Fly Ahead Query

[McLarin]

Hi Everyone,

Just got a question in regards to Fly Ahead for SG members. If I book return tickets MEL-ADE however to ADE my ticket is a GETAWAY but return is ELEVATE am I eligible for Fly Ahead coming back to MEL. I've looked on the website and there was a statement in the fare rules that stated if mixed fares are booked the fare with the most restrictive conditions will be applied. My understanding of that is that GETAWAY will apply for my entire booking. I'm interested in watching International Rules and just doing the trip on a singular day so if the game finishes early I'll just head straight to the airport. Any help will be much appreciated. Thank you!!!

 

[Jack_OC]

AFAIK, you can request Fly Ahead as long as the individual sector you are trying to Fly Ahead on is an Elevate fare.

However, I believe the game you're referring to starts at 3:40 pm on a Sunday. The only ADL-MEL flights leaving late that evening are at 7:05 and 8:35, so I assume you are planning to book the 8:35? Even if you leave the Adelaide Oval exactly 2 hours after the game is due to start, you would be doing well to get to the airport in time to get on the 7:05. It depends a bit on how many people are at the game, but if it's a big crowd it's going to take you a fair while to even get out of the ground and into a taxi - assuming that's how you plan to get to the airport?

Also bear in mind that Sunday evening flights can be busy, so Fly Ahead might not be an option anyway.

 

[CPMaverick]

I'm pretty sure that the statement about mixed fares only applies if your one-way flight has a connection. For example if you go MEL-SYD-AYQ, maybe the MEL-SYD is one fare and SYD-AYQ is another. I haven't seen that with VA, but I've seen it on other airlines.

I'd be surprised if you showed up at the airport flying only a Elevate fare class on your BP that they would deny you Fly Ahead. After all you could book two one-way tickets for the same price and get that benefit.

 

[grubbidok]

Getaway up and Elevate back is a strategy I've used when I am unsure when my meetings will end. Hasn't been an issue yet because the flights are sold as individual sectors (hence two items in VFF balance).

 

[McLarin]

AFAIK, you can request Fly Ahead as long as the individual sector you are trying to Fly Ahead on is an Elevate fare.

However, I believe the game you're referring to starts at 3:40 pm on a Sunday. The only ADL-MEL flights leaving late that evening are at 7:05 and 8:35, so I assume you are planning to book the 8:35? Even if you leave the Adelaide Oval exactly 2 hours after the game is due to start, you would be doing well to get to the airport in time to get on the 7:05. It depends a bit on how many people are at the game, but if it's a big crowd it's going to take you a fair while to even get out of the ground and into a taxi - assuming that's how you plan to get to the airport?

Also bear in mind that Sunday evening flights can be busy, so Fly Ahead might not be an option anyway.

Exactly right Jack3193. Book the later one and if its possible its possible otherwise not a big deal. Thank you CPMaverick and grubbidok for your responses also.