Triple status credits on Virgin Australia

[PERLHR]

Hurrah. Glad I looked at AFF this week to see the triple SCs. Had 3 airfares to book Perth- Darwin return. Made me get on and do it. Firstly of course getting into Velocity and pressing the button to qualify.
Hate the direct flight Per/Dwn return with only cattle class seats, but in July on Wednesdays you can go via Adelaide in Biz grateful for small mercies. 180SC's x3 sorts out me and him indoors to keep gold for another year plus some.
Couldn't maintain platinum when Virgin started this economy class only rubbish.
Also very inconvenient for cancellation as you loose money too, and no Biz lounge in Darwin. (the Adelaide one is very nice).

Yeah as usual not much from Perth making it totally viable. Ironically airfares also high (not that one should be surprised). So many routes only Y class ex PER unless going longer distances.

 

[Nimo]

That’s good if they do but I thought they had closed that loophole. I don’t fly that route because of it

It'd good I know specially in 3* status promotion - I booked just coz of that other wise I hv booked direct flight

 

[Ade]

After much consideration (and special thanks to the inputs from @serfty, @muppet ), I'm thinking I won't be participating in the triple SC offer from VA.

Below is my reasoning;

1. As mentioned earlier above thread, I have VA SG until MAR25
2. I used to fly VA a lot in 2023 (work trips & DSC) and became WP, but recently I don't find myself flying VA a lot
3. SG gives me everything I needed so far. I redeem VA points for international flights on SQ, EY this year and SG is sort of sufficient to do this.
4. WP does not offer any significant over SG when it comes to redemptions (domestic or international) - no such thing like WP gets first dibs on SQ reward J seat over SG (I think, happy to be corrected please)
5. I'm single and travel solo, so no necessity to have the ability to bring in additional folks into the lounge. The current SG allowance of 2ADT is always under-utilised in my case.
6. Even if I qualify for WP, the status is only valid for 365 days from date of qualification, which means, I will be soft landing to SG come (worst case) JUL2025 (assuming of course I don't fly VA enough in 2024-25 to retain WP) and as of now, I do not see any travel plans that will be on VA for the foreseeable future
7. I also think VA will do another DSC promo in 2025, which I can use, should I need to requal to SG or qual for WP (depending on travel plans)

What do you folks think about my assessment? Have I missed anything obvious? Thanks in advance.

 

[Nimo]

After much consideration (and special thanks to the inputs from @serfty, @muppet ), I'm thinking I won't be participating in the triple SC offer from VA.

Below is my reasoning;

1. As mentioned earlier above thread, I have VA SG until MAR25
2. I used to fly VA a lot in 2023 (work trips & DSC) and became WP, but recently I don't find myself flying VA a lot
3. SG gives me everything I needed so far. I redeem VA points for international flights on SQ, EY this year and SG is sort of sufficient to do this.
4. WP does not offer any significant over SG when it comes to redemptions (domestic or international) - no such thing like WP gets first dibs on SQ reward J seat over SG (I think, happy to be corrected please)
5. I'm single and travel solo, so no necessity to have the ability to bring in additional folks into the lounge. The current SG allowance of 2ADT is always under-utilised in my case.
6. Even if I qualify for WP, the status is only valid for 365 days from date of qualification, which means, I will be soft landing to SG come (worst case) JUL2025 (assuming of course I don't fly VA enough in 2024-25 to retain WP) and as of now, I do not see any travel plans that will be on VA for the foreseeable future
7. I also think VA will do another DSC promo in 2025, which I can use, should I need to requal to SG or qual for WP (depending on travel plans)

What do you folks think about my assessment? Have I missed anything obvious? Thanks in advance.

Can I ask wht is WP?

 

[AIRwin]

Can I ask wht is WP?

WP = Platinum
SG = Gold

 

[Horatio]

I have booked ADL-SYD-CBR in J in mid-July for $539. That will be 240SC @ $2.25/SC if I get Flex Y for the Syd-CBR leg. Or 330SC @ $1.63/SC if I get J SCs the whole way.

Like @Nimo a few posts back, my booking page showed 110 SCs (and a D Fare Class) for that journey - so perhaps the glitch hasn't been fixed? It's not critical for me, as I will retain WP with this flight in any case. But I think it'sonly fair that you get the status credits the system says you will.

 

[Nimo]

WP = Platinum
SG = Gold

Thanks I wasn't sure abt these acronyms

 

[Ade]

Thanks I wasn't sure abt these acronyms

This page might help.

Abbreviations and explanations

The complete list can be found in Forum Help located at the bottom of every page, or by clicking HERE. Please Post your AFF Acronyms and Abbreviations here. Also any advice about mistakes/ inclusions/ exclusions appreciated. Please get in touch with @support for any changes. Hi All, I...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[SYD]

This has been doing my head in…. I’d probably would have let a DSC offer just pass but 3x is compelling.

I fall flat to sub-Silver at the end of June. Which is no big deal as I don’t fly VA domestically anymore. But I still have a decent stash of points to burn - so a SG card in the virtual wallet could be handy. I also want to do a VV SM…(which will have some tangible benefits for an upcoming cruise and any VVs thereafter).

Realistically, I’d be unlikely to get back to WP (won’t have enough sectors), but when I started looking for option in July I could see combos that were 4x sectors and 810 SCs! But a waste of $ and SCs if just attaining Gold (although, I guess I could do 2x return trips later to trigger WP…). Anyway, looking at options to reduce $ and just enough SCs, I then ended up being short a sector… Even a multi-city 2x J and 2x Y sectors it looks like I could end up + or - 1 or 2 SCs short or over depending on how much I spend at Coles…. That last option is still ~$1k - which I’m struggling to justify - other than a few days in OOL during winter could be nice anyway.

Meanwhile, all the best combos are being gobbled up. If VA were looking to bolster the EOFY revenue, they appear to be succeeding!

 

[Mattg]

I have booked ADL-SYD-CBR in J in mid-July for $539. That will be 240SC @ $2.25/SC if I get Flex Y for the Syd-CBR leg. Or 330SC @ $1.63/SC if I get J SCs the whole way.

Like @Nimo a few posts back, my booking page showed 110 SCs (and a D Fare Class) for that journey - so perhaps the glitch hasn't been fixed? It's not critical for me, as I will retain WP with this flight in any case. But I think it'sonly fair that you get the status credits the system says you will.

I suggest you take screenshots of the VA website that shows you’ll earn 110 SCs (if you haven’t already).

For those unfamiliar with this particular quirk, this article provides some background:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/velocity-fixing-status-credit-error/

 

[elanshin]

This has been doing my head in…. I’d probably would have let a DSC offer just pass but 3x is compelling.

I fall flat to sub-Silver at the end of June. Which is no big deal as I don’t fly VA domestically anymore. But I still have a decent stash of points to burn - so a SG card in the virtual wallet could be handy. I also want to do a VV SM…(which will have some tangible benefits for an upcoming cruise and any VVs thereafter).

Realistically, I’d be unlikely to get back to WP (won’t have enough sectors), but when I started looking for option in July I could see combos that were 4x sectors and 810 SCs! But a waste of $ and SCs if just attaining Gold (although, I guess I could do 2x return trips later to trigger WP…). Anyway, looking at options to reduce $ and just enough SCs, I then ended up being short a sector… Even a multi-city 2x J and 2x Y sectors it looks like I could end up + or - 1 or 2 SCs short or over depending on how much I spend at Coles…. That last option is still ~$1k - which I’m struggling to justify - other than a few days in OOL during winter could be nice anyway.

Meanwhile, all the best combos are being gobbled up. If VA were looking to bolster the EOFY revenue, they appear to be succeeding!

if you fall below silver prehaps with a bit of waiting you could status match QF into plat again? I can't imagine they'd stop trying to chase QF elites anytime soon.

 

[Nimo]

I suggest you take screenshots of the VA website that shows you’ll earn 110 SCs (if you haven’t already).

For those unfamiliar with this particular quirk, this article provides some background:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/velocity-fixing-status-credit-error/

Thanks I have taken screenshot & looks like we won't get 110SC as I called Velocity and they didn't know wht m talking all I got that I will get 80SC - 55 ADL - SYD & SYD - CAN 25 which is quite frustrating as I booked this coz I was getting enough SC credits to retain Platinum

 

[SYD]

if you fall below silver prehaps with a bit of waiting you could status match QF into plat again? I can't imagine they'd stop trying to chase QF elites anytime soon.

They just knocked me back on the recent SM (which was a 4 yr waiting period). The Pilot Gold is still 2 yrs waiting period. So, yes dropping to nothin ASAP makes some sense also…

 

[Horatio]

I suggest you take screenshots of the VA website that shows you’ll earn 110 SCs (if you haven’t already).

For those unfamiliar with this particular quirk, this article provides some background:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/velocity-fixing-status-credit-error/

Thanks @Mattg. After booking I read some of the relevant posts and your very helpful article, and realised I should get some evidence if I want/need to chase this up. I may not as I'll retain WP (so possibly not worth the hassle).

I have saved a screen shot that shows the same flights (albeit with a different price) and 110 SCs for the ADL-SYD-CBR trip.

Cheers,
Horatio

 

[Happy Dude]

here it says 110 status credit even though SYD-CBR is in Y View attachment 387006

Yes keep that screenshot as you may need it if it credits as Y SCs. A few of us went through that last Feb/Mar. It took a me a couple of calls but they eventually coughed up J SCs.

 

[Nimo]

Yes keep that screenshot as you may need it if it credits as Y SCs. A few of us went through that last Feb/Mar. It took a me a couple of calls but they eventually coughed up J SCs.

Thanks mate - I have kept screenshot for that

 

[xen0n33]

I'd told myself that I was going to resist this year, but the CBR-MEL-ADL <$440 pricing broke my resolve.
Initially I was going to just do one direction to re-qualify for gold, but after finding I didn't have any current SCs expiring until August, booked the return to reach platinum. Depending how I'm traveling next year, that will at least give me Gold in the following year with no need for any extra effort (or expense!).

tl;dr 330 SCs for $438 is pretty much irresistable.

 

[AIRwin]

Depending how I'm traveling next year, that will at least give me Gold in the following year with no need for any extra effort (or expense!).

Your review date will reset when you reach Platinum... When is your Gold valid until originally?

 

[SYD]

This has been doing my head in…. I’d probably would have let a DSC offer just pass but 3x is compelling.

I fall flat to sub-Silver at the end of June. Which is no big deal as I don’t fly VA domestically anymore. But I still have a decent stash of points to burn - so a SG card in the virtual wallet could be handy. I also want to do a VV SM…(which will have some tangible benefits for an upcoming cruise and any VVs thereafter).

Realistically, I’d be unlikely to get back to WP (won’t have enough sectors), but when I started looking for option in July I could see combos that were 4x sectors and 810 SCs! But a waste of $ and SCs if just attaining Gold (although, I guess I could do 2x return trips later to trigger WP…). Anyway, looking at options to reduce $ and just enough SCs, I then ended up being short a sector… Even a multi-city 2x J and 2x Y sectors it looks like I could end up + or - 1 or 2 SCs short or over depending on how much I spend at Coles…. That last option is still ~$1k - which I’m struggling to justify - other than a few days in OOL during winter could be nice anyway.

Meanwhile, all the best combos are being gobbled up. If VA were looking to bolster the EOFY revenue, they appear to be succeeding!

Finally bit the bullet and booked something for about $1k via the VA Biz portal on the last day… $1k for a mix of J and Choice across 4 sectors that will comfortably regain SG and maybe open the door to WP before the end of July next year.

If I can get a VV SM (for life) there’s potentially ~$500+ value on two upcoming cruises (and any subsequent cruise).

 

[xen0n33]

Your review date will reset when you reach Platinum... When is your Gold valid until originally?

February next year. So true, if I hit Plat in this July/August, 12 months of that, worst case drop back to Gold next July/Aug. So call it 18 months when compared to my current end of Gold, after pushing it out to the following Jul/Aug rather than Feb.