NYLON wrote:Right, so if/when VS start copying, what do we think the result will be?
My guesses (hopefully not all of these!):
1) Current US RT UC 80k reward redemptions move to 100k
2) Au qualifies at 50 TPs, Ag at 20 TPs
3) Other than UC (J,C,D buckets) all other fare classes drop down 1 TP per sector. i.e. Y (in V,E,Q,X,N,O buckets) starts at 1 TP etc.
4) Ag drops to 25% bonus
5) Upgrades limited to one cabin only (i.e the end of the M-G upgrade)
I think its the case of BA copying Virgin here, the VS FF scheme having been much worse, especially for the likes of Silver status.
Previously you'd get twice the miles and lounge access with BA Silver. You'll get seat choice for free (some use for Y passengers flying virgin equivalent), of course PE and UC still has them for free at the moment, but personally I'd not be bothered what seat I was in in UC. I care a lot about it in Club though.
I suppose virgin's silver has been much easier to earn though. Picked it up via 1.5 UC returns.
VS Gold is pointless except for the miles if flying UC (BA Gold could get you into First lounge). But then again, the lounges in general. One VS lounge much more than one BA First lounge).
I've ran a BA silver TP run (seems pointless now), but can't ever see myself doing a Virgin one. If it even made sense. And I travelled with them a lot (then again, why I need to).
So in detail:
1) This is possible. Didn't VS drop these a few years ago anyway, probably in response to BA.
2) There's been no overall TP dropping for BA with this change so think that isn't relevant. Or Tier qualification point raising.
3) I don't think cheapest fare Club has had its TP earning change. So not equivalent.
4) Ag was already half of Au earning. So this is BA doing a VS.
5) To be fair, VS limits upgrade to fare classes which are pretty much priced as the next flight class. So you'll pay a sale PE price for an upgradable economy, sale UC price for an upgradable PE ticket. It's a different way of doing the same thing BA is doing. So its already got its equivalent policy in place. If BA limits its upgradable fares to a few fare codes, then perhaps that would be equivalent.