VA vs KrisFlyer

7 replies

mspcooper

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 09 May 2013

Total posts 442

I have been VA Platinum for almost 4 years now. I'm also QF Platinum. I have always enjoyed flying with VA as much as i enjoy flying with QF. However, platinum benefits with VA is not as impressive (except for Row 3 seats and ability to upgrade from a flexi fare). I'm thinking of moving to KrisFlyer (i can get lounge access with my amex to VA lounges) and the ability to book flights to the US with AirNZ or United (not that i'm keen on United) and gain benefits of Star Gold via KrisFlyer.

Does anyone have any experience on moving from VA to KrisFlyer that you would like to share please?

rob01

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 10 Nov 2011

Total posts 110

If you're a Krisflyer Gold you'll get gold perks with VA anyway. If you're flying internationally enough with SQ then why not go for it.

henrus

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 23 Oct 2013

Total posts 766

Aside from losing the VA Platinum perks you'll also lose lounge access on international Virgin Australia flights.


SQ Gold only get access to Virgin Operated lounges and not 3rd party ones so if you often fly internationally with VA then you might want to stick with VA and at least maintain Gold.

mspcooper

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 09 May 2013

Total posts 442

Thanks Henrus, you are certainly right and thank you for the great tip. Thankfully my business pays for business class when i fly longer than 6 hrs, so lounge access should not be a problem there i suppose.

Chris C.

Member since 24 Apr 2012

Total posts 1,116

Thanks Henrus, you are certainly right and thank you for the great tip. Thankfully my business pays for business class when i fly longer than 6 hrs, so lounge access should not be a problem there i suppose.

If you have the Platinum Charge Card from AMEX (the card that gives unlimited Virgin Australia lounge access), you'll also be covered in most of the places Virgin Australia flies, including international lounge options in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane; access to the Centurion Lounge in Hong Kong; and to many others through the Priority Pass membership included with the card (including in places like Fiji, where Virgin Australia flies but doesn't give lounge access to anybody).

Michael Kao

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 06 Nov 2014

Total posts 163

If you fly business class always then status probably won't matter other than perhaps increased baggage allowance, as other perks such as lounge access, priority boarding is all part of business class benefit.


The advantage of KF gold over VA platinum is the ability to gain gold perks in all star alliance airlines rather than the handful partners with VA.

Actually, given that you have Amex plat charge card, you should be able to fast track to KF gold very quickly via Shangrila Jade status. Then you can try out KF gold before losing VA plat and compare the too.

mspcooper

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 09 May 2013

Total posts 442

That's what i intend to do MichaelKao, i read elsewhere from someone that the shangri la (in this forum) link only gave them silver regardless of the shortcut. Initially i thought VA was good because of the points that i can use for redemption on domestic sectors but i have realised this is not a significant enough benefit and i could still do these via krisflyer by transferring points across if required. I'm shangri la Diamond (due to Centurion) and i hear it is only one flight before you can attain krisflyer gold. I have a flight with SQ metal in September (4 sectors, with one sector on SQ flight number and the rest being SAS flight numbers) but ticketed through SAS, so not sure if they would be counted as eligible sectors. I did'nt want to sign up until July on this promo, but wanted to check with AusBT readers to see what they think before the switch.

Luke49

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 17 Aug 2017

Total posts 28

I’m in the same boat a bit. I want business class Singapore-Munich (night flight) but dunno if it worth while booking through SQ then upgrade with points . Or to just book J class right thru Melbourne-Munich SQ or Velocity. ?????

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