Goodbye Virgin

As I come to the end of my first year as a VS Gold, my mind looks ahead and difficult decisons need to be made.

I fly to the US on VS 3/4 times a year times always in UC. This is enough to maintain Gold (though not this year as the timing meant only 2 trips).

However since I fly around Europe and the UK at least twice a month, and just about manage to keep my Silver card, I have decided to move my longhaul travel to BA, as that will give me enough to get a BA goldcard.

So sorry VS, it's been fun, I would still travel with you as I prefer it to BA longhaul, but the lure of BA gold is too strong...

[V]

*Gathers pitchforks and torches*

Originally posted by jimbob247
.........So sorry VS, it's been fun, I would still travel with you as I prefer it to BA longhaul, but the lure of BA gold is too strong...

Could I ask, what is it about BA Gold that is tempting you so very much ??

Originally posted by kered

Originally posted by jimbob247
.........So sorry VS, it's been fun, I would still travel with you as I prefer it to BA longhaul, but the lure of BA gold is too strong...

Could I ask, what is it about BA Gold that is tempting you so very much ??

Maybe the higher than average possibility of upgrade to FIRST on longhaul flights and access to FIRST lounges for any BA flights ?

I suppose, yeah !

Greater selection of lounges worldwide on the BA network, plus access to a load of OW lounges too.

I guess it depends very much on your travel patterns.

Not something I'll have to worry about though, as I'll never be hitting Gold on any airline program [:(]

Given that as a proportion of the trip time, a greater proportion of time is spent at the airport than in the air on many short-haul trips, having the premium FF status for short haul trips is probably worth more than for a longer trip.

The time saved by having priority check-in, priority baggage, and lounge access are all definitely worth it.

Because of a mis-balance of flying and a postponed late year business trip, I find myself requalifying FC Au 5 months early, and needing to make about 10000 miles of mileage run in the next six weeks on UA to maintain my Star Gold status, and I'm already arranging this!

The strength of FF benefits on short-haul flying can't be underestimated, and reciprocal benefits when flying within an alliance are significant. I think this is a major area that VS Flying Club falls down.

Mike

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by hackneyguy

Maybe the higher than average possibility of upgrade to FIRST on longhaul flights and access to FIRST lounges for any BA flights ?

I thought you were a Premier, which would skew this? We have plenty of Golds (a number of them discretionary) here at my workplace, and the upgrade rates aren't that high. Especially if you are down the back or in WT+.

Still can't understand the ethos of having a First lounge, and a Concorde Room - that is unless you wanted a separate room to keep the Golds away from the First passengers....

Originally posted by RichardMannion

Originally posted by hackneyguy

Maybe the higher than average possibility of upgrade to FIRST on longhaul flights and access to FIRST lounges for any BA flights ?

I thought you were a Premier, which would skew this? We have plenty of Golds (a number of them discretionary) here at my workplace, and the upgrade rates aren't that high. Especially if you are down the back or in WT+.

Still can't understand the ethos of having a First lounge, and a Concorde Room - that is unless you wanted a separate room to keep the Golds away from the First passengers....

I am not quite sure what my personal status has to do with my or indeed your answer ??

I am speaking from the position with knowldege of many of my colleagues having Gold (earned thus a higher CIV score than discretionary). Also the Concorde Rooms, and there are not that many of them, are also for Prems not just FIRST pax so it makes sense to me to keep your VIP pax happy.

Hackneyguy

Originally posted by RichardMannion
........Still can't understand the ethos of having a First lounge, and a Concorde Room - that is unless you wanted a separate room to keep the Golds away from the First passengers....

Which is exactly what they intend with the CCR AFAIK.

It's also something to do with reciprocal agreements within OW which allows a member of another airline's FFP within the alliance access to the First Class lounge.

By having the CCR room, BA can restrict access to it for BA ÒFIRSTÓ customers only, while still honouring their OW commitments.

Originally posted by mike-smashing
................reciprocal benefits when flying within an alliance are significant. I think this is a major area that VS Flying Club falls down.

Mike

I'd have to agree with you there [y]

The FC is pretty much useless outside of VS [n]

It also seems cheaper to upgrade on BA, not having to buy a full fare ticket to upgrade from PE to CW on BA saves quite a bit of money.

I received quite a few upgrades on VS as an Au,in the 3 years of BA gold status nothing.We both have CIV scores in the mid 50s doesn't seem to make a jot of difference most crew have not a clue what it means.We have however received fantastic service and welcomes on CX because of OW emerald.Probably the best traveling benefit is access to AA lounges on domestic itineraries.

[RichardMannion]

And I forgot that aspect, not all Golds are equal. So someone that has just made it to Gold is going to be down the pecking order compared to Prems, and very regular Golds.

Always travel in J long haul so I don't really care about upgrades other than J->F which are pretty rare anyway.

For me VS Gold only gave me extra miles anyway, and I always travel UC.

Originally posted by jaguarpig
I received quite a few upgrades on VS as an Au,in the 3 years of BA gold status nothing.

34 flights in VS since my last upgrade and a collegue of mine with a new BA Ag has been upgraded twice in 10 - Have to say the lure of BA is looming for me also. Currently lounge access is keeping me with VS but if I lose Au agsin, which I do on occassional years, I may switch also. The lure of an Amex companion rewards with BA miles is also tempting and more useful than the VS Amex offers.

FM

P.S. In addition BA is almost always cheaper and I am getting fed up having to justify a (albeit slightly) higher fare to my PM

As a leisure only traveller, having to do two & a half round trips in Club World a year to maintain Silver in the BAEC, is not easy.

Whereas one UC trip a year, will maintain Silver in the FC. However, silver in the FC, gives you no extra benefit whatsoever, asides from some extra miles.

Silver in the BAEC, gives you lounge access, (with a guest) when travelling on another OW carrier, or when in WT+ or WT on BA, which is very nice.

Plus the Òall importantÓ seat pre-assigning privileges when on a discounted ticket.

So holding Silver tier status with BA has a lot more going for it than Silver in the FC, but is much harder (for me at least) to achieve & then keep. I will be a mere whisker away from it again next year & am seriously considering going for it again.

So the lure of BA is on the horizon for me tooÉÉ[:w]

But I do love the Virgin product & as for the LHR ClubhouseÉÉ[8D]

Oh the quandary [:?]

Since becoming Gold with Virgin, it's been around 42 flights, all in PE or Y. Only 1 Upgrade, due to a full PE cabin, and the fact I checked in at the 2 hour mark, instead of the usual 4 hours.

If I did more European Travel, I would stick with BA.

Splitting the business across 2 companies, may work well for the accountants, but rarely pays off for the traveler. Stick to one program.

Originally posted by ukcobra
Since becoming Gold with Virgin, it's been around 42 flights, all in PE or Y. Only 1 Upgrade, due to a full PE cabin, and the fact I checked in at the 2 hour mark, instead of the usual 4 hours.

If I did more European Travel, I would stick with BA.

Splitting the business across 2 companies, may work well for the accountants, but rarely pays off for the traveler. Stick to one program.

Well, as I've said before, you deserve extra, extra special points for making gold in the back of the bus. There should be a special endorsement for those with such stamina!

Once I've made my nice golden bit of VS plastic, it's then time to move on to the next. I am currently Au on four airlines including BA, but that is rather extreme for me. There would be no way I'd anticipate making it onto the next (secret or not-so-secret) tier on VS, so I might as well target another airline.

The only scheme with really tangible benefits to me as a J/F traveller at all is BA Gold so I can use the F lounges for short haul travel, and occasionally I have the opportunity to use there open doors policy when not flying BA. The real, albeit intangible benefit is, if I am honest I'm afraid, the plethora of snob tags I get to keep [:p]

Cheers, Howard

[Nottingham Nick]

Cracking thread, some really interesting points. [y][y]

Yet again, it brings home the point that VS must make gold status more attractive to regular J pax. A few bonus miles is no incentive at all. [n]

Nick

Sorry, but VS should make Gold status more attractive to all qualified members.

As a PE traveller, I often paid more than a discounted UC ticket, but company rules prevent me from buying a cheaper business class ticket.

[Nottingham Nick]

My view, as a regular Y / PE gold, is that the major perk of Clubhouse / Revivals entry gives me an incentive to try and retain my status. Regular UC pax have no real incentive.

Nick

You know I never really looked into this in depth, but thinking about it now, it really does strike me that the FC is really worth nothing outside of VS !!

Granted, Gold gives you lounge access, regardless of class flown, but you must be on a VS flight, right ?

Silver, gives you nothing at all, except some extra miles & allows you to check in at the PE counter if flying in Y .......

Oh yippee do dah !! [ii]

So really in comparison, BAEC Silver, gives more to the passenger than VS Gold.

As for BA Gold, I don't know really. I'd be happy with the Terraces/ Galleries access that comes with Silver, I wouldn't be too fussed about the FIRST lounges.

But really, this does serve to highlight how restrictive the VS FC is, compared to other FFP's [:?]

Originally posted by ukcobra
Sorry, but VS should make Gold status more attractive to all qualified members.

Well said - as Howard pointed out achieving Au in the back of the bus deserves an additional reward. I too am (or my company is) often paying top prices for Y and PE - typically £800 or £1800 respectively for New York.

I have the fast check-in and CH to look forward to (and revivals) but to be quite honest I am appalled at the lack of recognition within the actual flight experience itself. Getting moved from my reserved seat allocation last week was extremely irritating.

FM

BTW Kered - there are a few benefits with other airlines - although often you are hard pressed to get them recognised. As an example SIA has an increased baggage allowance and some lounge access but there are others.

[preiffer]

Originally posted by ukcobra
Sorry, but VS should make Gold status more attractive to all qualified members.

As a PE traveller, I often paid more than a discounted UC ticket, but company rules prevent me from buying a cheaper business class ticket.

Disagree with the first statement. The access to CH/UC checkin/higher baggage allowances are VERY handy benefits to a gold card holder travelling in PE/Y. The problem is, as a J passenger, what do we ACTUALLY get over and above a silver/red/*non* FC member on that same flight in Upper?

Errr... A few extra miles (which that same 'discounted UC ticket' you refer to, if meaning Z/R, now earns no different in terms of base mileage than a full PE fare you may have purchased) and... errr... that's it.


So, to a J passenger, VS NEED to offer MUCH better differentiation to frequent travelers.

[Scrooge]

Come on Richard, spit it out, what are you trying to tell us?

Originally posted by jimbob247
However since I fly around Europe and the UK at least twice a month, and just about manage to keep my Silver card, I have decided to move my longhaul travel to BA, as that will give me enough to get a BA goldcard.

So sorry VS, it's been fun, I would still travel with you as I prefer it to BA longhaul, but the lure of BA gold is too strong...

Couldn't agree more - VS UC is IMO a better in flight product, the LHR clubhosue and revival great, DTCI outstanding. But in your shoes I would do the same, Mike is absolutely correct:

The strength of FF benefits on short-haul flying can't be underestimated, and reciprocal benefits when flying within an alliance are significant. I think this is a major area that VS Flying Club falls down.

That said, for VS to join an alliance, while there are several pros, I wonder what the consequences might be:

- fewer miles earnt
- more difficult to attain tiers for many
- flooded clubhouse

For me, to mitigate this I agree with Paul et al, VS must do some more to differentiate to the frequent J passenger BUT also to the high points earning Au. That's two different things. With regard to the former, the only real difference is DTCI and CDCs if in D or J.

As to the secret tier, asking a rhetorical question, what does it actually give you (pm me for an answer, is it just a letter signed by Steve Ridgeway?).