New Charge for Velocity Bookings on EY

[Mattg]

No doubt VA added their opportunistic fee into the new amount as a way to generate more revenue - and - discourage Etihad redemptions over their own metal at the same time.

I agree with pretty much everything you said.

Considering that Virgin doesn't fly to anywhere in Europe using their own metal, I find this view (Virgin's, not yours) rather short-sighted. By discouraging EY redemptions, they're encouraging Velocity members to use a different airline/program, not to redeem their points on all those non-existent VA flights.

 

[Duffa]

presume there has been no response from Velocity rep. no surprise there. So glad I bought two weeks ago at the old price and have my Velocity total down to 150k!!

 

[smit0847]

I get that EY awards were too cheap and that this is a charge initiated by EY but what I don't get is how VA are possibly going to sell it to their members.
1. It's not a fuel surcharge as it's different depending on class.
2. It's not what EY charge it's own members for the same flights (it's double).
3. Velocity have gone from having one of the best redemption deals in the world with EY to having the highest surcharge or any airline for any premium class.

I guess if Ben Groundwater and Co publish an article about how absurd it is (for the reasons above) VA will advise people to book SQ instead but they can kiss their Freddie goodbye next year. I honestly think this surcharge will be reduced by half to the EY Guest rate within 6 months because of the predicted backlash.

I reckon J awards on VA 29/30 (once it starts up again once the 777 refurbished is complete) will become extremely popular.

If the rumours are true that VA have now built critical mass in membership (in with BP partnership) and now they're going to rort their members to increase revenue they're going to find out how difficult it is to compete without being a member of an alliance.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Fuel surcharges can vary based on class of service and they do at QF and many others.

 

[amaroo]

<snip>

they're going to find out how difficult it is to compete without being a member of an alliance.

Alliance is the key for my $$$

Until VA start wearing long pants and join the big boys - they will be nothing but a mid tier LCC, IMHO

 

[anat0l]

Alliance is the key for my $$$

Until VA start wearing long pants and join the big boys - they will be nothing but a mid tier LCC, IMHO

To be honest (and somewhat fair), the new VA (when JB took over) was doing rather fine without worrying about being in any sort of global alliance. In fact, JB, in harmony with EY CEO Hogan, commented that the traditional large global alliances were beleaguered and didn't deliver the benefits and efficiencies to the degree that was touted from the formation of those alliances. The more fluid model of partnerships that VA had was the way to go, and many members here - including those who seem to now lament the lack of global alliances - agreed with that point of view.

 

[seritonin]

I blame Qantas for this, their partnership with EK resulted in Skywards charging fuel prices which then made EY to do the same...

 

[hossein_au]

Alliance is the key for my $$$

Until VA start wearing long pants and join the big boys - they will be nothing but a mid tier LCC, IMHO

I admit I have been disillusioned with Qantas for a while and have diversified quite a bit in the past couple of years. I was under the impression that VA did provide a viable alternative to Qantas (at least domestically). After years of Plat and/or Gold, I flew with VA as a Silver last night (MEL-CBR). I must admit I was very underwhelmed with the whole experience. The helpful smiles at the check in and exercising staff discretion for things here and there was nowhere to be seen. And I felt like cough when for an early evening flight a small bar of chocolate was placed on my tray and when I asked for a Coke Zero, I was told it was for purchase!! I mean, I would understand if I was flying an LCC, but this was a bit rich for a flight on a 'B' fare class on a supposedly full-service airline. I had been thinking on focusing on VA to get back up to Gold or Plat, but all my flights in the next couple of months will go to others.

 

[darraghk]

Any response from Virgin on this at all?

 

[anat0l]

Any response from Virgin on this at all?

Doesn't look like it, but what kind of response are we expecting from them? (Serious, as in what was the question asked in the first place?)

 

[hossein_au]

Any response from Virgin on this at all?

You *might* get a response along the lines I wrote earlier in this thread. I mean, seriously, what do you expect to hear from them? Absence of a response should be clear enough of a response.

 

[travelislife]

Interesting enough there is an Etihad rep on here too. Have tried to tag them but it doesn't seem to be working. I have a feeling VA are just passing on shaft they have been told so any complaints or response would probably be better from EY.

 

[jneufeld]

Any response from Virgin on this at all?

This was the company line I got from them on Twitter

[FONT=&quot] Please know this Reward Seat Carrier Charge has been introduced to Velocity Frequent Flyers to ensure the sustainability of Reward Seats. Etihad Airways also impose a charge on their Etihad Guest members when they redeem Points for a Reward Seat through their program[/FONT]

 

[serfty]

... One thing that was read out to me when I enquired if post 18th changes would incur the $150USD per segment charges..
"You will not be charged for date/time changes. You will only be charged the new fee if you change cabins up or down or change routing"

So, it would appear that existing bookings can be changed (up to 24 hours prior to ticketed departure time) on current rules without incuring the $150USD per segment fee after 18th June if just making date/time changes.

So basically the standard difference between "revalidating" and "reticketing".

Note a routing change can be as simple as changing from a stopover to a transit (or vv) at a port.

 

[Kilo]

Any response from Virgin on this at all?

MY guess is they are just waiting until it all blows over

 

[hossein_au]

Interesting enough there is an Etihad rep on here too. Have tried to tag them but it doesn't seem to be working. I have a feeling VA are just passing on shaft they have been told so any complaints or response would probably be better from EY.

That may be; but they have doubled the size of the shaft they received when they were deciding how to stick it to their customers...

 

[hossein_au]

This was the company line I got from them on Twitter

Yep, the same as SQ (having fuel surcharges). The whole point of having two separate redemption table was to account for those pesky surcharges imposed by airlines. In the case of EY, VA has decided to move them to the table with higher number of points AS WELL AS passing on the surcharges. *That* is what I have a problem with (not to mention VA charges almost double what EY has imposed).

 

[RTH]

This was the company line I got from them on Twitter

Please know this Reward Seat Carrier Charge has been introduced to Velocity Frequent Flyers to ensure the sustainability of Reward Seats. Etihad Airways also impose a charge on their Etihad Guest members when they redeem Points for a Reward Seat through their program

Did you state that even thoguh that is the case VA is charging double the fee for J/F that EY is charging, but Y charge is the same

 

[RTH]

I rang VFF yesterday to try and change an EY F flight I have. Currently, I have an extended layover in AUH and was attempting to move to the earlier connection to LHR. Unfortunately it wasn't available. A few things were pointed out which were absolutely convoluted.

- If the earlier flight is available, a $60 change fee is applicable (that's fine, knew about that).
- If the earlier flight is available, we'll effectively cancel the booking but maintain the PNR meaning that:
* You will be refunded any taxes, fees, and charges you originally paid within three to five business days
* We will re-deposit the points into your account
* We will withdraw points from your account
* We will hold the original first segment whilst doing this, and then submit a request for the seat on the new sector
* Your fare will then be re-calculated for taxes, fees and charges and you will need to supply a CC number to pay them.

Net result should be just $60, but if taxes have changed, you may win/lose.

One thing that was read out to me when I enquired if post 18th changes would incur the $150USD per segment charges..
"You will not be charged for date/time changes. You will only be charged the new fee if you change cabins up or down or change routing"

So, it would appear that existing bookings can be changed (up to 24 hours prior to ticketed departure time) on current rules without incuring the $150USD per segment fee after 18th June if just making date/time changes.

Same
I had two flight to change one already done the other I can't change till after 18-jun, was told the above that as long as it was date/time change and no chage to cabin and/or routing additional carrier fee wouldn't be charge. It was the same rule will the changing a booking made before 1-jun regarding point difference. if it was date/time change no points difference would be charged but if it was cabin and/or reroute you would be charged.

Also when you made the booking change did they also put into your account the difference in points between old/new?. With the 1st booking changed it was original 62.5k new points redemption 75k , so they added 12.5k to my account then re-deposit 62.5k then deducted 75k for the new booking date along with charging me $60 + roughly $13 extra in taxes + $30 cc fee.

 

[JohnK]

MY guess is they are just waiting until it all blows over

Just like Qantas fuel surcharges?