AA94 From United States of America, joined Aug 2011, 365 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 months 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 862 times:
Virgin America has announced a plan to match the status of AA/UA elites to the comparable tiers on their Elevate elite program. The matched status will be valid through April 30 unless the flier meets the status earn requirements to renew status.
UA 1Ks/Plats and AA EXPs get matched to Elevate Gold, while UA Golds/Silvers and AA Plats/Golds get matched to Elevate Silver.
However, matched members will not get 25% off promo codes, reciprocal benefits on VA/VS, and will only receive one complimentary lounge pass to VX's LAX lounge.
jetblueguy22 From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 2053 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (7 months 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 865 times:
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All I have to say is good luck with that. It's one thing to see DL or UA try to take some AA members, but another for VX. Not because it's good or bad business. But because they probably fly to a lot of the same places. I wish VX the best of luck. But I can't see this swaying many FFs unless they do a lot of NYC-LAX/SFO flights.
Blue
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Agreed. While the fact they are throwing in some benefits on VS is appealing, so many of these elite flyers, even if they only do SF/LA to NY use these miles for trips to Hawaii, Mexico, Caribbean and deep Europe beyond just London (like Italy, South of France, Alps, etc). So say they sign up for VX plan, great but in back of head on next business transcon they gotta be thinking "but thats 5,000 less miles now on DL, UA, AA or what have you for my next big trip to ______ that VX/VS can't serve"
The BIG players understand the power of loyalty programs. And for their top elite fliers do get great awards for their loyalty. I think it's great that they are upping their game here, but the payoff sounds a bit skimpy!
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mogandoCI From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (7 months 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 865 times:
If VX really wants to entice top spenders (the 1Ks and the EXPs) to jump ship, at the VERY least, they should offer systemwide upgrades on VirginAustralia and VirginAtlantic flights.
"Priority purchase for first class upgrade" is *not* a meaningful benefit. Try again.
Why should they? I can't speak for VA, but VS routes to the US do pretty well in J class, so why give away revenue from another completely separate airline, to benefit a small number of FF's on VX?
All airlines absolutely need to sell each and every J class seat possible in today's financial climate.
I've never really understood this culture in North America of FF programmes being such a big deal, but then living in the UK I rarely fly domestically as it's rarely necessary given our size and in the US of course people do so far more often.
But still, it seems to me this whole FF situation, like many areas in aviation, is still massively outdated and must cost airlines an absolute fortune in unnecessarily giving away much-needed revenue?
I totally understand its important to look after your very best customers who
spend considerable $$$ but I still think too much is given away.
In countries such as Russia/China where there is huge domestic traffic still, you don't see airlines giving away half as much.
If VX really wants to entice top spenders (the 1Ks and the EXPs) to jump ship, at the VERY least, they should offer systemwide upgrades on VirginAustralia and VirginAtlantic flights.
I won't call that a bad idea, but I think it really can't happen, as those airlines are only loosely affiliated, and not part of the same system, per se. There may be legal hurdles involved with that one...
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cschleic From United States of America, joined Feb 2002, 1052 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (7 months 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 863 times:
Tough for a smaller carrier to compete against a network program, even if offering matching status. I guess that's why AS, for example, partners with DL and AA rather than trying to compete against their program.
JONC777 From United States of America, joined Jun 2012, 125 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 863 times:
I'm not sure how common it is anymore, but one year I achived AA plat status, and by simply faxing my statment over to CO was able to get gold status for a year, and TW even matched the status as well. I thought it was interesting that I achieved all of that through a few phones calls and letters. . . I doubt there so generous these days.
OB1504 From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 2975 posts, RR: 8 Reply 11, posted (7 months 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 860 times:
Quoting deltaflyertoo (Reply 2): Agreed. While the fact they are throwing in some benefits on VS is appealing, so many of these elite flyers, even if they only do SF/LA to NY use these miles for trips to Hawaii, Mexico, Caribbean and deep Europe beyond just London (like Italy, South of France, Alps, etc). So say they sign up for VX plan, great but in back of head on next business transcon they gotta be thinking "but thats 5,000 less miles now on DL, UA, AA or what have you for my next big trip to ______ that VX/VS can't serve"
VX's current route network is too limited to be of any use to most elites.
syncmaster From United States of America, joined Jul 2002, 1983 posts, RR: 14 Reply 12, posted (7 months 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 860 times:
Quoting JONC777 (Reply 10):
I'm not sure how common it is anymore, but one year I achived AA plat status, and by simply faxing my statment over to CO was able to get gold status for a year, and TW even matched the status as well. I thought it was interesting that I achieved all of that through a few phones calls and letters. . . I doubt there so generous these days.
I know someone who had status with OnePass and when Continental left SkyTeam Delta was willing to match the status in SkyMiles.
mcdu From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 1296 posts, RR: 17 Reply 14, posted (7 months 13 hours ago) and read 861 times:
Quoting PIEAvantiP180 (Reply 13):
So is there a reson that they are only going after AA and UA elites and not DL and US?
Yes, a very good reason is the biggest competition to their network is from UA and AA. UA at SFO and AA for DFW and JFK transcons. Both UA and AA have loyal transcon pax they would like to skim.
However, I don't see anyone really accepting this as it would be of very little value.
enilria From Canada, joined Feb 2008, 6157 posts, RR: 12 Reply 15, posted (7 months 13 hours ago) and read 861 times:
Quoting AA94 (Thread starter): Virgin America has announced a plan to match the status of AA/UA elites to the comparable tiers on their Elevate elite program. The matched status will be valid through April 30 unless the flier meets the status earn requirements to renew status.
The way things are going for VX lately, they'll be giving you a rubber check for $200 with each booking before long.
Very good point, but DL has T-cons and LAX and SFO elites to, not nearly as many as AA and UA at LAX and SFO but how much more would it cost to make an offer to the other competing companies out there. They are already willing to accept the cost of converting AA and UA elites they why not just invite all. The financial situation that VX is in right now I believe they need to get every FF member they can, beggar can't be choosers type of situation.
davescj From United States of America, joined Jun 2007, 2266 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (7 months 12 hours ago) and read 860 times:
Quoting JONC777 (Reply 10): I'm not sure how common it is anymore, but one year I achived AA plat status, and by simply faxing my statment over to CO was able to get gold status for a year, and TW even matched the status as well. I thought it was interesting that I achieved all of that through a few phones calls and letters. . . I doubt there so generous these days.
Although unpublished, this is not an uncommon practice. Different carriers have different policies and ways of doing the match, but most will do some version of it.
On AA, sometimes it is a match, sometimes a challenge (do X amount of flying in 3 months, we'll give the status), UA used to just match the status for a year (I believe DL used to do the same).
However, and this is a big however, with those carriers I am aware that did the match, it was generally once per life of the account. Which is fair -- if you are going to switch carriers, they are gracing you into the system. You should respond by flying as much as you said you would (unless you simply wanted a pretty piece of plastic ).
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VX's current route network is too limited to be of any use to most elites.
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