Elevate Credits/Segments Question
 

I recently received a status challenge from Virgin America and had some questions. What are credits in the account summary (listed above segments)? Do you get a certain amount of credits per segment?

I tried searching this site and using Google but couldn't find any info.

Credits = # of base points earned per flight.

Until mid-April, they were called "Status Points". Then, it changed to "credits". Not sure why.

What's the different between rewards points and credits? Credits are just the base and points are the same unless you have a multiplier, like for silver or gold?

Rewards points can be redeemed for travel while credits are for keeping track of your progress towards earning status and cannot be redeemed.

So to earn gold status without a match, one should have at least 30 segments and/or 50,000 "credits"?

For this calendar year yes. The segments were added mid year as were counting award flights in the segment count. Nobody knows what will change for next year.

Woah, what? I hadn't noticed that. If I get it straight, VX Gold is now $10,000 spent on base fare in a calendar year or 30 segments? That seems wildly imbalanced. Even TCON can be had for less than $300 per segment.

Your understanding is correct. As a frequent short haul flier SFO-LAX, counting segments toward elite status was a welcomed addition.