Velocity Silver... worth the effort...?

[Stuser]

Hi all

Haven't posted for a while as I have done a lot less flying in recent years than I used to.... But here we start again...

Question around the value of Velocity frequent flyer status....

I am currently Velocity Nothing (Red).... As of this afternoon, I have 265 status credits BUT zero eligible sectors flown.... I am due to lose 40 credits on the 22nd January, and then another 40 on the 29th....

I am planning to fly to the Middle East with with either Etihad or Qatar in February.

Now, my question(s):

1. Is it worth it for me to find a flight purely for the status credit run (to tick the eligible sectors box) to achieve Silver? The main problem here is that I am in Canberra, and so there are never any bloody cheap flights... it's gonna cost me a bit more than $300.

Assuming I do this, I'll get Silver status before my February flights.

2. Related, but different question: Etihad is priced $200 higher than Qatar for the flight I want in February.
Last time I flew Qatar (on an excellent special) I got ZERO points and ZERO status credits towards my QF. This was a bit disappointing.... On a recent Etihad trip to Frankfurt, I got 160 status credits towards Velocity (and ridiculously few points).

Assuming I'll have Velocity Silver, is it worth it to pay the extra $200 to fly Etihad and get the status credits (130 I think), and maybe (maybe!) at some point in the year reach Gold, or should I save the dollars and not worry about status?

Thanks!

Stu

PS please let me know if I should have posted this in another area.....

 

[Bell21]

My initial thought is that velocity silver is nothing special, although if you can structure your travel to potentially get gold status at some stage, that would be more worthwhile and I'd consider spending $200 extra to help achieve that

 

[CPMaverick]

Considering getting silver is going to cost you $300, and choosing EY over Qatar is a $200 premium, no it doesn't make sense to me. Fly Qatar, and spend the $500 on something else.

Now, if you can plan to achieve Gold somehow through the above, then it *might* be worth it. Depending on how much you fly. Gold is a big step up from Silver.

 

[Stuser]

Considering getting silver is going to cost you $300, and choosing EY over Qatar is a $200 premium, no it doesn't make sense to me. Fly Qatar, and spend the $500 on something else.

Now, if you can plan to achieve Gold somehow through the above, then it *might* be worth it. Depending on how much you fly. Gold is a big step up from Silver.

Yes it is indeed. I was gold for a few years, and now I'm traveling again, I sure miss it....

I think I'll likely do three return trips to Lebanon in the coming year, so that's 390 status credits with Etihad... Given the timing of my existing SCs, I should get to gold within the year.....

I guess maybe I should be patient and not worry so much about the status run.... the small benefits of Silver aren't that exciting....

 

[CPMaverick]

Indeed, if you will achieve Gold organically anyway, then fly EY but use that $300 to buy a better seat or something...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Seeing that you don't make it to VFF SG, the 2 lounge visits on dom flights are a nice touch, but that's about it.
$300 to buy the Lounge annual access, but these can be bought adhoc for $65 per entry anyway.
VFF PS also does not give free preferential seating in premY (for example lets just say what ifs) on Etihad so no point, really.
No lounge access on int flights.
If you are working towards VFF SG in a year, then different kettle of fish.

 

[straitman]

It all depends upon what your needs are. We have pretty much lost VA status with my wife as Silver and me red however that silver has helped with a baggage allowance issue for an upcoming trip.

 

[Stuser]

If you are working towards VFF SG in a year, then different kettle of fish.

Let's say that I am "working" towards VFF SG.

Does this make the (actually only) $150 premium of Etihad over Qatar worth it?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If working towards VFF SG and further trips, moving forward then yes, worth it, esp as VFF SG gives lounge access esp internationally, which ensues or makes it worthwhile, paying a bit, more worth it.
But see what others think.

 

[Stuser]

It turns out that it is all moot anyway..... Etihad appear to have no reasonable return flights from Beirut to Canberra, with all returning flights scheduled to arrive in Melbourne or Sydney with an overnight delay before a morning flight to Canberra!

Qatar has a much better connection. Booking direct with them and crediting to the Qatar Privilege program allows me to get status credits even with Economy Promo fares.... (which gives zero to Qantas).... 1.5 return trips at the cheapest rate gets me silver and access to the Doha lounge, and 3 gets me international lounges.

 

[Dr Ralph]

but these can be bought adhoc for $65 per entry anyway.

Closer to $40 is the going rate for Virgin passes.

 

[Anomaleum]

Hey everyone, I was thinking of doing a SC run OOL-MEL via SYD/CBR in Feb before my review date of 13 March to keep Velocity Silver status but I am now wondering if it's worth doing.... I need 95 SC before 13 March to keep Silver and was thinking, is spending $739 on 2 tickets w/family pooling worth the 120SCs to keep Silver? What are your thoughts? I don't intend to push for Gold in the next 12 months either.

 

[Warks]

I dropped back to Silver this year after nearly ten years Gold. I relented and paid $300 for Lounge membership rather than try and fly enough to hit Gold again as it would have been a false economy. Don't mind having the Lounge but I notice all the little things lost like priority check-in, priority boarding, priority baggage (ha!) and seat selection before row 11 (737). One strange thing to lose is the special entrance to the Lounge at SYD T2. I couldn't check in on the swipe panel and took it to the desk where I was told I had to go through pleb security. All in all each thing isn't that much but losing them all together is a blow. Hard to say if it's worth it trying for Gold though, let alone Silver.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Before I got back to VFF PS, was that, then dropped to VFF NR, now back to VFF PS, when I decided to splurge, its always $65 at the desk.
I don't go OzBargains to obtain VA the Lounge for $40, maybe that is where those $40 VA the Lounge buyable/purchasable passes live.
RE: \|/

Closer to $40 is the going rate for Virgin passes.