How would you change Flying Club?

Family Accounts, I agree completely.

I think there should be more mileage deals, like BA did the 18'000 miles for full fare. So something that gives you an incentive to fly twice in upper get an extra 10k miles.

Virgin flying club should lose the MBNA card and be a real AMERICAN EXPRESS branded card, such as BA fee waved for platinum card holders and no credit card fees when purchasing Virgin flights via Virgin.

Silver benefits should be increased, such as BA Silver so clubhouse access, even if for a fee.

What about a Concorde room idea for Virgin a room dedicated within the clubhouse, there is talk of maybe Virgin moving to terminal 1 when it re-opens so maybe an idea to have 2 clubhouses one more exclusive.

A lifetime platinum after 10 years of gold that gives you all the benefits of silver and a number of clubhouse accesses per year that you earn more you fly. SO loyalty even if just flying economy will pay for you. So you don't move on to the next lifetime status.

I think with the products on offer with the treatments spa to offer a gift everytime you renew gold and a free treatment. The financial cost to Virgin is very little if its written in to the contract when they tender/ one free treatment could lead to a customer returning.

Just some thoughts |:) .

Platinum Leo

[RichardMannion]

Leo, I think VS would love to be directly with AmEx but the clever folks at BA did a smart exclusivity clause years ago when they first launched the BA AmEx cards.

Seems to be some consensus around the miles for kids and household account - and some other great ideas.

From many posts, this topic has obviously been "done" before, it would also appear that direct feedback has been given to FC and some surveys.

With the thread coming to a natural halt, I can only hope that someone in FC gets to read and take note.........THIS TIME!

I have so far "thrown in my lot" with VS as I've always enjoyed the airline experience, have felt that as VS do the routes I use at present and the FC gave me some good returns, it really worked for me.

As my travels start to move beyond MCO, LAX, BGI etc, as my daughter grows older and we want to explore less "standard" destinations, I start to look further than VS...and, frankly, the EC household account has caught my eye.

This is simply an exercise in maximising returns without compremising my choices...

VS will have my loyalty, but restricted routes etc may force me to look further afield...

So, flying club people at VS - wotya gonna do about it!

Just a PS to this thread which seems to have petered out.

I think more exciting rewards for Silver and Gold members would encourage more loyalty. The main problem with VS is it doesn't have a pan european or internal US network. So the opportunities to use gold and silver benefits are not as frequent as other major carriers. The use of BMI international lounge is a good benefit but there is no comparable US alternative. So I would suggest that the use of partner carrier lounges would be a inexpensive but extremely valuable benefit to Gold members. Alternatively, allow gold members to use the VS CH when travelling on other airlines. This wouldn't increase volumes in the CHs much but would be a great perk. Also +50% miles doesn't count on partner airlines flights.

Any of these could be added to another tier (Black) which would restrict these benefits to fewer customers but at least allow customers those benefits if they were extremely loyal. I guess the truth is that FC doesn't compete with *A because it can't (won't?).

After returning this morning in premium, what about some simple touches for Golds not flying in Upper.

A glass (or 2) of real champagne on boarding and with meals, a bacon roll for breakfast (instead of that ham and cheese thing), a guaranteed seat reservation and yes, a welcome by the FSM.

A few little things which wouldn't cost a penny, but would make you feel like a valued customer.

David

Since taking on my current contract last year I've been flying a lot more, mainly with BA and BMI. Based on this experience I think VS still have the edge with the LHR CH but other than that there isn't much between them in terms of benefits except one, having a silver card with BMI and BA gets me access to their lounges on short haul economy flights which I do value.

We still fly UC with VS 2-3 times a year for personal travel and in reality having a gold card in those circumstances means nothing other than extra miles. Overall I think VS are still focusing on cutting benefits to FC rather than enhancing them and I can't see that changing any time soon while average loads are healthy.

Miopyk 8D