Flying Club Membership Changes

Does anyone have a copy of the email that was sent out to AU members?

I'd be happy to see it to, since I never received it ... if someone can email it, please PM me and I'll supply an email address.

ok, so as to keep this one going, as of today, the FC account page has been changed to add in the message about raised TP renewal threshholds, and removing the calculator that tells you how many TPs you need to renew (I guess a calculation based on membership year expiry date is far too hard to implement).

So, hands up all of you that have post-September membership year end dates, but have already heard that you have successfully renewed AU/AG at the lower threshholds... I wonder how Virgin will handle this...

Interesting points, my renewal is 1 October, and although I am comfortably over ( ii) ) 40 TPs, I would be extremely irritated if I had 30 now and was told that I had renewed ...

[honey lamb]

ok, so as to keep this one going, as of today, the FC account page has been changed to add in the message about raised TP renewal threshholds, and removing the calculator that tells you how many TPs you need to renew (I guess a calculation based on membership year expiry date is far too hard to implement).


RC

Interestingly, when I log on to my FC account that message isn't there as my account automatically defaults to the Europe site. However when I change the setting to the UK site, it is there in all its glory! Perhaps it doesn't affect European members :w )

I already re-qualified as AG in early May. So my expectation is that I remain Ag until May June of next year, and if I rack up 15 or more TPs before then I'll continue at AG; if not, I revert to red.

But, who knows

... Perhaps it doesn't affect European members :w )

You dreaming again ?| 8D

Does anyone have a copy of the email that was sent out to AU members?

I still have my copy. PM me your details and I'll send it.
Paul

I am debating whether to contact VS regarding this issue and wondering whether there's any point.

My year was planned and trips made according to the rules that 30TPs would re-qualify for Au membership. I have no problem with them upping the qualification to 40TPs but find it annoying that they change the goal posts half way through my membership year.

My year is up in November and I could then make the decision whether to try and gain 40TPs into 2012. However between now and November it's impossible for me to do that considering I have already booked my last two flights and time off accordingly.

If this is how they deal with loyal customers I will vote with my feet. Rant over.

Jilly

I already re-qualified as AG in early May. So my expectation is that I remain Ag until May June of next year, and if I rack up 15 or more TPs before then I'll continue at AG; if not, I revert to red.

I requalified as AU sometime before my year end in May. We are now into June and my FC account has not yet been reset. Does anyone know if there is a cut-off date? I had assumed mine would have been 31st May, but my flight on 1st June has been added into my current running total. I want those tier points to count to next year not last year.

martin - my silver renewal was during April, but the requalification actually happened on 2nd May - it's that 12 rolling month thing I can never get my head around.

So, it could be that your renewal doesn't actually take place until 1st/2nd June...

You should see the renwal on your account on the VS website...

and although I am comfortably over ( ii) ) 40 TPs, I would be extremely irritated if I had 30 now and was told that I had renewed ...

yes .. comfortably over !

I am debating whether to contact VS regarding this issue and wondering whether there's any point.

My year was planned and trips made according to the rules that 30TPs would re-qualify for Au membership. I have no problem with them upping the qualification to 40TPs but find it annoying that they change the goal posts half way through my membership year.

My year is up in November and I could then make the decision whether to try and gain 40TPs into 2012. However between now and November it's impossible for me to do that considering I have already booked my last two flights and time off accordingly.

If this is how they deal with loyal customers I will vote with my feet. Rant over.

Jilly

Yep,I totally agree with Jilly.I have just sent an e mail to CS to see if they are prepared to honour the sales "carrot" of 10 renewal points for Silver by the end of my current year (March 2012)instead of moving the goal posts "mid term". Mis-selling comes to mind here.

If anyones interested, I'll let you know the outcome...maybe in 2 or 3 weeks time knowing the speed at which these responses are being actioned...maybe I'll get the usual T's & C's defence.

its ironic that a couple of years ago they were loosing so many members with the recession kicking in that we were offered Gold renewal for only 10 TPs instead of 30

I'd be interested, CO, as I'm in the same position.

I still don't understand, and am still fascinated to learn, ---- why these changes have been made, and why now.

I sent VS an email late last night regarding the TP changes. I have today received a reply which some of you may be interested in.

Thank you for your email.

We are sorry that you find the tier renewal change disappointing. For many years we have been the only major airline to allow renewal for less activity than was required to earn it.

To bring in better earning levels and for future programme improvements we need to ensure that this positive earning activity is continued. The renewal process has been done in such a way that everyone will have a full membership year to achieve 40 tier points. No-one will be expected to change midyear and find that extra flight.

Feedback from our top tiers has requested higher earning. We have done this increasing Gold to 100% bonus and Silver to 50%. More tier points can now be earned in J,D,W,S and through 17 airline partners. Overall these are positive changes and will continue to reward our loyal travellers.

Thank you for your loyalty to the Flying Club programme.

Kind Regards
Jilly

It is ok by me. I have been up & down thru all the colours, but last summer, got a wee email telling me they had extended my gold membership by 13 months free, gratis and for nothing.

I had nowhere near enough tier points, but took it gladly. Going out with a bang this summer with the lounge access it gives me (over & above Priority pass), as I suspect I may NOT get another freebie.....

Jilly... interesting, they're contradicting themselves. According to the website, if my membership year finished in September (actually mine does in November), then I certainly don't have a full membership year to 'find that extra flight'.

It is pretty academic for me as I'll top 40 TPs anyway, but I can see this saga rolling on and on...

RC

Jilly... interesting, they're contradicting themselves. According to the website, if my membership year finished in September (actually mine does in November), then I certainly don't have a full membership year to 'find that extra flight'.

It is pretty academic for me as I'll top 40 TPs anyway, but I can see this saga rolling on and on...

RC

Totally agree, will be sending a response once my husband gets home tonight. I would rather a second person check my reply first as I want to make sure it's as clear and concise as possible - unlike VS!

Jilly

Great work Jilly, let us know the reply. I brought this up with them a while back and got no response. The fact they say in the email they sent that no one will change mid year gives me confidence even though it not what is said currently on the web site. It looks like no one at VS thought the TP changes through properly. Like many others I'll requalify with 30 but not 40 if the changes are made before my membership end in October.

I sent VS an email late last night regarding the TP changes. I have today received a reply which some of you may be interested in.

Thank you for your email.

We are sorry that you find the tier renewal change disappointing. For many years we have been the only major airline to allow renewal for less activity than was required to earn it.

To bring in better earning levels and for future programme improvements we need to ensure that this positive earning activity is continued. The renewal process has been done in such a way that everyone will have a full membership year to achieve 40 tier points. No-one will be expected to change midyear and find that extra flight.

Feedback from our top tiers has requested higher earning. We have done this increasing Gold to 100% bonus and Silver to 50%. More tier points can now be earned in J,D,W,S and through 17 airline partners. Overall these are positive changes and will continue to reward our loyal travellers.

Thank you for your loyalty to the Flying Club programme.

Kind Regards
Jilly

Oh dear, typical VS BS.

Isn't this factually incorrect: The renewal process has been done in such a way that everyone will have a full membership year to achieve 40 tier points. No-one will be expected to change midyear and find that extra flight.?

And then the usual marketing spin at the end with a thank you.

I said before that I believed this was related to normalizing top tier status with an alliance partner (and I spoke with someone at VS recently who believed the same), AND I don't necessarily disagree with it. But people midway through their year should have the terms honoured until their next year of earning.

It is bad enough that the renewal threshold has been increased mid-year, but when I log in to my account, I can't even see WHEN my tier year ends, because this information has also now been removed from the relevant page, along with the tool that used to tell you how close you were to renewal!

Not very impressive, really.

It is bad enough that the renewal threshold has been increased mid-year, but when I log in to my account, I can't even see WHEN my tier year ends, because this information has also now been removed from the relevant page, along with the tool that used to tell you how close you were to renewal!

Not very impressive, really.

glad its just not me that can't find this info anymore

I thought I had this clear - my membership year renew's in November 2011 though I will achieve Gold again in July, so does that mean I will secure Gold for 2011/12 at 30TPs and then from next year it will be 40TPs.

As everyone has said, a very confused picture and I can find no information on the website to guide me. I am assuming as the changes are effective from 1st September, that I will secure Gold at 30 TPs in July and will have to reach 30TPs in the next membership year before the switch to 40TPs?

Have I this right?

Have I this right?

I'm not sure. The statement that is now displayed in the "Your Account Summary" section of the "Your Account" page in Flying Club is unambiguous:

"If your tier membership year ends on or before 31 August 2011, you will require 30 tier points to retain gold membership or 10 tier points to retain silver membership.
If your tier membership year ends on or after 01 September 2011, you will require 40 tier points to retain gold membership or 15 tier points to retain silver membership."

So you said your year ends in November. The statement above says you will therefore need 40 to retain gold. !

It does seem an odd way of doing things. What if you had hit 30TP in February (say) and already been told you had renewed?

You are being penalised for not having known that the scheme would change, and moreover you can't do anything about it because your tier membership year is not something you can alter!

I thought I had this clear - my membership year renew's in November 2011 though I will achieve Gold again in July, so does that mean I will secure Gold for 2011/12 at 30TPs and then from next year it will be 40TPs.

As everyone has said, a very confused picture and I can find no information on the website to guide me. I am assuming as the changes are effective from 1st September, that I will secure Gold at 30 TPs in July and will have to reach 30TPs in the next membership year before the switch to 40TPs?

Have I this right?

Like you, my gold membership renews in November, and I have already gained 30 TP's beginning of May. Had the "congratulations on renewing Gold" message on my account, and now that message has gone.

Have emailed FC regarding whether they are honouring my next year at gold, but no reply as yet.

Indeed, a very confused picture. I have emailed FC to seek clarity. A poor do if I reach gold next month but becasue my year ends in November, I would be expected to aim for 40TPs seems rather unfair.

I did think the changes were not effective until 1st September so had assumed that if I reached gold before then they would honour my status at 30 TPs for the next year!!

Indeed, a very confused picture. I have emailed FC to seek clarity. A poor do if I reach gold next month but becasue my year ends in November, I would be expected to aim for 40TPs seems rather unfair.

I did think the changes were not effective until 1st September so had assumed that if I reached gold before then they would honour my status at 30 TPs for the next year!!

I think you will need 40.

I currently have a Gold with a credit card but was thinking of not renewing the credit card. I have 30+ tier points but was told I neeed 40 or more to retain gold card (my year ends in Oct) so booked a uc to Los Angeles in Sept to be safe y)