Booked Ret Business but return flight changed to Fokker 100 (no Business)

[oz_ally]

I had a bit of a search of the forums and did see something about someone in a sort of similar situation a while back that they paid Business but ended up in Economy for whatever reason and had to fight for the SC of their original booking.

My story - I booked a return flight back in September 2021 for 10 - 14 March 2022.

I paid for Business (looks like an I fare). Plane was the usual 737-800. Tonight I was made aware of time changes on both ROK-BNE and return flights. The flight down is still on a 737-800 but the return flight is a Fokker 100 Alliance. My flight info for that flight now says Economy Cabin - Business. So I looked up that plane and can see it doesn't have any Business seats etc.

I can't recall how much Choice fares were back when I booked but I know Bus wasn't that bad - $199 each way. Looking today I can see Choice is $119 - so $80 difference. I just wanted to see if anyone has experienced this to work out if (1) because I originally booked and paid for Bus I will still get Bus perks on the plane - I understand the seat will just be economy - it's only a short flight so no great drama. But some food and a drink would be nice. And (2) if I'm likely to get dudded the 80 SC I'm due for that leg and only end up with 30 (assuming I'm bumped down to a Choice fare). If it looks like I'm going to be paying Business and only getting the perks of Economy - including SC I might as well call and get the difference refunded for that leg.

I hope I've explained it well!

Original Booking:


Updated booking:

 

[HS-TQE]

I'm surprised that QQ hasn't provided the smaller E190 (one of the non-QF allocated E190s) on the route, however I would guess QQ/VA would have the figures before deciding to swap aircraft.

 

[MooTime]

I had a bit of a search of the forums and did see something about someone in a sort of similar situation a while back that they paid Business but ended up in Economy for whatever reason and had to fight for the SC of their original booking.

My story - I booked a return flight back in September 2021 for 10 - 14 March 2022.

I paid for Business (looks like an I fare). Plane was the usual 737-800. Tonight I was made aware of time changes on both ROK-BNE and return flights. The flight down is still on a 737-800 but the return flight is a Fokker 100 Alliance. My flight info for that flight now says Economy Cabin - Business. So I looked up that plane and can see it doesn't have any Business seats etc.

I can't recall how much Choice fares were back when I booked but I know Bus wasn't that bad - $199 each way. Looking today I can see Choice is $119 - so $80 difference. I just wanted to see if anyone has experienced this to work out if (1) because I originally booked and paid for Bus I will still get Bus perks on the plane - I understand the seat will just be economy - it's only a short flight so no great drama. But some food and a drink would be nice. And (2) if I'm likely to get dudded the 80 SC I'm due for that leg and only end up with 30 (assuming I'm bumped down to a Choice fare). If it looks like I'm going to be paying Business and only getting the perks of Economy - including SC I might as well call and get the difference refunded for that leg.

I hope I've explained it well!

Original Booking:
View attachment 268459

Updated booking:
View attachment 268458

I got flights BNE-ROK return week after you.
Both booked on 737, but now changed to Fokker aswell.
Only booked Y as economyX (WP perk) would suffice for the hour flight. Can get front row, but not with infant.
So we still lose out, but not fussed.

Buzz VA, I'm interested in your outcome.
Best of luck.

 

[oz_ally]

OK I called up and I can either get a refund of the difference I paid for Business to the amount it costs for economy (Choice) and get the 30 SC. Or keep the flight "Business" even though no perks on the plane (which doesn't bother me because it's a short flight, I'll have already been in the lounge for food and drinks and still get Priority checkin etc) AND still get the 80SC because that is the original flight booked. They have noted it on my account and told me to call if there is any problem with receiving the correct amount of SC (and points).

I'm just going to leave it as "Business". Now I think of it I am sure I booked using a code back when codes still worked so the price difference is something I can live with.

 

[AIRwin]

Or keep the flight "Business" even though no perks on the plane (which doesn't bother me because it's a short flight, I'll have already been in the lounge for food and drinks and still get Priority checkin etc) AND still get the 80SC because that is the original flight booked.

Luckily it wasn't ROK-BNE downgauged...

 

[QF029]

You've been Fokked by Virgin.

 

[MooTime]

"a" Virgin.....hmmmm.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I say, keep it as it is, (plane as it is).
If you are lucky, you might get a "shadow", ie, empty seat next to you, or "quasi" eco X, ie, upper front of plane, empty seat next to you or not.
If front of plane seating turns out to be not available for OLCI, just choose close behind the wing, and not at the back row, as no rear door for pax, and its noisy, and you are last off!
Very hard seats when I did PER - ADL a few years ago on that old bird, no/very little padding, and when they say numb bum, indeed, it was numb bum.
I choose just the 2nd last row from rear, last row is noisiest, and no window, 2nd last row, window misaligned, but still has a view to outside.
Seeing the wing without engines, is an interesting sight, unless you have flown the F100 in the past many times.

 

[Mattg]

Is there an option to change the return flight to one operated by a Boeing 737 at a different time?

Given the downgrade, I would think it reasonable for Virgin to offer to change your flight at no charge.

 

[oz_ally]

I say, keep it as it is, (plane as it is).
If you are lucky, you might get a "shadow", ie, empty seat next to you, or "quasi" eco X, ie, upper front of plane, empty seat next to you or not.
If front of plane seating turns out to be not available for OLCI, just choose close behind the wing, and not at the back row, as no rear door for pax, and its noisy, and you are last off!
Very hard seats when I did PER - ADL a few years ago on that old bird, no/very little padding, and when they say numb bum, indeed, it was numb bum.
I choose just the 2nd last row from rear, last row is noisiest, and no window, 2nd last row, window misaligned, but still has a view to outside.
Seeing the wing without engines, is an interesting sight, unless you have flown the F100 in the past many times.

Thanks for that info @AustraliaPoochie. I am actually travelling with a friend so we are both in the same position. Yes I have just left my flight "as is" - it's only BNE-ROK - if doing a longer flight - like you say I would have been a grumbly numb bum I had to call up about it so was offered seat 2A which I took - I thought as they are all economy they'd be pretty much the same no matter where I sat. I think my travel companion is going to ask for a refund of the difference though - she doesn't value SC as much as I do haha - I have been teaching her though and I'm pretty sure this trip will upgrade her to Silver so she might just leave it. PS perks are pretty slim but extra baggage and 2 lounge passes she can use when not flying with me will be nice for her. I keep reminding her to at least log in and choose her seat though so she can get 2B and I don't have to possibly sit next to some random for a whole hour

Is there an option to change the return flight to one operated by a Boeing 737 at a different time?

Given the downgrade, I would think it reasonable for Virgin to offer to change your flight at no charge.

Hi @Mattg - yes I did think of that (eventually) and had a look - unfortunately flights have dropped down to only about 4 (I think??) for that day and they are all Fokkers Oh well not the end of the world (or maybe Rocky is )

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Acutally, I got the left A side when I took that flight PER - ADL, so its still quite a good choice, as its only 2 on the left.
As you mentioned, its a short flight for you, so not so bad.
VA took off all their A320, haven't they, or only use them within WA, I took the 320 (no choice), was a 737 when I booked eco X, but of course, the A320 does not have that, so got squashed middle down the back, past the wing.

 

[samas]

Hi @Mattg - yes I did think of that (eventually) and had a look - unfortunately flights have dropped down to only about 4 (I think??) for that day and they are all Fokkers Oh well not the end of the world (or maybe Rocky is )

if you check back closer to travel you may end up finding equipment changes again in the future so might have the option to get back to a 737 again in the future.

 

[Bagpuss]

Acutally, I got the left A side when I took that flight PER - ADL, so its still quite a good choice, as its only 2 on the left.
As you mentioned, its a short flight for you, so not so bad.
VA took off all their A320, haven't they, or only use them within WA, I took the 320 (no choice), was a 737 when I booked eco X, but of course, the A320 does not have that, so got squashed middle down the back, past the wing.

A320's are used by VARA so based in Perth.
They're back to using the A320's Perth <> Adelaide, Perth <> Broome, Perth <> Darwin
This is really back to how it used to be prior to the comment of standardizing on the B737.

I think they added 2 more A320's airframes after cutting them back.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Thanks for this very important info Bagpuss.
I don't like them 320s.
OT: looks like the RedRoo will have my business on the ADL - PER route when domestic flying opens up freely again, hopefully one day soon.

 

[AIRwin]

OT: looks like the RedRoo will have my business on the ADL - PER route when domestic flying opens up freely again, hopefully one day soon.

You can always fly via MEL for more status credits if the fare is lower?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I am a lazy lounge pooch, not so much chasing SC anymore these days.
Its all about the lounge.

 

[AIRwin]

Its all about the lounge.

Then you can check out the new MEL lounge?

 

[MooTime]

Then you can check out the new MEL lounge?

And what a beaut new runway views lounge it is.

 

[Muppet501st]

Ive had it on a couple of flights on the Fokker, where the first 2 rows of the 3 seats on the starboard sides have had a tray placed over the middle seat, ala Clubworld style.

 

[ozstamps]

Personally I'd have left it as is, got the Biz SC (which you always would have got even if flown on a Sopwith Camel in paid Biz fare bucket!) got home, waited for SC to post, and then penned a polite but firm note to Virgin Plat Line.

They’ll have offered something - a part refund, a voucher, extra upgrade credits, and/or bonus points - something. They always have for such oddball things where they did not deliver, what you clearly paid for. And fair enough.

To my enormous surprise they once gave us both a $1000 travel bank credit for some mediocre issue on a Perth Kalgoorlie flight in paid Business. I'd have cheerfully accepted some points, but with Corporations, you never can tell.

(And that flight was only taken, as paid Biz to Sydney to Kalgoorlie was literally $100s lower than the SYD-PER for some weird reason!)

All probably too late now as you have showed your hand, and agreed to no catering and inferior seat etc.