I’m currently Gold with Qantas but going forward I will be doing all my traveling with VA. What is the best way to going about getting a status match from Virgin?
Enquire about their 'Pilot Gold' program, which is a 90 day status challenge. You'll get temporary Gold straight away, and need to earn 80 SC within 90 days to maintain it.
Also keep your eye out for emails from Flybuys - they often offer members 'Explore Gold' status which works in exactly the same way as Pilot Gold mentioned above (both require at least one eligible Virgin Australia flight in addition to status credits, though, so you can't just earn them from partner airlines).
Enquire about their 'Pilot Gold' program, which is a 90 day status challenge. You'll get temporary Gold straight away, and need to earn 80 SC within 90 days to maintain it.
Would it be best to contact the Velocity frequent flyer directly for this?
Sorry to break the bad news but I doubt you'll get a match. There was a time when both QF and VA were actively offering matches but that seems to have ended.
Those who over the past 12 months have got a match from the executive team have often been "invited" by the team upon reference from another VA Platinum or the Club member.
These days, those who email directly to VA will typically need to be a QF Platinum One and provide flight history to get a direct match. Otherwise, you might be lucky in getting the "Pilot Gold" program but even then it's typically only offered because you've signed up through the Business Accerlate program and spent over $2000 on VA flights in the first 3 months.
Others had mentioned the flybuys offer however currently it hasn't been offered once this year so I'm not sure if it even still exists?
If none of this works, unfortunately, you'll probably have to earn the 500 status the hard way however you can do some things to soften the blow.
Shopping at Coles earns 1 status credit per $100 (a maximum of 10 status credits per month). Economy X seats give you Priority Security, Boarding and more legroom which combined with a single lounge pass ($65) or lounge card ($775 for the first year) gets you most the key benefits that Golds would get anyway.
Delta also offers status matches (for 3 months) and Delta Gold card holders get most of the Gold Benefits on Virgin like lounge access however you'll need to use the Delta frequent flyer number for the lounge then change to the VA one before boarding to earn points.
I have just received an email from Flybuy: Sign up for their credit card, get 20K bonus point (offsetting the 100$/yr annual fee), get gold for 3 months. Not interested until VA is with Skyteam (or may be *A).
I have just received an email from Flybuy: Sign up for their credit card, get 20K bonus point (offsetting the 100$/yr annual fee), get gold for 3 months. Not interested until VA is with Skyteam (or may be *A).
Don't hold your breath waiting. However you can transfer points to SQ if you want *A redemptions from your VA points.
I have just received an email from Flybuy: Sign up for their credit card, get 20K bonus point (offsetting the 100$/yr annual fee), get gold for 3 months. Not interested until VA is with Skyteam (or may be *A).
I was offered the same but to me it doesn’t seem to give a lot of benefits if they are not part of an alliance, particularly when comparing it to QF Gold. Other than SQ or DL (Also EY but with declining value), the offer seems limited. Also seems like the credit card by Citibank is a bit of a nightmare from what I read?
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Status Match from Qantas to Velocity
AB7
AB7
Member since 27 Jul 2017
Total posts 7
Hi all
bl5965
bl5965
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 13 Nov 2015
Total posts 83
Enquire about their 'Pilot Gold' program, which is a 90 day status challenge. You'll get temporary Gold straight away, and need to earn 80 SC within 90 days to maintain it.
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
Also keep your eye out for emails from Flybuys - they often offer members 'Explore Gold' status which works in exactly the same way as Pilot Gold mentioned above (both require at least one eligible Virgin Australia flight in addition to status credits, though, so you can't just earn them from partner airlines).
Jamesflyer
Jamesflyer
Iberia Airlines - Iberia Plus
Member since 14 Jan 2018
Total posts 14
Email a velocity executive then they will give you a status match
AB7
AB7
Member since 27 Jul 2017
Total posts 7
As in some of these?
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/about-us/company-overview/virgin-australia-group-executive-team/
AB7
AB7
Member since 27 Jul 2017
Total posts 7
Would it be best to contact the Velocity frequent flyer directly for this?
henrus
henrus
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Oct 2013
Total posts 766
Sorry to break the bad news but I doubt you'll get a match. There was a time when both QF and VA were actively offering matches but that seems to have ended.
Those who over the past 12 months have got a match from the executive team have often been "invited" by the team upon reference from another VA Platinum or the Club member.
These days, those who email directly to VA will typically need to be a QF Platinum One and provide flight history to get a direct match. Otherwise, you might be lucky in getting the "Pilot Gold" program but even then it's typically only offered because you've signed up through the Business Accerlate program and spent over $2000 on VA flights in the first 3 months.
Others had mentioned the flybuys offer however currently it hasn't been offered once this year so I'm not sure if it even still exists?
If none of this works, unfortunately, you'll probably have to earn the 500 status the hard way however you can do some things to soften the blow.
Shopping at Coles earns 1 status credit per $100 (a maximum of 10 status credits per month). Economy X seats give you Priority Security, Boarding and more legroom which combined with a single lounge pass ($65) or lounge card ($775 for the first year) gets you most the key benefits that Golds would get anyway.
Delta also offers status matches (for 3 months) and Delta Gold card holders get most of the Gold Benefits on Virgin like lounge access however you'll need to use the Delta frequent flyer number for the lounge then change to the VA one before boarding to earn points.
Longtoo
Longtoo
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 08 Jun 2017
Total posts 29
I have just received an email from Flybuy: Sign up for their credit card, get 20K bonus point (offsetting the 100$/yr annual fee), get gold for 3 months. Not interested until VA is with Skyteam (or may be *A).
johnaboxall
johnaboxall
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 24 Aug 2011
Total posts 384
Don't hold your breath waiting. However you can transfer points to SQ if you want *A redemptions from your VA points.
silvyvc
silvyvc
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 19 Jun 2017
Total posts 62
I was offered the same but to me it doesn’t seem to give a lot of benefits if they are not part of an alliance, particularly when comparing it to QF Gold. Other than SQ or DL (Also EY but with declining value), the offer seems limited. Also seems like the credit card by Citibank is a bit of a nightmare from what I read?