Agree. It was weird I needed/need to call VX to submit my upgrade b/c they said our corp agent (AMEX) doesn't submit it. However, this was Day 2 of the new process.

So far, 3/3 on upgrades to MCS. Feels nice to finally feel some butt in the seat benefit beyond the norm as frequent user of VX.

That's not what the press release said at all. Space available, not that you automatically confirm at the windows.

The exact words on the topic were complimentary "space-available upgrades to the carrier�s premium Main Cabin Select service". That means they will give them if they dont think they will sell them, nothing more at the 12/24 windows. No different then any other domestic upgrade program.

"up to" is a bit ambiguous. It could mean "as much as" (i.e. 1 hour, 45 minutes, etc.) or "until" (from T-24 to T-2, say). Maybe the ambiguity is intentional. They can try to sell what they sell and leave the sloppy seconds for whoever is still waiting around begging.

Not all that different from other posts on flyertalk about other airlines and hotel chains. They're all using their newfound data crunching ability to extract more revenue, which means trying to keep loyal customers around with vague promises while selling their benefits out from under them. Get used to it, it's the "new normal" until somebody proves at the boardroom level that it costs them money. At the moment I think they're all very impressed with the sparkly new revenue sources and don't have any way (or inclination) to assess the opportunity cost from elites leaving for greener pastures (if those even exist).

FYI: Mike_K If you spend $10k this year with VA, your points go to Virgin Australia.

Virgin America's code is VX.

I'm a little confused. When Virgin's new Elevate program went live on August 8th I had 56k elevate points as well as the Virgin Visa card. Yet my account says I have 0 status points. I originally thought when the program started that all the points I had already earned would automatically bump me to Gold but nothing! Is this a system error or are they really making me start from scratch to get status points?

I believe the beginning of 2012 is the beginning of the status year.

While I respect your opinion, I completely disagree with you. When you look at the table, it specifically mentions that the upgrades to MCS are at 24 hours and 12 hours.

See the table from the press release. Even if it's space pending, that sure looks like you get upgraded at 12 or 24 hours to me....:

For the first 6 months I flew with VX I never once got anyone with anything even close to an American accent. This was a complaint echoed by others as well.

Perhaps it's changed since then. I should hope it has.

D'oh!

This table means nothing more then your are eligible at the upgrade window SHOULD the inventory management system have the inventory available for the upgade. NOT if the physical seat is still open. It's no different then any other upgrade program out there.

I absolutely read that as you will be upgraded at 24 hours or at 12 hours, not be made eligible pending availability.

Just like advance purchase window opens up at 24 hours or at 12 hours. Imagine purchasing an upgrade at 24 hours to first class, and then 3 hours before the flight someone buys a full fare ticket and VX has to downgrade you and refund your money.

Also, if you're green lighted at T24 as a gold member to a MCS upgrade, you would pay less for your upgrade to F, right?
With the current system in place, that MCS upgrade only really kicks in at T2?

I feel like everything is still in the works, so I can't criticize too much, but it READS a lot better than it is.

With such a small MCS and F offering, it seems like those will no longer be so accessible.

It's pretty clearly spelled out in more detail on the adjacent "How it Works" page. It isn't guaranteed:

Opt in for free upgrades to Main Cabin Select when there�s space available.
If you�re flying solo, you�ll have the chance to opt in for an upgrade while you book your flight online, through an authorized travel agent, or when booking through the Virgin America Call Center, and we�ll update your flight status with your new cabin (if available) up to two hours before departure.
If you�re traveling with companions, you can opt in to upgrade your seat by calling your exclusive Elevate Silver or Elevate Gold reservations line.
Since the upgrades are automatic, we can�t guarantee availability of any previously selected Main Cabin seats once you�ve been assigned a spot in Main Cabin Select.
If you�re upgraded to Main Cabin Select when you have already checked in for your flight, you�ll need to check in again online or at the airport to select your new seat in Main Cabin Select.

That text was added after the original delivery of the program.
The -12 and -24 hours still has nothing to do with the upgrades.

However, there are a number of Elevate customers, including some on this thread who have earned points by flying this calendar year, that have started the new Elevate program effective August 8 with zero status points.

I'd like to see how VX calculates the beginning of 2012 as the beginning of the "calendar" status year.

Does this make sense to you?

https://virginamerica.com/frequent-f...ber-guide.html


Membership Benefit Year

The Elevate Status Benefit Year runs from January 1st to February 28th.
Your Benefit year runs from the time you qualify during the initial qualification year, and through to the end of the following full calendar year.
If you do not re-qualify for Elevate Status in a subsequent Membership Qualification Year, your Elevate Status Benefits will expire on February 28th after the end of the Elevate Status Benefit year.
For example, if you earn 20,000 Status Points between August 8 and December 31 2012, you will earn Elevate Silver Status for the remainder of 2012 as well as for the full 2013 Membership Benefit Year. If you do not re-qualify for the 2014 Membership Benefit Year, your Elevate Silver Status will expire on February 28. 2014.

you read it wrong then.