Need one way JFK-MEL, can I book return premium DJ then cancel return flight?

[verheem]

Hi,

New to this site, hope you know-it-alls can help..... You have already been very helpful with info about upgrades!

I need a one-way JFK to MEL in June, preferably with Virgin Australia. I am wondering if I can book a JFK - MEL Premium Deal and the return leg MEL - JFK Flexi Premium Economy, and as far as I can see in the fare rules, cancel the return leg at no cost. This would give me a one way for around $1665 instead of $3800 or so.

Is this correct?

Michel Verheem,
Melbourne

 

[The Rok]

You can book that flight one way with VA for $1,691 in Y.

 

[verheem]

Thanks for the quick reply, I had hardly pressed send!!!!

I only see a $3888 for a one way (10 June 2012) - where do you see the lower price?

 

[NM]

You will need to check the specific fare rules for the ticket you are purchasing. In most cases with tickets constructed from different far types, refund and cancelation rules for the most restrictive fare component will apply to the whole ticket if you later need to cancel or make changes. But you will need to check the rules that will apply to your ticket. I suggest using an agent or calling the airline's sales desk to check the rules that will apply for the fares you want to purchase.

 

[The Rok]

I just found one on the 5th of June for $1,237 in Y. One Way, JFK-LAX-MEL

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi,

New to this site, hope you know-it-alls can help..... You have already been very helpful with info about upgrades!

I need a one-way JFK to MEL in June, preferably with Virgin Australia. I am wondering if I can book a JFK - MEL Premium Deal and the return leg MEL - JFK Flexi Premium Economy, and as far as I can see in the fare rules, cancel the return leg at no cost. This would give me a one way for around $1665 instead of $3800 or so.

Is this correct?

Michel Verheem,
Melbourne

International fares as you describe are sold as round-trip travel. If you fly one way and then cancel the return, your outbound will be calculated at the standard one way fare. Any difference remaining on the ticket will then be refunded (less an admin fee etc etc) provided the ticket is eligible for refund.

If you booked two one ways - then you'd get a refund - but as you note - the one way is very expensive.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Fri 01 Jun you can fly CX JFK/HKG/MEL for USD1084.00 plus taxes USD313.70 total USD1397.70 & are permitted a stopover in HKG if required. Note that is is normal economy not PE but the price includes taxes.

 

[verheem]

All,

thanks for your help on this one. I have just received the following reply from Virgin:

Dear Mr Verheem,

I clarified this information with a supervisor and I do apologise for the
discrepancy of information. You are certainly correct! The most restrictive
fare rule applies for cancellations.

So to clarify your inquiry. If you were to purchase a Premium Deal for your
outbound flight and book a Premium Flexi fare for your return and have to
cancel this return flight, the Premium Deal fare rules apply consisting of a
cancellation fee of AUD200 and Service Fee AUD50.

But it is still possible to cancel the return flight and receive a refund!

I hope this clarifies our fare rules in regards to cancellations.


Kind Regards

Tamara

The Virgin Australia Team


It seems that doing it this way is still about AU$1800 cheaper than just booking a one way.....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

All,

thanks for your help on this one. I have just received the following reply from Virgin:

Dear Mr Verheem,

I clarified this information with a supervisor and I do apologise for the
discrepancy of information. You are certainly correct! The most restrictive
fare rule applies for cancellations.

So to clarify your inquiry. If you were to purchase a Premium Deal for your
outbound flight and book a Premium Flexi fare for your return and have to
cancel this return flight, the Premium Deal fare rules apply consisting of a
cancellation fee of AUD200 and Service Fee AUD50.

But it is still possible to cancel the return flight and receive a refund!

I hope this clarifies our fare rules in regards to cancellations.


Kind Regards

Tamara

The Virgin Australia Team


It seems that doing it this way is still about AU$1800 cheaper than just booking a one way.....

hmmm... I am still skeptical about this... if this was such a loop hole then more people would do it. when they say it is still possible to get 'a' refund... I'm not sure that means the refund you think.

I would want written clarification of the exact amount you would get (you are entitled to this... you are entering a contract and the parties are required to give you the exact terms and penalties for breaking that contract).

I'm not sure how this fare would be different to just about any other fare, where if you cancel the return, they calculate a much higher fare (based on the one way) for travel already undertaken.

good luck though... if it does work as you say then it could be worth knowing for future.

 

[serfty]

I'm sceptical as well - quite often an airline will recalculate the fare based on what's already been travelled with the booking (one-way in this case) and calculate the refund from that. If this happened there would be nothing to refund.

 

[cove]

Is a refund of nothing still a refund?
I don't think it is and it would most likely be as Serfty has it.....yes a refund.....but no cash after a myriad of rules get activated.

 

[verheem]

All,

thanks for all your contributions.

I am skeptical as well, but wouldn't you say that I would have a pretty strong case for it being as per the advise I have received after asking twice?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

All,

thanks for all your contributions.

I am skeptical as well, but wouldn't you say that I would have a pretty strong case for it being as per the advise I have received after asking twice?

no... unfortunately not. unless you have it in writing for them that you will get the full refund on the second leg, I wouldn't risk it.

what they have said is you will get 'a' refund... they haven't told you how much. 'a' refund could be $1.

look, I'm all for you if you can do this... but as pointed out, and unless you are specifically buying two one way fares, any time you cancel the return sector the airline will calculate a full one way fare anyway, and you only get what's left.

of course, by buying a high priced fare for your return you are more likely to get a refund, but I dont think it will be anywhere near what you think.

thenonly ways around this would be to get something in writing... OR, construct your fare from JFK using airlines offering one way fares... just as an example, take AA to hnl, then connect from hnl on jetstar to Australia.

I know you say you have spoken to them twice but there is too much risk that if you tried to make a claim that they could say they misunderstood what you meant, and they would, in the end, refer you to the printed fare rules.

 

[verheem]

This is what they wrote back (including spelling mistakes...):

Dear Mr Verheem,

I clarified this information with a supervisor and I do apologise for the
discrepancy of information. You are certainly correct! The most restrictive
fare rule applies for cancellations.

So to clarify your inquiry. If you were to purchase a Premium Deal for your
outbound flight and book a Premium Flexi fare for your return and have to
cancel this return flight, the Premium Deal fare rules apply consisting of a
cancellation fee of AUD200 and Service Fee AUD50.

But it is still possible to cancel the return flight and recieve a refund!

I hope this clarifies our fare rules in regards to cancellations.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This is what they wrote back (including spelling mistakes...):

Dear Mr Verheem,

I clarified this information with a supervisor and I do apologise for the
discrepancy of information. You are certainly correct! The most restrictive
fare rule applies for cancellations.

So to clarify your inquiry. If you were to purchase a Premium Deal for your
outbound flight and book a Premium Flexi fare for your return and have to
cancel this return flight, the Premium Deal fare rules apply consisting of a
cancellation fee of AUD200 and Service Fee AUD50.

But it is still possible to cancel the return flight and recieve a refund!

I hope this clarifies our fare rules in regards to cancellations.

yup... I see that! but what that says is that there are cancellation penalties of 250 in total.

it doesn't clearly spell out for you that if you pay $1000 outbound and $1500 for the return that you will get the full $1500 (less 250) for the return flight in refund.

under the fare calculation they are more likely to reassess the outbound at the full one way ($1500), THEN subtract the 250, and then you might get left with $750.

unless I have missed something, that is generally the way airlines calculate refunds on roundtrip fares.

if va is different that is good! (I'm not trying to rain on your parade, or say what you are doing is wrong... I just don't want you to get caught out )

 

[verheem]

FINAL (?) reply from Virgin: can I book return premium DJ then cancel return flight?

All,

I emailed Virgin again to get clarification and this is what I got back:

Dear Mr Verheem,

Thank you for your email regarding our fare rules.

Fare rules can get confusing so I'll explain the different situations that may
apply. Keep in mind that Travel Agents also have their own fares rules too
when booking through them so that may be where the discrepancies or confusion
is. So whomever you make the booking through, it is their fare rules and terms
and conditions that need to be followed.

If you were to book through Virgin Australia the most restrictive fare rules
apply when making cancellations.

So if your looking at purchasing a Premium Deal for your entire trip and
needing to cancel your booking the Premium Deal fare rules state;

Cancellations permitted before departure: USD$500 cancellation fee plus
service fee USD50. Cancellations after departure are non refundable.

If you are looking at purchasing a Premium Deal Fare for your outbound flight
and a Premium Flexi fare on your return flight and again cancelling this
ticket, the most restrictive fare rules apply which is the Premium Deal.
Again cancellations before departure incur a cancellation fee of USD500 plus
service fee USD50 is non-refundable. After departure the ticket is
non-refundable.

So the total cancellation penalty in both situations is USD550 off the total
fare paid.

If you would like to change your flight dates the independent fare rules
apply, for example:

You've purchased a Premium Deal on your outbound flight and a Premium Flexi
for your inbound flight. If your changing your outbound flight the Premium
Deal fare rules apply of change fee USD150 plus service reissue fee of USD50.

If you change your return flight the Premium Flexi fare rules apply which is
no change fee only service reissue fee of USD50.

I hope this clarifies whats involved for cancellations - You'll be an expert
quoting our cancellation policy before you know! If there is anything else
that I can help you with Mr Verheem please don't hesitate to ask


Kind Regards

Tamara

The Virgin Australia Team


Seems different from their previous advise, but case closed I think

Thanks for all your feedback on this, it was worth the try.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: FINAL (?) reply from Virgin: can I book return premium DJ then cancel return flig

Oh yes - good point - I see what they mean now... so the most restrictive fare conditions apply when you combine fares. And the most restrictive (your outbound) is non-refundable - essentially making the whole ticket non refundable after departure...