Virgin Australia Platinum Plus Status Discussion

[serfty]

People are getting there $65 upgrade bid MEL-SYD approved the day before travel… whereas QF won’t do it until last minute.

The terms indicate upgrades can be granted from twenty-five to three hours before a flight.

Generally this happens overnight, not so much the day before. Hence "hours".

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The terms indicate upgrades can be granted from twenty-five to three hours before a flight.

Generally this happens overnight, not so much the day before. Hence "hours".

Even overnight is poor It doesn’t take into account any potential IRROPS developing during the day.

We’ve seen plenty of reports in the ‘successful VA upgrade’ thread of folk getting their bids cleared the day before travel too.

It doesn’t need to happen… and leaves full fare pax at a huge disadvantage

 

[MooTime]

Even overnight is poor It doesn’t take into account any potential IRROPS developing during the day.

We’ve seen plenty of reports in the ‘successful VA upgrade’ thread of folk getting their bids cleared the day before travel too.

It doesn’t need to happen… and leaves full fare pax at a huge disadvantage

Well full paying pax do have what 329days prior to book those seats.
The world can't stop cos some full paying pax may want a J seat with 24hrs of departure.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well full paying pax do have what 329days prior to book those seats.
The world can't stop cos some full paying pax may want a J seat with 24hrs of departure.

It’s IRROPS.

VA cancels a flight and there aren’t available seats to accommodate full fare J pax on alternatives.

In my case they cancelled my Sydney flight due to crew shortage. The next available was four hours later, or the 13th departure after mine.

12 intermediate flights and not a single seat. This wasn’t a busy or peak period.

if they processed $65 upgrades say 5 minutes before boarding, this wouldn’t be such an issue. The other issue being that if someone has checked in for a flight but fails to show, VA has no way to get you get you on once boarding has started.

(edited to fix spelling)

 

[fletty]

It's simple, VA (or Bain) will prefer whatever ends up with more revenue rather than what benefits pax. They can't consistently offer a 20c water bottle to Platinum Plus pax so what hope would there be in keeping J seats free

 

[ozstamps]

And then they wonder why a lot of top end fliers decamp to Qantas.

Virgin are the Junior player in the market here - as in all such realities in business, THEY must try harder, and offer BETTER benefits, to secure that juicy market, and clearly have failed miserably here.

From reports above it seems clear they cannot even code that alleged Top Elite status, to the bookings of VERY few partner airlines systems. FAIL.

All Loyalty plans are ASPIRATIONAL. Dangle a juicy carrot to all to desire to hit and RETAIN top level. Do I go out of my way to stay Diamond Tier at Hilton - of course I do.

In my experience in Hiltons outside of the USA, they treat Diamonds like minor Royalty most times. At Virgin a 20c bottle of water is too much trouble for top Elites it seems. They could learn a lesson from Hilton.

 

[aus_flyer]

Yesterday was the membership year expiry for all the inaugural Platinum Plus members. I wonder how many will drop off. I didn't hit the 2000 status credit requirement.

 

[PERLHR]

Maybe I am the only one who thinks it's also a bit confusing to get to Plat plus...and sometimes feel oh that getting closer only to see a whole wack of credits being taken away as the 12 monthly period operates differently from that which is hard enough to comprehend as normal member. The whole structure is just odd, confusing (at least to my simple mind) and I just plod along seeing where it takes me ..... I think recognition of platinum in the first instance could.bs better within VA never mind QR recognising VA ...which it seems from above posts they don't even see it.

 

[simmomelb]

To think VA doesn't even provide lounges on VA metal short haul international with Platinum+, via a third party, is "beyond" a joke. I truly believe VA needs fully embrace this tier or ditch it, because the way it is now is pathetic and embarrassing, to say the least. Were they smoking some crack when they thought people would be enticed by.... Practically nothing extra and 75% flown by you? I consistently hit platinum, but after that, hey Qantas, let's book some flights. There really is zero incentive after hitting regular platinum.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And then they wonder why a lot of top end fliers decamp to Qantas.

Virgin are the Junior player in the market here - as in all such realities in business, THEY must try harder, and offer BETTER benefits, to secure that juicy market, and clearly have failed miserably here.

From reports above it seems clear they cannot even code that alleged Top Elite status, to the bookings of VERY few partner airlines systems. FAIL.

All Loyalty plans are ASPIRATIONAL. Dangle a juicy carrot to all to desire to hit and RETAIN top level. Do I go out of my way to stay Diamond Tier at Hilton - of course I do.

In my experience in Hiltons outside of the USA, they treat Diamonds like minor Royalty most times. At Virgin a 20c bottle of water is too much trouble for top Elites it seems. They could learn a lesson from Hilton.

They don’t have to worry about out loyalty.

They are price driven, for price conscious flyers.

When they offer $349 business class seats as their standard price between MEL and SYD, FF status is a nice to have, but you’re not gonna give up that business class seat to sit in economy on another airline, and pay more for that economy seat than VA’s business.

 

[PERLHR]

They don’t have to worry about out loyalty.

They are price driven, for price conscious flyers.

When they offer $349 business class seats as their standard price between MEL and SYD, FF status is a nice to have, but you’re not gonna give up that business class seat to sit in economy on another airline, and pay more for that economy seat than VA’s business.

Yes I agree if you can get that fare it's fine compared to no doubt what QF normally charge. Ofcourse it means nothing nowadays in terms of getting status points as that price as it gets what around 39 Status credits compared to the old system?.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes I agree if you can get that fare it's fine compared to no doubt what QF normally charge. Ofcourse it means nothing nowadays in terms of getting status points as that price as it gets what around 39 Status credits compared to the old system?.

The old system was 55SCs for a business fare MEL-SYD each way. And then getting to ridiculous earning levels during double SC promos.

 

[Luke B]

The old system was 55SCs for a business fare MEL-SYD each way. And then getting to ridiculous earning levels during double SC promos.

80sc from MEL-BNE , 320sc for return during a DSC promo for $600

 

[ozstamps]

Memmmmmmories ...........

All ancient history now.