not going to do a Status Run for those extra SC's?

With Freddie Mercury riding shotgun, eckorock has all the status ever needed!

 

[eckorock]

It can't hurt I guess.

(No idea if they expire early if your status expires though, but the website says it's a "12 month" membership.)

You're not going to do a Status Run for those extra SC's?

Return MEL-OOL or similar in Flexi, (or 2x in discount economy with a partner if you have Family Pooling set up,) would get you the 60 SC's you need.

I know it *sounds* crazy , but here's the thing...

1) I worked it out that it will cost me around $280 + 18k points to get the 60 SC,
2) My company switched from Virgin to Qantas so all my flights are on Qantas now anyway
3) I will probably go on an overseas holiday this year and use my VA points (I have around 160K total), which means I will only fly with Virgin once or twice more this year

hence, is it really *worth* using up $ and my existing points just to retain Gold?

I agree that Gold status is awesome , but the only thing that it really adds to my experience was regular Lounge access. (Silver I get a few free entries anyway right) Priority Boarding for me , I can take it or leave it.
I never used International Lounge (or Partner Lounge access) so I suppose that would be the thing that I would miss out on?
I'm just not really clear on WHY it would be worth using up that money to retain access

 

[lobo76]

I know it *sounds* crazy , but here's the thing...

1) I worked it out that it will cost me around $280 + 18k points to get the 60 SC,
2) My company switched from Virgin to Qantas so all my flights are on Qantas now anyway
3) I will probably go on an overseas holiday this year and use my VA points (I have around 160K total), which means I will only fly with Virgin once or twice more this year

hence, is it really *worth* using up $ and my existing points just to retain Gold?

I agree that Gold status is awesome , but the only thing that it really adds to my experience was regular Lounge access. (Silver I get a few free entries anyway right) Priority Boarding for me , I can take it or leave it.
I never used International Lounge (or Partner Lounge access) so I suppose that would be the thing that I would miss out on?
I'm just not really clear on WHY it would be worth using up that money to retain access

I reckon you could retain gold with a lot less $ and points than that... what's your origin city?

 

[grubbidok]

Makes sense. If you're only flying on VA infrequently due to new company policy, and don't need the lounge it may not be worthwhile. Lounge access is the key for me, makes work travel much easier and not having it was a real barrier to using VA before I got Gold. But you do need to actually fly the airline to benefit. If you're not Gold on QF spending any status run $ there (if you were looking to spend any) may be a better bet if that's the new arrangement.

Just while we're on this thread. I've not signed up for this either. Is it actually worthwhile to do so? I still don't quite get what it does. Or, at least, I can't see the benefit it provides beyond what I already do. Am I missing something?

 

[eckorock]

I reckon you could retain gold with a lot less $ and points than that... what's your origin city?

MEL

hit me up with ideas.

My uncle has an apartment in the Gold Coast but apparently he doesn't let anyone stay there!!! (ffs) otherwise I would totally be up for a flight to OOLangata

 

[eckorock]

Just while we're on this thread. I've not signed up for this either. Is it actually worthwhile to do so? I still don't quite get what it does. Or, at least, I can't see the benefit it provides beyond what I already do. Am I missing something?

Yeah . i don't see the point of it, i looked on the secure sentinel site and the same service costs $64/year to sign up for , which I guess is good value to get that for free, but still, WHAT are we really getting??
also the same thing with the rental-car "Executive" program access. I looked it up, what the heck do we even get in that program? Upgrade to a 'standard' car... what does that even mean? If you rent a Toyota Echo they upgrade you to a Corolla?

 

[grubbidok]

Yeah . i don't see the point of it, i looked on the secure sentinel site and the same service costs $64/year to sign up for , which I guess is good value to get that for free, but still, WHAT are we really getting??
also the same thing with the rental-car "Executive" program access. I looked it up, what the heck do we even get in that program? Upgrade to a 'standard' car... what does that even mean? If you rent a Toyota Echo they upgrade you to a Corolla?

I thought the same thing about the rental car, until receiving some advice on this forum. But the discount you receive from the Europcar status for international bookings saved me a fortune on two rentals we have coming up in France and Iceland later this year. Even cheaper than the rates obscure internet-only/backpacker/rent-a-bomb companies were offering.

Couldn't care less about the upgrades though. In fact, we've hired the Fiat Bambino in France and are fully expecting an uncomfortable 'give us the small car back' conversation as it's Mrs Grubbidok's dream car!

 

[DGW]

MEL

hit me up with ideas.

A MEL-xSYD-CBR reward in J will net you 80 SCs for 13.8k pts and $44. Go home direct CBR-MEL in Y for 6.9k pts and $29 for another 10 SCs.

So 90 SCs for 20.7k pts and $73, for a run that can be done in an afternoon. You can extract more value for a similar spend but I believe any SCs you pick up in excess of the 60 you need to requal on the same day will be lost anyway (won't count towards your next requal).

 

[eckorock]

A MEL-xSYD-CBR reward in J will net you 80 SCs for 13.8k pts and $44. Go home direct CBR-MEL in Y for 6.9k pts and $29 for another 10 SCs.

So 90 SCs for 20.7k pts and $73, for a run that can be done in an afternoon. You can extract more value for a similar spend but I believe any SCs you pick up in excess of the 60 you need to requal on the same day will be lost anyway (won't count towards your next requal).

that is very solid .

What about a MEL-SYD return in business class? would that make 60 and be cheaper?

 

[DGW]

What about a MEL-SYD return in business class? would that make 60 and be cheaper?

Yeah that would net you 80 SCs so would still get you there, and would cost 31.6k pts or 27.6k pts and $32.16 based on a quick check I've just done. While not quite as cost effective as the Canberra option this has the advantage of being one less sector. Having said that, what is cost effective probably depends on how you value your points (and I would probably go via CBR anyway so I could check out the new lounge for the sake of it).

 

[lobo76]

that is very solid .

What about a MEL-SYD return in business class? would that make 60 and be cheaper?

I sent you a PM with a couple of options for 60 SCs

 

[RooFlyer]

I sent away for the Secure Sentinel sign-up kit last year.

When I saw that they wanted me to write down every skerric of personal information, all my cc details etc, then simply commit it to post to be sent to them, I sat on it for a while, then forgot about it.

Just seemed bizarre that they could contemplate potential clients hanging out their life by using unsecure post.

 

[The Rok]

Sign up. It costs nothing and at the very least they will email you a copy of your Veda Credit Report which is good to see.

 

[DC3]

I recall opting in for Secure Sentinel. Just checked my Velocity benefits page and it shows that I did this in October 2011. Nothing ever heard from them.

 

[eckorock]

Sign up. It costs nothing and at the very least they will email you a copy of your Veda Credit Report which is good to see.

yeah, tbh I am not concerned about my credit report, and going on the various comments it sounds like Secure Sentinel is a bit of a waste of time / energy, especially considering that you sign up for a year, hand over all your personal information, to a company which appears quite unreliable, and then at the end of the year you have to start paying them $60/year for the privilege?

I might just sign up to the Hertz/Eurocar offer instead

 

[The Rok]

I didn't give them anything, just my contact details and my DOB. And I didn't renew after 12 months.