Tier Point confusion

I just rang FC to ask about the new TP requirements to renew AU and the operator had no knowledge of any changes!

So, in the absence of firm knowledge what is the consensus about the following.

My AU membership runs until 31 Oct 2011. Previously I needed 30 TPs by this date for the renewal.

The changes mean after 1st Sept 2011 I will need 40 TPs to renew.

My question is if I get 30 TPs before 1st Sept 2011 do I qualify for renewal? Or do I need 40 TPs regardless.

On 25th July this year I'll have 27 TPs so this will influence whether I fly VS.

The website has this confused statement.

"If your gold membership year ends on or before 31 August 2011, you will require 30 tier points to retain gold membership.
If your gold membership year starts on or after 01 September 2011, you will require 40 tier points to retain gold membership."

But I don't fall into either of these categories because my membership ends after 31 August and started before 1st September.

Any clues.....?

I think either my membership year ends after 1st Sept and therefore I need 40TPs. Or I get 30TPs before 1st Sept and the renewal is recorded and kicks at membership end.

?| ?| ?|

My understanding is that it is based on the number of tier points at the date of your renewal, and since your renewal falls after the change it will be 40 TPs.

Now this strikes me as somewhat unfair, if you renewed on 1 August you'd have 12 months from 1st September to work on adding 10 TPs to renew, but since you renew pretty quickly, you've got much less time.

Strikes me that VS should have made the change upon each Au's 'next' renewal.

[honey lamb]

It is confusing. My renewal date it 31 Jan 2012. I'm taking it that I only need 30 points up to that date but 40 points thereafter. I've decided that I shall await my first trip in July and see what happens when they publish my miles and TP awards

Isn't the wording "from September 1 you'll need 40 TPs in your next membership year"?

If so, does that mean in your current membership year you need 30 TPs as before?

Thanks both for your replies. Your comment about it being a little unfair is spot on. I would have thought it'd be fairer, as you say, to apply the new rules to subsequent renewals.

And maybe this is what is happening. The wording you quote about the new rules applying in the 'next' membership year IS indeed what it says in the email alert. Its just not quite what it says on the website although its not inconsistent either!

Just trying not to be stung out of another years Au, thats all...... If I knew I needed 40 I'd make use of the recent UC sale!

It does sound like it revolves around when your membership year starts and ends so I'm now thinking I have until 31st Oct to get 30TPs. I'll have to ring FC again.....

[buns]

Isn't the wording "from September 1 you'll need 40 TPs in your next membership year"?

If so, does that mean in your current membership year you need 30 TPs as before?

Slinky

That is how I read it, but I have little confidence that that is went is meant !

Let's wait and see I suppose

buns

my membership runs till 31st October 2011, I just got to 30 TP a few days ago and my FC account says - Congratulations you have qualified for your next gold renewal.

Thanks Penny. Well that clears up the question as to whether I need 40TP regardless. Remains to be seen whether if I reach 30TPs after 1st Sept but before 31st Oct my Au get renewed.....

I'm in a similar position as regards my own Silver status.
It last rolled over at the end of January 2011 at which time my Silver status was renewed based on past activity.
In February 2011 I made an Upper Class round trip which gained 10 TPs which are (were) enough to renew for a further year (i.e. from February 2012).

My on-line account states

YOUR TIER POINTS - STAYING AT SILVER
Congratulations you have renewed your Flying Club Silver membership. A new Flying Club Silver membership card will be sent shortly before your current card expires.

I'm assuming (rightly or wrongly) that that situation will not change and that I will get one more year at least. It's rare for changed conditions to have a retrospective effect and it would be disappointing, having already qualified for renewal, to be told I have to earn 5 more TPs this year or I'll lose it.

It will be interesting to see.....

I have collected 11 tier points and am on track to renew AU with 30 points by the end of my membership year in November. However, I will not reach 40 points if the goalposts are changed at this stage.

Whilst waiting for a reply from Customer Services to my question on whether the new rules start from now or December for my account, I notice that logging into the Virgin website still says: "You need 19 Tier Point(s) by 30-Nov-11 to renew gold membership."

So I'm assuming that nothing changes for this membership year!

FYI this is the fairly useless email I received about it. This claims that before August 2012 you need 30 but I expect this is a typo and should be 2011. I'll ring again next week when hopefully FC line has more info. Any clarity in the meantime from any other posters would be helpful.

londoneraway - yes, my online account still claims I need 17 by membership year end but I don't trust this yet since its not consistent with the claim that after 1st Sept you'll need 40 to renew.

"Thank you for your email.

Having viewed your Flying Club account, I notice that you need to earn a further 17 tier points by 31st October 2011 to retain Gold status.

We have forwarded your feedback to the relevant department. I would like to assure you that all suggestions are being considered and we recognise that feedback such as yours is vital to the ongoing progress of the Flying Club programme.

For your reference, if your Gold membership year ends on or before 31st August 2012, you will require 30 tier points to retain Gold membership.

Should you have any further queries please speak with your Flying Club helpline. Any of our advisors will be pleased to help. "

Hi worc0670,

I received a different email reply from Customer Services after my post on this forum confirming that the current membership year WILL be honoured.

I won't post the whole thing but in summary:

Whilst we recognise this change may cause disappointment to some of our members, the renewal process has been done in such a way that everyone will have a full membership year to achieve the required 40 tier points. No-one will be expected to change midyear and find that extra flight.

More tier points can also be earned for tickets booked in the following classes J,D,W and S, and there are now more opportunities than ever to earn tier points through our 17 partner airlines. Overall we believe these are positive changes and will continue to reward our loyal travellers.

In respect to your Flying Club account, I can confirm your current membership year finishes on 30 November 2011 and you will be required to earn 19 tier points by that time in order to retain your Gold status for a further year. After that time the new levels will apply.

Thanks so much for posting this, I appreciate it! That clears that up gives me confidence about renewing : )