Flying Club Membership Changes

[Neil]

No, Ag bonus was 25% (will be 50% from 1st Sept) and Au was 50% (will be 100% from 1st Sept)

New miles bonus starts 1June, according to the email I got.

Sorry, you are correct, I was getting the new tier point renewal start dates mixed up with the extra miles B)

Didn't AG status used to give 50% bonus miles until recently anyway, or is my memory playing tricks???

Reaction in this house has been the same as most people's here...

No, Ag bonus was 25% (will be 50% from 1st Sept) and Au was 50% (will be 100% from 1st Sept).

I think it used to be all PE flights earning 50% before changing so that the lower fare buckets only get a 25% bonus? Anyways... Bye-bye Silver. 8 years of leisure loyalty and silver, "thanks but you're not really our sort of customer - now bugger off". Will do probably - just need to off load the 135k miles...

Plus its a bit frustrating sitting here in Chez Gerard waiting for VS003 in PE knowing that the new mileage for PE doesn't kick off until NEXT month. Brilliant. And to think when I got the email yesterday I was initially excited, thinking new earning opportunities or something. Really should have been an apology; the know my profile, 2 maybe 3 flights a year - no way for me to renew Ag. OK it didn't really get you much but it was easyish to get - everyone wins. The little perks kept my business for over a decade, (admittedly not a lot of business but still...). Really hope that they don't up the 'price' of redemption fares yet - that would be a kick in the teeth for me.

Maybe VS should introduce different limits based on where you live? (Yes, like BA) As you can earn TPs in the US from credit card spend, it sort of makes sense to up the limits and reward people who actually fly. In the UK though, we can't earn TPs except by flying.

Maybe VS should introduce different limits based on where you live? (Yes, like BA) As you can earn TPs in the US from credit card spend, it sort of makes sense to up the limits and reward people who actually fly. In the UK though, we can't earn TPs except by flying.

I agree, you can also gain TP's by spending as little $49 on internal flights with Virgin America which makes it much cheaper and easier for our friends across the pond achieve Ag and Au status anyway.

I've just spoke to VS, and asked for 1 G to Syd ANYTIME in 2012: Jan/feb/march/April

1 seat, one-way on 1 day is all that's available!
This doesn't fill me with confidence...

Can see a run on people off-loading miles and heading over to T5..

NH

[Scrooge]

Maybe VS should introduce different limits based on where you live? (Yes, like BA) As you can earn TPs in the US from credit card spend, it sort of makes sense to up the limits and reward people who actually fly. In the UK though, we can't earn TPs except by flying.

I agree, you can also gain TP's by spending as little $49 on internal flights with Virgin America which makes it much cheaper and easier for our friends across the pond achieve Ag and Au status anyway.

BMI anyone ?

Maybe VS should introduce different limits based on where you live? (Yes, like BA) As you can earn TPs in the US from credit card spend, it sort of makes sense to up the limits and reward people who actually fly. In the UK though, we can't earn TPs except by flying.

I agree, you can also gain TP's by spending as little $49 on internal flights with Virgin America which makes it much cheaper and easier for our friends across the pond achieve Ag and Au status anyway.

BMI anyone ?

To get a tier point in Economy with BMI you have to fly more than 2,000 miles which means you have to travel outside the UK.

I'm not complaining as I used SFO to LAS for $59 each way in March and got the 2 tier points I needed to retain my Au status (for the last time, thanks VS), just pointing out it is a lot cheaper in the US.

! I think this is really BAD news for all Gold card members - I love Virgin but we've all seen things that make the product 'unique' slowly be withdrawn over the last 5 years; Inflight treatments, pre-booking of treatments at clubhouse, amenity kits etc... Also with companies cutting budgets on business travel, is this really the right time to do this? Also don't try and sweeten the blow by adding a point here and there. I've been a loyal member for ten years, to me this is a real kick in the teeth - anyone agree or not?

Nh - you've just backed up my worst fears...

I've spent a good long time building up 190k miles plus, in an attempt to fly UC for the second time in my life, and all the evidence was showing me that getting G fares was getting very difficult indeed. Oh well.....

I think the rot that was taking the edge of VS has now truly set in......hope I'm wrong, but...........

Why now?

And,

What for?

I can't help thinking that this is but the first of a number of steps along a new strategy, probably defined by DeutscheBank last year...

Just to add in my little 2 cents.

My GF and I are once/twice a year VS customers, and enjoy flying with VS. We're both FC Red and use AMEX vouchers and miles to upgrade wherever possible to PE and (if lucky) UC.

These changes make 'going for silver/gold' much harder, but then we could hardly call ourselves frequent flyers and unless we get a serious budget/annual leave increase we won't be travelling more any time soon!

Flying club is a frequent flyer programme. So, if you look at it that way these changes make good sense, they don't want any harry dick or charlie getting status.

For us, FC is all about the miles balance, not about the TP's because we're unlikely to be getting anywhere near Silver/Gold. As long as Virgin gives us good service whenever we fly (which most of the time it does) we'll remain loyal.

Clarkes - you're right to an extent...

However, some of this went some way to offsetting the fact that I pay for a seat for my daughter on the plane - even though she comes with us every time we go on holiday, she's not a frequent flyer - how in the heck does that work?

There's an even chance I'll maintain AG - FWIW, not much...

As I said in an earlier post, the whole thing has made me step back and consider my options...

[Neil]

Just to add in my little 2 cents.

My GF and I are once/twice a year VS customers, and enjoy flying with VS. We're both FC Red and use AMEX vouchers and miles to upgrade wherever possible to PE and (if lucky) UC.

These changes make 'going for silver/gold' much harder, but then we could hardly call ourselves frequent flyers and unless we get a serious budget/annual leave increase we won't be travelling more any time soon!

Flying club is a frequent flyer programme. So, if you look at it that way these changes make good sense, they don't want any harry dick or charlie getting status.

For us, FC is all about the miles balance, not about the TP's because we're unlikely to be getting anywhere near Silver/Gold. As long as Virgin gives us good service whenever we fly (which most of the time it does) we'll remain loyal.

I think you have summed it up perfectly for us also. We aren't regular enough travellers to really be allowed to be put out / annoyed by these changes. It is after all called a frequent flyer scheme not a loyal flyer scheme. So providing reward seats don't become to hard to get hold of and the level of service is good, it really isn't going to affect us at all.

I can understand those more frequent travellers who might find another program now better suited to them.

I can see a stampede to BA's door right now.

But before baby and bathwater go out, lets look at the respective frequent flyer programs

BA Silver.
To join you need 600 tier points or take 50 singles or 25 returns. For example, LHR-SFO in Club is 150 points. So to make Silver, you need 4 trips to SFO in a year. 600 tier points to renew

Virgin AU
To join you need 40 tier points. A trip to SFO in Upper will earn you 10 tier points, again 4 flights to SFO will get you AU. 40 tier point to renew

Darren, from my calculations it's 120tp's if you travel LHR-SFO in Club. So to get 600 tier points, you need to do 5 legs, so 2 returns and a single.

So BA silver is in-between Virgins Silver and Gold, but not as high as Virgins Gold. So if before you were retaining VS Gold each year by earning just the 30tps, you would now be Silver, but you would also be Silver if you flew with BA. So in that circumstance, you need to compare BA Silver to VS Silver, and BA silver IMO is much better.

I might of worked this out all wrong so someone please correct me if I have.

So providing reward seats don't become to hard to get hold of and the level of service is good, it really isn't going to affect us at all.
I can understand those more frequent travellers who might find another program now better suited to them.

I think this renewal issue has sent out an alarming message in terms of "the next step"....FF status is one thing but as you mention it's no good selling the concept of mileage accruals, when they can stealthily remove a high proportion of opportunities to use them, without having to publish the fact.. A great and typical VS move....It's been see of late the worryingly sudden reduction in reward seats, complete inability to use with partners...which doesn't seem to marry up with general availability especially in UC, an easy ploy to "downgrade" reward value.... The SYD route (actually the Lhr-Hkg segments), zero success on NZ, and no SQ business use being the obvious examples.

Trouble is, I think there are so many variables, it's difficult to do exact comparisons, it all depends on how many flights, which flights (how far) they are, whether you travel regularly with children, whether you're likely to get VS AU and therefore CH access, how important the extra milage is, how important the redemption opportunities are, how important the extensiveness of the route network, an alliance, etc etc etc.

Bottom line, it is personal circumstance and travel pattern plus what's important that will matter in the end.

Question is - will this move by VS push away some frequent(ish) flyers - i.e., will it rebound on them?

Maybe those of us that fly 3 or 4 times a year, predominantly in PE, using upgrade rewards whereever possible aren't the ones they want to keep - fair enough.

Unpopular as this might be, and someone said earlier that FC is aimed at rewarding frequent fliers, if infrequent fliers can accrue miles for benefits that's great, but shouldn't VS's focus be on people who buy high priced tickets, frequently? While maintaining some benefits for infrequent fliers such as possible upgrades, occasional reward flights, etc. (assuming some consistent pattern of availability)?

Really, three PE returns in K or using an Amex upgrade voucher does not put that much money in VS's pocket compared to the traveller in UC doing 15 returns a year ...

For the latter, this is good news, greater exclusivity in the CH's, more rewards (perhaps we'll see reward seats just for Au's coming soon) and so on. And, as I said earlier, perhaps part of a programme to normalise with an alliance.

Maybe VS should introduce different limits based on where you live? (Yes, like BA) As you can earn TPs in the US from credit card spend, it sort of makes sense to up the limits and reward people who actually fly. In the UK though, we can't earn TPs except by flying.

Yes VS have to offer more TP building opportunities to get non UK's to use their airline.

Example: I'm flying to Spain in a month from NYC, I can go on Iberia Business, or via London on UC VS + BM. I'll do the latter because those TP mean I'll retain Au. Would not have bothered otherwise. That's the whole point of an FF program: loyalty - VS get the money and not the other airline, because I'm loyal to them. Assuming... they keep their side of the bargain and reward me now and in the future, with usable miles, occasional op-upgrades and Clubhouse. That away I will select them first. otherwise: byeseybye Virgin.

I don't think BM fly to Spain ??

thanks - it was just an off-the-cuff example. probably go on Vueling, as it flies from T3 to Bilbao where I'm going, so its perfect!

I lost my AU at the end of last year and will now lose my AG at the end of this year as I have been using up my miles on VS or flying with the dark side ):

In a way it will be quite liberating as I will feel free to choose on price alone. If I fly UC i can still use the CH but I can cope with other lounges. I know how fortunate I am never to fly in Y long haul |:)

I do miss the glory days of flying VS. I still remember the personal letter from Sir RB on each of the new UC seats, the flowers, the generous amenity kits, etc etc......

Farewell loyalty hello new adventures I say :w

Sunshine 8D

Maybe if an alliance is coming, they need to reduce the numbers on CH access.
I have just qualified for another year of Gold, but it will probably be my last.
Time to start looking at other carriers I think and will see what the new No 1 Lounge at T3 is like when it opens later this year.

Yes, all this and the 2 for 1 voucher (ANY class) after $30,000 spend on BA credit card has the makings of a switch. That and the fact that the Dark Side actually has reward availability, and a good alliance, makes it mean something.

[Darren Wheeler]

BA looks tempting...until BASSA decide to have the long-threatened strikes... :w

BA looks tempting...until BASSA decide to have the long-threatened strikes... :w

And there lies the rub. Always.... B)