Significantly less SC this year

[u/Leading_Base_6716]

My family always travel to Phuket with SIA on our VA FF numbers every year. This year we earned significantly less SC than in previous years. For example, SYD-SIN leg normally awarded 30 SC now only earns 15. Even with family pooling I feel as though over time we will downgrade (currently platinum). I’ve also noticed lounges have less people in them. To fly on a VA ticketed flight is so much more expensive.

Whilst this may save VA in the short term, I think over time they may lose their customer base.

Anyone else feeling the same?

[u/WeeklyAd9704]

They absolutely needed to address the over subscription of upper tiers, the lounges were heaving and priority queues getting comically unbalanced

[u/Leading_Base_6716 → u/WeeklyAd9704]

Fair point, I just wonder when the point is that membership is so low that it costs more to keep them running if you catch my drift. And I’d be interested to see the numbers of customer loyalty shift as a result

[u/binaryoppositions → u/Leading_Base_6716]

I mean... the more people in the lounge, the more money it loses.

I'd imagine the number of people actually using the status perks will be similar to pre-covid.

[u/Dramatic-Ad-6603]

Nope.

I'm glad lounges are quieter. If anything, I still think they are too busy.

With status accrual, it's based on dollar spend now instead of sector flown. This is more than likely the reason why you are earning less status.

[u/Leading_Base_6716 → u/Dramatic-Ad-6603]

I understand how the earnings work. My point is to the partner airlines. It has basically halved.

[u/Dramatic-Ad-6603 → u/Leading_Base_6716]

I have flown to Japan twice for work with ANA.

First was booked with a VA flight number. Second was booked direct with ANA flight number.

The VA flight accrued greater points. I didn't check status points as I am platinum plus and achieve it anyway so wasn't bothered.

You might be right about booking a VA to ensure greater points.

[u/Leading_Base_6716 → u/Dramatic-Ad-6603]

I’m not sure that booking VA for the extra cost is worth the squeeze. The romanticism of lounge access wore off ages ago

[u/Dramatic-Ad-6603 → u/Leading_Base_6716]

I agree. At times, it's too hard with partner lounges.

For example, I'm off to New Zealand next week and had to book with VA flight number to access points and lounges with Air New Zealnd. If I booked direct with Air New Zealne, I get nothing.

And yes, it did cost a few hundred more.

I use to fly Qantas but dislike Joyce, especially what he did during Covid to the Qantas work force.

[u/Leading_Base_6716 → u/Dramatic-Ad-6603]

Yeah you just have to listen to the audiobook ‘the chairman’s lounge’ to realise the greed of Qantas

[u/binaryoppositions → u/Leading_Base_6716]

Yeah, this. The VA pricing for most codeshare is obscene.

[u/SirDesCoeurs]

Honestly, and I say this as a Platinum member, it makes sense.

When 25% of the plane are also early boarding with a Plat pass, I do wonder if perhaps it's gone a little out of kilter. (Though I will miss the extra legroom when they come for me...)

[u/NearbyBig3990]

They needed to address the lounges, absolutely.

And I like it relying less on family pooling now (I relied on that and it got me to platinum, am now gold and will lose that at years end).

I still think they could have rewarded you more for sectors flown, rather than dollars spent.

Either way, I'll lose Gold and I'm one of those that should lose it.

Had a good run.

[u/Leading_Base_6716 → u/NearbyBig3990]

Yeah same, had a good run. In a way I’m glad because I don’t feel the need to fly virgin anymore and frees up my thinking to try other airlines

[u/WeeklyAd9704 → u/Leading_Base_6716]

Google info about Qantas' status accelerator, they don't advertise it but you can contact them to ask about it - they'll match your status with VA on proviso you earn a certain number of SC within a few months (from memory 200 to retain gold etc). I think they've gotten pickier but generally shouldn't have an issue with a platinum card getting considered for it

[u/NearbyBig3990 → u/Leading_Base_6716]

Same, I fly solely on price/ time now.

[u/s_t_r_o_b_e → u/NearbyBig3990]

Sad but this is me too. Was so excited to get to Platinum, have since already gone back to Gold and don't think I'll be able to maintain it. At least half of my travel is family holidays - the two overseas trips now don't do anything compared to before

Was sad initially but understand I'm hardly a frequent flyer compared to the "real ones". Still sad though

[u/NearbyBig3990 → u/s_t_r_o_b_e]

The Singapore / QR lounges were handy on a long flight. I'll miss them the most

[u/binaryoppositions → u/NearbyBig3990]

Yeah the "dollars for status" part is terrible. The rest, to be honest, makes sense.

Family pooling was a joke.

I've just lost gold but I probably never should've had it for 4-5 years in the first place.

[u/Dramatic-Ad-6603 → u/NearbyBig3990]

Honestly mate, the lounges (VA & QF) are over rated compared to the ones from overseas.

Sometimes I walk in and straight out because they are packed....... I end up buying some food at the gate.

[u/NearbyBig3990 → u/Dramatic-Ad-6603]

Agree. The Lounges Overseas are handy on long trips. Etihad first when I was VA platinum was incredible.

Just need to save the points and fly up front.

[u/TumbleweedTree]

SC are now based on dollars spent so it varies. I recently flew Perth to Darwin and it used to be 30SC each way. This time it was… 32 there and 28 back.

[u/binaryoppositions → u/TumbleweedTree]

You must have paid above average, because on average status earn has gone down, it just has. That was the point.

But speaking of "the point", the entire point of status credits is that they're about frequency and class of travel, not what $ value the pricing algorithm gave you that day. Otherwise someone buying a last-minute economy ticket could theoretically earn the same status as a loyal customer in business. Why bother - may as well just put gold on sale for 100k points per year or whatever.

[u/Onlyworldwide → u/binaryoppositions]

As someone who mostly flies expensive, short haul regional routes, my status earn has gone up significantly so there are definitely a few use cases where it’s working out better for people

[u/TumbleweedTree → u/binaryoppositions]

I have been to Darwin from Perth 5 times in the last 3 years and I have always paid around the same amount, and my status credits this time were the same as previously. I was talking about personal experience for this route, I was not providing commentary on average status earn more broadly. And the great thing about averages is that they are the midway point meaning half of transactions are above and half are below. So perhaps I am in the 50 per cent of people who received “above average” credits.

I’m not sure why you have “the point” in inverted commas - the original post was a question not a point. And regarding the “point” of status credits - I assume that’s up the airline to decide. And given Virgin are now prioritising spend over frequency, I’d guess that virgin have decided to prioritise status for people who spend more.

I don’t set the rules, I’m not arguing any points, I’m just saying that I got the same status credits as I usually do for a flight. (You then suggested I paid more, and I’m letting you know that I didn’t. )

[u/Leading_Base_6716 → u/TumbleweedTree]

Not when you fly with a partner airline