Recognition of AU status in the air

Recently enjoyed a perfectly comfortable PE flight on VS200 LHR-SYD (TR here) and enjoyed the benefits of AU status on the ground - but no recognition or acknowledgement in the air - a change from the past - is this now typical?

I'm afraid so. I've been a gold for many years and it's only been acknowledged a handful of times - maybe 3 or 4 flights in the past 3 years at most.

Interestingly, I recently received a Flying Club survey from VS and one of the questions asked something like, "did you receive an acknowledgement of your loyalty on board?".

It's great when it's acknowledged, but it's so very rare. At least, in my experience.

Happens to me say 49 flights out of 50 on average - I think on only one occasion last year did I not get any recognition.

Happens to me say 49 flights out of 50 on average - I think on only one occasion last year did I not get any recognition.

But you are "extra" special slinks . My experience has been generally poor.
DL

Maybe the dishing out of free Gold cards with certain credit cards makes it such a minefield for VS crews to know who is a genuine loyal Gold card person, or who is a 'credit card Gold' possibly on their first ever VS flight?

I'd imagine that UNIQ flyers like Slinky then stand out on the manifest because their status can't be earned in any way other than flying.

But you are "extra" special slinks . My experience has been generally poor.
DL

Please tell that to the no. 1?

Maybe the dishing out of free Gold cards with certain credit cards makes it such a minefield for VS crews to know who is a genuine loyal Gold card person, or who is a 'credit card Gold' possibly on their first ever VS flight?

I agree with you about the problem it poses, but verbal recognition is basically a zero cost to the airline and so I can't see what the crew have to lose by thanking all the golds on a given flight.

And besides, VS create the problem by selling the status through card tie-ups, so I don't think they could really use it to excuse the poor recognition of status. Maybe they should just give 'pseudo'-golds a different numerical prefix to their FC number, then the crew could easily differentiate. Maybe they already do...

Maybe the dishing out of free Gold cards with certain credit cards makes it such a minefield for VS crews to know who is a genuine loyal Gold card person, or who is a 'credit card Gold' possibly on their first VS flight.

Which credit card is that? I've got miles via the MBNA credit card, but my status and trip points are exclusively via flying.

Which credit card is that? I've got miles via the MBNA credit card, but my status and trip points are exclusively via flying.

Amex Centurion

[Neil]

Which credit card is that? I've got miles via the MBNA credit card, but my status and trip points are exclusively via flying.

The only one I am aware that gives FC Au is an AmEX Centurion card, but that has a £1800 (IIRC) annual fee and is by invite only, so not available to the masses.

I don't think that it's too much troouble for the cabin crew to provide that little bit extra for Au FC members. Especially considering that the card doesn't offer much in the way of perks beyond what one gets when flying UC (which you have to do to maintain the status anyway). A little bit of preferential treatment goes a long way.

On a somewhat related topic, what airline was it that said it would give CC ipads which would allow them access data on FF pax so that preferences would be noted?

Which credit card is that? I've got miles via the MBNA credit card, but my status and trip points are exclusively via flying.

The only one I am aware that gives FC Au is an AmEX Centurion card, but that has a £1800 (IIRC) annual fee and is by invite only, so not available to the masses.

There is that, but also isn't there a scheme with some Amex US cards to get TPs on spend, so that adds to the number of AU's?

Which credit card is that? I've got miles via the MBNA credit card, but my status and trip points are exclusively via flying.

The only one I am aware that gives FC Au is an AmEX Centurion card, but that has a £1800 (IIRC) annual fee and is by invite only, so not available to the masses.

So hardly led to massive "dilution" of the Gold Card pool,,,,

[honey lamb]

It's hit or miss if I get it and seems down to the crew. On my last flight there were only 2 Au members in the UC cabin and one Red. It wouldn't have taken too much time to say Hello

I don't think that it's too much troouble for the cabin crew to provide that little bit extra for Au FC members. Especially considering that the card doesn't offer much in the way of perks beyond what one gets when flying UC (which you have to do to maintain the status anyway). A little bit of preferential treatment goes a long way.

Not necessarily. Some V-Flyers are Gold only through flying PE or Economy. If you fly often enough you can reach that status and some people seem to be forever in the air. One member who may or may not wish to reveal himself, posted on here that he had renewed within 6 weeks. :0 There's another 26+the rolling month left for flying and with that time span it would be easy enough to renew Gold if in PE or Y

On a somewhat related topic, what airline was it that said it would give CC ipads which would allow them access data on FF pax so that preferences would be noted?

It was BA

[Neil]

There is that, but also isn't there a scheme with some Amex US cards to get TPs on spend, so that adds to the number of AU's?

That is true, but the number of TP's you can earn in a year is limited to 2 per month (1 TP per $2500 spend), so you would still need earn a minimum of 16TP's from flying to gain and maintain Au, along with a minimum of $5000 every month spend on the card. Again, not really making it available to the masses.

[Darren Wheeler]

Always had my status acknowledged and always had my first choice of meal.

On the flip side, I've seen AU members behave quite appallingly to crew, thinking that plastic card entities them to treat crew like their own personal servant and demand things that are not due. Such as sat in PE and most vocally demanding an Upper meal.

It's hit or miss if I get it and seems down to the crew. On my last flight there were only 2 Au members in the UC cabin and one Red. It wouldn't have taken too much time to say Hello

I don't think that it's too much troouble for the cabin crew to provide that little bit extra for Au FC members. Especially considering that the card doesn't offer much in the way of perks beyond what one gets when flying UC (which you have to do to maintain the status anyway). A little bit of preferential treatment goes a long way.

Not necessarily. Some V-Flyers are Gold only through flying PE or Economy. If you fly often enough you can reach that status and some people seem to be forever in the air. One member who may or may not wish to reveal himself, posted on here that he had renewed within 6 weeks. :0 There's another 26+the rolling month left for flying and with that time span it would be easy enough to renew Gold if in PE or Y

That's quite a bit of flying oo)

On a somewhat related topic, what airline was it that said it would give CC ipads which would allow them access data on FF pax so that preferences would be noted?

It was BA

Maybe VS should try this as well

[Darren Wheeler]

They do, but it's written on the passenger manifest. No battery to go flat or screen to break. Hi-tech isn't always the answer.

One problem is that if pax use miles to upgrade or for their ticket, on the crew manifest we just get a generic 00500500 code so have no idea whether pax are red, silver or gold.

I've been retyping this post a few times now, as I don't want to come across as a DYKWIA type (and I honestly don't think that's me!)... so here goes.

To me, AU recognition is much less important when I'm flying UC on business - whilst it's nice on the rare occasions that I do get greeted by name, I expect and usually get a good flight as a result of being in that class.

What's far more important, is when I'm sat at the back of the bus on holiday with my family. In those situations, some sort of little gesture would make them feel a bit more 'special'. CH access beforehand is nice, although hardly a bargain as I have to pay to get the kids in with us (not that they eat or drink much...), but any AU 'perks' seem to stop at the door of the plane.

An example of what I'd see as a nice touch could include an invite to the bar for a quick drink in those situations perhaps... don't know what the average load of AUs in Y/PE tends to be, but I'd like to think that it could be manageable perhaps...

The only one I am aware that gives FC Au is an AmEX Centurion card, but that has a £1800 (IIRC) annual fee and is by invite only, so not available to the masses.

Plus the USA based AX card gives TP based on monthly spend - I think it is 1TP per $2500 spent.

One problem is that if pax use miles to upgrade or for their ticket, on the crew manifest we just get a generic 00500500 code so have no idea whether pax are red, silver or gold.

I have noticed in the last couple of months that even when using miles to upgrade my real number is now printed on the boarding pass. (you still need to call to get the miles awarded although even that has happened a few times automatically).
Is this a change in the VS system ?

.... but no recognition or acknowledgement in the air - a change from the past - is this now typical?

Yes, its typical now. I rarely get any acknowledgement on board. Last May I had one truly memorable moment when flying economy to LAX when the FSM came through to the economy cabin with a tray of glasses of champagne in acknowledgement of my status. I still dream of finding the wonderful Amanda Emmerson oo) (use of name approved) as my FSM on another VS flight.

.... when flying UC (which you have to do to maintain the status anyway).

I have always got my Au status by flying EC and PE ..... a lot.

One member who may or may not wish to reveal himself, posted on here that he had renewed within 6 weeks. :0 There's another 26+the rolling month left for flying and with that time span it would be easy enough to renew Gold if in PE or Y

HL how many weeks do you have in your year there in Cork? - Over here in England we get the full 52

One problem is that if pax use miles to upgrade or for their ticket, on the crew manifest we just get a generic 00500500 code so have no idea whether pax are red, silver or gold.

I'm not sure that is completely correct. Maybe it is for a full reward flight, but I upgraded last Friday from K to G (Flying Co. miles before you ask) and on my BP which I'm looking at now, it has my Au 009... number

I was quite shocked a couple of years ago when the FSM came to me at the back of the bus on my way to HKG and said hi Mr Sky, you fly with us quite alot..... I was only a lowly AG. It made me feel very good y). Such nice gestures.

They do, but it's written on the passenger manifest. No battery to go flat or screen to break. Hi-tech isn't always the answer.

I've seen a demo of the BA CC iPad app and it's very impressive. It's very easy to cut the passenger manifest data in different ways on the app and it contains a lot of information such as notes of previous complaints/journey delays, whether it's the passenger's first trip in the cabin/at a certain status level etc. Plus any complaints/comments made on board can be logged by the SCCM there and then and followed up by customer services on the ground.