Velocity Gold - Massive Devaluation
May 18, 2017, 6:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: Velocity
Posts: 11
Velocity Gold - Massive Devaluation
For all those of us who worked hard to get Gold and above the FlyBuys 3 month Gold membership trial with VERY low bar set to maintain Gold beyond the trial is an absolute joke.
Not only will it flood the lounges but the Priority Boarding queue may well be nullified.
I foresee an American system in the near future with staggered Priority Boarding. ie Platinum first, then Gold.
My wife and I are Platinum and having had probably an 80% success rate on booking row 3 I am now achieving maybe a 40% on getting it thanks to Economy X opening it up to anyone with a few extra bucks to spend.
Not only will it flood the lounges but the Priority Boarding queue may well be nullified.
I foresee an American system in the near future with staggered Priority Boarding. ie Platinum first, then Gold.
My wife and I are Platinum and having had probably an 80% success rate on booking row 3 I am now achieving maybe a 40% on getting it thanks to Economy X opening it up to anyone with a few extra bucks to spend.
May 18, 2017, 11:48 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,991
Haven't a problem with it really.
Most of the challenging SG's will be gone by spring, so only a short term thing.
As for economy X, I am finding it less crowded up front when travelling.
Most of the challenging SG's will be gone by spring, so only a short term thing.
As for economy X, I am finding it less crowded up front when travelling.
May 19, 2017, 9:09 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Perth, WA, Australia
Programs: QF Gold, VA Plat, IHG Plat Amb, LCAH Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,845
The FlyBuys Explorer Gold promotion has been rolling for at least six months. This is just another round of that. I am nt sure that it has made a noticeable change to anything - but it is obviously working given that they keep doing it.
May 20, 2017, 8:45 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: KYE
Posts: 4,156
The promotion is heavily capped in terms of numbers permitted to join AFAIK. They have a quota in the order of 100's - a drop in the ocean for how many Golds there are.
And it's not a guaranteed thing, one applies and has to wait up to 4 weeks to see if VA approves the trial. Then chances of those actually taking a flight could be slim.
I think you're over reading into it.
And it's not a guaranteed thing, one applies and has to wait up to 4 weeks to see if VA approves the trial. Then chances of those actually taking a flight could be slim.
I think you're over reading into it.
May 24, 2017, 2:49 am
#5
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
Promotional status doesn't devalue things to a great degree in my opinion.
If these people don't fly enough to maintain gold, they won't crowd lounges or take up seats. Sure, there is something there but I don't think getting upset about it will help anything.
I suspect the Economy X has more to do with your seat assignment struggles than a targeted promotion.
If these people don't fly enough to maintain gold, they won't crowd lounges or take up seats. Sure, there is something there but I don't think getting upset about it will help anything.
I suspect the Economy X has more to do with your seat assignment struggles than a targeted promotion.
Jun 2, 2017, 5:03 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 905
I got this "offer" ( or perhaps "invitation to apply" is more accurate). Haven't flown Virgin for years, other than to run down the points ( now zero balance, bottom status). There has been no reason for me to choose Virgin as a QF PLT ( Life Gold), but disincentives given no benefits.
I will fly Virgin if I get it ( 50/50 with Qantas), if I don't then nothing lost.
Surely it makes sense for Virgin to steal some business from Qantas . The only attempt in recent years was the risible "strategy" to target public servants for PLT.
I will fly Virgin if I get it ( 50/50 with Qantas), if I don't then nothing lost.
Surely it makes sense for Virgin to steal some business from Qantas . The only attempt in recent years was the risible "strategy" to target public servants for PLT.
Jun 26, 2017, 5:11 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Lifetime *G (MP), Lifetime PE (Bonvoy)
Posts: 1,465
Since VA has decreased the number of status credits that can be earned on its cheapest flights I'm now very careful about what I book and with whom I fly. As most of my flights SYD-MEL are on a Sunday afternoon where time is less of a concern I'm more inclined to forego 5 SCs and pay Tiger less than $100 than pay Virgin $150 or more. If I'm paying that sort of money I'd be choosing to pay the higher fare and get 15 SCs. However I'm very carefully husbanding my SCs so I end up exactly on or just over the 400 I need to re-qualify for Gold, and I get these mostly flying SYD-MEL when the time of the flight is important to me. Lounge access on a Sunday afternoon?! Lounge is full of ankle-biters so not a pleasant experience anyway