VA Platinum Status Run

Hi,

Canberra - Gold Coast (via Mel) consists of a zone 1 and zone 2, and in Flexi ($386 each way) would be enough to bump you up on a return trip

How much time do you have? VA has some ridiculously cheap fares to HKG via SYD/MEL that should get you over the line and may, in some cases, be cheaper than domestic flights.

It's nice to have, but I'd think carefully before working out how much it's really worth spending on it.

Others may of course feel differently, but the only perks I personally value from Platinum over Gold are Economy X seat selection and being able to phone for Fly Ahead, rather than wait until I get to the airport.

Economy X is actually very nice, particularly row 3, but you might find it cheaper to just pay for it on those occasions where you want it.

Interested to see which other perks of Platinum other fliers value.

Don’t bother. A welcome on board... measly upgrade to J if booking in Y... Gold is enough. F lounge in Abu Dhabi otherwise else where it’s not worth it!

I am based in Sydney and I need to run 150 SCs for Platimum before November.

Row 3 probably the best perk. The occasional free upgrade also but rare it happens. Mind you I should add that a couple of times when flights have been cancelled or changed I have received excellent priority service when rearranging to alternatives, including when flying with the family (3 kids and a wife). I guess it all counts but depends on how hard you have to work (and how much money you have to spend) to get platinum. I am lucky as a couple of Etihad F class London returns does the trick. Without those I would still be happy with gold.

Platnium also offers 4 free upgrades on any domestic Australian flights from flexi economy tickets and can be confirmed straight away as long as there is award space available I think that's a great perk which Qanats doesn't have.

Yup, I've made platinum once and my wife twice. We've never used that benefit, as we almost never travel on flex as we almost always pay for our own travel. On the odd occasion we don't, it's usually just a triangle hop, hardly seems worth it, and you need the availability anyway.

Nice perk in theory, but hard to use for many people.

Agree marginal benefit to getting Platinum, I may get more value than most on the economy X and freedom upgrades having family back in Perth, so its useful on those transcontinental trips. The extra baggage allowance 3x 32kg bags was useful when moving back to Australia and relocating to Sydney and moving things interstate (including a bike). Since mine was earned with discount business class fares with VA's Chinese partners, I feel like a lot of the cost of the paid for that travel has been redeemed.

I also did the status match over to United Premier Platinum and was upgraded to business on my way to LAX and most of the domestic legs of that trip.

Fortunately not been stuffed around enough on a flight to experience the excelling priority rebooking service :)

Will be trying to book the business to LAX in 2020 on points so let's see if it can really earn its colour!

The best thing about Platinum is that it extends your gold and above status for another year. Otherwise, there is not that much more addtional benefit.