Platinum Plus: the next step for Qantas, Virgin frequent flyers
By David Flynn, March 29 2016
Reaching Platinum frequent flyer status with Qantas or Virgin Australia is a desirable goal in itself, but many travellers are unaware of the additional higher-than-Platinum perks available as your status credits continue to accrue.
It takes 1,400 status credits in a single membership year to earn your Platinum card with Qantas (and 1,200 each year to keep that shiny card in your pocket or purse).
But if you keep flying and reach the 2,400 status credit milestone you'll be offered a choice between
- a bonus 50,000 Qantas Points
- free Gold membership for a family member or friend
- three complimentary Qantas Valet Parking or Chauffeured Transfer invitations
Most flyers will ignore the third option and weigh up a selfish serve of points versus sharing the gratis Gold status.
50,000 points isn't to be sneezed at: it's almost enough for an upgrade from business class to first class on Qantas' flagship Sydney-London or Melbourne-London Airbus A380 routes.
But a free upgrade to Gold for your partner, family member or friend makes a pretty good present, with gifted Gold memberships running for at least 12 months.
Of course, the next level up on the status ladder is Platinum One which includes partner Platinum status.
Also read: How to get get Qantas Gold-grade frequent flyer status with just one trip
If you're in the Virgin Australia camp, Velocity Platinum status is yours with 1,000 status credits in a 12-month period (and a lower threshold of 800 status credits in the following year to keep the card).
With another 500 status credits you can claim a 'companion' Gold card, which like the Qantas Frequent Flyer offer provides Gold-plated benefits such as lounge access, priority check-in and boarding plus a higher checked luggage allowance, along with a bonus serve of frequent flyer points on each flight.
(Velocity Gold also has some unique perks such as free Gold-grade status with Hilton HHonors or IHG Rewards Club.)
Tuck another 500 status credits under your belt and that companion card is elevated to Velocity Platinum status.
Also read: Qantas vs Virgin Australia – which is best for frequent flyer award seats?
Check out the AusBT 'unofficial' status guides
- Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum One
- Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum
- Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold
- Qantas Frequent Flyer Silver
- Virgin Australia Velocity Platinum
- Virgin Australia Velocity Gold
- Virgin Australia Velocity Silver
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Apr 2013
Total posts 143
Partner Gold/Plat is all well and good, but it's a very specific 'reward' for a very specific demographic. Not every platinum FF is married or in a relationship, or even has a someone they would consider gifting gold/plat to... and it also assumes that even if you do have a spouse/partner/someone to gift to, that they actually fly enough to make use of it.
This has been one of my main gripes as a VA Plat, and one of two reasons I've decided to move to QF - at least on QF you can choose betwen other benefits like bonus points if gifting status is of no use to you. Once VA Plat status is retained, where's the benefit in keeping on funnelling my business toward VA? Of course I'm going to refocus that business and go chase QF status! BIG gap in their retention/growth strategy.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
15 Aug 2012
Total posts 171
I agree, there isn't a lot of difference between Plat and gold on Virgin, however with Qantas there's a lot of reward, especially with access to international first lounges and domestic business lounge access which is superior to Virgins lounge offering (VA Plat gives you same lounge as gold membership).
My wife/family always travels with me anyway so opting for Gold dozens't really offer much as they share the benefits my Qantas status gives me now (Gold going on Platinum soon)
So I've done the same and moved to Qantas, even tho I really like Virgin and what they do, Qantas is just a step ahead.
Qantas Platinum
04 Dec 2012
Total posts 48
I agree that QF Platinum is a great asset which I enjoy too. Yet as perks go, I also enjoy the 4 complimentary upgrades on Velocity Platinum (especially on the East-West route) and the Hilton Honnors Diamond membership which is very rewarding too.
I did not know about the 500 extra credits for the companion card. So thanks for that!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Sep 2015
Total posts 7
As a QF P1 and a VA Plat member here are my thoughts
If you have a choice between the schemes and will reach Platinum go with QF (as long as you fly out of SYD or MELB internationally) .Although QF 's air service is as inconistant as the Hawthorn footbal club and full of many that should of been retired years ago you cannot beat the QF First Lounge in terms of service and food...it is the best and worth putting up with the miserable (at times) air service.
In terms of QF Plat vs P1...it doesnt really matter as you get next to nothing extra except an nice present at Xmas, unless you value your partner having QF plat status....really for all the extra flying you dont get much at all.
With VA Platimun the lounges in AU seem to be on average much better than QF BUT if you fly internallionally most of their partner lounges are overcrowded and miserable.....but the air service is much better and more imortantly consistant than QF.
Overall if Platimum is your goal (and you can reach it), go with VA if you fly mainly domestically and QF if you fly internationally (from SYD and MELB only).
If gold is where you land go with VA for both domestic and internationally...your overall experience will be much better.
Hope that helps.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Apr 2013
Total posts 143
Couldn't agree more Sparky :)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Aug 2014
Total posts 8
For Virgin what does " you can claim " mean? I have to contact them or its immediate they should contact me?
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