I am a gold member of virgin velocity ff.

I am a gold member of virgin velocity ff. I had qualified with 1020 status credits to upgrade to platinum but was 2 sectors short, although I was planning 2 trips next week. 4 days ago my status credits drop back to 45 as the 12 months since received hit. I have sent a email to virgin asking for some discretion. What do you think my chances are?

Unfortunately I would think the chances are slim, as VA would have reviewed your profile for sure being this close to the treshold. Last year VA had a lot of extra promotions (double points SC's on flights, extra SC's for taking a flight) however I have seen nothing of that this year. My guess is that they now actually want people to fly them and have them as their preferred airline, rather than handing out freebees to QF FF and having people occaisionally use the airline or members of alliance partners who do not fly VA metal (judging on the fact that you missed out on sectors you probably qualified on SQ or EY flights and did not use VA). It is bitter though if you qualified for Plat on SC's but missed out on the flights. In all fairness, you would have known that the 12 month period was up so you could have taken a cheap return flight last week.

I hope they will grant you Plat, never hurts to ask! Do let us know the outcome.

On a side note, I am Plat with both VA and QF and my QF status was due and I was 20 SC's short. Planned to take a trip but two weeks before expiry I got my new shiny Plat card in the mail from QF staing they saw i was short but did want to grant me Plat, I did not have to take the flight :)

Last February, I was still twenty status credits off regaining my QF silver status however I received a letter from QF saying they would let me retain it. I thought this was pretty good and it certianly wasn't expected.

As mentioned about I think they are moving towards their FF's flying on their actual services. Flying the minimum sectors is the first step that most probably in their eyes has to be achieved. It doesn't make good business sense to have FF's flying with their partners with little or no direct revenue. If you flew say 30 sectors and were 20 points off then they would probably award you the higher status. 

Also I agree with KG in regard to a loyalty focus. Last year was an expansionary phase of their change strategy. This year appears to focus on consolidation and loyalty within the high yielding travellers. You probably won't see a huge raft of free status credit campaigns and the status credit on FF tickets will probably end as well, as it most probably should, to prepare them for a longer term growth strategy. They had to do this to get people to try it and experience their "perks" however now they want to maintain those who have swapped over.

Thanks to all that responded. Yes a lot of my sc's came from a EY flight to Europe with the family last year but also included 7 additional return flights with Virgin around Australia. It would have been nine (and no qualification issues)  but for being unemployed for last 3 months. I haven't flown any other airline for 18 months.

Gidday everyone. I was just checking my email and I have received a response back from Velocity FF. As a one off gesture of goodwill they have decided to upgrade me to Plantinum (happy days!!) due to the circumstances of me having been unemployed but being so close to qualification. Now I just have to make sure I maintain it!! As you said KG, it never hurts to ask.

Congrats!! Great for you and obviously well done VA for putting in some thoughts and using reason. They got back to you pretty quick on the matter, all in all thumbs up to VA.

Enjoy your newly minted status, make sure to throw in some VA trips this time (hope you are in the workforce again btw!)

Well done! Great to hear. I hope your work situation gets better as well.

Well done Velocity! You have made your customers very happy. I am very proud to flash my Velocity card around planes and airports because you really deserve 'Best Frequent Flyer Program' by AusBT.