Getting SC for flights works when Virgin changes one onto direct fights?

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ozstamps

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Getting SC for any booked connecting flights works, when Virgin changes one onto direct fights?

Booked a SYD-OOL-CNS for tomorrow as 35 SC each, not 20 each on directs, as price was similar, and connections good. Seats 3D/3F booked on both – all good

Virgin later cancelled the OOL-CNS flights and put us on direct flight.

Had not noticed until today, but they did not allocate any seats, so ended up way back on a full flight.

Emailed Velocity a week back to check that SC will post for flights booked. Super simple question. Had not 'accepted the changes' as per email until this was clarified.

Flight back they moved forward 3 hours, and we thus miss our booked lunch meeting. This stuff seems SOP for Virgin these days. Last 4 or 5 bookings have all changed markedly.

Got an email back from someone who clearly did not read it saying ‘keep all receipts for out-of-pocket expenses and we might reimburse you.’ I kid you not.

Two more follow-up emails to Plat line went unanswered. :(

Phoned today and got what seats we could, and asked about the SC.

Virgin rez agent did not know, and patched me thru to ‘Velocity’ at 4.45pm.

And sadly got Bangladesh or wherever.

An HOUR later the charming chap finally tells me, after keeping me on hold that SC will only apply for the flights taken. He took more notes than a short novel during all this but nothing seems doable offshore to actually FIX simple issues.

Pressing further how crazy that was, get put on hold for another 15 mins ‘to ask a Supervisor’ and he then advises that AFTER the flight they *MIGHT* now post as booked. And if they do not, please phone back to contact him. So I said ‘this is just a MAYBE it sounds like?’. ‘Yes’

The will to live had passed already after 90 mins of this nonsense, that email ONE should have had answered, and fixed, and no real desire to do it in future.

Hmmmm.

Others must have had this issue – DO the original booked SC ever process if you persevere?
 
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I've always been awarded the SCs based on actual flights flown rather than booked - but then I've never queried it. It works the other way as well, i.e. when a direct flight is booked but later changed by Virgin to two flights via Melbourne or Sydney you get the extra SCs.
 
While QFF seem to have a policy of awarding "original routing credit" in such circumstances, Velocity do not.

A decade ago I had a similar issue with VA.

I was pleasantly persistent after initial knockback and eventually managed to be credited the additional.
 
Have never had a issue with VA giving ORC’s
Normally it credits as per normal but a couple of times it has posted incorrectly and Plat line has adjusted accordingly. I quite often book CBR-MEL-ADL when returning from visiting my parents and several times they have put me on the direct CBR-ADL which suits me fine 🤣
 
Have never had a issue with VA giving ORC’s
Normally it credits as per normal but a couple of times it has posted incorrectly and Plat line has adjusted accordingly. I quite often book CBR-MEL-ADL when returning from visiting my parents and several times they have put me on the direct CBR-ADL which suits me fine 🤣

Thanks for posting, this information is very helpful.
 
Have just dropped a note off to them requesting a ORC on a flight which was changed from indirect J to direct Y. 100 status points different and given my lack of flying they’re needed!

Will let you know the response I receive.
 
Have just dropped a note off to them requesting a ORC on a flight which was changed from indirect J to direct Y. 100 status points different and given my lack of flying they’re needed!

Will let you know the response I receive.
Any update on whether they granted ORC?
 
I've just had a similar experience yesterday and zero success, only frustration, from call centre. Spoke to a woman whose English I could barely understand. I tried four times, with no success, to explain the situation. First she thought I wanted to cancel for flight credits - she clearly didn't know what SCs are. I tried to explain what they were and how the change disadvantaged me and still got nowhere. Again she asked if I wanted to cancel for a credit.

I politely said (in a very soft and not unfriendly tone), "Obviously I'm, not able to explain well enough to you what my problem is, I'll hang up and try again later."

BTW: @Carrots, when you say you dropped them a note, was that via the complaints form Complaints and compliments form | Virgin Australia or some other means?
 
A couple of weeks ago, I booked EMD BNE MEL and they cancelled the BNE MEL leg and re booked me on the Q flight. A week or so later when the Credits had come in from the EMD leg but nothing from BNE, I emailed and sent a copy of the ticket asking for ORC. Within a day a polite email returned and the SC were in my account the next day.
 
Phoned Guest Centre this morning. The agent agreed to "gift" me the necessary eligible sector and status credits so that I would end up with the same amount as per original booking.
 
Phoned Guest Centre this morning. The agent agreed to "gift" me the necessary eligible sector and status credits so that I would end up with the same amount as per original booking.
Good to hear, that’s exactly what should happen.
Disappointing it took so much effort for them to get a basic job done
 
Good to hear, that’s exactly what should happen.
Disappointing it took so much effort for them to get a basic job done

If you're used to dealing with the Qantas call centre to try and fix problems I can assure you that this was nothing.
 
Phoned Guest Centre this morning. The agent agreed to "gift" me the necessary eligible sector and status credits so that I would end up with the same amount as per original booking.

Well done.

I spend an hour PLUS on the phone to Bangladesh or wherever earlier month with 'a GUARANTEE he thinks I'd probably get them' and noted my booking with more words than the Magna Carta.

Never occurred of course. 'Platinum service' as per usual lately.

You simply lose the will to live dealing with these unempowered offshore folks for over an HOUR, for the very simplest of things. I booked and paid for 2 flights, they cancel one, and they credit for one.

WHO did you phone - the normal booking phone?
 
Hi Ozstamps - I phoned The Velocity Members Line (8 am to 8 pm Qld time) on 13 18 75. Maybe (unlike my earlier call to 13 67 89 if you scroll back up the thread) I just got lucky!
 
I've just had a similar experience yesterday and zero success, only frustration, from call centre. Spoke to a woman whose English I could barely understand. I tried four times, with no success, to explain the situation. First she thought I wanted to cancel for flight credits - she clearly didn't know what SCs are. I tried to explain what they were and how the change disadvantaged me and still got nowhere. Again she asked if I wanted to cancel for a credit.

I politely said (in a very soft and not unfriendly tone), "Obviously I'm, not able to explain well enough to you what my problem is, I'll hang up and try again later."

BTW: @Carrots, when you say you dropped them a note, was that via the complaints form Complaints and compliments form | Virgin Australia or some other means?

I just emailed the platinum email.

An update to that email -

I received a call from an O/S call centre to look into it. The lady sort of had an idea...

Long story short, I received an email back saying it was sorted and there was a manual adjustment my account.

But, the status credits were for the ADL BNE equivalent J rather than via MEL.

Haven't had a chance to email back yet to tell them they've stuffed it.
 
This is good advice, thank you! I deliberately booked a SYD to HBA J flight via MEL to gain my 7th and 8th eligible sectors because I have only lite fares or SQ codes booked until end of Feb. But they cancelled my SYD-MEL flight and rebooked me on a direct flight. After reading this thread I didn’t put up a fight! I’d much rather fly direct but still get the two sectors. Win-win.
 
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