Virgin Status issue

[nathanxu]

I took a Virgin flight from Perth-Adelaide but via Melbourne recently. However, it seems the status credit was not calculated based on the total distance traveled, I only received the normal status miles for Perth - Adelaide instead. Is this normally the case? If so, I don't think this is very fair since the distance traveled was a lot more than status I earned. What does everyone else think about it?

Cheers

 

[Mal]

Normal. For domestic bookings, SCs are calculated based on the distance from the departure city to the destination, regardless if it was one, two or even three flights.

Fair? Maybe, maybe not.

 

[lovestotravel]

Yes you only receive the SC and miles based on the start and end points!

So it is correct

 

[Moopere]

DJ is a bit weird in this respect.

There is a (small) flipside in this method of A-B sector calculation. If you travel PER-MEL via SYD and want to upgrade a flexi to J it will only cost you the PER-MEL points price as its calculated A-B ... this despite travelling about an extra 1000 miles and a separate connecting flight. Can be good for a quick lunch in Syd and the guarantee (almost!) of an A330 across.

 

[pat25d]

I wouldn't call it unfair, it's the same for everybody.

Just DJ's decision to base their rules like this.

 

[Fruitcake]

At least they are nice enough to credit you for the mileage required to fly between two ports without direct service. As a result, CNS-MEL (1453mi) is in Zone 2 but TSV-MEL (1566mi) is in Zone 3. TSV-MEL mileage seems to be credited as TSV-BNE-MEL (692mi + 874mi = 1566mi). Which is in fact a little generous of them, because TSV-SYD-MEL is actually 59 miles shorter!

 

[bigbadbyrnes]

Working as intended and a better system than the alternative, imho, otherwise indirect flights would possibly be even more expensive as they would have to factor in the value of the additional status credits.


You might find the calculator here useful for pre-calculating or checking SC award rates: Earning Status Credits | Velocity Frequent Flyer



Note this is different to how it works when travelling internationally where each sector, even between domestic ports en route to an international port, will generate SCs based on the distance between said ports and the ticket class being flown.

For example BNE->AUH (Brisbane to Abu Dhabi) in the lowest economy class would generate 40SCs, but if the routing worked out as BNE->SYD->AUH, the ticket would generate (10 + 40) 50SCs. Ditto when flying between ports in a country. For example, a flight ticketed from Brisbane to New York routed BNE->SYD->LAX->JFK would generate SCs for each of the three sectors.

Also note that it works differently also for complimentary flights redeemed with the VirginMoney Flyer visa credit card, where each individual sector taken domestically count as redeemed free flights.

Complex when first considered but actually very simple.

 

[esquire]

What about PER-CBR and v.v?. No direct flights, most connections via Syd, some via BNE and MEL. Prices on par with QF. Do you get SC for both sectors?

Not going to risk it so have been booking both sectors seperately for the massive cost of an extra $4 .....

 

[straitman]

What about PER-CBR and v.v?. No direct flights, most connections via Syd, some via BNE and MEL. Prices on par with QF. Do you get SC for both sectors?

Not going to risk it so have been booking both sectors seperately for the massive cost of an extra $4 .....

A good move or you would only get points and SC of the direct journey. ... even if there are no direct flights.

 

[pat25d]

A good move or you would only get points and SC of the direct journey. ... even if there are no direct flights.

Not correct, the mileage on the Virgin calculations is 147 miles more for CBR-PER compared to SYD-PER.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I wouldn't call it unfair, it's the same for everybody.

The OP is not speaking about "unfair" being an equality between DJ flyers.....rather equality between carriers. I haven't compared DJ and QF for him/her, but I'm not so one eyed as to not recognise the message (whether it be right or wrong).

Not correct, the mileage on the Virgin calculations is 147 miles more for CBR-PER compared to SYD-PER.

Please pat25d..........are we on the same planet? Yes, technically you are correct. DJ calcs are indeed 147 miles more CBR-PER than SYD-PER. Congratulations. But to what end? Both are Zone 3 and both are equal in SCs. Wasn't esquire comparing the ratio of SCs between QF and DJ and/or DJ multisector and DJ 2 sectors? Your DJ to DJ single sector comparison is a giggle and mocks your pro-DJ credibility.

 

[pat25d]

The OP is not speaking about "unfair" being an equality between DJ flyers.....rather equality between carriers. I haven't compared DJ and QF for him/her, but I'm not so one eyed as to not recognise the message (whether it be right or wrong).

We must have different definitions of fairness. I think DJ's is a lot harder on FFs to maintain/gain status, but it's their business and can do what they please, as long as they are upfront about it and don't treat different pax differently then it's still fair.

I think the fact that many QF status runs aim to take advantage of the fact that Qantas offers SCs based on all legs shows that people know that it is actually a bit of an own goal of QF even if they are aware of it and allow it to happen.

Please pat25d..........are we on the same planet? Yes, technically you are correct. DJ calcs are indeed 147 miles more CBR-PER than SYD-PER. Congratulations, but to what end? Both are Zone 3 and both are equal in SCs. Wasn't esquire comparing the ratio of SCs between QF and DJ? Your DJ to DJ comparison is a giggle and mocks your pro-DJ credibility.

It's not just technically, I am correct in every way possible.

Straitman said you only get points and SC based on the direct journey which is incorrect. I assume as DJ has no direct flights between CBR and PER that they base their points and mileage for SC off the shortest routing which would be CBR-SYD-PER.

Straitman said SC and points, so while the mileage difference doesn't make a difference in this case there is probably an example of some legs where it would make a difference (maybe Kalgoorlie to Adelaide?).

 

[Deleted member 29185]

We must have different definitions of fairness. I think DJ's is a lot harder on FFs to maintain/gain status, but it's their business and can do what they please

OK, I agree. Perhaps the OP should have stated he/she thought QF was better suited to them.

It's not just technically, I am correct in every way possible.

I humbly disagree. I thought I edited my post prior to you replying but that was not the case. I apologise, I corrected my wording, but my intention has not been altered. Esquire was, I believe, referring to comparisons about how to best maximise SC earn. Straitman replied in kind, but you ignored the logic and spieled out irrelevant oddities that failed to alter the original beef (non technical term....but that's me ).

 

[Jrvsl]

VA can have any rule they like. The question is do we think its fair in comparison with QF? Esp for ADL travel where VA service isnt always direct. If its easier to maintain status with QF then they may find people crossing back.

 

[antycbr]

VA can have any rule they like. The question is do we think its fair in comparison with QF? Esp for ADL travel where VA service isnt always direct. If its easier to maintain status with QF then they may find people crossing back.

Noting that the levels for earning and retaining status are lower on VA compared to QF as well:

VA
Silver Earn 250 Retain 200
Gold Earn 500 Retain 400
Platinum Earn 1000 Retain 800

QF
Silver Earn 300 Retain 250
Gold Earn 700 Retain 600
Platinum Earn 1400 Retain 1200

If you're a purely domestic flyer, the lower qualification level and retain level goes a fair way to offset the lower level of status credit earn for connecting flights. And from VA's point of view it would also discourage status runs with indirect routings and associated costs (fuel, catering in lounges, chances of misconnecting etc).