Group Booking Ticket - What to expect?

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

(Long time reader, first-time poster.)


Coming up soon will be the first time I'm flying for work for an event, and sure enough, it's a corporate-booked group ticket, which I have no experience with.

Having never flown this before, what to expect?
- Points and SC?
- Any way to check in earlier than in person? (Call centre? Online is a no-go)
- Any possibility of upgrading to Business or even Economy X? (Points or cash, either are fine).
- Seat selection at the counter?

Cheers!

 

[kookaburra75]

(Long time reader, first-time poster.)


Coming up soon will be the first time I'm flying for work for an event, and sure enough, it's a corporate-booked group ticket, which I have no experience with.

Having never flown this before, what to expect?
- Points and SC?
- Any way to check in earlier than in person? (Call centre? Online is a no-go)
- Any possibility of upgrading to Business or even Economy X? (Points or cash, either are fine).
- Seat selection at the counter?

Cheers!

Our company uses Corporate Traveller, and all bookings are through them. For my flights I can see the booking in my Virgin App (and the same for QF), as long as the corporate agent has put your Frequent Flyer number against the booking - they normally do. The points and SCs go into my account ok.

If your frequent flyer number isn't on the booking, you'll have to get it linked. Log into your Velocity Account and click on the Link New Trip link, to add in the booking reference, and that should link it up in the system. If it doesn't, get onto the corporate travel agent to load in your details.

I've been able to do seat allocations and check in online, when it's a single airline on the booking. Sometimes, I will be on Virgin one way, and return on Qantas - or vice versa. That can be an issue, and the seat allocation won't work.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For VA checkin, they allow 48 hours prior.
So, online can't be done, has it been stipulated so?
Call center can't do it.
1.OLCI. In your case, no?
2.Mobile. Usually you can go go for mobile via sms.
3.In person.
With VA, when I am away from home, and can't print BP, even after having done OLCI via my smartphone, its always my email BP does not work, my mobile BP does not work, so I have had to front up to the gate staff to print out BP, with passport as id.
Driving licence could work too.
Don't know why, my email and sms VAd BP never worked.
If I am dep from ADL, as my home city is here, I print paper BP from home.
Maybe both my phones are not the newest set for VA's systems.
===
Via the app might work, but if OLCI can't be done, is not acceptable, then it will be hard, as you have to line up.
---
As for upgrading, it might be a nono under the fare rules of the corporate ta your company uses.
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You can buy lounge access for $65, 3 hours prior to trip, at the entrance to the lounge, assuming its a VAd trip, VA has no lounges, int speaking,.
Even if a person flies J int, there is no lounge access included in the "new" VA.
---
As Kookaburra mentioned, log into your VFF account and see if you can add trip, I believe that VA uses all alphabet code for the 6 digit PNR.

 

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

Thanks for the replies so far, I'll add some more clarification.
This is for a group booking ticket, which is a separate type and fare class that I've never dealt with before.

Kookaburra, that's been my experience in the past. Never had an issue with a corporately booked Individual ticket, but this time it's a group booking, so it'll have worse terms than gateway or whatever the lowest class is called now.

I have a booking reference number, but I can't add it to the app or web, it's flagged as a group booking, so counter/kiosk check-in only.

I had given my Velocity information to the travel people my work use, so I presume it should be on my profile, but I won't know until I get to the airport.

 

[AIRwin]

This is for a group booking ticket, which is a separate type and fare class that I've never dealt with before.

Likely to be G class which earns the same as a Choice fare:

Virgin Australia

Earn Points with Virgin Australia and Partners, also earn status credit when travelling with eligible fare types. Offering include trans tasman flights, short haul and long haul flights and international long haul flights

www.velocityfrequentflyer.com

 

[kookaburra75]

Thanks for the replies so far, I'll add some more clarification.
This is for a group booking ticket, which is a separate type and fare class that I've never dealt with before.

Kookaburra, that's been my experience in the past. Never had an issue with a corporately booked Individual ticket, but this time it's a group booking, so it'll have worse terms than gateway or whatever the lowest class is called now.

I have a booking reference number, but I can't add it to the app or web, it's flagged as a group booking, so counter/kiosk check-in only.

I had given my Velocity information to the travel people my work use, so I presume it should be on my profile, but I won't know until I get to the airport.

Bummer. Let us know how you go

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

My previous experience with VA group travel was that it credited as a Choice fare, but OLCI and seat selection was hit and miss. Should allow you to add your Velocity number either by Web or by calling up, however YMMV.

 

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

Small update, I was able to get my Velocity number added to my booking, and it's now tracking online and in the app.

As expected, I have no ability to access and modify this booking, so I'll have to get to the airport early and play the lottery for an upgrade of at least window seat.

 

[bernardblack]

My daughter is flying MEL-CBR and vv for a school trip next week. I gather they've booked VA, presumably a group fare. If she holds onto her boarding passes can I retro claim? I won't have the booking ref or ticket receipt obvs, apart from whatever is printed on the boarding passes.

 

[Must...Fly!]

My daughter is flying MEL-CBR and vv for a school trip next week. I gather they've booked VA, presumably a group fare. If she holds onto her boarding passes can I retro claim? I won't have the booking ref or ticket receipt obvs, apart from whatever is printed on the boarding passes.

Should be fine to do so. The booking ref is on the BP.

 

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

Post-travel update:
Group fare was booked as the 'G' class for groups, which makes sense. So points and SC were fine.
No alterations including (paid) upgrades were possible of this class, given there was one business class seat left on my outgoing flight, all economy were booked however, it was a full flight.
The return flight was slightly less full, and I was able to swap to an exit row seat.

One last thing of interest, the App provided updates for all bags on the group booking, it was a notification spamfest as they went through the system.