VA Platinum vs Gold - worth it?

[justcallmeryan]

Hi all, I am in a funny situation with 955 SC's on my account and no travel booked until March which is a SYD - LAX return on VA.

I am contemplating doing a status run in December/Jan to pick up the extra SC's I need to make platinum. My conundrum is that my flight to LA in March will take me well over the SC requirement and am not sure it's worth spending the extra $$$'s at the moment.

Does anyone have any experience traveling VA long haul as a Platinum that is any different than Gold? Or alternatively, can anyone give me a good reason why being VA platinum is much better than Gold to warrant the extra $$$ needed to have it right now?

Thanks.

 

[EuroFlyer]

Will be turning Platinum in 2 weeks and curious myself to the actual benefits outside the 4 free upgrades from felxi to business each year and the extra guests in lounge, all welcome additions but not a game breaker in my opinion compared to gold.

 

[jneufeld]

SYD-LAX Return Points Bonus:
Gold: 11,243
Platinum: 14,990
So an extra 3,747 bonus points on that particular trip

 

[markis10]

SYD-LAX Return Points Bonus:
Gold: 11,243
Platinum: 14,990
So an extra 3,747 bonus points on that particular trip

True, but also a change in assesment date ticking over which could be good or bad for requal.

 

[greenfish]

If your travelling is likely to reduce, it effectively buys you an extra year of status as you soft land from Platinum to Gold.

If you'll continue to qualify for Gold, not a huge advantage of pushing through to Platinum at the moment.

 

[markis10]

If your travelling is likely to reduce, it effectively buys you an extra year of status as you soft land from Platinum to Gold.

If you'll continue to qualify for Gold, not a huge advantage of pushing through to Platinum at the moment.

I am reading that the OP will hit Plat regardless, just wanting to know what benefit it will be for the trip to the states.

 

[justcallmeryan]

I am reading that the OP will hit Plat regardless, just wanting to know what benefit it will be for the trip to the states.

Correct! Assume it puts me higher in the pecking order for an upgrade, but am planning to use points to move from PE to J anyway. Any other benefits anyone can see?

 

[bullerdude]

Correct! Assume it puts me higher in the pecking order for an upgrade, but am planning to use points to move from PE to J anyway. Any other benefits anyone can see?

If you upgrade to J, I think plat may give you a better chance of getting the coveted 'Row-5' Seats (assuming you are flying virgin). This row is between two bulkheads and apparently make for a very pleasant flight.

Oh wait, yes there is one more big benefit... and I got caught out by this recently when travelling to the UK.

Basically, you will earn 240 status credits from your Y+ ticket to LAX. If you are gold, the status credits will count towards you making platinum but not towards your renewal for the next year as they were effectively earn before coming platinum.

If you are platinum when you fly, then all 240 status credits will count towards the required 800 to keep platinum for a second year.

Personally I would do the status run and make the 240 count towards plat renewal.

 

[Jama]

Don't spend money trying to reach Platinum for the sake of reaching Platinum. You will get the bonus upgrades (domestic only) and your points bonus is bigger but the travel experience is no different to Gold. You will be treated exactly the same and won't get any more op up's etc by being Platinum. I am basing this on my experience as Gold for 2 years and Platinum for 1 year. Unless you do the travel anyone it will just cost you a lot of money chasing status levels.

 

[markis10]

am basing this on my experience as Gold for 2 years and Platinum for 1 year. Unless you do the travel anyone it will just cost you a lot of money chasing status levels.

Considering Plat is just over a year old, I am not sure your experience is pertinent, you have been top teir all along.

 

[Jama]

Considering Plat is just over a year old, I am not sure your experience is pertinent, you have been top teir all along.

Good point. But in truth, the actual travel experience was the same when I was Silver. The only difference is the side benefits, the in person experience has been the same, except for the first couple of months after Platinum was launched when you were given a personal welcome. But, that was short lived. Don't get acknowledged at all now.

 

[Jousams]

Maybe when SYD & CBR new lounges open it will be worthwhile If they have a J/plat section


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[TtiGeR]

I was upgraded to Platinum (automatically) with a 980SC a few days ago. Can't guarantee this would happen to you as well but I've heard that 990SC always gets you upgraded.

 

[Sunburnt]

I was upgraded to Platinum (automatically) with a 980SC a few days ago. Can't guarantee this would happen to you as well but I've heard that 990SC always gets you upgraded.

+1
upgraded to Plat with a 990 SC balance - that was going from zilch in Dec 2011 to Gold in Feb 2012 and then Plat in May 2012

 

[Travel Guru]

Being that close I'd go for it, I've just hit VA Platinum a couple of weeks back and although not alot of difference in hard benefits (aside from upgrade credits), I've found compared to being Gold (which I've had for about 18 months) the staff have stepped things up ever so slightly.

Given that as soon as you hit 1000 it will tick over and you'll start your next qualification period (as opposed to QF where you just keep accruing and your date doesn't change) there's not much downside.

It's a personal call, I didn't shoot for it, I just happened to do enough to hit it, but I'm certainly not about to give it up anytime soon now I've got it.

I think as was said it's only a year old and it will only continue to improve in hard and soft benefits.

TG

 

[moa999]

I think its also how many miles/ $s you are spending and what this means for next years points earn vav the 100%/75% bonuses.

 

[Moopere]

Aside from the 4 comped upgrade sectors per year I can't really see the point ... in fact, I struggle a bit with seeing a lot of benefit to holding status with any non alliance carriers. I'll probably hit VA gold next year, but aside from a few more points for flying theres really nothing of interest in it .. all my domestic is J and international leisure in Y might get me a free entry to a lounge, but thats about it.

 

[markis10]

. I'll probably hit VA gold next year, but aside from a few more points for flying theres really nothing of interest in it .. all my domestic is J and international leisure in Y might get me a free entry to a lounge, but thats about it.

It might solve your little HH status issue, which obviously is of value to you!

I think I'll seriously look at a similar plan. I should sneak in as HH Gold at check-out DEC 31st this year, will be points, not nights. Next year would probably be nights not points given forward bookings and projected movements and was looking at the potential for HH Diamond ... but its not much of a leg up on Gold and SPG Platinum seems to be easier to achieve and offer better benefits as well.

Only problem with this plan is that I'm not all that keen on the 4-points or westin properties in Australia. I'll probably have to find a way to finagle HH gold for local trips. I'm likely to hit DJ gold for the first time next year, so maybe that will keep me in HH gold for 2014 and after that ... who knows? So many ongoing changes in the programs.

 

[Moopere]

It might solve your little HH status issue, which obviously is of value to you!

Ha! Thats true. The whole FF/Loyalty game is so interwoven.

 

[ataline]

I was upgraded to Platinum (automatically) with a 980SC a few days ago. Can't guarantee this would happen to you as well but I've heard that 990SC always gets you upgraded.

Any further updates on this - are they still awarding plat with 990 SCs?