Given the recent announcement on job cuts at VA should I view this as the canary in the coal mine (Ansett anyone?) and go after a status challenge with QF. I have maintained my VA platinum for this year with 7 months to go.
Admittedly I prefer flying SQ and EY internationally to Europe and Asia over OW/EK.
Decisions.. decisions.
Will you switch to QFF based on the recent announcement
I'm considering it. I fly VA a lot, so much so that I retained Platinum with 10 months left to go this time (so 800+ credits in 2 months). The fact that there is no lifetime status is highly making me consider the change, the latest announcement doesn't help. I've also actually flown CX instead of VA/SQ on my last 3 Asian return trips this year and built up some status.
Just this past weekend though has put a sour taste in my mouth with VA. I usually fly by myself (or with someone who is also VA Platinum) and rarely use the Platinum only benefits (extra lounge guests, never used the free upgrades, the Hilton/Hertz status, etc), the only benefit I really get from Platinum is Economy X for free. I had a work trip from MEL-BNE last weekend and decided to fly a friend with me so I booked her flights with my points. As this was a different booking there was no way to get us both in Row 3/4 even though the seats were unoccupied. I was told my only option was to cancel all flights and book as one itinerary, even though its not possible for me to book a paid and reward flight on the same itinerary! (correct me if I'm wrong but I couldn't find a way). So even though I'm Platinum, because they weren't booked together I couldn't use the one benefit I actually wanted to take advantage of. I realise it's no fault of the people I was talking to at VA, but little things like this are just annoying.
Sorry, I kind of went on a rant there. But to answer your question, I very well may change over. Platinum has proven to be useless at the time I wanted to use the one benefit (over Gold status) that I liked. Not only useless, it has left me annoyed.
Virgin has been losing money for 7 years now, so this isn't real news. If what you are worried about is that they are actually going through a restructure, I think its just Scurrah doing his job and giving the company a new vision. I'd personally wait a year and see how they are doing. The only reason currently that I am sticking with Virgin is their family pooling feature which allows me to reach gold super easily whilst maintaining my Qantas status.
I'm considering it. I fly VA a lot, so much so that I retained Platinum with 10 months left to go this time (so 800+ credits in 2 months). The fact that there is no lifetime status is highly making me consider the change, the latest announcement doesn't help. I've also actually flown CX instead of VA/SQ on my last 3 Asian return trips this year and built up some status.
Just this past weekend though has put a sour taste in my mouth with VA. I usually fly by myself (or with someone who is also VA Platinum) and rarely use the Platinum only benefits (extra lounge guests, never used the free upgrades, the Hilton/Hertz status, etc), the only benefit I really get from Platinum is Economy X for free. I had a work trip from MEL-BNE last weekend and decided to fly a friend with me so I booked her flights with my points. As this was a different booking there was no way to get us both in Row 3/4 even though the seats were unoccupied. I was told my only option was to cancel all flights and book as one itinerary, even though its not possible for me to book a paid and reward flight on the same itinerary! (correct me if I'm wrong but I couldn't find a way). So even though I'm Platinum, because they weren't booked together I couldn't use the one benefit I actually wanted to take advantage of. I realise it's no fault of the people I was talking to at VA, but little things like this are just annoying.
Sorry, I kind of went on a rant there. But to answer your question, I very well may change over. Platinum has proven to be useless at the time I wanted to use the one benefit (over Gold status) that I liked. Not only useless, it has left me annoyed.
Last editedby jeppetto367 at Aug 29, 2019, 03:05 PM.
I have definitely booked have been able to join two bookings together in the past when my partner and I were booked on a separate booking number. They can't do other features like fly ahead as the booking number is different but they linked them to allow me to give the the Economy X seat. Maybe it is a matter of who you speak to?
I'm considering it. I fly VA a lot, so much so that I retained Platinum with 10 months left to go this time (so 800+ credits in 2 months). The fact that there is no lifetime status is highly making me consider the change, the latest announcement doesn't help. I've also actually flown CX instead of VA/SQ on my last 3 Asian return trips this year and built up some status.
Just this past weekend though has put a sour taste in my mouth with VA. I usually fly by myself (or with someone who is also VA Platinum) and rarely use the Platinum only benefits (extra lounge guests, never used the free upgrades, the Hilton/Hertz status, etc), the only benefit I really get from Platinum is Economy X for free. I had a work trip from MEL-BNE last weekend and decided to fly a friend with me so I booked her flights with my points. As this was a different booking there was no way to get us both in Row 3/4 even though the seats were unoccupied. I was told my only option was to cancel all flights and book as one itinerary, even though its not possible for me to book a paid and reward flight on the same itinerary! (correct me if I'm wrong but I couldn't find a way). So even though I'm Platinum, because they weren't booked together I couldn't use the one benefit I actually wanted to take advantage of. I realise it's no fault of the people I was talking to at VA, but little things like this are just annoying.
Sorry, I kind of went on a rant there. But to answer your question, I very well may change over. Platinum has proven to be useless at the time I wanted to use the one benefit (over Gold status) that I liked. Not only useless, it has left me annoyed.
Last editedby jeppetto367 at Aug 29, 2019, 03:05 PM.
I have definitely booked have been able to join two bookings together in the past when my partner and I were booked on a separate booking number. They can't do other features like fly ahead as the booking number is different but they linked them to allow me to give the the Economy X seat. Maybe it is a matter of who you speak to?
Interesting. I spoke to the VA Platinum Call Centre, the VA Priority check in ladies (at both MEL and BNE), and also the BNE lounge lady (I didn't ask in at the MEL lounge), and none of them could do it. The itineraries were both only the 2 flights each (no other legs).
been in a similar situation my solution was to use pts for both one way then pay for both on the 2nd leg. - miss out on a few pts but opens up the fly ahead and economy x to both.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on
Velocity to QFF
Uqsthom6
Uqsthom6
Member since 15 Mar 2017
Total posts 21
Dear Brains trust.
Given the recent announcement on job cuts at VA should I view this as the canary in the coal mine (Ansett anyone?) and go after a status challenge with QF. I have maintained my VA platinum for this year with 7 months to go.
Admittedly I prefer flying SQ and EY internationally to Europe and Asia over OW/EK.
Decisions.. decisions.
Please wait...
jeppetto367
jeppetto367
Member since 06 Jun 2017
Total posts 46
I'm considering it. I fly VA a lot, so much so that I retained Platinum with 10 months left to go this time (so 800+ credits in 2 months). The fact that there is no lifetime status is highly making me consider the change, the latest announcement doesn't help. I've also actually flown CX instead of VA/SQ on my last 3 Asian return trips this year and built up some status.
Just this past weekend though has put a sour taste in my mouth with VA. I usually fly by myself (or with someone who is also VA Platinum) and rarely use the Platinum only benefits (extra lounge guests, never used the free upgrades, the Hilton/Hertz status, etc), the only benefit I really get from Platinum is Economy X for free. I had a work trip from MEL-BNE last weekend and decided to fly a friend with me so I booked her flights with my points. As this was a different booking there was no way to get us both in Row 3/4 even though the seats were unoccupied. I was told my only option was to cancel all flights and book as one itinerary, even though its not possible for me to book a paid and reward flight on the same itinerary! (correct me if I'm wrong but I couldn't find a way). So even though I'm Platinum, because they weren't booked together I couldn't use the one benefit I actually wanted to take advantage of. I realise it's no fault of the people I was talking to at VA, but little things like this are just annoying.
Sorry, I kind of went on a rant there. But to answer your question, I very well may change over. Platinum has proven to be useless at the time I wanted to use the one benefit (over Gold status) that I liked. Not only useless, it has left me annoyed.
djtech
djtech
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Sep 2018
Total posts 375
Virgin has been losing money for 7 years now, so this isn't real news. If what you are worried about is that they are actually going through a restructure, I think its just Scurrah doing his job and giving the company a new vision. I'd personally wait a year and see how they are doing. The only reason currently that I am sticking with Virgin is their family pooling feature which allows me to reach gold super easily whilst maintaining my Qantas status.
Pjand
Pjand
Member since 08 Nov 2018
Total posts 2
Originally Posted by jeppetto367
I'm considering it. I fly VA a lot, so much so that I retained Platinum with 10 months left to go this time (so 800+ credits in 2 months). The fact that there is no lifetime status is highly making me consider the change, the latest announcement doesn't help. I've also actually flown CX instead of VA/SQ on my last 3 Asian return trips this year and built up some status.
Just this past weekend though has put a sour taste in my mouth with VA. I usually fly by myself (or with someone who is also VA Platinum) and rarely use the Platinum only benefits (extra lounge guests, never used the free upgrades, the Hilton/Hertz status, etc), the only benefit I really get from Platinum is Economy X for free. I had a work trip from MEL-BNE last weekend and decided to fly a friend with me so I booked her flights with my points. As this was a different booking there was no way to get us both in Row 3/4 even though the seats were unoccupied. I was told my only option was to cancel all flights and book as one itinerary, even though its not possible for me to book a paid and reward flight on the same itinerary! (correct me if I'm wrong but I couldn't find a way). So even though I'm Platinum, because they weren't booked together I couldn't use the one benefit I actually wanted to take advantage of. I realise it's no fault of the people I was talking to at VA, but little things like this are just annoying.
Sorry, I kind of went on a rant there. But to answer your question, I very well may change over. Platinum has proven to be useless at the time I wanted to use the one benefit (over Gold status) that I liked. Not only useless, it has left me annoyed.
I have definitely booked have been able to join two bookings together in the past when my partner and I were booked on a separate booking number. They can't do other features like fly ahead as the booking number is different but they linked them to allow me to give the the Economy X seat. Maybe it is a matter of who you speak to?
jeppetto367
jeppetto367
Member since 06 Jun 2017
Total posts 46
Originally Posted by Pjand
Originally Posted by jeppetto367
I'm considering it. I fly VA a lot, so much so that I retained Platinum with 10 months left to go this time (so 800+ credits in 2 months). The fact that there is no lifetime status is highly making me consider the change, the latest announcement doesn't help. I've also actually flown CX instead of VA/SQ on my last 3 Asian return trips this year and built up some status.
Just this past weekend though has put a sour taste in my mouth with VA. I usually fly by myself (or with someone who is also VA Platinum) and rarely use the Platinum only benefits (extra lounge guests, never used the free upgrades, the Hilton/Hertz status, etc), the only benefit I really get from Platinum is Economy X for free. I had a work trip from MEL-BNE last weekend and decided to fly a friend with me so I booked her flights with my points. As this was a different booking there was no way to get us both in Row 3/4 even though the seats were unoccupied. I was told my only option was to cancel all flights and book as one itinerary, even though its not possible for me to book a paid and reward flight on the same itinerary! (correct me if I'm wrong but I couldn't find a way). So even though I'm Platinum, because they weren't booked together I couldn't use the one benefit I actually wanted to take advantage of. I realise it's no fault of the people I was talking to at VA, but little things like this are just annoying.
Sorry, I kind of went on a rant there. But to answer your question, I very well may change over. Platinum has proven to be useless at the time I wanted to use the one benefit (over Gold status) that I liked. Not only useless, it has left me annoyed.
Interesting. I spoke to the VA Platinum Call Centre, the VA Priority check in ladies (at both MEL and BNE), and also the BNE lounge lady (I didn't ask in at the MEL lounge), and none of them could do it. The itineraries were both only the 2 flights each (no other legs).
Pit
Pit
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 31 Jul 2017
Total posts 14
been in a similar situation my solution was to use pts for both one way then pay for both on the 2nd leg. - miss out on a few pts but opens up the fly ahead and economy x to both.