Virgin America has just sent out emails to Elevate members about some positive changes they're making to the program. These changes almost exclusively impact elite members, both when it comes to earning status and how many points they earn. Here's a simple chart which explains the changes (though the bottom right box should read 140%…
Continue reading: Virgin America Makes Elite Status Easier To Earn & More Rewarding
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
@Lucky I am Elevate Gold and have over 225k elevate points sitting in my account right now. Virgin is great for direct IAD-SFO travel for business, so I will be sticking with for the time being. That being said, do you think I should start burning through my Elevate points?
It sounds like Elevate miles are ripe for devaluation.
My guess is this is a start of a 18-24 month process to integrate with Alaska's program at a 1:1 ratio.
I matched from Alaska MVP, so they aren't only limiting to the programs listed.
Having award redemption flights count towards elite status is massive, and they seem to have learned something from hotel chains.
One of the most aggravating aspects of airline programs is that sometimes I am in the position of having to buy a cheap economy class ticket to meet elite requalification when I had enough, and would much rather have burned, miles to fly business class.
I hope that this becomes the standard with airlines, just as it has become with hotel programs. It will do wonders for the airlines in lowering their mileage liability as the true frequent flyers will finally be able to burn their miles without being dinged by the airline for doing with a lack of requalification to elite status.
MASSIVE change in my book. Once again Virgin comes ahead of the pack.