1. Yes, you are right. As VA isn't part of any alliance so your status recognition won't be as good as QF's. It's a bit complicated due to VA's unique partners relationship that your status recognition will depend on the operating airline. Lounge access changes all the time that you'll need to look up for the most up to date lounge access policy.
2. You are right again. You won't be able to credit any VA flights to NZ after Oct. Although it doesn't hurt to get status match with NZ to just get 6 months worth of star alliance gold.
3. You can start crediting all your VA flights to KF but I believe you need to fly some flights in their own metal to attain gold. You can use your NZ gold in the meantime when you fly with SQ to get status recognition but you need to manually change your FFP number to KF in order for that flight to be credited to KF after you entered the lounge.
You can always contact VA to ask for a status challenge. They have some sort of pilot Gold program that gives you gold perk for 90 days and if you can get 80sc you are gold for 12 months. With the amount of flying you are doing, I'm sure you'll be platinum in no time.
If you've been QF Platinum for 8 years you're going to be at least around the ~10k LTSC mark. Considering 14k LTSC gets LTG if you don't already have that you may wish to get that from some personal travel or at least make some progress towards it whilst you still have Platinum or Gold status.
Definitely keep an eye out for a status match promo to help you with a leg-up into Virgin,
As mentioned above, there's a Pilot Gold program you can apply for, I'll post the link below (as it'll need to be approved), but it can be found by googling "Virgin Australia Pilot Gold"
Definitely keep an eye out for a status match promo to help you with a leg-up into Virgin,
As mentioned above, there's a Pilot Gold program you can apply for, I'll post the link below (as it'll need to be approved), but it can be found by googling "Virgin Australia Pilot Gold"
It surely can't hurt to contact VA to see if they'd offer a status match (or challenge). Check http://statusmatcher.com/airlines for others' experiences. I'm about to be transferred to Bangkok for work and am platinum with Velocity; have reached out to a few different carriers about trying to get a Star Alliance status match and they are receptive (even to Gold is better than nothing).
While SQ might be useful for overseas flying, personally it pays to have your Gold or Platinum status with Velocity itself if you're doing a lot of domestic flying. Platinum flyers can select Economy X seats free, and you're generally better looked after (priority on upgrade bids) for the day-to-day.
Travelling abroad as a VA FF, I've used Etihad and SQ. Treatment is a mixed bag - platinum definitely offers better lounge access in some places (e.g. SIN and AUH). Some EY flights the staff will personally greet you and offer you first choice in meals as a gold/platinum FF, even in economy, which is a nice touch. IIRC Delta also allows you to be included in their free domestic upgrade standby queue (I've not used it though but imagine you'd be lower than DL FFs in the queue). Overall, for overseas travel it'd really depend what part of the world you're travelling to, as VA's virtual network is not at the same level as Star Alliance or Oneworld.
spankee
spankee
Member since 25 Feb 2013
Total posts 18
Hi Brains Trust,
I have just started with a new employer, and they have a corporate deal with VA. To the extent that QF doesn't even show up in flight searches.
I have been QF Platinum for 8 years, achieved by a lot of discount economy flying, and 3-4 overseas trips per year.
Thanks in advance.
spankee
spankee
Member since 25 Feb 2013
Total posts 18
Also, I have no status with VA.
Michael Kao
Michael Kao
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 06 Nov 2014
Total posts 163
To answer your question:
mviy
mviy
Member since 05 May 2016
Total posts 322
If you've been QF Platinum for 8 years you're going to be at least around the ~10k LTSC mark. Considering 14k LTSC gets LTG if you don't already have that you may wish to get that from some personal travel or at least make some progress towards it whilst you still have Platinum or Gold status.
xtfer
xtfer
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 14 Mar 2017
Total posts 159
Just don't bother crediting anything to Airpoints unless you have to. It's earn and redemption rates are terrible.
spankee
spankee
Member since 25 Feb 2013
Total posts 18
I'm about 12.8k SC's. So it was about 12 months until LTG. We even tried to get our QF Account Manager to comp it, but no luck there.
MRYJDrake
MRYJDrake
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
Member since 31 Oct 2016
Total posts 206
Definitely keep an eye out for a status match promo to help you with a leg-up into Virgin,
MRYJDrake
MRYJDrake
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
Member since 31 Oct 2016
Total posts 206
As mentioned above, there's a Pilot Gold program you can apply for, I'll post the link below (as it'll need to be approved), but it can be found by googling "Virgin Australia Pilot Gold"
spankee
spankee
Member since 25 Feb 2013
Total posts 18
Thanks for your comments everyone. It's appreciated.
Russjking
Russjking
Member since 12 Aug 2017
Total posts 31
Hello. Newbie here... what do the abbreviations mean?
LTSC? LTG? 14k?
This post seems to be in secret code!
spankee
spankee
Member since 25 Feb 2013
Total posts 18
Life Time Status Credits
Life Time Gold
14,000 (status credits for Lifetime Gold)
AKD
AKD
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 22 Nov 2017
Total posts 8
It surely can't hurt to contact VA to see if they'd offer a status match (or challenge). Check http://statusmatcher.com/airlines for others' experiences. I'm about to be transferred to Bangkok for work and am platinum with Velocity; have reached out to a few different carriers about trying to get a Star Alliance status match and they are receptive (even to Gold is better than nothing).
While SQ might be useful for overseas flying, personally it pays to have your Gold or Platinum status with Velocity itself if you're doing a lot of domestic flying. Platinum flyers can select Economy X seats free, and you're generally better looked after (priority on upgrade bids) for the day-to-day.
Travelling abroad as a VA FF, I've used Etihad and SQ. Treatment is a mixed bag - platinum definitely offers better lounge access in some places (e.g. SIN and AUH). Some EY flights the staff will personally greet you and offer you first choice in meals as a gold/platinum FF, even in economy, which is a nice touch. IIRC Delta also allows you to be included in their free domestic upgrade standby queue (I've not used it though but imagine you'd be lower than DL FFs in the queue). Overall, for overseas travel it'd really depend what part of the world you're travelling to, as VA's virtual network is not at the same level as Star Alliance or Oneworld.