Elite Status (MVP/MVPG) After Four/Eight Transcon Segments (Targeted CA/East Coast)
May 8, 2019, 8:42 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,592
I've also still seen almost nobody in boarding group A out of LA-- a few people per flight on the north/south route, and I think a total of 2 in six transcon to/from LAX flights.
May 8, 2019, 9:00 pm
#47
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 159
I like the change waiver, but it's not worth anywhere near $1k (plus time spent, presumably), especially if you're "only" flying 20k miles/year. Companion F upgrades are not that great because, IME, they don't process reliably if the companion doesn't have elite status. I've found that it's possible to get the companion upgrade if 2 U spaces open during your elite upgrade window (which won't be that long for MVPG), but if the upgrade list is clearing at the gate, the non-status companion doesn't end up on it.
May 8, 2019, 9:36 pm
#48
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 159
$250 4 RT SFO-PHL Saver Fares.
Done with 2 RT. 2 more this weekend.
You won't believe it but I did Friday night SFO-PHL, 1hr stopover, same plane back PHL-SFO. 10hr stopover SFO-PHL and PHL-SFO.
I slept the full 24hrs in the plane. did not have the time to do it over 4 weekends so had to squeeze in to just 2 weekends of 2 days each.
It wasn't that bad but i regretted booking saver. seeing literally the entire routing on Saturday was 0 MVPs and 0MVPGs. I am MVP from last year and i could have eaisly been in F for 3/4 flights.
A friend of mine gave booked me 2 RT for $200 (he had a voucher for $500 and gave it to me for just $200). He also had a $100 discount code.
I used the Ritz travel credit for $300. Ended up spending around $310 for 4 RT Transcon. will earn around 50k RDM and 20K EQM. Since im stacking this with the double miles promo.
Done with 2 RT. 2 more this weekend.
You won't believe it but I did Friday night SFO-PHL, 1hr stopover, same plane back PHL-SFO. 10hr stopover SFO-PHL and PHL-SFO.
I slept the full 24hrs in the plane. did not have the time to do it over 4 weekends so had to squeeze in to just 2 weekends of 2 days each.
It wasn't that bad but i regretted booking saver. seeing literally the entire routing on Saturday was 0 MVPs and 0MVPGs. I am MVP from last year and i could have eaisly been in F for 3/4 flights.
A friend of mine gave booked me 2 RT for $200 (he had a voucher for $500 and gave it to me for just $200). He also had a $100 discount code.
I used the Ritz travel credit for $300. Ended up spending around $310 for 4 RT Transcon. will earn around 50k RDM and 20K EQM. Since im stacking this with the double miles promo.
Last edited by alaskaforlife; May 8, 2019 at 9:41 pm
May 8, 2019, 9:58 pm
#49
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: AS 75k, Hyatt EXPL, *all* the CC statuses
Posts: 78
Here's to the (hopefully) extra 4 GGUs we get on making "real" Gold through 2020?
May 9, 2019, 11:32 am
#50
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
I have not had problems getting upgrades processed when traveling with a MVP. Of course, such a companion would always qualify for upgrades within the discussed timeframe anyway, albeit perhaps in a different order. As always YMMV.
May 18, 2019, 2:26 pm
#53
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: AS 75k, Hyatt EXPL, *all* the CC statuses
Posts: 78
May 19, 2019, 1:08 pm
#55
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: LAX/ONT
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott G, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 518
My recent run
Cost
Run 1 $290 in saver, Run 2, 3, 4, $200 each in saver. Parking and mileage, trains, etc, around $200? Run 1 and Run 2 is in conjunction with my business trip, so I kind of dipping into that too and save a few.
What I get
I did stop by at KAL lounge to get a shower and some food and drink before my each flights, and went to P.F. Chang to get some take out with my PP. I have 2 PP cards, and I double dipping them at P.F. Chang each time, just tip the server, not the host. Enjoy the sushi and salad very much. With a $7 evian I would never buy otherwise. The hosts are mean.
I called AS, they process this promo each day around 3 am PDT. So, once you finished your flight, you should be able to see your new status the next day. And I see my MVP, and MVPG exactly like that.
If you have other travel booked before your get your status, on the next night to the day of your status, you can choose elite seats / premium class free of charge if you are in certain fare class.
Once you get MVGP, you will see 4 Gold Upgrade in your account, valid until 12/31/2020.
With double miles on transcon routes, I end up with 45000 miles now. Eyeing on my trip to China with a stopover on Hainan J.
Seat Assignments
Run1, LAX-BWI-LAX
When I check in at the Customer Assistance desk at LAX, yes, those long lines in front of an agent, I asked to get both my outbound and inbound boarding pass. It was around T-3 for my outbound. I got assigned 6F, yay, premium class window seats. It sounds great, but the lady in the middle seat is super fat, her arm crossed over the arm rest and came on top of my arm a bit. And, the armrest is up a little because of her thigh. For my inbound flight, normal middle seat at back 29E. But moved up front a little to 10E at the gate.
Run2, LAX-PHL-LAX
Again, I went to the Customer Assistance desk at LAX to checkin, outbound get an 6B again, For inbound, I can't remember when the seat assignment showed up, but def. before T-24, assigned at 6B.
Run3, LAX-PHL-LAX
Now, I already have the MVP status thanks to the promo. However, my original routine doesn't work any more. Went to the Elite Check-in desk, and got assigned for 22F and 9A. Still, windows seats, not bad. ps, FA of outbound flight talked a lot and loud.
Run4, LAX-PHL-LAX
This time is a little different, normally my seat won't be assigned until I go to check-in (other than the 6B I got once), but it got assigned T-18 (around) to 27A and 9A. And I still haven't checked in yet. I don't know if they were assigned together, but happened overnight. I did go to the gate again, and get assigned at the exit row. And on my way back, I owned a whole exit row myself.
Overall, the experience is good. and Virgin's old fleet is comfy compared to others. Premium Class is really nice compared to Delta's Comfort+. And, with my cheap fare, I still got tons of miles.
Run 1 $290 in saver, Run 2, 3, 4, $200 each in saver. Parking and mileage, trains, etc, around $200? Run 1 and Run 2 is in conjunction with my business trip, so I kind of dipping into that too and save a few.
What I get
I did stop by at KAL lounge to get a shower and some food and drink before my each flights, and went to P.F. Chang to get some take out with my PP. I have 2 PP cards, and I double dipping them at P.F. Chang each time, just tip the server, not the host. Enjoy the sushi and salad very much. With a $7 evian I would never buy otherwise. The hosts are mean.
I called AS, they process this promo each day around 3 am PDT. So, once you finished your flight, you should be able to see your new status the next day. And I see my MVP, and MVPG exactly like that.
If you have other travel booked before your get your status, on the next night to the day of your status, you can choose elite seats / premium class free of charge if you are in certain fare class.
Once you get MVGP, you will see 4 Gold Upgrade in your account, valid until 12/31/2020.
With double miles on transcon routes, I end up with 45000 miles now. Eyeing on my trip to China with a stopover on Hainan J.
Seat Assignments
Run1, LAX-BWI-LAX
When I check in at the Customer Assistance desk at LAX, yes, those long lines in front of an agent, I asked to get both my outbound and inbound boarding pass. It was around T-3 for my outbound. I got assigned 6F, yay, premium class window seats. It sounds great, but the lady in the middle seat is super fat, her arm crossed over the arm rest and came on top of my arm a bit. And, the armrest is up a little because of her thigh. For my inbound flight, normal middle seat at back 29E. But moved up front a little to 10E at the gate.
Run2, LAX-PHL-LAX
Again, I went to the Customer Assistance desk at LAX to checkin, outbound get an 6B again, For inbound, I can't remember when the seat assignment showed up, but def. before T-24, assigned at 6B.
Run3, LAX-PHL-LAX
Now, I already have the MVP status thanks to the promo. However, my original routine doesn't work any more. Went to the Elite Check-in desk, and got assigned for 22F and 9A. Still, windows seats, not bad. ps, FA of outbound flight talked a lot and loud.
Run4, LAX-PHL-LAX
This time is a little different, normally my seat won't be assigned until I go to check-in (other than the 6B I got once), but it got assigned T-18 (around) to 27A and 9A. And I still haven't checked in yet. I don't know if they were assigned together, but happened overnight. I did go to the gate again, and get assigned at the exit row. And on my way back, I owned a whole exit row myself.
Overall, the experience is good. and Virgin's old fleet is comfy compared to others. Premium Class is really nice compared to Delta's Comfort+. And, with my cheap fare, I still got tons of miles.
May 20, 2019, 4:51 pm
#56
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: AS 75k, Hyatt EXPL, *all* the CC statuses
Posts: 78
Once you get MVGP, you will see 4 Gold Upgrade in your account, valid until 12/31/2020.
...
Overall, the experience is good. and Virgin's old fleet is comfy compared to others. Premium Class is really nice compared to Delta's Comfort+. And, with my cheap fare, I still got tons of miles.
...
Overall, the experience is good. and Virgin's old fleet is comfy compared to others. Premium Class is really nice compared to Delta's Comfort+. And, with my cheap fare, I still got tons of miles.
...but on a slightly different note, since you mentioned Delta, you could probably now match/challenge your MVPG to Platinum Medallion and keep that status train running. Need a lot of MQMs fairly quickly and depends on your flight patterns if it's worth it, but it's effectively the same amount of flying as you just did in a similar timeframe.
May 20, 2019, 4:54 pm
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,378
...but on a slightly different note, since you mentioned Delta, you could probably now match/challenge your MVPG to Platinum Medallion and keep that status train running. Need a lot of MQMs fairly quickly and depends on your flight patterns if it's worth it, but it's effectively the same amount of flying as you just did in a similar timeframe.
May 20, 2019, 5:13 pm
#58
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 159
Don't forget that unless you requalify this year the normal way for MVPG (so that your card is "valid until 12/31/2020"), then you probably should use your GGUs by 12/31/2019. If a flight you used a GGU on is changed or cancelled in 2020 and you're no longer an MVPG, your GGU is forfeited.
...but on a slightly different note, since you mentioned Delta, you could probably now match/challenge your MVPG to Platinum Medallion and keep that status train running. Need a lot of MQMs fairly quickly and depends on your flight patterns if it's worth it, but it's effectively the same amount of flying as you just did in a similar timeframe.
...but on a slightly different note, since you mentioned Delta, you could probably now match/challenge your MVPG to Platinum Medallion and keep that status train running. Need a lot of MQMs fairly quickly and depends on your flight patterns if it's worth it, but it's effectively the same amount of flying as you just did in a similar timeframe.
May 20, 2019, 5:33 pm
#59
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: AS 75k, Hyatt EXPL, *all* the CC statuses
Posts: 78
Since the AS digital card resulting from this promo doesn't look any different than the one earned via published guidelines, I wrote probably. Perhaps "possibly" is a better word. It's definitely YMMV.
May 21, 2019, 8:57 am
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,378
Yes, those are the written rules. Anecdotally there are some reports of people just showing the digital card/My Account website section, being approved, and not being asked for a mileage statement. (on statusmatcher and a Miles to Memories blog post today)
Since the AS digital card resulting from this promo doesn't look any different than the one earned via published guidelines, I wrote probably. Perhaps "possibly" is a better word. It's definitely YMMV.
Since the AS digital card resulting from this promo doesn't look any different than the one earned via published guidelines, I wrote probably. Perhaps "possibly" is a better word. It's definitely YMMV.