Value of Status

[WLG]

I've found status can be useful. I was scheduled to be on the 1730 PER-MEL flight one Friday evening and had already checked in online earlier in the day. I left the city at about 1630 thinking I had plenty of time, only to get caught up in the roadworks and the traffic as the heavens opened up (put it down to inexperience, I hadn't been to Perth for a year or so). I really thought I was a goner and would have to take the 2330 flight, arriving at the airport only 10 minutes before the flight was due to take off.

I ran up to the check in desk to see if I was too late even though I had already checked in (answered in the affirmative), but once they realised I was SG a call was put through to the gate to hold it open. A mad sprint through security and to the gate got me there just in time, and the flight took off as scheduled.

Thankfully there was no walk of shame as I had taken advantage of the half points upgrade promo and was in row 1

 

[MichaelD]

My flying habits make the 4 complimentary upgrades a nice little bonus. MEL-PER-MEL in J is fairly common for me, and doing them @ $700 return instead of $2000+ return is pleasing.

Having said that, until Sabre and Velocity get sorted out, Qantas is getting the vast bulk of my business at the moment.

 

[Kolo]

I love WP. Row 3 seating. WP call centre rarely has delays and they know what they are talking about. 4 free upgrades. I enrolled in Hilton diamond and get free upgrades and lounge access.

I've had no trouble with my 241 bookings. Missing points/SCs post sabre have been quickly resolved. I suspect that being less than WP would have made these harder.

And I love VA for renewing my WP even though I was short of the qualification mark.

 

[bullerdude]

I love WP. Row 3 seating. WP call centre rarely has delays and they know what they are talking about. 4 free upgrades. I enrolled in Hilton diamond and get free upgrades and lounge access.

I've had no trouble with my 241 bookings. Missing points/SCs post sabre have been quickly resolved. I suspect that being less than WP would have made these harder.

And I love VA for renewing my WP even though I was short of the qualification mark.

Agree.

Especially on the point that being a Plat seems to have resulted in any issues being dealt with very quickly.

 

[Jama]

I would kind of expect that at the rate the status pool is growing someone is going to bring up sustainability at some point and we will see further impact on certain benefits. We might end up getting 2 of the newly de-valued comp's instead of 4.

 

[VMC73]

I would kind of expect that at the rate the status pool is growing someone is going to bring up sustainability at some point and we will see further impact on certain benefits. We might end up getting 2 of the newly de-valued comp's instead of 4.

Or a staus higher than Plat, or maybe more SC's required to reach/maintain?

 

[Jama]

Or a staus higher than Plat, or maybe more SC's required to reach/maintain?

Yes, I have actually expected the SC requirement to get changed too.

 

[Bolthead]

Yes, I have actually expected the SC requirement to get changed too.

Or a staus higher than Plat, or maybe more SC's required to reach/maintain?

I would kind of expect that at the rate the status pool is growing someone is going to bring up sustainability at some point and we will see further impact on certain benefits. We might end up getting 2 of the newly de-valued comp's instead of 4.

Don't give them any clues...

 

[grubbidok]

Don't give them any clues...

After the Sabre mess I would have thought now (or even the near future) would not be the time for VA to be thinking of 'enhancements'

 

[Boris spatsky]

Flying on a Friday night now seems pointless as a WP. Standing room only in most lounges (SYD, BNE, MEL last three Fridays), row 3 not available, priority boarding with half the plane etc. Too many ppl with status IMHO (i blame family pooling!!)

 

[muppet]

Flying on a Friday night now seems pointless as a WP. Standing room only in most lounges (SYD, BNE, MEL last three Fridays), row 3 not available, priority boarding with half the plane etc. Too many ppl with status IMHO (i blame family pooling!!)

I initially thought the same thing.... family pooling is to blame.

My +1 is SG thanks to my pooling, but 99% of his flights are with me, so he'd be allowed in the lounge anyway.

I think VA is just giving out status easily because they know, as QF does, that status locks people in. They'll toughen it up once they're established I think.

 

[EuroFlyer]

Just left the Adelaide lounge and not enough room at all,with more status passengers they'll be no room at all

I initially thought the same thing.... family pooling is to blame.

My +1 is SG thanks to my pooling, but 99% of his flights are with me, so he'd be allowed in the lounge anyway.

I think VA is just giving out status easily because they know, as QF does, that status locks people in. They'll toughen it up once they're established I think.

 

[Jama]

Flying on a Friday night now seems pointless as a WP. Standing room only in most lounges (SYD, BNE, MEL last three Fridays), row 3 not available, priority boarding with half the plane etc. Too many ppl with status IMHO (i blame family pooling!!)

i agree, hence starting the thread, but i don't think pooling is all to blame. It certainly needs policing though as there is no doubt about it being abused given many comments on this forum. It is supposed to be only for your partner and dependent children living at the same address. But, This is not what happens. I guess as with all things people think of no one but themselves and aren't happy until they have ruined it for everyone. My wife and I are both WP solely from my flying and without in support from pooling. But I am sure at some point I will have some lean times and appreciate its there

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Too many ppl with status IMHO (i blame family pooling!!)

Eh! Come again?

I've read over and over on this forum, VA criticism foundered on JB just creating another QF clone.
JB has openly stated they will be:
a) creating some "exciting" points of difference; and
b) increasing their status numbers

What's the problem really..........overcrowded lounges and priority lines with more priority guests.

My maths isn't the best, but I'd say that adds up to a winner for VA.

Now they require a solution to a problem I'd wager they don't mind having. One answer is dedicated J/Plat lounges.

Don't forget JB just might have a few other twists up his sleeve yet (as soon as he gets over the Sabre mess). Are we going to "blame" new concepts for success? JB might just be happy about that!

 

[bullerdude]

Keep in mind that they VA are most likely aware that the lounges are crowded and I am sure they will address the issue over time.

In Melbourne cases, they will be expanding the size of the lounge by the end of the year.

 

[LiamPG]

I have been very lucky lately on the BNE - MEL route with a number of upgrades to J on seemingly full flights. Greatest bonus was the J catering on majority of those flights where as in the past I purely experienced the J seat only with Y catering. Very appreciative of Plat status benefits.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I have been very lucky lately on the BNE - MEL route with a number of upgrades to J on seemingly full flights. Greatest bonus was the J catering on majority of those flights where as in the past I purely experienced the J seat only with Y catering. Very appreciative of Plat status benefits.

Welcome to AFF!

 

[LiamPG]

Welcome to AFF!

Thanks swanning_it
Finally made the plunge in AFF after many months following threads

 

[Tommy57]

You really have to consider things on the time you flew;

Likely you were on a peak time flight for business travellers, hence the full lounge and the abnormally long "priority" queue.
Status is great for off-peak flying; the lounges are almost empty and the queues are minimal (even if it is a full flight of non-priority flyers)

Status, above all, are the additional benefits that are received even when flying on the lowest airfare.

 

[hummel]

You really have to consider things on the time you flew;

Likely you were on a peak time flight for business travellers, hence the full lounge and the abnormally long "priority" queue.
Status is great for off-peak flying; the lounges are almost empty and the queues are minimal (even if it is a full flight of non-priority flyers)

Status, above all, are the additional benefits that are received even when flying on the lowest airfare.

Well said. I travel mostly in non-peak times as majority is leisure travel. Often 1 of only a handful of status passengers useing priority boarding, lounges etc