I currently have Silver status based on my AA status match. I want to reach the 20K status points needed to keep Silver status through next year. The problem I have is trying to figure out whether the points shown when booking a flight are "real". In the past (and after many discussions with VX agents), I have found, and VX verified, that the fare shown on the screen is NOT the Base Fare which VX uses for status points calculation.

Is there anyone else who's playing this points game who might have some suggestions on how to figure out whether the points represented on the booking screen all count toward status, or whether some are status points and some are bonus points?

I'm a retired leisure traveler who flies between SF and BOS, and I want to maintain the Virgin status as inexpensively as possible. As a longterm AA flyer, I have to say that a system based on miles flown is easier to figure out.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Usually it's roughly cost of flight -10% x 5.

So a 500 dollar fare might have 50 in taxes, so 450 x 5 = 2250 points.

Your silver 25% bonus does not count towards status- though the current west cost+ promo points (double or triple) do.

Don't forget if you get their Visa you only need 3000 to qualify, and might be able to get them to match you gold for 8000 or so in spending with the Visa.

I wrote to Elevate awhile ago to suggest they break down base vs bonus points in both the booking engine and the upcoming reservations in the online profile, which would make it as simple as any mileage-based program to keep track of. They told me they appreciated my feedback and would look into it...hopefully they actually do because it's a pretty big negative in terms of attracting and keeping elites if they don't know how many points they will earn with upcoming trips (that is, without having to do the math themselves).

On the plus side, you can keep track of base points for completed travel by looking at your activity online. The elevate activity homepage shows year-to-date status points as a line item. Base points (which count towards status) are also recorded separately from bonus points (which do not count) in the detailed account of earnings activity.

The 3000 points was only for the status match. You still need to earn 10,000 to requalify for 2014.

I brought up the issue of points breakdown with Virgin in early January. At that time they were aware of the issue and were working on it.

I'm assuming the 3000 status points I earned by 4/30 to keep status through 2013 will count toward the 20000 needed to have status in 2014. Is that correct?

Yeah, 3000 for to qualify through the rest of 2013. I can't pull the numbers for 2014- if you don't live in California, VX is incredibly hard to use.

Yep, anything earned since 1/1 should be reflected in your YTD status points