FC Tier Rewards

I think there was a thread a while ago about what could be done to improve the 'silver' tier of the FC. I must admit, upon calculation on my recently activity, that silver is probably as high as I'm going to get (I'll probably do 20 - 25 TPs in a year) and as I'm very close now I have some suggestions.

I do, however, think there needs to be an 'intermediate' stage between silver and gold (something like red, silver, gold, platinum) as I'll have got so bloody close to gold status over the following 12 months but know that I won't get it that I feel slightly robbed by the silver standards.

So for an intermediate stage (or a silver+) maybe the following applies:

All of current silver status plus:

1) 1 free upgrade from Econ to PE in a given year

2) Paid access to the lounge (after all with Priority Pass you can get into many so this would suggest more room in lounges than occupants) - make it a fair price but not too low and charge per person with no guests. I'd pay $50 or even 50GBP if I arrived early enough

3) Discounts on hire car companies - I never use Heathrow or Gatwick express so even though I get complimentary upgrades I'd never use them

4) 25% increase in miles flown

I have recently added a thread that suggests that silver status is worth it for the economy passenger based upon my recent experience, however, I like PE and I like UC (who wouldn't) so I'll always have priority check in anyway.

I'd like to know people's opinions about these suggestions.

Thanks,

JC

A few points:

Golds don't get guaranteed free upgrades.
Paid lounge access will devalue gold a bit, and some lounges already get very busy.
VS would say that hire car discounts are through preferred rates. Again, Golds don't get anything bar the HEX/GEX vouchers.
Golds get a 25% mileage increase, so again Gold would be devalued if Silver had this (maybe 10%?).

I agree that Silver does not get you much (but then again it is very easy to qualify for Silver), but frankly the ability to queue in the PE line is a massive benefit.

BC

[Nottingham Nick]

JC

We have had similar discussions in the past. I totally agree with your sentiments. It is not difficult for fairly regular economy fliers (like me) to retain silver on 3 trips a year.

A further incentive to fairly regular premium pax who won't get anywhere near gold would be good. As I have said (several [:I] ) times in the past. It isn't fair that a first time VH customer in economy can get paid access to the Clubhouse at LHR and a regular VS flier in PE / economy can't.

Nick

A 100% mileage bonus on FC Gold, and a 25% bonus for FC Silver would probably be a good way of making Silver (and Gold) more rewarding.

Maybe have a "priority upgrade award" system for Silver/Gold members - e.g have a slightly larger number of upgrade seats available for FC elites compared to Red. That would be another good way recognising loyalty!

Priority baggage handling for Silver and Gold customers.

What do people think of those?

Mike

[fozzyo]

Hmmm, its an interesting one this. I can totally understand the frustration people feel, just being below Gold but flying a lot more regularly then a two / three flights a year passenger. And any benefits that can be added are always welcomed.

The chances of me getting to Silver are slim, Gold - can't see that happening!! Even doing a Gold Run* (SIN KUL First to get the TP's) isn't worth it as I wouldn't get the benefit.

The point of any FFP is to help generate loyalty to the airline. By recognising you as a Frequent Flyer with Silver membership they are achieving what they want - you to fly with them instead of a competitor.

I'm going to be a real cynic here, but would the introduction of a fourth (fifth if we consider VS50 too) level of FC membership really benefit the airline?

Maybe instead of introducing another level they should have targetted marketing campaigns (I would assume they do this already) to add more value to their Silver members who use the services offered more. Afterall the FC gives them what most companies dream of - a fantastic database of loyal customers with a very clear way of seeing who takes up such offers.

Little things, like if you are less then 10 TP's away from Gold they send you an Invite to the Clubhouse for your next flight, or 10% bonus mileage on your next flight.

Foz )

*Gold Run - Hmmm, maybe we should call those flights a Blockbuster?

As a marketer, I also tend to look at these things from a marketing pov.

FF schemes incentivize and reward loyalty and also allow the airline to know who is flying with them, especially if someone is flying 'out of context' (eg a frequent UC business traveller using EC for a family holiday). As far as the incentive / reward element goes, I think Ag does this well for the frequent EC traveller and Au for the extremeley frequent EC traveller and the very frequent PE traveller. I'm not sure how much Au ads to someone who's using UC, but it does give frequent UC business passengers benefits if they travel in different classes when paying from their own pocket.

I do think there's a gap though for moderatley frequent useres of PE. As has been noted, Ag doesn't offer them much, and it takes seven return PE flights (assuming that's the only travelling you do) to rack up enought tier points to reach Au. That's a heck of a lot. If I were a three or four-times a year PE traveller, I don't think FC itslef would give me any incentive to use VS rather than BA. The question is, are there sufficient travellers falling into this bracket to make it worth VS offering them something different?

After avoiding EC queues, Clubhouse access seems to be the next most desirable benefit. I'd suggest that offering two clubhouses passes per year (so that you could use them yourself on two occassions or for yourself and a travelling companion on one)would be a useful benefit that wouldn't de-value other offerings or lead to over-crowding in the clubhouse. It could also work as a way to encourage people to use UC or aim for Au in order to have clubhouse access all the time. A couple more rail upgrade vouchers would also add something on top of AG without getting too close to Au.

A poll right about now could be a good idea. I've noticed that a lot of comments on this forum are of travellers who travel PE or UC only. There aren't as many EC comments at all.

It would be nice to see if we had enough statistical relevance within the users of this forum to determine:

No. round trip flights per year (5)
Most freqeuntly ticketed class (EC, PE, UC)

Now, if we took this data and there were enough users who filled in the poll we'd be able to answer your question regarding people who fall into my category 4 to 5 round trips a year 80% PE 20% UC)

Trouble is... I don't know how to post a poll! If anyone can help that would be great.

Thanks,

JC.

There was a 'new poll' icon that you could select, but it doesn't seem to be there at the moment.

[Pete]

The 'poll' option is limited to V-Flyer members posting in the Clubhouse forum.

Pix

That explains it, thanks.

James

I think the thread you were thinking of was this one.

I probably fly 4 or 5 round trips a year. As a Silver member, I thought PE check-in was great when flying in Econ - but since I found PE & UC, it's doubtful that I'd go back to Econ nowadays and Silver membership didn't really give me any benefit (ok, I got Gold now, but haven't used it in anger yet ). UC check-in and Clubhouse access will be well worth it when I fly in PE next time (which coincidentally is a work trip in March )

I think my comments remain more or less the same as in the above-mentioned thread. I do think that if any extra benefits are granted, they should be linked to renewal rather than given out when getting to Silver. I know a couple of Silver members at work that haven't even managed to make the 10 TPs for retaining it!

Cheers

Michael

I must have the attention span of a gold fish!!! I started that post [:0].

I didn't see half of the comments, must have checked it before it had finished.

Thanks,

James.

[Bazz]

As someone who flys only for pleasure and on personal dollars (well pounds) I think it is a big step to get from Silver to Gold, eg retaining Silver only 10 TPs but to earn Gold 40 TPs.

This year I will have flown VS for four round trips, LGW-LAS-LGW ticketed in PE but opuped to UC, LHR-MIA-NAS-MIA-LHR in coach, LHR-LAX-LHR in UC and (on Friday ) LHR-JFK-LHR in PE. All this activity will have earned me 26 TPs so I still have to get 14 more of the little buggers before April or 14 becomes 22 and I start going backwards.

The biggest benefits of Gold to me would be the extra miles and the UC check-in, we get Clubhouse access via Centurion regardless of class of travel so that is not an advantage, we only live 15 miles from LHR so Revivals is not an issue for me.

Still might do the Mcuth TP run just for the hell of it .

This year I will have flown VS for four round trips, LGW-LAS-LGW ticketed in PE but opuped to UC, LHR-MIA-NAS-MIA-LHR in coach, LHR-LAX-LHR in UC and (on Friday ) LHR-JFK-LHR in PE. All this activity will have earned me 26 TPs so I still have to get 14 more of the little buggers before April or 14 becomes 22 and I start going backwards.

[/quote

I've thought about this a bit--I do think that there might be a mid level tier--on beyond silver, perhaps an enhanced silver where you clock more than the required starter 15 tier points? It might include more earning miles and preferred op ups as well as a once a year visit to the clubhouse---but what would really be valuable (to my mind) would be fastpass. PE were given fastpass on a flight I took a few months ago and everyone seemed quite pleased. Perhaps this enhanced Silver could receive one at check-in?
Would it not make sense to offer this enhanced Silver, who might be enticed to make the next push to Gold, a few opportunities to sample whether it is worth it? Certainly the substantial difference in earning miles between Gold and Silver make a real difference....
RR