Travel Bank - What's the go?

[Viridis]

I've just cancelled a Business Class ticket on VA

The ticket was described as 'refundable' which is why I bought it

The 'refund' has been credited to my newly created 'travel bank'

Has anybody had any success getting a proper - you know, like money - refund?

Has anybody had any luck actually signing into Travel Bank? The credentials instructed to be used to sign in (FF) don't work. It directs a password reset via one's FF account but I'm not going to do that because my username and password work there

Might have to transfer my allegiance to the other team

 

[Bolthead]

Never had a problem with Travel Bank. Are you using a 13 digit number that should have been emailed to you. If not then you need to contact Guest Contact Centre on 13 67 89 for assistance. As for a cash refund...... good luck with that!

 

[Viridis]

Got the 13 digit number but the email tells me to use my FF credentials

I’ve tried combinations of both but nothing works

I guess I’ll phone Guest Relations

I’m sure they have an army of lawyers getting their ducks in row but I do wonder how they can legally describe a ******* travel back as a refund

It’s only a Sydney Melbourne sector but …… the principle. Isn’t a refund one of the benefits of Business Class (as distinct from Advance Purchase)

But I digress …..

 

[clifford]

Got the 13 digit number but the email tells me to use my FF credentials

I’ve tried combinations of both but nothing works

I guess I’ll phone Guest Relations

I’m sure they have an army of lawyers getting their ducks in row but I do wonder how they can legally describe a ******* travel back as a refund

It’s only a Sydney Melbourne sector but …… the principle. Isn’t a refund one of the benefits of Business Class (as distinct from Advance Purchase)

But I digress …..

I think you might be jumping to conclusions.

Yesterday I had to change a CBR-MEL-ADL bus class ticket to ADL-MEL-CBR for a different date. I rang the 136789 number and was immediately connected to an Australian (NZ by the accent?) call centre. And the point is, it all had to go through a travel bank account.

The helpful agent asked if I wanted a cash refund, but I said just apply the refund to the new booking.

All done in 10 mins (I'm Gold). So just call...

 

[tharaka]

Did anyone notice that travel bank credit allows you to book only the 'travel bank credit' fares only? These fares are limited to the higher category (essentially not inc the Lite fares). So basically, they refund you $X but it's use is essentially <$X on fair comparative basis.

This is dodgy practice that should not be allowed! Can someone confirm this is the case? I'm happy to help a group of FFs to take this to Virgin first and if they don't do anything about this to raise with ACCC.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Did anyone notice that travel bank credit allows you to book only the 'travel bank credit' fares only? These fares are limited to the higher category (essentially not inc the Lite fares). So basically, they refund you $X but it's use is essentially <$X on fair comparative basis.

This is dodgy practice that should not be allowed! Can someone confirm this is the case? I'm happy to help a group of FFs to take this to Virgin first and if they don't do anything about this to raise with ACCC.

It's not dodgy, it's the rules of the credit which is based on the original fare payment method. There are Future Flight credits and Standard credits.

Future Flight credits | Virgin Australia

www.virginaustralia.com

 

[tharaka]

It's not dodgy, it's the rules of the credit which is based on the original fare payment method. There are Future Flight credits and Standard credits.

Future Flight credits | Virgin Australia

www.virginaustralia.com

Ok, maybe i didn't get this right. So when a flight is refunded do you get standard credits or future credits? What I have is future credits which doesn't hold the same value due to limited liquidity.

 

[Bagpuss]

Ok, maybe i didn't get this right. So when a flight is refunded do you get standard credits or future credits? What I have is future credits which doesn't hold the same value due to limited liquidity.

If you paid cash your refund will be to cash. If you paid using standard credits your refund will be to travel bank (standard credits). If you paid using future credits your refund will be to future credits. If you paid using a mixture IE cash and standard credits your refund will be to cash and standard credits.

"Original form of payment" is exactly that.

 

[tharaka]

If you paid cash your refund will be to cash. If you paid using standard credits your refund will be to travel bank (standard credits). If you paid using future credits your refund will be to future credits. If you paid using a mixture IE cash and standard credits your refund will be to cash and standard credits.

"Original form of payment" is exactly that.

I don’t think this applies everywhere. There are flights where ‘refund back to travel bank’ option is the only option if you decide to change or refund. In this case, if the credits added are standard credits then this is fine. But if future credits are added, customers must be made aware at that point that future credits have limited use hence lower liquidity.

Post automatically merged: Mar 22, 2022

If you paid cash your refund will be to cash. If you paid using standard credits your refund will be to travel bank (standard credits). If you paid using future credits your refund will be to future credits. If you paid using a mixture IE cash and standard credits your refund will be to cash and standard credits.

"Original form of payment" is exactly that.

I don’t think this applies everywhere. There are flights where ‘refund back to travel bank’ option is the only option if you decide to change or refund. In this case, if the credits added are standard credits then this is fine. But if future credits are added, customers must be made aware at that point that future credits have limited use hence lower liquidity.

 

[Bagpuss]

I don’t think this applies everywhere. There are flights where ‘refund back to travel bank’ option is the only option if you decide to change or refund. In this case, if the credits added are standard credits then this is fine. But if future credits are added, customers must be made aware at that point that future credits have limited use hence lower liquidity.

Post automatically merged: Mar 22, 2022

I don’t think this applies everywhere. There are flights where ‘refund back to travel bank’ option is the only option if you decide to change or refund. In this case, if the credits added are standard credits then this is fine. But if future credits are added, customers must be made aware at that point that future credits have limited use hence lower liquidity.

You mentioned a business class ticket. They are fully refunded back to original form of payment or at least the new fares which came out since August 2021.

Domestic fares | Virgin Australia

Discover Virgin Australia's domestic fare options. Learn about fare types, inclusions, flexibility, and pricing to help you choose the best option for your next flight across Australia.

www.virginaustralia.com

 

[tharaka]

You mentioned a business class ticket. They are fully refunded back to original form of payment or at least the new fares which came out since August 2021.

Domestic fares | Virgin Australia

Discover Virgin Australia's domestic fare options. Learn about fare types, inclusions, flexibility, and pricing to help you choose the best option for your next flight across Australia.

www.virginaustralia.com

where did I mention anything about business class???

 

[Bagpuss]

where did I mention anything about business class???

The original purpose of this thread was around business class

 

[Viridis]

where did I mention anything about business class???

You didn't - I did

I think you might be jumping to conclusions.

Yesterday I had to change a CBR-MEL-ADL bus class ticket to ADL-MEL-CBR for a different date. I rang the 136789 number and was immediately connected to an Australian (NZ by the accent?) call centre. And the point is, it all had to go through a travel bank account.

The helpful agent asked if I wanted a cash refund, but I said just apply the refund to the new booking.

I just got off the phone - it was like swimming in treacle.

I've no doubt the Agent was trying to be helpful but she was inadequately trained to assist with the tech problem (accessing my travel bank) and completely out her depth in respect of facilitating a refund.

She said it has gone to the Accounts department but I don't really expect to see my money

All done in 10 mins (I'm Gold). So just call...

I did just call; it was about 10mins, I'm Gold too.

I've written off the money and applied for a QF branded credit card immediately after putting the phone down. I've no doubt they'll be the same but I feel better for doing it

And now I'm off to make an appointment at the Dentist - I think it will be more fun

 

[repete]

Oh dear, tread carefully... i do fear that a dentist would be more fun than the latter direction you indicate, ie. moving to QF over this. My experience of progress from them has been more painful than VA. I wouldn't give up on VA just yet coming through with what you are entitled to.

 

[CorporateFlyerMEL]

Compared to Qantas, travel bank is significantly easier to use and more flexible

 

[Ausbt]

Might have to transfer my allegiance to the other team

How much pain have VA put you through over how many years? I think you'd have to weigh that up, as there a zillion SG members of Qantas and quite frankly Qantas probably doesn't take too much notice of their issues in the day-to-day. You'd likely be more valued as SG at VA.

Surely this isn't just the first bout of 'trouble' with VA is it?

 

[Viridis]

How much pain have VA put you through over how many years? I think you'd have to weigh that up, as there a zillion SG members of Qantas and quite frankly Qantas probably doesn't take too much notice of their issues in the day-to-day. You'd likely be more valued as SG at VA.

Surely this isn't just the first bout of 'trouble' with VA is it?

Poor first impressions

I’m BA Gold and have been for a number of years

I was thinking of switching to SQ/VA as I prefer the SQ daylight schedule from Singapore to London.

I don’t travel much domestically but happened to have a number of Melbourne trips in quick succession and booked three of them on VA to try it out

It all seemed a bit ‘amateur hour’ by comparison and the Travel Bank was the last straw. I can’t see the point of ‘starting over’ for something that isn’t much better

 

[antycbr]

Poor first impressions

I’m BA Gold and have been for a number of years

I was thinking of switching to SQ/VA as I prefer the SQ daylight schedule from Singapore to London.

I don’t travel much domestically but happened to have a number of Melbourne trips in quick succession and booked three of them on VA to try it out

It all seemed a bit ‘amateur hour’ by comparison and the Travel Bank was the last straw. I can’t see the point of ‘starting over’ for something that isn’t much better

Even if VA muck things up at least you can get through to them on the phone…

Waiting 12 weeks now for points and taxes refund on a QF booking. 2h30 min call without success today.

 

[Viridis]

Even if VA muck things up at least you can get through to them on the phone…

Waiting 12 weeks now for points and taxes refund on a QF booking. 2h30 min call without success today.

Fair enough

I had a points booking on QF, booked through BA, which I had to cancel recently. Money (taxes) back on my Amex and points back in my BA account within a week. All done online.

 

[clifford]

I can’t see the point of ‘starting over’ for something that isn’t much better

But it is better.