Does VA take its most frequent fliers for granted?

Do those running VA ensure the airline acknowledges its most frequent, frequent fliers. Be great to get the views of multi-Plats especially.

Sure, VA have the status tiers; but for a certain group of fliers even Platinum status is attained or retained within a few short months.

This group of fliers easily whiz past 1,000 status points. Then 2,000 points fly by. Before six months are though some fliers reach 3,000 points. By year’s end their status points can be sky high. But is there any appreciation of the value these customers bring to VA; any acknowledgment?

In my experience the answer is no. On the phone we still have to tackle the same diabolical overseas call centre. At the airport we struggle to find a seat in overcrowded lounges. On board there is no particular recognition - not even something as simple as being address by name in Business class.

It leaves fliers who have many thousands of status points with the impression VA take us for granted; that they don’t value our business.

Perhaps it is just me? Maybe it’s a sign of the times? Or perhaps it is an IPO driven management philosophy? Whatever the reason I’d be curious to know what ET readers think. Does VA need a ‘Platinum One’ style tier? How would you like to see them sweeten the deal? Could they achieve a better outcome for their most frequent fliers.

We have to face reality. Since VA's re birth it has emerged as a low cost carrier and is now noway near as good as it was prior to the restart and is no longer offering a high class service IMOP. I guess " we gets what we pays for " and whilst their service is adequate it's far down market from what it was before. I doesn't matter whether youre a frequent flyer or not it's the cost cutting overall that shows with their overall service.

This airline has gone to absolute hell. The crazy thing is there no news articles talking about this. Platinum barely means anything anymore. Especially when it comes to customer service.

Velocity redemption is a disgrace. Especially if you want to book business class. They only release one business class velocity seat at a time. This means you can't travel with your partner unless you pay for the other. What is the use of earning points if you can't use the. There is empty business class cabins to their international short haul destinations with not even one business class velocity seat available. This also ensures that you are never able to use your 4 complimentary business class upgrades.

Sadly the staff on their planes aren't as happy as they used to be which then gets passed on to the passengers. You contact them with feedback and get generic responses addressing nothing.

It's like they have taken the worst of Qantas and Jestar and thought, this is a great idea!

One quick fix they should do for Platinum members is ensure calls to Guest Services get answered here in Australia, not a Philippines call centre where they're either having a party of co-sharing office space with a creche/kindergarten.

I can't see anything that would make me strive for P1.

They really are a LCC with few basic benefits.

Get LTG with QF and keep platinum with VA.

Least that way you have a choice.

Glad this discussion is being had. I’ve been feeling the same way. I usually hit double platinum if I do all VA flights but I can’t really see the benefit from platinum to gold anymore.

Almost impossible to use your business class upgrades, and the call centre is woeful. Try cancelling a flight booked with points and VA have this approach to screw you out of them above and beyond the stated $60pp fee.

I’ve shifted as many flights as I can to QF and just hit gold. No time to make platinum with them, but that’s my focus for the next year.

Totally agree with your complimentary upgrades, book a flex flight and then tell you can't use it until closer to the time.

Just a joke.