ACCC pressures Virgin to lift travel credit expiry [update - Virgin forced to extend]

[Gremlin]

They had money to keep all the Velocity balances. I'd argue keeping/refunding cash bookings should have been a priority over that.

Were you a creditor? If you were a creditor, did you object in court to the administrator's plan?

 

[Bagpuss]

It was 100% owned by VA1 and therefore was an asset of the administration. It's completely relevant.



You can't compare losing money on an investment with paying for a service you don't receive.

There are inherent risks with investments and everybody goes in with their eyes open. Nobody reasonably expects to sink 15K into an airline not to fly. If it went bankrupt like Ansett sure, that's tough - but when it continues trading, there is a moral responsibility to honour bookings.

Have you ever read the T&C's of an airline ticket? Essentially if you read them you're buying an endeavor to get to to your destination.


You acknowledged "VA 1" as opposed to "VA 2" (post administration) so you have accepted the differences post administration.

Do you have any FFC's?

 

[justinbrett]

Have you ever read the T&C's of an airline ticket? Essentially if you read them you're buying an endeavor to get to to your destination.


You acknowledged "VA 1" as opposed to "VA 2" (post administration) so you have accepted the differences post administration.

Do you have any FFC's?

I've stated all along I'm not arguing this on legal grounds.

I'm arguing this on moral grounds.

Were you a creditor? If you were a creditor, did you object in court to the administrator's plan?

No. But I can tell you if I lost money like this woman, I'd never be flying VA again. VA2/3/4/5 whatever.

 

[Bagpuss]

For reference for those with ACCC comments

The ACCC acknowledged that travel credits issued to customers before Virgin Australia entered administration in April 2020 were a special case.

“In such administration processes, the new business is generally able to choose what liabilities of the old business it will or won’t take on,” the spokeswoman said earlier this month.

“As part of the sale to Bain Capital, it agreed to continue to honour existing Virgin credit notes and the administration process included a federal court decision that endorsed the approach taken to Virgin credits that were outstanding at the time of the administration.”

The ACCC accepted these would expire on December 31, if customers were unable to use them, the publication reported.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/flights/virgin-australia-extends-covid-flight-credit-expiry-date/news-story/2405d332cfe64a2fc35d1dae1de6d3bc

 

[Gremlin]

I've stated all along I'm not arguing this on legal grounds.

I'm arguing this on moral grounds.



No. But I can tell you if I lost money like this woman, I'd never be flying VA again. VA2/3/4/5 whatever.

Yes, well, she has $15k of FFC and she's choosing not to redeem it. It sounds like she's made the decision never to fly VA again either, particularly given that VA no longer fly to the one destination she wants to go. That's her prerogative.

 

[Bagpuss]

Yes, well, she has $15k of FFC and she's choosing not to redeem it. It sounds like she's made the decision never to fly VA again either, particularly given that VA no longer fly to the one destination she wants to go. That's her prerogative.

Or as previously mentioned, had friends / family etc use them and give her back the cash value of the tickets.

 

[jakeseven7]

I've stated all along I'm not arguing this on legal grounds.

I'm arguing this on moral grounds.



No. But I can tell you if I lost money like this woman, I'd never be flying VA again. VA2/3/4/5 whatever.

I guess also this is one of the risks Bain took by keeping the Virgin name.

 

[Dirkgonnadirk]

Reminder: Virgin ‘future flight credits’ expire next week

The deadline is looming for using credits from many cancelled Virgin Australia flights.

www.executivetraveller.com

I'm posting this for two reasons:

1) As a PSA - I have to my horror just realised I have $2,000 in FFCs that I could have used several times in the past few years. I'm normally on top of this stuff.

2) As a last hope - it sounds from the article that they definitely won't be extending them again, but has anyone heard anything to the contrary in recent weeks? Or is there any workaround? I saw something on the United Airlines reddit (which also has FFCs apparently) saying to book and then cancel more than 48 hours later, but not sure that would work here given the specific nature of these.

 

[jakeseven7]

Reminder: Virgin ‘future flight credits’ expire next week

The deadline is looming for using credits from many cancelled Virgin Australia flights.

www.executivetraveller.com

I'm posting this for two reasons:

1) As a PSA - I have to my horror just realised I have $2,000 in FFCs that I could have used several times in the past few years. I'm normally on top of this stuff.

2) As a last hope - it sounds from the article that they definitely won't be extending them again, but has anyone heard anything to the contrary in recent weeks? Or is there any workaround? I saw something on the United Airlines reddit (which also has FFCs apparently) saying to book and then cancel more than 48 hours later, but not sure that would work here given the specific nature of these.

Oh no…..

How far in the future can you use them to book?

 

[Must...Fly!]

2) As a last hope - it sounds from the article that they definitely won't be extending them again, but has anyone heard anything to the contrary in recent weeks? Or is there any workaround? I saw something on the United Airlines reddit (which also has FFCs apparently) saying to book and then cancel more than 48 hours later, but not sure that would work here given the specific nature of these.

Unfortunately not, I think they're going to expire. You have to book and travel by Dec 31.

 

[FlyingGecko]

Yes I am in the same boat and have $3,800 left to use as Future Flight Credit. We booked in Feb 2020 so that is only 2 months before the cut off in April where it is considered a Standard Credit. Has anyone contacted Virgin Australia to successfully extend their Future Flight Credit? I need a workaround to save this money.

 

[AIRwin]

Yes I am in the same boat and have $3,800 left to use as Future Flight Credit.

Wow how much did you start off with?

 

[justinbrett]

This ACA story implies that fares are restricted when using a FFC, one of the pax said there's no J fares available anywhere.

 

[encryptededdy]

Given travel is on FFCs is required by the end of the year, I wonder if it's even theoretically possible for all remaining FFCs to be redeemed?. That is to say, does there exist enough seat inventory (redeemable by FFCs) available between now and the end of the year to allow for the redemption of all remaining FFCs? I suspect not although I guess we'll never know.

 

[Bagpuss]

Given travel is on FFCs is required by the end of the year, I wonder if it's even theoretically possible for all remaining FFCs to be redeemed?. That is to say, does there exist enough seat inventory (redeemable by FFCs) available between now and the end of the year to allow for the redemption of all remaining FFCs? I suspect not although I guess we'll never know.

To be honest, if you were issued a FFC this was issued towards the later part of 2020. They've been extended a few times and it's been the same rule of using and traveling by 31st December 2023 for a while, maybe almost a year or longer.

They could have probably been used countless times, but as the expiry comes closer it's now when a lot of people are trying to use them and to factor in December is a peak travel period.

The rules around FFC were quite clear, that they weren't a full open release of seats and restrictive.

I wouldn't be surprised if people were holding on to them with the thought that Virgin would extend them. As I previously stated, if they did extend to 31st December 2024. The issue will be raised in a year's time and then complaints that people have been "forced" to use them to which is they were extended they may have received better use / value.

The FFC's unless used are a lose-lose situation.

 

[oz_mark]

This ACA story implies that fares are restricted when using a FFC, one of the pax said there's no J fares available anywhere.

It's not an implication. Virgin have specifically said that is the case.

 

[LongFlyer]

ALthough in the case of Future Flight Credits, it's not really about giving back, as that money had gone up in smoke during Administration

They cancelled My flights march 2020 then kept dodging and weaving when I asked for cash refund as legally required. Then stuck with useless ffc crooks

 

[RooFlyer]

They cancelled My flights march 2020 then kept dodging and weaving when I asked for cash refund as legally required. Then stuck with useless ffc crooks

You were unlucky - Virgin Australia went into Administration in April 2020. What's the 'legal requirement' you are referring to? I refer you to discussion on the Virgin Administration process and obligations in posts above.

 

[LongFlyer]

You were unlucky - Virgin Australia went into Administration in April 2020. What's the 'legal requirement' you are referring to? I refer you to discussion on the Virgin Administration process and obligations in posts above.

They cancel your flight They must refund in cash if u paid in cash. Same as any product or service purchased and not delivered

 

[Bagpuss]

They cancelled My flights march 2020 then kept dodging and weaving when I asked for cash refund as legally required. Then stuck with useless ffc crooks

Lots of people used them. Yeah they were limited to available seating per flight. Qantas had a massive debacle over theirs. You reained 100% of the value and really if you know someone, they could have used them and given you the money.

Anyway they knowingly expired 31st December 2023 for a very long time. 2024 is way too late to complain about a pandemic almost four years ago.