Flying Club Gold Status

Hello...

Some advise is needed on whether to obtain Flying Club Gold status or not.

I am flying 4-5 times a year on VS, only on UC as this is Company policy when traveling overseas. In terms of tier points I can make gold within the 12 months required, however with the number of miles gained, I would perhaps get enough for one retur flight a year.

As a ANA gold card hold, I earn points when flying VS and accrue the same amount of points anyway, and can even use these on VS redemption when availaue.

So the question is... Should I just remain as I am now, using ANA to accrue miles as I have Clubroom access anyway as I am traveling UC. Or should I accrue the points and miles with flying Club, if you believe there are more benefits in this?

My biggest point of irretation (which might be minor considering other issues that could be troubeling you)is the fact that I am not recognisied as a frequent UC traveller, which in my mind, 4-5 fully paid UC return flights a year would qualify for...

Your view points are very velcome.

Jensenma

VS gold will get you double flown miles PLUS a bonus for the UC fare paid.
If you are in UC anyway then there are not many other benefits. Double miles from Japan to UK 5 times a year could get you about 60k in bonus VS miles.
However, if you take other fights and ever use *A lounges (as you are no doubt gold ANA)the VS gold will not help you.

Am I right in thinking that booking reward flights with ANA points on VS flights is much cheaper taxes, fees, charges and surcharges wise?
The only benefit of vs gold when only flying UC is the few extra miles.

A return ftom LHR to JFK on VS (UC) using points with ANA costs approx £ 500, so not cheap, but of course compared to normal fare it is. Not sure what costs with VS is???

A return ftom LHR to JFK on VS (UC) using points with ANA costs approx £ 500, so not cheap, but of course compared to normal fare it is. Not sure what costs with VS is???

Oh so basically same cost (£495.99 through VS).

So if G availability is the same, for same cost in miles and cash, plus same miles are earnt on flights, I don't see any benefit from moving.

flying Club, if you believe there are more benefits in this?

My biggest point of irretation (which might be minor considering other issues that could be troubeling you)is the fact that I am not recognisied as a frequent UC traveller, which in my mind, 4-5 fully paid UC return flights a year would qualify for...

Your view points are very velcome.

Jensenma

I hate to say this but there are some members here on v-flyer who are AU and travel much more than you do (such that 5 UC returns a year is nothing) still don't get any extra recognition.

[quote="jensenma"
So if G availability is the same, for same cost in miles and cash, plus same miles are earnt on flights, I don't see any benefit from moving.

I have no evidence to support this but my feeling is that there would be more VS award/upgradse seats available than partner awards.
I also do nto think you can use non VS miles to upgrade on VS. Of course if you are in UC that matters not but just a general commment.

I have no evidence to support this but my feeling is that there would be more VS award/upgradse seats available than partner awards.
I also do nto think you can use non VS miles to upgrade on VS. Of course if you are in UC that matters not but just a general commment.

That seems to be the general experience (not just with VS) in that an airline may have X reward seats available on a particular flight yet only Y reward seats are available to partner airlines out of the X seats.

Seems tricky to upgrade above Upper unless you want to fly the aircraft. If you only fly Upper seems your best bet is to earn miles where you are likely to use them.

[Nottingham Nick]

Seems tricky to upgrade above Upper unless you want to fly the aircraft. If you only fly Upper seems your best bet is to earn miles where you are likely to use them.

+ 1

In the past I took extra flights to maintain gold, but that was because I don't fly Upper, and the CH benefit made the gold card a valuable piece of plastic. VS stopped me doing that by upping their renewal levels, so I got a Priority Pass and saved a shed load of money. 8D

VS gold has never been at all attractive to regular UC fliers. This has been commented on numerous times here, so if you have a better alternative, then go for it.

Nick

VS gold has never been at all attractive to regular UC fliers. This has been commented on numerous times here, so if you have a better alternative, then go for it.

Nick

This is pretty much true for all airlines. If you are in their highest cabin then you will be getting the best service anyway so your FF status will not make much difference.
(I refer to International flights - not what the US airlines charmingly call 'first')

[Nottingham Nick]

.....This is pretty much true for all airlines. If you are in their highest cabin then you will be getting the best service anyway so your FF status will not make much difference......

I don't agree with that at all. When I first got my VS Gold card, I felt that they really valued my loyalty. There were several Gold card holder events, plenty of mail shots with offers; and on board I felt a bit special - greeted by name by the FSM - a glass of sparkling stuff at my seat when I wasn't in UC and most of all, for the first couple of years I was batting at over 50% for op-ups.

There were also surveys about how to maintain the custom of gold card holders - extra guest passes for the CH, priority for reward seats etc etc. I assume this was to counter the previously discussed lack of value of the card for regular UC pax.

But then came the beancounters. B)

For the last couple of years I had my card - absolutely nothing! No events, no greetings, no special offers and no op-ups. All of this meant that losing the card wasn't the wrench I expected. The CH experience s the biggest thing I miss, but that isn't as good as it used to be, and the No. 1 lounge at LHR isn't too shoddy, so hey ho!

I am not alone here, quite a few people on the board have made similar comments. Customer and brand loyalty used to be important to VS, but my perception is that, since the beancounters took over, the powers that be in Crawley Towers think that past glories and SRB's mystique will ensure they remain profitable, so all of their budget that used to be spent on loyal customers can be spent on golfers. n(

There are a few hints that this may be starting to change, but I just hope it isn't too little too late.

Nick

Do you feel that a VS Gold in UC is treated differently to a non FF UC pax ?

Do you feel that a VS Gold in UC is treated differently to a non FF UC pax ?

I know you weren't asking me but thought I would give my opinion.
No. The only difference is sometimes being greeted by name, but sometimes all UC pax are greeted by name, regardless of status. Personally found that it doesn't even help with meal choices.

[honey lamb]

.....This is pretty much true for all airlines. If you are in their highest cabin then you will be getting the best service anyway so your FF status will not make much difference......

I don't agree with that at all. When I first got my VS Gold card, I felt that they really valued my loyalty. There were several Gold card holder events, plenty of mail shots with offers; and on board I felt a bit special - greeted by name by the FSM - a glass of sparkling stuff at my seat when I wasn't in UC and most of all, for the first couple of years I was batting at over 50% for op-ups.

There were also surveys about how to maintain the custom of gold card holders - extra guest passes for the CH, priority for reward seats etc etc. I assume this was to counter the previously discussed lack of value of the card for regular UC pax.

But then came the beancounters. B)

For the last couple of years I had my card - absolutely nothing! No events, no greetings, no special offers and no op-ups. All of this meant that losing the card wasn't the wrench I expected. The CH experience s the biggest thing I miss, but that isn't as good as it used to be, and the No. 1 lounge at LHR isn't too shoddy, so hey ho!

I am not alone here, quite a few people on the board have made similar comments. Customer and brand loyalty used to be important to VS, but my perception is that, since the beancounters took over, the powers that be in Crawley Towers think that past glories and SRB's mystique will ensure they remain profitable, so all of their budget that used to be spent on loyal customers can be spent on golfers. n(

There are a few hints that this may be starting to change, but I just hope it isn't too little too late.

Nick

Nick, I became Gold around the same time that you did and I have to say my experience was not the same as yours. I got nothing of that. Heck, I don't even get birthday miles ! My only advantage is the bonus miles for flying as these are my only miles earning opportunities. The only time I get recognition is when there is a good crew on board. I'll be losing my card this year and like you, it's not going to be a wrench at all

Out of curiosity, what's the experience like with all the things Nick mentions (recognition, op up etc) if you're BA Gold or Silver?

Out of curiosity, what's the experience like with all the things Nick mentions (recognition, op up etc) if you're BA Gold or Silver?

By all accounts you need to be BA Premier to get true recognition.

[mitchja]

Out of curiosity, what's the experience like with all the things Nick mentions (recognition, op up etc) if you're BA Gold or Silver?

By all accounts you need to be BA Premier to get true recognition.

No always. Even as just a blue BA EC card holder here, I regularly get greeted by name as I board domestic BA flights.

Out of curiosity, what's the experience like with all the things Nick mentions (recognition, op up etc) if you're BA Gold or Silver?

By all accounts you need to be BA Premier to get true recognition.

No always. Even as just a blue BA EC card holder here, I regularly get greeted by name as I board domestic BA flights.

I was greeted by name on BA short haul the other week, just a Blue in economy but still stood out, mainly because it's the first time it's ever happened to me.

I don't think Premier is actually a tier that can be earned as it's invitation-only to the extremely high spenders such as corporate travel budget holders. I'd have thought the 'above Gold' level on VS would be more equivalent to Gold Guest List on BA?