Virgin Atlantic Flying Club - Status Match

Very quite around here so thought I'd throw this one in..

In this thread from 04,

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3513154&highlight=match+status#post3513154

Some one states that they were comp'd status on calling Virgin and production of current UA status. Now I've had no luck with this getting a blanket 'we don't match status' statement, perhaps I'm not talking to the right people? Or is that VS simply do not match status anymore?

Edit : Nothing that I could find on this in the master thread in 'Miles Buzz' before anyone suggests looking there

Cheers,
Baps.

Hi,

I have heard that if you were in Australia , VS may comp you but otherwise I have not heard of a successful comp.

Regards

TBS

PS Upon searching here;

http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9545&SearchTerms=status+match

( most recent thread I could find)
there are a couple of comments that VS may consider you for a match if you have BA Gold.

I had absolutely no problem eliciting a positive response from them when asking about a status match, in the end however due to their diabolical refund policy I decided not to persue it.

I might try giving them a call again, I think the revenue I've thrown their way over the last month should be sufficient proof of intent...

There are too many Golds in the VS Flying Club already so there is no rush to comp (unlike BMI).

To be honest, if you fly UC (i.e. VS favourite customer), there is no significant benefit to VS Gold any more. The free parties invite have dried up.

Always worth a try. Can succeed if you can show history of travel on a route with a competitor airline (e.g. LHR-JFK/EWR with BA or AA). Just to show intent that you already travel frequently with VS is not much incentive for VS to run after you.

Oz was different because they had just started there and needed to build up the following.

Normally fly PE so Gold does make a difference.

Judging by the numbers in the clubhouse at LHR and SFO Virgin doesn't seem to have an excessive number of gold members!

Showing history is easy, I can just just print off BAEC statement for the last couple of years, showing intent is something you can only do with action!

Baps.

Showing history is easy, I can just just print off BAEC statement for the last couple of years, showing intent is something you can only do with action!No - showing intent is something you can do with future bookings.

No - showing intent is something you can do with future bookings.

Well they've already had 9K of revenue out of me in feb, if thats not clear intent I have no idea what is!

As a matter of interrest they have moved from no status match...

Baps.

As a matter of interrest they have moved from no status match...

Baps.

So, were you successful in obtaining the status match?

So, were you successful in obtaining the status match?

I'm waiting for a response to details punted off last night.

Baps.

Which e-mail address are you using to contact them ?

Thanks
Daniel

On the phone I was told to send the info to the standard customer service email address. Why, is there a more responsive route? Not, that I was expecting an instant response on this as I get the impression of management layers peeling away as I've pressed.

Baps.

Why, is there a more responsive route?
Baps.

I don't know - I was just thinking of trying it myself.

Daniel

I don't know - I was just thinking of trying it myself.

Daniel

You need to phone them, as the first response by email will probably be no. The first response on the phone will also be no, but if you say that you know of other people on line getting a status match they'll put you on hold while they go off and talk to their team leader, this might illicit an entry at silver plus express to gold on production of a scan of your gold card. Further improvement upon this is TBD and I've no doubt depends on them being convinced that you'll generate sufficient revenue to justify special treatment, which is entirely reasonable imo. My bottom lip will of course quiver if I get slapped down :(

Baps.

Just a little update on this...

VS will offer Instant Silver, express to gold to a BA gold holder. The express to gold part means you only have to earn 20 points to get to gold. You must give booking details of an upcoming VS flight, provide indication of expected regularity and class of travel over the next 7 months, plus proof of BA status (copy of gold card plus BAEC statement) when you send the fax to them.

This has taken so long that I've already met the criteria required to hit gold on this scheme (sitting on 22 TP's) and only need another three flights to get to gold by myself (about 2 months at current run rate).

Now, I've got a trip coming up in a couple of weeks time that would mean I can apply, and should instantly recieve gold status, but I don't know if I want to now, after all it would make me feel obliged to not swap away from them at least for a few more trips...

Baps.

Just a little update on this...

VS will offer Instant Silver, express to gold to a BA gold holder. The express to gold part means you only have to earn 20 points to get to gold. You must give booking details of an upcoming VS flight, provide indication of expected regularity and class of travel over the next 7 months, plus proof of BA status (copy of gold card plus BAEC statement) when you send the fax to them.

This has taken so long that I've already met the criteria required to hit gold on this scheme (sitting on 22 TP's) and only need another three flights to get to gold by myself (about 2 months at current run rate).

Now, I've got a trip coming up in a couple of weeks time that would mean I can apply, and should instantly recieve gold status, but I don't know if I want to now, after all it would make me feel obliged to not swap away from them at least for a few more trips...

Baps.

Does VS offer status matches only once per lifetime? If so, you might be better served earning Gold if you need only three more flights.

Does VS offer status matches only once per lifetime? If so, you might be better served earning Gold if you need only three more flights.

No idea, but its a good point. To be honest its taken long enough to get here that I don't want to feel obliged to fly with them at this point in time, so I think I might skip it anyway.

Baps