What elite status benefit have you never been able to actually use?

[Mattg]

There are all sort of benefits that come with elite status with an airline, hotel or car rental loyalty program. Many are useful, some are not.

I have status with a few different airlines - one is United. Theoretically, I can access free upgrades when I fly with them on domestic routes - but on the occasions I've been on the waitlist, there have only been a few seats available in F/J and I've been number 37 (or whatever) in the upgrade queue.

With Velocity, I've never found a use for the "guaranteed economy reward seats for a family holiday if you book 6+ months out" benefit, although I'm sure this is useful for others.

What status benefit sounds good but you've never actually been able to use?

 

[SYD]

Ditto on the VA whY award seat guarantee.

Complementary QP membership with PC+ is one I wouldn’t use as a LTG/WP and the reason I don’t pursue PC+….

 

[Human]

The business class upgrade with Velocity Platinum. I’d need to buy a “Flex” fare to use this and the Flex fares are often more expensive than the business class seats anyway.

 

[flyingfan]

QF:
- Priority boarding of course! (Not quite never but hardly ever)
- Releasing award premium seats internationally
- P1 invitations - never got any

VA (unlike QF, I’ve only missed out on these more recently):
- J upgrades (might be due to corporate fares)
- Fly Ahead (all flights earlier full/delayed anyway)
- Premium Entry

 

[astrosly]

As a QF WP for several years, I've never had a classic reward seat released on request. Ever. Either international or domestic, and I only request one seat and not during school holidays and there is I class available.

I've never used extra baggage allowance as I don't take extra baggage.

Never used Status Hold (and never will)

 

[SYD]

The business class upgrade with Velocity Platinum. I’d need to buy a “Flex” fare to use this and the Flex fares are often more expensive than the business class seats anyway.

It wasn‘t always that way. But anytime I had a work fare in the right bucket, the request would go in!

 

[jase05]

The business class upgrade with Velocity Platinum. I’d need to buy a “Flex” fare to use this and the Flex fares are often more expensive than the business class seats anyway.

Transcon on the A330’s were awesome for the Plat upgrades and also some decent value on VAi.

I just had a quick look at a random date for SYD-NAN and as you can see the Flex fare is $548 and Business is $1198


As you can see there is award availability on this flight (at least 2 seats)
$548 to Fiji isn’t too bad but a pity about the lounge situation

 

[NM]

I was never able to use any of the many AAdvantage 500 mile upgrade certificates. Basically because I was nearly always ticketed into the highest cabin in the aircraft. The few times I was booked into economy there was no availability for using the upgrade certs.

And of the main hotel programs that offer guaranteed room availability for elites (normal condition to book 24, 48 or 72 hours before arrival), I have only every used it once (at Holiday Inn in Vilnius).

 

[dajop]

PPS status with SQ comes with "Overseas Emergency Medical and Travel Accident Insurance", and "Worldwide Emergency Assistance" (through ISOS) Thankfully whilst PPS I never needed to use either.

 

[AIRwin]

PPS (Priority Phone Service) with QF not SQ

These links may help:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/status-and-clubs/status/compare-tier-benefits.html

Benefits At A Glance

Silver, Gold and Platinum members enjoy a range of Status benefits with our participating international airline partners. Benefits may include Priority Check-in, Priority Boarding, Priority Baggage, baggage allowances and lounge access.

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

 

[Forg]

Elite status … that’s a thing I’ve never been able to use.

 

[trooper]

Valet parking as (Australian based) NZ Elite...

 

[henrus]

With Velocity, I've never found a use for the "guaranteed economy reward seats for a family holiday if you book 6+ months out" benefit, although I'm sure this is useful for others.

Used this from BNE to RAR back in 2019. The flights were booked as freedom fares at the time and earned points/status credits to match.

What status benefit sounds good but you've never actually been able to use?

I currently hold VA Gold, NZ Gold and QF Gold and a big one that all 3 have in common is Is priority wait list/standby (in fact all VA, Star Alliance tiers and oneworld tiers offer this "benefit"). With star alliance silver status it's actually the only alliance wide benefit. It sounds great in theory but with flight going out full and the concept of standbys for flights within Australia/NZ non existent I don't see many using it.

 

[Anna]

VA WP fly ahead. Always some excuse why it couldn't be done.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Ah, the Status question.....that old chestnut.

Airlines - I use the clubs and get looked after (usually) Someone else thinking ahead for you when it's all going to hell in a handbasket is great.

I can always negotiate some form of early or late checkout with hotels. Upgrades are not really required as I usually travel solo. I rarely use bar drink cards (note to self - why?) Hotel clubs double as an office sometimes.

Status for me is like insurance; it's there when needed. I need flexible work environments, which include airlines, hotels, and status benefits, to help achieve this.

 

[SYD]

VA WP fly ahead. Always some excuse why it couldn't be done.

No other earlier flight on VA…? Otherwise, it was ok on SYD <-> MEL.

 

[tdimdad]

Standby / waitlist. All my flights & accommodation are usually pre-planned.
All the other gold-level benefits I have used or can imagine would possibly use at some point (except hopefully for a membership pause).

I tried to get an early check-in in a Frasers hotel in London using my status but it was a no go. But e.g. with Holiday Inn / HI Express, I have often gotten my room early by simply rocking up to the hotel to drop off my bags.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

QF priority boarding?

(I actually did use that last week though! Maximised F lounge time, then skipped the queue after boarding started. First QF international flight in a long time, and shocked this was a thing as compared to domestic.)

Also did manage to use plenty of VA WP J upgrades, especially when tagging on a domestic flight to an international booking in Y Flex — somehow that was always affordable to/from HKG.

Seriously though... never had a use for:

• "guaranteed economy reward seats for a family holiday if you book 6+ months out" — nope, me neither
• The QR benefit for an escort service through DOH, which is meant to be available and free. Actually tried to book it for the novelty, but in practice it was too hard and not worthwhile.

 

[antycbr]

VA platinum car rental membership benefit to Hertz Presidents Circle - VA claimed I used it but Hertz never changed my membership… followed up multiple times with both parties and ended up writing it off - which seemed strangely appropriate for a rental car.

 

[jpp42]

Transcon on the A330’s were awesome for the Plat upgrades

Never once made that work. Always told there was no availability even when I was booked in Flex and plenty of seats available for sale. IIRC, you had to keep calling back to request them to check again, which was a hassle - no automatic waitlist like QF points upgrades. Was always frustrated when flying and there were still clearly J seats available despite multiple attempts to use the "free upgrade" benefit.