Flying Club changes?

I have read several posts on TheDibb from seperate people who have telephoned the Frequent Virgin line with VH and been told that the VA FC is to be scrapped including the 10% discount we can get off holidays[:0].

I know the VH loyalty programme has changed and you now have to choose your discount or pick another perk, but whywould they be telling people enquiring about FVC that the flying club is going to get scrapped SOON.

[Darren Wheeler]

I've heard that the FC discount is being tightened up on to stop you applying for a Red and then claiming your 10%. Apparently checks are made to ensure you are a legit user of FC.

What's TheDibb????

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by AlanA
What's TheDibb????

This is
There's a link to it in the Links forum below

Originally posted by honey lamb

Originally posted by AlanA
What's TheDibb????

This is
There's a link to it in the Links forum below

Ahh OK. I see now.
Thanks

[Neil]

The current system is open to abuse, something I found to my advantage the first time I booked a VH package. The only problem with changing or trying to restrict it's use is that it will unfairly penalise genuine people who have signed up for FC but have yet to take their first flight. Also if people are booking a VH then they will more than likely be taking a VS flight so should be entitled to collect miles.

Originally posted by Attitude23
The current system is open to abuse, something I found to my advantage the first time I booked a VH package. The only problem with changing or trying to restrict it's use is that it will unfairly penalise genuine people who have signed up for FC but have yet to take their first flight. Also if people are booking a VH then they will more than likely be taking a VS flight so should be entitled to collect miles.

Presumably this is a left hand / right hand thing within the Virgin Group. When I joined both the FF and FVC schemes they both had qualifying restrictions. Is it the case that the shift away from the qualification on the FF side has led (not unexpectedly IMHO) to VH finding they are having to give away more discounts than expected ?

Paul

[Neil]

Originally posted by pjh
Is it the case that the shift away from the qualification on the FF side has led (not unexpectedly IMHO) to VH finding they are having to give away more discounts than expected ?

Without question I would say, but as I mentioned in the thread about FVC, VH staff told me about the FC discount so they have been shooting themselves in the foot really!

I have sent them an email to ask what the situation will be. I would rather have my miles than 10% off a holiday so it would shift me to DIY holidays on a permanant basis.

I received a letter from VH last week informing me my membership of FVC had been cancelled.No explanation, but I assume it's because I haven't booked a package for the last couple of years, good way to drum up business though.

You need a minimum of two packages over the last 4 years adding up to a total of no less than £6K, to be invited to join.

Originally posted by pjh

Originally posted by Attitude23
The current system is open to abuse, something I found to my advantage the first time I booked a VH package. The only problem with changing or trying to restrict it's use is that it will unfairly penalise genuine people who have signed up for FC but have yet to take their first flight. Also if people are booking a VH then they will more than likely be taking a VS flight so should be entitled to collect miles.

Presumably this is a left hand / right hand thing within the Virgin Group. When I joined both the FF and FVC schemes they both had qualifying restrictions. Paul

Same here - you had to have booked 3 holidays with VH to qualify! How times change....[:#]

[Neil]

Originally posted by catsilversword

Originally posted by pjh

Originally posted by Attitude23
The current system is open to abuse, something I found to my advantage the first time I booked a VH package. The only problem with changing or trying to restrict it's use is that it will unfairly penalise genuine people who have signed up for FC but have yet to take their first flight. Also if people are booking a VH then they will more than likely be taking a VS flight so should be entitled to collect miles.

Presumably this is a left hand / right hand thing within the Virgin Group. When I joined both the FF and FVC schemes they both had qualifying restrictions. Paul

Same here - you had to have booked 3 holidays with VH to qualify! How times change....[:#]

That was the case for the old VH FVC, not VS FC

Originally posted by jaguarpig
I received a letter from VH last week informing me my membership of FVC had been cancelled.No explanation, but I assume it's because I haven't booked a package for the last couple of years, good way to drum up business though.

Weird. I haven't used VH for 5 years, and this morning I got a new FVC card.

Originally posted by Attitude23

Originally posted by catsilversword

Originally posted by pjh
[quote]Originally posted by Attitude23
The current system is open to abuse, something I found to my advantage the first time I booked a VH package. The only problem with changing or trying to restrict it's use is that it will unfairly penalise genuine people who have signed up for FC but have yet to take their first flight. Also if people are booking a VH then they will more than likely be taking a VS flight so should be entitled to collect miles.

Presumably this is a left hand / right hand thing within the Virgin Group. When I joined both the FF and FVC schemes they both had qualifying restrictions. Paul

Same here - you had to have booked 3 holidays with VH to qualify! How times change....[:#]

That was the case for the old VH FVC, not VS FC
[/quote]

When I joined Virgin Freeway, that was the case, had to take three qualifying flights as I recall

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by AlanA
When I joined Virgin Freeway, that was the case, had to take three qualifying flights as I recall

With Freeway - Upper class and PE (Midclass) flights earned miles immediately, but you had to take three Economy round trip flights in a 12 month period to qualify to earn miles.
Once you had qualified, you got points for all six of the qualifying flights and then you got points for any subsequent economy flights - and you got sliver status 'for life'. [:w]

Nick

Am I missing something or not understanding[?]

I am a FVC member and a FC member. I always book VH and get air miles to my FC account and get my 10% discount and free car upgrade, but I'm not sure who actually gives the discount and upgrade FVC or FC.

As I am reading it on this thread, the tightening up means you will only get miles or discounts not both. Am I right?

When I book VH I only ever give my FC number and they seem happy with that and I get everything I ask for. Should I be giving my FVC number instead?

thelaceys

Originally posted by thelaceys
Am I missing something or not understanding[?]

I am a FVC member and a FC member. I always book VH and get air miles to my FC account and get my 10% discount and free car upgrade, but I'm not sure who actually gives the discount and upgrade FVC or FC.

As I am reading it on this thread, the tightening up means you will only get miles or discounts not both. Am I right?

When I book VH I only ever give my FC number and they seem happy with that and I get everything I ask for. Should I be giving my FVC number instead?

thelaceys

You sound almost as confused as I am![:#]

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick

Originally posted by AlanA
When I joined Virgin Freeway, that was the case, had to take three qualifying flights as I recall

With Freeway - Upper class and PE (Midclass) flights earned miles immediately, but you had to take three Economy round trip flights in a 12 month period to qualify to earn miles.
Once you had qualified, you got points for all six of the qualifying flights and then you got points for any subsequent economy flights - and you got sliver status 'for life'. [:w]

Nick

yes, its all coming back to me now. I seem to recall i did my qualifying flights with BMI in buisness class into Europe.
I was a silver for life, perhaps I should ask why I need to renew these days...[:o)]

[Neil]

thelaceys - the main point raised in this thread is that VH are reportedly tightening up on giving the VS 10% FC discount. At the moment anybody can sign up to VS FC and then book a VH and get 10% discount. This is obviously costing VH quite a bit of money, so they are going to start checking how recently the FC account was opened/if it is used regularly etc to try and stop it happening/being abused as after it all it is meant to be a perk for being a regular VS flier.

You will still earn miles for any flights booked through VH and if you book over the phone you will still get your 10% discount. What has changed is that the VH FVC no longer gives a 10% discount, but offers other "perks" like transfers to the airport, airport hotels free of charge etc, but as before you cannot use both your FC discount and also get a perk for being a FVC, so you have to choose, with 9 times out of 10 the 10% discount being the better option.

Hope I have made things a little bit clearer

Neil

Originally posted by thelaceys
Am I missing something or not understanding[?]

I am a FVC member and a FC member. I always book VH and get air miles to my FC account and get my 10% discount and free car upgrade, but I'm not sure who actually gives the discount and upgrade FVC or FC.

As I am reading it on this thread, the tightening up means you will only get miles or discounts not both. Am I right?

When I book VH I only ever give my FC number and they seem happy with that and I get everything I ask for. Should I be giving my FVC number instead?

thelaceys

The car upgrade has only ever been available to FVC members (although FC and FVC both used to qualify for the 10% discount)so my guess is that when you ring VH to book your previous details come up (and all the details are linked).Previous FVC members who qualify for the NEW FVC scheme can opt to keep the 10% disount (and I'd suggest that they do)and will still earn miles which will deposit themselves in a FC account should they be enrolled.Personally I can see the 10% discount being dropped by FC (there have been subtle not terribly publicised changes to FC already, like mileage increases for limo bookings on a G -and a restriction on the areas they will now collect from when using this[V][V]).
I've still had no reply to the email I sent VH customer services about the new changes either[n].

[mitchja]

There are basically 3 options you can use when booking a V Hols package:

1. Use your Flying Club 10% discount (although not sure how much longer this will continue)

2. If you are a FVC member, use your FVC 10% discount.

3. If you are a FVC member, take one of the new options ie airport hotel, transfer or car parking instead of the usual 10% discount as mentioned in point 2.

You can only use one of these options.
The 10% discount (both FVC and FC) are on your bottom line invoice price (ie include any extras such as flight upgrades or other supplements etc). The only thing you dont get the discount on is a V Hols holiday insurance package.
All 3 options will allow you to earn FC miles on VS flights.

Regards

You need a minimum of two packages over the last 4 years adding up to a total of no less than £6K, to be invited to join.

With my last booking VH sent me a golf brolly for I think 10 packages, Checking back that was only in November 2005. 3x UC to BOS the bill must have been pushing £5k on its own.[?]

Originally posted by DragonLady
I've still had no reply to the email I sent VH customer services about the new changes either[n].

That's pants isn't it? Ive had a couple of replies recently about the FVC - but must admit they did take 3-4 days![V]

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by MarkJ

Originally posted by DragonLady
I've still had no reply to the email I sent VH customer services about the new changes either[n].

That's pants isn't it? Ive had a couple of replies recently about the FVC - but must admit they did take 3-4 days![V]

But then it is a really busy time for them, and I know how many people work in that team (give you a clue, you can easily count them on one hand!).

Thanks,
Richard