Keeping FFs

Long time listener, first time caller, as they say

I've been self loading cargo with Virgin for three years now, and got my Gold Card this April, hitting the renewal point last month. I'm doing approx. 12 trans-Atlantic flights a year at the moment, either in PE with some UC.

In general i'm a very happy punter, i've been upgraded on more than my fair share of times, five out of the last eight legs in fact, all good stuff. In fact the Gold card could have been invented for me. i get all the UC ground side benefits, and i'm clearly marked as someone to be upgraded when possible (or so it seems)

However (there had to be an "however"), i'm starting to question keeping up my full loyalty to Virgin. Particularly as at least half my flights are to DC, where i can now take MaxJet for around the same PE fare that i normally pay.

If anyone was to ask me what would make me stay (please ask me), I'd suggest a couple of quick things.

1. For Gold card members i'd abolish the restrictions on using Air Miles to upgrade. at the moment if i take a lower priced PE fare, still costing £800-900 i have to pay extra if i want to burn air miles to upgrade. I say that if the seats are free and i'm prepared to use the miles there should be no restriction.

2. If you wanted to go further i'd suggest considering automaticly bumping Gold card members up a class if seats are available. People might consider this too generous but the avergage Gold Card holder is pushing a decent amount of business to Virgin in an environment where there is a lot of competition for our custom.

3. Finally if these idea are considered too extreme for Gold, why not push a lvl above Gold, and give the advantages to this lvl. I understand that this exists already but it all rather secretative.

Oh and finally i wondered if anyone has ever tried leveraging there Gold status to swap to another carrier? I seem to remember when Virgin first started you had the "dirty tricks" from BA trying to lure Business Class people away.

[Nottingham Nick]

Welcome to V-Flyer.

The immediate problem I would foresee with your proposals are that most Gold card holders (or their employers) contribute a massive amount of revenue to VS by purchasing premium seats.

If golds expected to be bumped up to UC on a space available basis, or -at worst-, knew they would be able to use miles, there would be little incentive for them to purchase UC seats in the first place.

IMHO Op-ups always have to be considered a bonus. If you start to expect them, or believe you have the right to one automatically, then this is bound to lead to disappointment.

Nick

[RichardMannion]

Welcome to V-Flyer!

Intersting first post.

#2 will not happen for reasons Nick states, and VS want to keep their respective premium products exactly that. I know certain US airlines offer that kind of 'benefit' to it's elites but then lets look at the state of the American carriers - spot the phrase chapter 11.

3. It's not a level as such above GOld, it's just additional service for people that are earning a certain amount of Tp's each year by flying on VS flights.

I think many of us GOld's would have our own ideas for how to sharpen up the benefits. For myself considering that I typically travel in Upper nowadays (8 hour rule for me) then the Upper benefits overlap with Au benefits quite a bit.

Things that I'd instantly look to are:

- # of vouchers that can be used to take guest into Revivals. Me and Sarah are okay as we are both Gold, but I know I have travlled before with colleagues and friends and had to either part ways upon landing or me fofeit a visit to Revivals. I know there are space considerations but Revivals has not been rammed most of the time I have visited.

- Some protected award inventory that only Au's can access. Gold's typically earn lots of miles and naturally would like to use them. I know at certain times it has been a challenge and some protected inventory would be good.

- Some more events, golf days are all and well but not everyone plays golf.

- Absolute simplest thing though is recognition when travelling, regardless of what cabin you are in if you are Au then you should be greeted and looked after onboard properly. Doesn't really cost anything and can go a long way.

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by agiles
2. If you wanted to go further i'd suggest considering automaticly bumping Gold card members up a class if seats are available. People might consider this too generous but the avergage Gold Card holder is pushing a decent amount of business to Virgin in an environment where there is a lot of competition for our custom.

Nick and Richard are on the money with their comments on this. I don't know whether it's a common as it used to be, but US consultants with whom I have worked would, once at a certain level in their loyalty programme, simply stop booking business class seats in expectation of being upgraded.

I knew of one company's travel policy that used to reflect this as those who were permitted to travel business class but chose to fly economy (in anticipation of being upgraded) were paid half the difference between the two fares. No longer the case, I understand.

Paul

Welcome agiles,
Point one has some relevance,been frustrated at not being able to use miles for upgrades when seats have been free but on the wrong ticket.

Absolute simplest thing though is recognition when travelling, regardless of what cabin you are in if you are Au then you should be greeted and looked after onboard properly. Doesn't really cost anything and can go a long way.

A very simple thing for staff to do, something we have found BA are very good at on board.

I used my VS AU card to status match to a BMI/Star Alliance Gold card last year. This got me into a couple of United Red Carpet Lounges last year in the US. Sadl, a year has passed and this is now a Silver card with no more lounge access.

BA do not status match (and would not to BAEC Gold)

BMI is one of the few airlines who would status match anything and they do it fast as well. Just email them a scanned copy of you FC statement and card! Recorded turnaround time reported on the BA forum in FlyerTalk is 3 hours; i.e. the same afternoon.

Lufthansa have a status match offer every 2/3 years. Last one was last year. Status keeps for 2 years on LH.

If you are think of letting your VS AU card laspe into Silver, then get a BMI Gold card first.