Idea's for further Virgin and or Velocity benefits

[dandandan]

Let me start this thread by stating that it really irks me, that by deciding to pay Virgin close to another 3 times the price of our (partner and I) original booked seats, by upgrading* (See below before you make flexi or fare rule comment!) from a saver fare to a business class fare that they want to charge me $60 per person.

This means I have to pay $60 more per seat for a business class far than anyone else!!!, I mean talk about discouraging people not to upgrade their flights to business seats and increase revenue. I reluctantly paid the change fee today, only because of the double status and points promo, however this will be for the last time, as if I have booked a saver fare and a fee continues to apply to upgrade to business, I will not upgrade.

I think this could be a good and simple marketing strategy to encourage people to upgrade to business. I mean we have done a fair few recent flights from SYD-OOL return, in economy and premium (I had premium with old and new seat product) and there has been plenty of empty seats in the premium/business section. By simply allowing an upgrade of your flight from saver to business, with no change fee, I am sure this will encourage some paid upgrades. It's not like people are going to use this as a loophole to get around paying no fee if they want to cancel a saver fare e.g. upgrade from saver to business then cancel for a full refund, you just put a condition on the change that a change fee will apply on saver fare upgrade to business and subsequent cancellation. Or maybe this could be a feature for higher tiered velocity members, that there is no change fee from any ticket class to business.

So what does everyone think about that?

*Yes I know the fare rules and that I should book a flexi...blah blah blah, but the title of the thread is idea's for further benefits.

 

[777]

I think it would be unfair to expect them to do it. But i agree it would be good marketing if they did. Indeed i would pay the difference right now on a couple of bookings if it wasn't for the fee.

 

[Justinf]

I agree and believe that if you are upgrading from a saver fare to a J fare, the fee should be waived.
It discourages people from paying for a higher fare, which surely is not good business sense.
Of course if changing a saver fare to another saver fare, then yes, the fee should stay.

 

[dandandan]

I think it's unfair of your to expect them to do it. But i agree it would be good marketing if they did. Indeed i would pay the difference right now on a couple of bookings if it wasn't for the fee.

Thanks for your comment. I never actually said I expect them to do it, as you say I did....so I think that is an unfair comment from you!

 

[777]

Thanks for your comment. I never actually said I expect them to do it, as you say I did....so I think that is an unfair comment from you!

Sorry i didn't mean to specifically accuse you of that. Actually that's such a load of typo in that sentence that i'm not sure what i actually meant. Take it as meant to read " think it would be unfair to expect them to do it."

 

[dandandan]

Sorry i didn't mean to specifically accuse you of that. Actually that's such a load of typo in that sentence that i'm not sure what i actually meant. Take it as meant to read " think it would be unfair to expect them to do it."

Don't worry I was having a cheeky crack!

My version of unfair is; I pay $489 for a business seat SYD-OOL in this situation when a business seat for this route is $429.

Your comments have actually made me think of a point I didn't really consider and put in the original email. So to be truly fair, My idea, and probably Virgin's point of view as well, could encourage people to buy saver fares over flexi fares becuase there would be no change fee for an upgrade from Saver to Business. So maybe I am at a bit of a stalemate here with my idea.

They only way I can argue against this is that people don't really buy flexi's to upgrade to business for no fee, they buy them for the flexible conditions (change flight or time etc) and people don't really buy a saver for other than that they are the cheapest fare. Taking that into account, I don't think people would buy a saver over a flexi knowing that they can upgrade to business on a saver with no fee. Maybe this would best be a feature for higher tiered members or something that could be allowed 4 times a year etc.

 

[leemin]

I'd be happy with the ability to upgrade international long haul using points


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[smit0847]

Be able to book Virgin Flyer CC 2-4-1 flights online. Its an absurd waste of time to have to spend 20 minutes on the phone to book them when you can book velocity points redemption flights online.

Oh, and no CC surcharge when using a Virgin CC for all bookings. Other airlines do this to encourage their passengers to sign up for a CC with their airline!

 

[MomoWang]

An option could be that for Gold and Platinum Velocity, you can upgrade from Saver to Business without the change fee. Desgined at recognising those with the status.

 

[VOZZY]

An option could be that for Gold and Platinum Velocity, you can upgrade from Saver to Business without the change fee. Desgined at recognising those with the status.

They do this from time to time. I have called the Plat service centre and requested a similar change/upgrade about 4 times in recent months and on 2 occasions the Rep has agreed to waive the fee. It may just depend on the reps judgement / mood.

Vozzy

 

[Deleted member 29185]

They do this from time to time. I have called the Plat service centre and requested a similar change/upgrade about 4 times in recent months and on 2 occasions the Rep has agreed to waive the fee. It may just depend on the reps judgement / mood.

FOUR times!!!!!

I've done it three times (all successfully, must be my charm and boyish good looks ) from saver to PE and the last time I was called a "serial offender" .........now what's that make you????

PS- Of course I believe the fee most definitely should be waived when upgrading to J. It's almost lunacy to think otherwise.

 

[dandandan]

FOUR times!!!!!

I've done it three times (all successfully, must be my charm and boyish good looks ) from saver to PE and the last time I was called a "serial offender" .........now what's that make you????

PS- Of course I believe the fee most definitely should be waived when upgrading to J. It's almost lunacy to think otherwise.

Lucky you! another thought, If Virgin were to bring in this specific change and or make it a higher tiered benefit, I would be happy if the change fee's from Saver to Business were even given as credit.

 

[obrienja]

My annoyance with Virgin is their insistence on having to call the GCC to redeem a voucher (say for a cancelled flight) & then having to pay the standard GCC fare and not the website fare. Now some of you might say too bad but if I have not other option but to call the GCC because I can't redeem the voucher online then why should I pay extra? Of course attempting to explain this to the GCC staff member made no difference. It does sour the Virgin experience slightly when you feel like you're being gouged a little by their ghosts of LCCs past.

 

[mavrick9]

.....having to call the GCC to redeem a voucher (say for a cancelled flight) & then having to pay the standard GCC fare and not the website fare. ....

I have a Virgin credit of $13.00 and I don't think I am ever going to use it for that same reason. Should be able to do it online, it would save everyone cost and time.

 

[VA FF]

I reckon you are getting through to the wrong person at the other end of the line? is this something new where they won't allow it?

I have paid the difference to go from Saver to Premium (Before the rollout of Business) about 3-4 times in the past few months, only once was I told there was supposed to be a fee, they then put me through to the other department (Not sure which way it was sorry) and they just charged me the difference.. have I just got lucky?

 

[ff-jr]

Two things I feel would be a nice addition:

*Bonus status and point credits for late/cancelled flights. I feel it would work as both a great marketing strategy and a gesture of goodwill, in addition to making a strong internal commitment to maintaining on-time services. I was thinking about it as I was waiting for a delayed flight on Wednesday (after a delayed flight on Tuesday, also)...perhaps a 10% if > 15 mins late, 50% if > 45 mins late, 100% if cancelled. It's obviously a raw idea, but it's something to think about.

*Better care for taller customers. While I disagree with all that fat tax hubbub, I do understand the angle of why people would want to impose it. The reason I mention that is because I know some people would automatically cite that kind of scenario for comparison with my idea, but let me say that as a 6'4" frequent flyer my in flight experience is often diminished because of the lack of leg room. I hesitate to use the word "disability" (perhaps "special needs" is a better fit?) but the capacity for us tall folk to function with ease, let alone any comfort, is severely limited by beyond physical control, and having to pay extra for leg-room seating is a bit of a slap in the face when it's a necessity as opposed to a luxury. I've been on flights where I literally had to semi-sit because my knees dug too far deep into the seat back in front of me (they always dig in a little but in most cases I'm able to suck it up and deal with it). I also worry about the risks of sitting in a physically compromising position for extended periods of time. It would be nice to see any airline take measures to at attempt to accommodate us.

How would I like to see my idea implemented? The notion that every customer is measured before flying is obviously a ridiculous one, and that customers supply this on blind faith even more so. Perhaps status flyers (silver and up) over can have a one-time "check in" with the staff at one of the lounges. At this point the flyers height would be measured and added to their Velocity profile for reference on all future flights. At the gate, before boarding, DJ staff could then allocate any unpurchased 'leg room' seats (including bulk head on long haul flights) to pax in a hierarchy that gives preferences by height and status level, single travelers first, then pairs etc etc. Obviously anyone with recognised needs would get preference over us.

I know, I know, I'm kidding myself if I ever think something like this will happen. A lad can dream though, right?

 

[leemin]

*Bonus status and point credits for late/cancelled flights. I feel it would work as both a great marketing strategy and a gesture of goodwill, in addition to making a strong internal commitment to maintaining on-time services. I was thinking about it as I was waiting for a delayed flight on Wednesday (after a delayed flight on Tuesday, also)...perhaps a 10% if > 15 mins late, 50% if > 45 mins late, 100% if cancelled. It's obviously a raw idea, but it's something to think about.

That's not a bad idea! Even if it was one of those unadvertised things.



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[Deleted member 29185]

Status credits for award flights, not points, but as SCs are awarded on flown miles, it'd be nice to earn them even when flying on a reward.

 

[leemin]

Status credits for award flights, not points, but as SCs are awarded on flown miles, it'd be nice to earn them even when flying on a reward.

+1 to that!! Or at the very least, for ASAs

 

[kamchatsky]

Two things I feel would be a nice addition:

*Bonus status and point credits for late/cancelled flights. I feel it would work as both a great marketing strategy and a gesture of goodwill, in addition to making a strong internal commitment to maintaining on-time services. I was thinking about it as I was waiting for a delayed flight on Wednesday (after a delayed flight on Tuesday, also)...perhaps a 10% if > 15 mins late, 50% if > 45 mins late, 100% if cancelled. It's obviously a raw idea, but it's something to think about.

I don't think this will work. A lot of lateness is nothing to do with VA but say weather conditions: fog, thunderstorms, volcanic ash etc.

At the end if VA is constantly late no business will fly them anyway so that is enough deterrent.