Free upgrade to FC Gold?!

I've just been upgraded to FC Gold with only 21 TPs in the last year - don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth but am curious as to why and if anyone has ever heard of this before?

Not giving out any identifiable information in case it's a mistake! )

Congrats x Good plan with not giving any traceable info also

There are some fast track campaigns out there, instant upgrade to silver then you just need to do 2 upper class returns to get Gold.

Thanks

There are some fast track campaigns out there, instant upgrade to silver then you just need to do 2 upper class returns to get Gold.

Thanks

...and some others with only 20TP for gold. Did you get free silver through one of these?

As others have said a number of employers (including mine) offer their staff instant silver then fast track to gold.

If you became silver automatically through a corporate scheme, that's why you're now gold. If not, who knows.

Ah, that's it then - I got silver last year through the corporate plan.

Without trying to be a party pooper here, glad you have a Au, it does help when traveling a lot and please, enjoy ever thing it brings.
Does this not add to the watering down of the Au status in the long run tho??
I have been teetering on the brink of 100TP's again this year and why not the biggest traveler on VS by a country mile, I do feel that we do not have a level playing field on the status front. Wonder if VS have anything up their sleeves to keep travelers that do keep coming back happy. I understand they have the TP tier gifts but a couple of free one time passes to the CH and a companion upgrade (that I have not been able to use the last 4 years) are not the greatest way to make someone like myself keep coming back. I have never had the call / letter to take me in the next "Hidden" level and TBH am not expecting it. My flights are UC and PE, I am not a full UC traveler, so will never sit in the top level that VS are after.
Perhaps I am just wanting to much for ££££££'s!!

Does this not add to the watering down of the Au status in the long run tho??

No, I don't think it does. The corporate scheme offers instant AG - which of course is worth virtually nothing - and fast track to AU but even though you need fewer TPs than normal to get it you have less time (6 or 7 months I think) to collect them so it works out fairly evenly. The advantage for VS, of course, is it brings in new business passengers who may feel encouraged to stay loyal.

I have been teetering on the brink of 100TP's again this year and why not the biggest traveler on VS by a country mile, I do feel that we do not have a level playing field on the status front. Wonder if VS have anything up their sleeves to keep travelers that do keep coming back happy.

Such as? As you say, they offer some extra incentives at 60 & 80 TPs and the secretive UNIQ status to the chosen few but as others have suggested in the past that's not just offered on the basis of TPs but on a variety of factors according to how VIP the airline regards you.

I guess they could offer a completely free (including taxes, fees and availability restrictions) flight once you hit 100 - but then most pax who accrue that many TPs are likely to be swimming in miles anyway and have their flights paid for by their company. And giving away free flights starts hitting the bottom line whereas free CH passes and upgrades don't really.

Gold is calculated over a 12 month period not on your membership year. So you could earn 20 points in one 6 months prior to your annual renewal date and then 20 in the next to achieve gold status.

A couple of years ago I was surprised to see that my account had been upgraded to gold as I only had 12 TP's 4 months into the year and thought it was a mistake but on checking I'd earned 28 TP's in the 6 months before.

Hey Gumshoe,
Nice reply but I think you miss, or I did not stated correctly the point.
I said I was never expecting the call for UNIQ and stated that I do not see myself a VIP in VS's eyes in anyway, just one of the masses BUT I do see myself in the majority of VS paxs.
My point was why that it may bring VS's some more business short term, these Company Travel types will normally jump to another airline that gives a better deal, I think they should perhaps be doing more for loyal travelers that still come back to VS time and time again when they have other options. Is this not what any company wants?? Repeat, repeat, repeat??
The offers you get at 60TP and 80TP while nice are not great, lets be honest.
I think the DL sharing is one point. Are the DL pax's getting a better deal than the VS pax's as far as service, CH's, better on-board service? From what I can see, yes.

I work for a big company (well 70,000+ globally) and I was told that VS offered us very little compared to BA and others (strange!!) Do I have the answers, of course not. If I did I would be working for VS in their loyalty dept!!

Of course all this is personal opinion, you seem more than happy with what your AU is giving you, I was, now perhaps not 100% happy. Of course, as I can see people typing it now 8D I have the choice to spend my travel budget where I see fit!!

[preiffer]

At 80TPs, you should have had a free one class upgrade for two people against any fare - that's worthwhile. If you didn't have that, call...

At 80TPs, you should have had a free one class upgrade for two people against any fare - that's worthwhile. If you didn't have that, call...

Hmm, That proves I should read more ) That I did not know.
Just checked my on-line account and nothing is showing. That one is worth something.....Have phone in hand now ): ):

At 80TPs, you should have had a free one class upgrade for two people against any fare - that's worthwhile. If you didn't have that, call...

Hmm, That proves I should read more ) That I did not know.
Just checked my on-line account and nothing is showing. That one is worth something.....Have phone in hand now ): ):

Good luck ,please let us know the outcome

Well the 80TP gift is now in my account
However, I am not sure if that is down to my call or the fact that my account has just reset for the year. Perhaps they wait until the end of year to give that one, they did not seem to with the 60TP gift, it came in the post.

Lots of zeros showing, never a good feeling :0 but will have 5 again tomorrow ) to start off day 1 with a bang.

An excellent and swift outcome but it does make you wonder if you would have ever got it had you not rung up

from the T & C's

(l) The 80 tier point cabin upgrade reward will be credited at the end of the Gold membership year.

And bang on time it was then Penny_L