V-Flyer

My Au card says it expires 03/2010 and my online FC information says I needed 10 points before February 28th 2010.

Does this mean my card expires at the beginning or end of March 2010 - I haven't yet received anything from the FC....?[:(]

This is a particularly relevant point for me, as I have to travel to SYD in a couple of weeks time, and travelling PE (as I would be) if I don't have the Au perk of the lounge then I'm off to Singapore Airlines. I fear asking the FC may help them realise that my card has/is about to expire and it might accelarate the process of losing Au status...[:0] Bit of a catch 22 really.[:?]

AFAIK, the date on your card is slightly longer than your renewal date to allow you to still use it before your new one is sent out. ISTBC on this though.

Neil's right on this. The correct date is the one on the system. I would imagine the CH would know that you haven't re-qualified...

I belive you can still use your Au entitlement for one month after the AU renewal date (if you don't requalify) as they give you a month's grace to allow any late TPs to come though (e.g through partner airlines).

quote:Originally posted by gliderpilot
I belive you can still use your Au entitlement for one month after the AU renewal date (if you don't requalify) as they give you a month's grace to allow any late TPs to come though (e.g through partner airlines).

Hmmm, this is exactly what I was wondering - does anyone know for sure whether this 1 month 'grace period' really does exist or not? This will have an impact on whether or not I book with VAA or SQ to travel to/from Australia. On a journey like this, the use of CH lounges is very significant.

Thanks.

Maybe a call to the Premier team will be the quickest and more accurate way to clarify this for you.

Well, this all turns out to be quite interesting. My FC online account shows that 'a new card with a new membership number' has been issued (assume this is in the post as I type) which according to the flying club this morning (I rang them to ask) means I'm getting a Ag card [n].

However, despite the fact that I didn't achieve the requisite number of TP's before 28/2 to retain my Au status, and therefore go down to Ag, there IS a 30 day grace period after the official expiry date of my Au status which means I now have Au card benefits up to and including April 2nd [y], even though by that data I'll have my shiny new Ag card!

Thanks for the input all!

Should also have added that the FC said the expiry date on the card is simply expiry for the physical card, NOT the account/status (which is given on-line/in correspondence).

Wow!, I was actually right about something!

Bad luck on the Ag, but at least you won't have to hide your card away like the Au one! [:w]

To be honest, I'm looking seriously at having SQ as my first choice in the future. At the end of the day, when weighing up the pro's and con's of the access to the CH (with its ever diminishing quality and benefits) and the increasingly penny-pinched quality of service and product for 10/12/24 hours flying, I've come to the conclusion that SQ are mostly better for the majority of any trip (i.e. the 'in the air' part, and at very competitive prices for their Business product - which is TRULY excellent [y]).

Thus, the loss of Au is not such a big deal, and I've reset my expectations to value the 'in the air' part of any travel I do, and once again feel like a valued customer [:)].

Thanks for the clarification vizbiz, just one further thing, do you know if you get the AU miles bonus during the grace period?

Interesting question. I would guess that you just get Ag and then they would have to add the extra on manually if you subseuqently were confirmed as Au?

Vizbiz, I agree about SQ, the business class is a very, very good product in the air and at least the lounge in Singapore partially makes up for the poor offering at Heathrow.

Well, I've pulled the trigger on return SQ Business Class flights to Australia via Singapore, and we'll see how it compares [8D].

I'll endeavour to post a couple of detailed TR's for the 2 pairs of flights.

Am sure you won't be disappointed!

IMHO SQ have the best business class offering, particularly if
on the A380.

Enjoy your flights.