V-Flyer

So, the question is....Now I am on 85 tier points there seems to be no incentive for further loyalty with Virgin. I am therefore thinking of switching to Delta or BA until the end of my current flying club year (May). I would then build up benefits with their loyalty scheme and in theory get the benefits of 2 schemes.
I am really looking for advice to see if any of you can demonstrate some benefits that I don't know about (I have heard of some 'secret' benefits when you reach 100 tier points.


Anyone have any insight information before I book my next flight for 6th January?
Your help is much appreciated.






Cheers

Gerry

Personally I would join another flying club scheme with an airline affiliated to either one world or star alliance (not sky team) as it looks like VS will be joining this. This would allow you far more diversity when collecting/using rewards and as I now do it allows you to choose the best value fare and route timings without feeling you have to stick with one airline. I felt guilty about not flying VS but I soon realised that at the end of the day there is no real loyalty anymore from any major business as they are nearly all run by bean counters.

Cheers Paul, along the lines of my current thinking.

Get 100 Flown VS metal TP's between April 1st and March 31st (fixed year) and you'll get a better experience

Sorry, I have no idea what that post means.



Cheers

Gerry

Gerrym wrote:Sorry, I have no idea what that post means.

Nor me but it sounds ACE!! ^) ^)

As Paul says, 100 TPs is currently a magic figure - if you're invited to the club the benefits can be very good. 80+ in a FC year gets you your upgrade voucher don't forget .

Yes, I now have the upgrade voucher, but then there seems to be no further benefits. I also got this confirmed by Virgin earlier.



Thanks

Gerry

slinky09 wrote:As Paul says, 100 TPs is currently a magic figure - if you're invited to the club the benefits can be very good. 80+ in a FC year gets you your upgrade voucher don't forget .

Is there a secret handshake involved

The way things are going, I may well be joining you in a year or two. And if VS's domestic routes expand to cover Belfast, there won't be any 'maybe' about it...

Interesting stuff. It seems there may be a higher level but from what I can see it is secret and if it does exist, only applicable to the top 50 GB flyers.
I cannot imagine I would be anywhere near the top 50.
I think I am going to shift my loyalty, I would prefer to use a service where I know I will get benefits for loyalty rather than one that seems to have a 'Masonic' touch to it and you have no idea what the benefits might be.


Cheers

Gerry

Gerrym wrote:Interesting stuff. It seems there may be a higher level but from what I can see it is secret and if it does exist, only applicable to the top 50 GB flyers.
I cannot imagine I would be anywhere near the top 50.
I think I am going to shift my loyalty, I would prefer to use a service where I know I will get benefits for loyalty rather than one that seems to have a 'Masonic' touch to it and you have no idea what the benefits might be.


Cheers

Gerry

It was once known for the number 50, that doesn't apply anymore, it's based on TP earning (and all on VS metal).

slinky09 wrote:It was once known for the number 50, that doesn't apply anymore, it's based on TP earning (and all on VS metal).

No clues as to benefits slinky??

Ha, perhaps VS are missing a trick here.. again. Drip feed some examples of UNIQ (or whatever they call you guys now) benefits when people get close, highlight personalisation of service to the individual as opposed to the collective and perhaps people in Gerry's position may very well be tempted to stay on...

Oh well, would not be the first time the towers of Crawley have made a call that could lead to it's nobility defecting to a rival

That being said, nothing wrong with hedging your bets... I know I do after renewal level is reached 8D

Oh well, would not be the first time the towers of Crawley have made a call that could lead to it's nobility defecting to a rival

That being said, nothing wrong with hedging your bets... I know I do after renewal level is reached 8D[/quote]

I don't regard it as defecting especially if you ave spent your pennies reaching the required renewal TP's, it just makes sense to join a different alliance airline and spread your choices making the system work for you.

PaulS wrote:

joeyc wrote:Oh well, would not be the first time the towers of Crawley have made a call that could lead to it's nobility defecting to a rival

That being said, nothing wrong with hedging your bets... I know I do after renewal level is reached 8D

I don't regard it as defecting especially if you ave spent your pennies reaching the required renewal TP's, it just makes sense to join a different alliance airline and spread your choices making the system work for you.

Fixed the quote

Was just being a tad medieval in my analogy, similar to my accusations of peoples' heresy and that the fires should be lit for some festive burnings of those that are tempted by the evils of BA ... call it a bit of festive cheer. Ha

As I went on to say in my prior post, I also 'hedge my bets' i.e fly with other airlines upon reaching renewal, especially if it is to destinations not served directly by VS, it does make sense.

Although do you not agree that if VS decided to push their above AU tier by being slightly more forthcoming with details on what the rewards are, then people in the OPs situation may very well be tempted to stay flying with them?

As you said, you have already invested in the AU landmark, why not push forward to the next one as opposed to starting from scratch with another airline to maximise the ROI (Assuming of course that VS serve the route you are looking at) In the case that you are travelling outside of the VS network or looking at business/first anyway, definitely look to give another carrier a pop if the price is right and product what you are looking for.

Just my view 8D

Interesting thread. I look at competitors all the time and sometimes fly with them -- in my view, you should be very wary of unthinkingly giving your loyalty to any one company. It is one of very few respects in which you as a customer have any real clout, and "status" should not seduce you into thinking otherwise -- that's exactly what the airlines want!

For whatever reason the UNIQs here are incredibly reluctant to say much about the programme. It has come up several times in the past. I've no doubt it makes it all seem more special and exclusive, but the flipside is that a customer has very little to compare with the published benefits of the BA GGL, for instance, which generally gets good reviews over on flyertalk. I think VS is missing a trick here, as the OP's post makes pretty clear.

at240 wrote:For whatever reason the UNIQs here are incredibly reluctant to say much about the programme. It has come up several times in the past. I've no doubt it makes it all seem more special and exclusive

Do you think that is really the case at240??
I would have thought it would be more VS telling them not to explain the benefits so that other "mere" Au's can't throw it back at VS staff to get something else. If I was a UNIQ I would be telling and showing everyone what I got

I must admit, I know you have to set levels, what is the difference between 99 points and 100 points, unless of course VS are flexible in the aware of UNIQ status.

Clearly what you are being told here is to go a few more yards and hit 100 TP - it is worth it, as apparently there is a secret higher level of VS Flying Club. I'd imagine you have privileges like a personal direct phone in number, easier mileage upgrade terms for family, the ability to bring 4 guests in clubhouse. You get the idea?

To repeat: this must be 100 bottom-in-seat Tier Points, not credit card earned ones. Those don't count.

LovingGold wrote:Do you think that is really the case at240??
I would have thought it would be more VS telling them not to explain the benefits so that other "mere" Au's can't throw it back at VS staff to get something else. If I was a UNIQ I would be telling and showing everyone what I got

Well quite! -- a missed opportunity for helpful publicity, don't you think?

To be honest, I really don't mind. I just think that if you want people to aspire to a particular status, they need to know that a) it exists; b) how to qualify; and c) what the benefits are. All the more so if the competition is openly offering an equivalent...

I would've thought one of the main reasons for the secrecy is to keep competitive advantage over other airlines. Short of another airline employing someone to fly VS at least 10 return UC flights a year they won't get to find out.

That said I'm also surprised that they don't at least have a public teaser.

LovingGold wrote:I would have thought it would be more VS telling them not to explain the benefits so that other "mere" Au's can't throw it back at VS staff to get something else. If I was a UNIQ I would be telling and showing everyone what I got

I must admit, I know you have to set levels, what is the difference between 99 points and 100 points, unless of course VS are flexible in the aware of UNIQ status.

VS does not either publish a list of benefits nor ask people to stay schtum about what happens at +100 TPs - the benefits are chiefly in the realm of personal service and flexibility, so it's not easy to say what precisely they are. Think of a question you might ask, and you get the score! and it is excellent.

narikin wrote:Clearly what you are being told here is to go a few more yards and hit 100 TP - it is worth it, as apparently there is a secret higher level of VS Flying Club. I'd imagine you have privileges like a personal direct phone in number, easier mileage upgrade terms for family, the ability to bring 4 guests in clubhouse. You get the idea?

To repeat: this must be 100 bottom-in-seat Tier Points, not credit card earned ones. Those don't count.

That is a new one on me. I thought you could only get tier points by flying with Virgin. I did not realise you could get tier points from the Credit Card.
Anyway, mine are flying ones so does not really apply to me.


Cheers

Gerry

Gerrym wrote:
That is a new one on me. I thought you could only get tier points by flying with Virgin. I did not realise you could get tier points from the Credit Card.
Anyway, mine are flying ones so does not really apply to me.


Cheers

Gerry

The US Virgin Black Amex card gives you one TP for every $2500 you spend.