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I took up the Virgin status match offer in February this year and booked an initial upper class flight to the US for 17th September which would qualify me for Flying Club Gold status. I was keen to try and retain gold so I have booked a number of flights into 2025 chasing that 1000 tier point target. The final flight is scheduled to return to the UK on 15th or 16th September 2025. I assumed that as all the flights were within 365 days I would qualify as renewing. Subsequently I re-read the HFP article about the status match offer and it says that the upgrade takes place 72 hours BEFORE the first flight. That would suggest my renewal date is actually going to be around 14th Sept 2025. So my final flight could be past the renewal date.
I’ve rung Virgin to clarify and been told that as far as they can see the first status upgrade would take place AFTER I fly on the 17th. Does the hive mind think I can rely on this? (I can’t easily plan to return earlier on my final flight as we are celebrating our wedding anniversary in San Fran)
And if there’s a real danger I’m not going to get renewal I don’t think I’d expend the time and money on all these other flights.Any opinions?
Get something in writing from Virgin. I assume they’d honour that if there were a problem. Or failing that it would be actionable (given you are relying on that confirmation in terms of your other bookings).
Bad news and good news.
My understanding (and certainly what happened to me) is that your status is upgraded three days prior to the flight that is associated with the match so on the 14th of September you should become Gold. This would be the bad news.
However the good news is that it is not a membership year, it is a membership period. And my understanding (as per Virgin Atlantic’s website, wording below) is that you would need to earn 1,000 tier points between the 15th of September 2024 and the 30th of September 2025. So I think you are peachy. This should be confirmable by looking at your account any time after you become gold as it will say “To remain a Gold member you’ll need to reach 1,000 Tier Points before 30 September 2025.”
That will be £10 please (refundable if I am wrong)
“Silver or Gold members: Once you’re a Silver/Gold member you’ll remain in that tier provided you earn the minimum number of Tier Points for that tier within our Upgraded Fixed Membership Period (that’s 400 Tier Points to stay Silver, 1,000 Tier Points to stay Gold). This period is calculated from one day after the date on which you achieved Silver/Gold and continues for the remainder of that month plus a further 12 months.”
In short, @Froggee is correct.
That’s great news Froggee. Thanks so much for the response.
And it’ll be good to be able to see that target date in writing by the time I travel.J
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