V-Flyer

So, once again something "new" has been published on the old format of site, (and from a styling point of view it's shocking) but....

The updated benefits comparison table is now live: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/fr ... _table.jsp


60TP bonus and 80TP bonus now listed. Silver renewal bonus listed. Clicking through to gold lists the items as new also:

NEW GOLD BENEFITS

Reach 60 tier points and we will give you 2 complimentary passes per year to our global clubhouses to give to friends and family when flying Virgin Atlantic.

Reach 80 tier points and you will receive 2 cabin upgrades to be redeemed on any Virgin Atlantic flights subject to availability in the applicable redemption booking class. (not including codeshare flights)

And don't forget your 2000 miles birthday gift.

I wouldn't say "new", I'd say "Updated", that table has been around for years, but has been updated with the new 60/80 tp extras.

Hamster wrote:I wouldn't say "new", I'd say "Updated", that table has been around for years, but has been updated with the new 60/80 tp extras.

Hmmm. I believe I did:

The updated benefits comparison table is now live:

The "new" (note the speech marks) was ironic, given it's still on the old format site.

Sorry, I'm obviously too tired to read properly B)
Ignore me

One thing that interests me is if the 80TP benefit could be flipped to a 4 x 1-way upgrade - which would be extremely nice for my family hols if I book a cheapo K return and want to go UC on one leg. In theory it should be no skin off the nose of VS to work it that way, and would be a passing nod of recognition that many of us have families that make a journey for just 2 rather impractical. Although the pessimist im me thinks the answer would still be 'no'...

Not going to hit that level this year, but it's definitely possible in 2013.

ratechaser wrote:One thing that interests me is if the 80TP benefit could be flipped to a 4 x 1-way upgrade

That's an interesting question -- I don't think the T&Cs permit it, but you might be lucky.

is 2 cabin upgrades for 80TP 2 single flight legs or 2 returns

2 returns, so 4 legs

AND on the T's and C's it's usable against *any* paid fare - not just Y/B/L/W/S

preiffer wrote:AND on the T's and C's it's usable against *any* paid fare - not just Y/B/L/W/S

Indeed as I pointed out earlier, so two sale fares in PE and two returns in UC is a very good benefit!

Like you I am shocked that they're continuing to add pages in the old web site format or even add new content ... as for the rest of the web site I stick to my forecast of completion by 2015, it's an awful mess, now one year into the redesign.

slinky09 wrote:

preiffer wrote:AND on the T's and C's it's usable against *any* paid fare - not just Y/B/L/W/S

Indeed as I pointed out earlier, so two sale fares in PE and two returns in UC is a very good benefit!

Like you I am shocked that they're continuing to add pages in the old web site format or even add new content ... as for the rest of the web site I stick to my forecast of completion by 2015, it's an awful mess, now one year into the redesign.

If new t's and c's are introduced for something then these need to be listed on any live sites whether they are in the new or old format. No new pages are being created for the new website, but content will be updated if needed.

at240 wrote:

ratechaser wrote:One thing that interests me is if the 80TP benefit could be flipped to a 4 x 1-way upgrade

That's an interesting question -- I don't think the T&Cs permit it, but you might be lucky.

Not with the sort of luck that I have

Where are the Ts & Cs for this benefit BTW? Not come across them yet on the site...

The decision point for me next year around business travel will be whether to split it so I can achieve BA AG as well as maintain VS AU, or throw my lot in entirely with VS. If this benefit actually could be used for 4 1-way upgrades, it really would help make up my mind... Alternatively if they could be carried forward indefinitely so you could build up 4 over a 2 year period.

I suspect there's no value in calling and asking due to the inconsistencies of answers you get, and I'd want it in writing anyway... may be that I end up having to send them a letter!

terms in point 2.26 Gold Card 80 Tier Point Cabin Upgrade Reward (effective from 01 August 2012

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/fl ... rship.html

StillRedHot wrote:If new t's and c's are introduced for something then these need to be listed on any live sites whether they are in the new or old format. No new pages are being created for the new website, but content will be updated if needed.

Actually I still can't understand that - if there are pages of the web site that need updated content, if I were managing things, I'd have those prioritized for redesign above those that look nice. Saves work ultimately.

I remain shocked that a year in to this process the web site is still an almighty mess.

slinky09 wrote:

StillRedHot wrote:If new t's and c's are introduced for something then these need to be listed on any live sites whether they are in the new or old format. No new pages are being created for the new website, but content will be updated if needed.

Actually I still can't understand that - if there are pages of the web site that need updated content, if I were managing things, I'd have those prioritized for redesign above those that look nice. Saves work ultimately.

I remain shocked that a year in to this process the web site is still an almighty mess.

The whole of the website will need updated content at some point, so therefore you can't prioritise odd pages here and there as that would make the website even more of a mess than you say it currently is..

The new website is being introduced in sections to avoid the fiasco that happened when SQ re-launched their entire site at one time. Nothing worked properly, no-one knew where anything was, etc.

ratechaser wrote:The decision point for me next year around business travel will be whether to split it so I can achieve BA AG as well as maintain VS AU, or throw my lot in entirely with VS.

It sounds as though you might have a third option -- to go 100% BA and achieve AU. I would be quite tempted by that.

at240 wrote:

ratechaser wrote:The decision point for me next year around business travel will be whether to split it so I can achieve BA AG as well as maintain VS AU, or throw my lot in entirely with VS.

It sounds as though you might have a third option -- to go 100% BA and achieve AU. I would be quite tempted by that.

I honestly had not thought of that! Just shows how entrenched I've got with VS over the past few years. I'll have to check out the BA AU benefits now, thanks!

ratechaser wrote:I honestly had not thought of that! Just shows how entrenched I've got with VS over the past few years. I'll have to check out the BA AU benefits now, thanks!

On second thoughts, maybe VS AU and BA AG is a better combination -- I guess it depends on your needs and where/how you fly. BA AU in itself does not offer all that much extra over AG, but once you get to the GGL levels it gets interesting. If you are hitting 80 TP on VS then you could conceivably be quite close to GGL if you went 100% BA.

But I think that GGL would need 11 returns a year over 2 years to NY/HK in CW, and I certainly hope that I'm not going to have to travel quite that much!

StillRedHot wrote:The whole of the website will need updated content at some point, so therefore you can't prioritise odd pages here and there as that would make the website even more of a mess than you say it currently is..

The new website is being introduced in sections to avoid the fiasco that happened when SQ re-launched their entire site at one time. Nothing worked properly, no-one knew where anything was, etc.

I know you want to defend VS but I work in the world of digital content and metaphorically we've launched battleships in the time it takes VS to throw one life vest overboard, so I am shocked about how poor this is and in particular the terrible usability of the site.

ratechaser wrote:But I think that GGL would need 11 returns a year over 2 years to NY/HK in CW, and I certainly hope that I'm not going to have to travel quite that much!

Indeed although there is an equivalent of GGL with VS that requires about the same level of earning - and I prefer the VS version to GGL. BAEC Au requires 1,500 TPs so about six returns to New York in Club, whereas VS Au requires four and BA Ag requires three, just for comparison. At least BA Au gets you into the First lounges rather than the Galleries, Galleries are very basic compared to VS clubhouses.

7 returns on LCY-JFK will get you almost 3000 TPs, and you will get the 2500 TP upgrade for 2 voucher en route. Two years of that + the odd shorthaul or AA sector = GGL.

(this was why I compared to the VS 80 TP benefit = 8 returns)

Obviously this doesn't work on other routes - the LCY service is the key.

at240 wrote:7 returns on LCY-JFK will get you almost 3000 TPs, and you will get the 2500 TP upgrade for 2 voucher en route. Two years of that + the odd shorthaul or AA sector = GGL.

(this was why I compared to the VS 80 TP benefit = 8 returns)

Obviously this doesn't work on other routes - the LCY service is the key.

Ah yes I'd forgotten the LCY bonus, living in SW London it's harder to get there than LHR for me so I've never used it.

I've wanted to try the LCY route for a while now (as it looks reminiscent of the old EOS set up, which I absolutely loved), but the annoying thing is that they don't fly out on a Sunday...

Or maybe they do but our travel policy doesn't allow it!

ratechaser wrote:I've wanted to try the LCY route for a while now (as it looks reminiscent of the old EOS set up, which I absolutely loved), but the annoying thing is that they don't fly out on a Sunday...

Or maybe they do but our travel policy doesn't allow it!

I thought they had one of the two flights on Sunday ?|

slinky09 wrote:

StillRedHot wrote:The whole of the website will need updated content at some point, so therefore you can't prioritise odd pages here and there as that would make the website even more of a mess than you say it currently is..

The new website is being introduced in sections to avoid the fiasco that happened when SQ re-launched their entire site at one time. Nothing worked properly, no-one knew where anything was, etc.

I know you want to defend VS but I work in the world of digital content and metaphorically we've launched battleships in the time it takes VS to throw one life vest overboard, so I am shocked about how poor this is and in particular the terrible usability of the site.

I have no interest in defending VS whatsoever, I'm telling you the reason why it is how it is.

As I suddenly realised that I probably WILL hit 80TPs this year, given the current bonus offer, I called VS and they confirmed that the upgrades could be taken as 4 x 1 way rather than 2 x return. Although I may try and get that confirmed in writing!

The way I'm going, I could end up getting BA AG on belfast runs alone!