Charged $150 for being 5 mins late, system won't let me check in online

[bcworld]

Why so hard on OP? What’s wrong with a rant? I generally avoid such situations but totally sympathise

It was all good until the "not flying them again" part. Oh, and the debit card chargeback...but can put that down to not understanding the purpose of that process properly.

 

[DC3]

Why so hard on OP? What’s wrong with a rant? I generally avoid such situations but totally sympathise

Mostly conjecture as the facts are very lite-on.

 

[tdimdad]

I guess the only possible fault of the carrier could be allowing the booking to made so close to departure.

It's perfectly fine and doable but needs the pax to be able to make the cutoff. In this case, the OP missed the cutoff which resulted in missing the flight.

I've booked 20 mins before the check-in closes, though I was already on the airside (for another flight that was not going anywhere and I wanted to get moving). 10 mins later at the gate where an agent kindly checked me in and printed the BP. But the closer to the departure you do the booking, the more certain you need to be that you can check in and make it to the flight on time. The margin for any risks or errors closes very fast at that point.

 

[fly2earth]

What’s with all the secrecy? Just put the airport codes.

Either cos
1) this is purely 100% a rant for entertainment purposes only and I don't want to get anyone involed
2) said cities have fallen under the control of You-Know-Who from Harry Potter

 

[fly2earth]

I guess the only possible fault of the carrier could be allowing the booking to made so close to departure.

What is not clear is the length of the domestic sector they were downgraded on and whether they made the connection to SQ and kept their business class ticket from AU port ->SIN. If they did keep their J ticket to SIN on SQ that was previously unavailable, I’d say it was still a win, despite the $150 fee and downgrade on the domestic sector.

It's the shortest flight segment (6.5 hours) not a win in my books a slight loss, probably break even at best, even considering I forfeited the J on VA (upgrade worth $200-300?) plus have to pay the $150 late arrival fee.
So in total paid $1150 in cash equivalent for the "privilege" for taking SQ from CNS to SIN lol

 

[burmans]

H

It's the shortest flight segment (6.5 hours) not a win in my books a slight loss, probably break even at best, even considering I forfeited the J on VA (upgrade worth $200-300?) plus have to pay the $150 late arrival fee.
So in total paid $1150 in cash equivalent for the "privilege" for taking SQ from CNS to SIN lol

Hope you have learned a lesson about being late then.

 

[fly2earth]

Your lack of planning doesn't constitute anyone elses problem. No one will have compassion because you we're late.

Well they can at least waive the $150 as a gesture of goodwill empathasing the fact that I lost my 2 hour segment of domestic J and rushed to the airport in order to make it on time. It's not like it's my first time taking their airline and they can probably "appreciate" my situation if they really really wanted to.

 

[fly2earth]

Your familiarity with the system didn't do you any faovr this time around. Even for the simplest domestic flights you should not assume you would be able to check in online until you've actually checked in online. A number of issues (say flight being oversold, lack of available seats to the online system so requires airport seat assignment or maybe even just system outtage) could have prevented you from checking in online.

The VA online check-in website clearly says you are unable to check-in for "international travel" not just international flight. It seems like you are just assuming you would be able to check-in online for the domestic segment without actually checking what's supported and what not. It even specifically recommended if you are connecting to an international flight from a domestic flight you should check in at the airport at least 90 minutes before the domestic flight depature time. Additionally, the Contract of Carriage was worded such that VA provides no guarantee for the availablility of online check-in service, and still requires you to arrive 30 minutes prior to depature.

It's not uncommon for online check-in to simply fail if the ticket involve an interline connection (VA-SG interline in this case). I've personally experienced this many times when flying between the US and AU back in the days when VA and DL were friends on an interline ticket. VA and SG likely have agreements in place to have VA verify travel documents and check you in to the SG flights and tag your baggage through so an VA agent at the airport needs to physically check your passport.


Sounds like the agent still helped you out here. I don't understand why that would be unsympethetic. The system automatically transfers the flight to gate control past 30 minutes so dispatch can start working the numbers on loading the aircraft and the gate to start working through any seat change required for balance and any stand-by travel. No check-in agent have the authority to check you in, unless an operations manager approves the revert of gate control and it would certainly mean the flight will be delayed as those dispatch work have to be redone. The ironly should be clear if you just picture youself sitting on the aircraft unable to go because one passgener was late checking in.
Contract of Carraige again specifcied that VA is entitled to move you to the next available flight, or simple treat you as a now show and cancel the whole thing.

Well I was charged a no show. Which is the harshest penalty. As do most the airlines out there for general customers. If they had really wanted to emphasise my situation they could have easily waived the $150 no show fee for me (perhaps I should have stated that I am a gold member in the beginning hence setting the tone of the situation because this is the only time I didn't out of courtesy and it has changed how the cards have folded)

 

[fly2earth]

It was all good until the "not flying them again" part. Oh, and the debit card chargeback...but can put that down to not understanding the purpose of that process properly.

Well not like it really matters for them or for me, but just expressing my sentiment towards this situation as we are all human beings.

Post automatically merged: Apr 11, 2024

Whilst I 100% agree with the sentiment that you arrived late therefor its your problem ( why hold up 180 other people for you tardiness), the total lack of flexibility on VA behalf charging a huge fee and then allowing travel anyway is a bit ridiculous. If the shoe was on the other foot and 180 pax sat on the aircraft waiting for VA to leave ( 1 hr 20 mins for me once) should we then be able to charge them $150 each for failing to perform?

Finally someone gets my message. If I had $150 every time I had been delayed by every airline company ever

 

[twinaisle]

Well they can at least waive the $150 as a gesture of goodwill empathasing the fact that I lost my 2 hour segment of domestic J and rushed to the airport in order to make it on time. It's not like it's my first time taking their airline and they can probably "appreciate" my situation if they really really wanted to.

Goodwill for what? You missed your flight because you were late, all that happened because of you but let's play the victim card. There ain't no goodwill for that bud.

 

[fly2earth]

So

Goodwill for what? You missed your flight because you were late, all that happened because of you but let's play the victim card. There ain't no goodwill for that bud.

For taking their airlines over Qantas consecutively (40+ flights) when the fares between the two are almost the same (even back when I do not have status). You know which airline to take to get the most bang for your buck. Plus Qantas always throw in a free snack/meal on board and I am not limited to water/tea/coffee on board.

 

[twinaisle]

So

For taking their airlines over Qantas consecutively (40+ flights) when the fares between the two are almost the same (even back when I do not have status). You know which airline to take to get the most bang for your buck. Plus Qantas always throw in a free snack/meal on board and I am not limited to water/tea/coffee on board.

Go get a status match and take the kangaroo for a ride!

 

[fly2earth]

Go get a status match and take the kangaroo for a ride!

time to do the switch-a-roo and run away from You Know Who

 

[burmans]

Go get a status match and take the kangaroo for a ride!

Or have the Kangaroo take you for a ride?

 

[fly2earth]

Or have the Kangaroo take you for a ride?

Only in Australia where you can ride on a F(ly)ING kangaroo. And the cross river crocodile.

 

[ben95]

Well I was charged a no show. Which is the harshest penalty.

I disagree this is the harshest penalty. The harshest penalty would be cancel your whole booking and don’t give you a refund. To be even more clear if there was not another VA flight that was able get you to the connecting SQ flight that’s probably what would have happened m.

perhaps I should have stated that I am a gold member

Stop throwing the status card. Having status doesn’t mean you are suddenly entitled to benefits that aren’t outlined in the terms of the program. Consider yourself lucky and appreciate the help if the fee got waived but ultimately that’s not something you are entitled to.

 

[twinaisle]

Or have the Kangaroo take you for a ride?

They can see how compassionate the kangaroo are

 

[tdimdad]

Well I was charged ... As do most the airlines out there for general customers. ... I should have stated that I am a gold member...

DYKWIA?

Yes, the airline could have waived the fee but there should never an expectation of it happening. It's only out of courtesy and most applicable when the company has made a mistake that causes issues to you. The best case scenario for the agents is to attempt to facilitate your trip, anyway, despite a missed cutoff. Your 5 min tardiness may then turn into 12 or 24 h delay but you certainly have been taken care of more than the T&C's would dictate at the minimum.

 

[fly2earth]

DYKWIA?

Yes, the airline could have waived the fee but there should never an expectation of it happening. It's only out of courtesy and most applicable when the company has made a mistake that causes issues to you. The best case scenario for the agents is to attempt to facilitate your trip, anyway, despite a missed cutoff. Your 5 min tardiness may then turn into 12 or 24 h delay but you certainly have been taken care of more than the T&C's would dictate at the minimum.

I do appreciate where you are coming from but from past experiences most airlines will offer you an alternate flight that flies the same route (dutifully charging the no show fee in most cases) so that is the norm. Would be more surprised if the company did not do that especially if there is the same flight flying later on the same day (hence the conditions of the no show fee). The T&C's are there to probably cover their bums from liability for those instances that happen less than the chances of being struck by lightning you know what I am talking about. So this is the standard outcome "worst case scenario" that I was expecting and that is exactly what has happened. And my reward flight was booked with points via another Star Alliance reward program not with VA or SIA but I did input my VA frequent flyer number and the system acknowledged my status.

Cathay, on the other hand, has been more accommodating. I narrowly missed my transfer flight for my 1-1.5 hour transfer in HK and it was my first time flying with them (no status with them whatsoever) and booked the ticket with a travel agency on the most restrictive ticket (think cancellation fee more expensive as the fare, no changes allowed or if they do ridiculous fees like $400+ that it makes more sense to forfeit the ticket); even so they offered to change me to a later flight free of charge. Makes me want to achieve OneWorld status once again so I can experience more of their hospitality and of course their world class lounges.

 

[bcworld]

Cathay, on the other hand, has been more accommodating. I narrowly missed my transfer flight for my 1-1.5 hour transfer in HK and it was my first time flying with them (no status with them whatsoever) and booked the ticket with a travel agency on the most restrictive ticket (think cancellation fee more expensive as the fare, no changes allowed or if they do ridiculous fees like $400+ that it makes more sense to forfeit the ticket); even so they offered to change me to a later flight free of charge. Makes me want to achieve OneWorld status once again so I can experience more of their hospitality and of course their world class lounges.

Missing a flight connection is an ENTIRELY different scenario to failing to check in on time for the first flight in your itinerary.