Retaining VS FC Gold

I was wondering if anyone had any experience of this and could help in anyway?

My FC Gold card says my expiry date is December 2011 (miles valid until 2013). I have just booked LHR to JFK in PE on an S class ticket to get the 8 tier points I need to stay AU (i.e. 30 tier points). I go out at the end of Nov and back on the 4 Dec. The guys and gals in reservations at VS say I won't retain AU on this basis???? I know things are tough right now but this seems a tad punitive especially in light of the cash spent over the course of 2010 and 2011. I wonder if there's any goodwill left in the business?

I have checked my account and my AU status was renewed last year on 19 November 2010.

Any help much appreciated.

Unfortunately it sounds as though Virgin are right. Your membership year would appear to end at the end of November (your card gets a slightly longer date to allow for the time it takes to get a new one to you if you do renew).

So as the return leg of your flight is actually in December, you're going to come up 4 TPs short of what you need. If you were able (and willing) to adjust your flights and take the entire trip in November, you would be ok...

RC

You also need 40TP to retain gold these days.

You also need 40TP to retain gold these days.

The cut off for requiring 40 TP to retain AU is 31 August 2012, if you renew before that, 30 is enough. So I assume Jimbobdebob is just short of 30 TP. I have just taken the note below from:
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/fr ... ership.jsp

It's not true, but as at today 16/11/11, they say in (in error) that you will only require 15 points to maintain AU :0

However, if your gold membership ends on or before 31 August 2012, you will require 30 tier points to retain gold membership. In your subsequent membership year, you will require 15 tier points to maintain your status.


If your gold membership year began on or after 01 September 2011, you will require 40 tier points to retain gold membership.

I should retain my AU this year, just about, but I presume we are the sort of marginal frequent flyers who VS want to cull from AU status and benefits.

that does not make sense though. That means that you only need 15TP to retain gold - less than retaining silver ?
I think there is a mistake there somewhere.

I just read this on the VS site which makes more sense:

Stay golden: To keep your Gold status you need to earn at least 40 tier points in your membership year. Your fixed membership year* will be 12 to 13 months, dependant on the day you reached Gold.

*Applicable for Gold membership years commencing on after 1 September 2011. Membership years that commenced prior to this date require 30 tier points to retain Gold membership.


So it sound slike if you are a newly qualified gold you need to get 40TP pa to stay gold and if you were already gold on 1st Sept then you only need 30Tp to retain.

Thanks everyone. I needed 30TP's due to the date I turned AU last year (again). Next year it will be 40TP to retain AU and that's there to stay I'm afraid. A handy bit of info for you. If you email VS CS or even the Exec Team they will take a look at your booking, your revenue history and make a valued judgement based on your date of expiry. You have to have a confirmed booking not an option and at their discretion they will give you a 10 day grace period BUT they will only do this once.

Thanks once again, a good debate some helpful info so much appreciated.