Velocity Double Status Credits July/August 2023

[Dahc80]

my wife and kids pool to me. Very disappointing indeed. Wonder if I can contact anyone about this.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I must have struck a cord for you to have taken the time to research all my previous posts. I'm only talking about considering status runs.

Not all, but I assumed I would find what I did given the tone of the original post. As for the second sentence, it's all very convenient that everyone apparently needs to stop and think about their actions, except for you. It's rare I do a status run as the sole reason for travelling somewhere, but for those who want to, absolutely go for it.

At the end of the day it is simply a marketing exercise to get people to move their money from their own pocket and in to the airline's revenue streams. It is exactly the same goal used by airlines that have premium cabin products, which as we know have a carbon footprint that is multiples higher than flying in economy, if you use that as a base line.

Even if it was literally 5mins after buying the tickets.?

VA's systems aren't typically that smart. I think you'll be just fine.

 

[Danger]

Mel-world proffered a perfectly polite, grounded position and opened it to people's thoughts. What the member got was aggressive posts in reply. Mel-world specifically questioned status runs which, as anyone with any clue about them knows, are by their very definition unnecessary for anything but status. By contrast, the member appears to fly regularly for work. I see no level of "hypocrisy" between the member's post and their flight history referred to here.

Now that the this DSC booking period has ended, I want to question the continued practice of airlines offering the benefit and of frequent flyers constructing complex multi-city itineraries to get the requires Status Credits qualify for the highest levels of benefits offered.

I have travelled all my career for work – twice a month, long haul overseas for years – and will continue to enjoy flying away on holidays as often as I can afford it but, flying on 6 or more segment itineraries on multiple airlines just to qualify for several top-level FF cards has serious implications for the planet.

I do not want to get political but airline emissions do have a significant impact on carbon in the atmosphere. I want to be able to continue to visit the Australian bush, the Californian redwood forests, or the Islands of Greece without being impacted by fires. I still want to see the snow in the Alps or visit the glaciers in Alaska without them melting away. Even Beijing and Italy have been badly affected by flooding this year. Not to mention the heatwaves throughout most of the northern hemisphere.

Some will maintain this is just the normal cycle of the climate but, maybe we should be prepared to just maintain one FF membership rather than taking Status Runs just to keep multiple airline and hotel memberships active.

What do you think?

I think you raise a valid point and I do consider it with my travels, offsetting my carbon emissions when I can.

I suppose it's fair to say that the flights will always be running whether status credit runners are on board or not though? ...

That line of argument is very hollow, in my view. It's akin to saying if I don't steal the bike left unlocked outside the gym, someone else will. I don't recycle but it doesn't matter; someone else does.

You do realise of course without the DSC people have to fly more to get the same points. And the status run usually meant the person fly less and pay less to get the same points.

or if the intent is to question or shame the people who do certain things which appears for no other purpose other than to maintain status, then perhaps you should also consider these same people had done some calculation that makes it worthwhile to maintain their tier or gain a higher one, probably for a higher point per miles bonus etc, hence it might be more polite to assume there is some tangible reason to do those status run.

More carbon is probably burnt for social media dribble or so called “connecting” with other people so maybe try worrying about that instead

i suspect more fuel also are burnt by people going for a drive in the country for no other reason other than because they can and they like to travel.

Personally, I think your position is somewhat naïve about status runs. I think a lot of people would forego status, rather than do more flights as you've suggested, if DSCs weren't around. I also don't believe your insinuation that there was something impolite (or less polite) about mel-world's post has any basis.

 

[mel-world]

Mel-world proffered a perfectly polite, grounded position and opened it to people's thoughts. What the member got was aggressive posts in reply. Mel-world specifically questioned status runs which, as anyone with any clue about them knows, are by their very definition unnecessary for anything but status. By contrast, the member appears to fly regularly for work. I see no level of "hypocrisy" between the member's post and their flight history referred to here.

Thanks Danger for coming to my defense. I was not going to reply as I had thought I had made my position clear and did not what to get into a s**t fight over, what I thought was a reasonable point to make.

In my defense, I am now retired so most of my flying was done when climate change was not such an issue - I have maintained status by flying the minimum needed with one airline and will soon lose the privileges anyway. In my original post I never argued that legitimate flying for business or for holidays was something that needed to be curtailed at this time - I sought to argue that airlines and flyers should consider status runs that serve no other purpose than to improve status - often across multiple programs.

I also have a problem with airlines that fly small jets on busy routes, often 15 mins apart, rather than larger planes with less frequency but that brings up the issue of aircraft utilisation, increased turnaround times and business people who demand a flight whenever they are ready. These decisions will have to me made eventually, if you believe all the evidence.

 

[Mondo]

I think it might have been asked before, but can't see. If a booking made under DSC eligibility needs to have the dates changed, provided it is still prior to 31/12, and same PNR, does it still qualify?

 

[MooTime]

I think it might have been asked before, but can't see. If a booking made under DSC eligibility needs to have the dates changed, provided it is still prior to 31/12, and same PNR, does it still qualify?

Has been answered not far upthread.

Yes still qualifies under these circumstances.

 

[Mondo]

Has been answered not far upthread.

Yes still qualifies under these circumstances.

Thanks for the quick response

 

[marks]

@mel-world I have been following this conversation around status runs. I've (pre covid) been a participant of these. I too question the stainability of this practice.
Mostly for status reasons. I would regularly fly from PER to SYD via Mel/Adl (or once BNE) to ensure the gold lounge access.
While I don't have access to the article on the Australian, Plaza Premium is looking at $39 domestic lounges. I think I saw one of the other points chasing forum mention it.
I think this would be a serious contender to solve FF status credit chases. I'd be interested in the details when it launches. Also how this effects QF & VA loyalty in the future.
Will it improve the lounge quality and refresh times as they have been in varying states of disrepair recently?

Cheers.

 

[Danger]

@mel-world I have been following this conversation around status runs. I've (pre covid) been a participant of these. I too question the stainability of this practice.
Mostly for status reasons. I would regularly fly from PER to SYD via Mel/Adl (or once BNE) to ensure the gold lounge access.
While I don't have access to the article on the Australian, Plaza Premium is looking at $39 domestic lounges. I think I saw one of the other points chasing forum mention it.
I think this would be a serious contender to solve FF status credit chases. I'd be interested in the details when it launches. Also how this effects QF & VA loyalty in the future.
Will it improve the lounge quality and refresh times as they have been in varying states of disrepair recently?

Cheers.

Status means a lot more than lounge access. I think the addition of Plaza Premium domestic lounges will have a very negligible impact on people undertaking status runs.

 

[Ade]

Even if it was literally 5mins after buying the tickets.?

I guess so....

My reply is very late and may not help you this time. However, as a general rule, if the booking is made and a change is needed within 24 hours, some airlines will be happy to make a change for free (and re-issue/change/cancel the ticket as needed) without charging a change fee.

VA, in particular, you can cancel the ticket, take a credit to the travel bank, (goes without saying, register for DSC ) and then make a new booking using the money in the travel bank. If the change/cancel is within 24 hours, you can request VA customer service to waive the change fee.

 

[Growing Older]

Just a data point for those that have booked flights under the latest DSC campaign:

I've just finished a little soiree around the golden triangle (SYD-MEL-BNE-SYD), all booked under the DSC promotion. Very pleased to report that both SC and DSC landed in my Velocity account the same calendar day, a few hours after each flight. Keep up the good work VA - I've a few more flights in September, including one on the very last day of my rolling 12 month target to hit WP. Wish me luck!

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

I downgraded a J flight to economy to return 5 hours earlier from ADL. Flex Y SCs and DSC into account today (5 days or so later).

 

[henrus]

Clearly the delays on posting are back because it’s been a day since the flight and nothings appeared (not even the flight) despite earlier reports of posting within hours.

 

[BrettV]

Just a data point for those that have booked flights under the latest DSC campaign:

I've just finished a little soiree around the golden triangle (SYD-MEL-BNE-SYD), all booked under the DSC promotion. Very pleased to report that both SC and DSC landed in my Velocity account the same calendar day, a few hours after each flight. Keep up the good work VA - I've a few more flights in September, including one on the very last day of my rolling 12 month target to hit WP. Wish me luck!

Additional data point - all points/SCs (including DSCs) posted same day