Rate Virgin America Elevate
 

InsideFlyer magazine is reviewing Virgin America Elevate in our September issue and would like your input.

If you would like to participate, please post your response in the thread with the pros and cons of membership in Elevate and grade the program from A to F (A being the highest grade). You can include a plus or minus with the rating.

You can respond directly to the editors at InsideFlyer at [email protected] if you would prefer.

We look at earning ability, award choices, partnerships, elite-level program, rules & conditions, customer service, online service and the general pluses and minuses of being a member. You can rate any or all of these categories.

Thank you. You can see the completed review at InsideFlyer.com in September.

Love VX, but Elevate is the lowest of the low.

Earning ability is based directly on dollar spent.
Award choices are the same. Unlike TrueBlue there are never discounted percentages on redemptions.
VX often has 10-30% coupon codes. Those are for cash fares only and not on elevate redemptions.
No Elite-Level programs.
Partnerships are alright for earning, but international redemptions are incredibly overpriced as there are no economy periods of redemption.

If we're looking at a huge bell curve where some company has to have an A, and some has to have an F- then Virgin America is the F(ail).

Still a great airline, but the Elevate program is not an enticement to frequently fly with them, and if you had to fly many of their routes very often- you'd be much better off with a legacy carrier or even JetBlue who offers some bonuses for long hauls or redemptions.

Definitely an F. The benefits are simply not competitive with the mainline carriers, and the lack of any extra reward for frequent travel provides little incentive to pick VX over UA or AA. The customer service and onboard products are great, but choosing VX means giving up at least two F class tickets per year on some truly outstanding international carriers, such as LH, CX, SQ, NH and BA. No thanks.

Man, I would switch over to Virgin sooooo fast from ypmy current airline (especially since I'm based out of SFO) if they offered a decent incentive for frequent flyers (priority boarding, bonuses in points, etc.)

I would give the program a C-. As someone who is uses VX twice monthly, I would welcome elite tiers like other members want. Its been quite the change since switching from UA as a former mid-tier elite to just earning points from cash purchases on VX. I like the fact I can add to my balance with Hilton stays. Otherwise, the product is good IMO.

It's a straight F. Stringent expiry schedule, stingy earnings, no incentive / reward for concentrating travel on VX, lack of bonuses or promos, no partners, extremely limited redemption options. Virtually useless to anyone not flying JFK-SFO regularly in expensive fare classes with no interest in ever traveling anyplace else. It's absurd that you can't even redeem awards on the other Virgins.

Umm yes you can

http://www.virginamerica.com/vx/redeem-with-partners

For me, it isn't broken, so don't fix it. If folks want elite treatment, then pay for it with $ or miles.

Haha, barely. Massive YQ. Like truly massive. SFO-LHR-SFO on Virgin Atlantic Upper Class is 60,000 miles (fine) and TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS in fuel surcharges. Virgin Atlantic themselves charge "only" $950. United miles it would come to $300 plus or minus (it's Her Majesty's APD that accounts for $200).

Elite treatment, meh. What I really want is 1 checked bag in case I don't want to lug a roller board. And the ability to redeem on real airline partners (you know, good ones; aspirational even) without breaking the bank with fuel surcharges. VX doesn't have any of these things. Too bad, it's a great hard and soft product.

Just rolled out tiered statuses: http://www.virginamerica.com/vx/elev...EM_elevate8618

Anyone else want to evaluate the program now that they have status tiers? Thanks!

Confession of a FORMER mile whore
 

OK, I admit it...I would do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for miles and elite status. Including weekend immediate turn trips to London at the end of the year when I was short miles for EXP re-qualification on more than one occasion. MANY people thought I was crazy. And then UA stranded me with a 3 hour delay once too often and I bought a ticket on VX to get home. A whole new world opened up to me. I have absolutely loved every VX flight since and I no longer care how many miles I’m earning (or not earning), or when I board (everyone is more relaxed, so it really doesn’t matter anymore), or where I sit (I’m sure First seats are amazing…never sat up there…but all seats are very comfortable with adequate legroom). Maybe I’ll have another point of view if I ever burn through the over 700k miles I can redeem on AA and UA, but for now….I’m in heaven! Not ever sure if I’m thrilled with the new elite status….life was so simple for a while!
Really the only downside is the very quiet VX FT board…oh wait…more time for me….never mind!

Amen!

Enjoyed the elite treatment at UA but prefer VX. Have been using them for the better part of 2012 and expect to continue doing so for the rest of this year too.

Although their new frequent flyer program slated to be launch soon has me concerned a bit about the ability to buy last minute MCS and even FC, I'll hang in there. Based on my flight history today, I should be close to Gold level when the Program rolls out so it's. Win-win for me with VX for the 2012-2013 season.

Have always been of the mind set to pay for the better service and not expect it for free with upgrades. UA cheapened the experience of being in Biz or even First and I got tired of them and those that complained that they weren't upgraded for free!

LOL, you know what's funny. I was happy with Virgin America the way it was before they've established an elite program. You didn't have to deal with the unavailability of gaining an upgrade due to a Super Elite Executive Platinum procuring the upgrade before you...

With that said, it looks like it's a move in the correct direction if they are to become profitable and to complete with the Legacy carriers. Eliminating checked baggage fees for achieving Silver or Gold is a most welcome bonus. I would really like to see them recognize the Founding Members sometime during the course of the year with some type of promotion as was mentioned by VX during it's startup (hint, hint, discounted year round checked baggage fees for Founding Members).

Achieving 10,000 status points towards Silver by spending 25K a year with their Signature card will help those of us who don't fly as often as we use to.

Still, all and all, VX is my preferred airline (if I'm heading in their direction) even prior to the introduction of their Elite Status addition to their frequent flyer program.

S/F
-John