New fare structure from 13/01/2013

[777]

Bringing domestic and international ops under one common set of branding will be simpler.

Yes, it actually seemed considerably simpler to me compared to the status quo.

 

[williamsf1]

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Velocity Points will go to a completely self managed system, avail from mobile as well as web based. This includes last minute upgrading without the call centre headaches!

I was advised yesterday that the Velocity site will be the first to be shut down for cutover, on the 9th Jan. With go live finished for all aspects by Sunday 13th afternoon. Sounds like a huge exercise. There are reportedly large teams from Sabre in the US moving in to all the terminals for the period of cutover and following 4 weeks to work with staff at ALL airports as well as significantly increased staffing levels.

Lounge staff also indicated that the new system means we should see an end to the "I can't access Velocity" situation. They are waiting to either get a velocity staff member into the lounges or lounge staff trained to handle requests. Though they say the new system will eradicate the need for most Velocity centre queries. Best of all a supposedly dramatic shortening in Velocity shop n not earn store processing etc.... with the Velocity partners having more direct access to the Velocity system.

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I understand that the loyalty Velocity system is not changing at all , the update is for the core reservations system only. So improvements noted above may be a longer term goal.

 

[MandM]

Bringing domestic and international ops under one common set of branding will be simpler.

Would this make a difference on how status credits are calculated for international bookings, eg current MEL-LAX via SYD is credited MEL-SYD plus SYD-LAX. Do you think this might change to just MEL-LAX?

 

[serfty]

Would this make a difference on how status credits are calculated for international bookings, eg current MEL-LAX via SYD is credited MEL-SYD plus SYD-LAX. Do you think this might change to just MEL-LAX?

IMHO, that unlikely - there's already post that Velocity is to stay as it is basically.

 

[oz_mark]

Would this make a difference on how status credits are calculated for international bookings, eg current MEL-LAX via SYD is credited MEL-SYD plus SYD-LAX. Do you think this might change to just MEL-LAX?

I'm more inclined to think domestic would change, but we will have to wait and see if anything changes.

 

[Jamesl]

Heres a question for you, which fare class covers PE on the T7?

 

[williamsf1]

I'm more inclined to think domestic would change, but we will have to wait and see if anything changes.

If anything changes , this could be possible due to change in reservations system for domestic

 

[KCMil]

I understand that the loyalty Velocity system is not changing at all , the update is for the core reservations system only. So improvements noted above may be a longer term goal.

The Velocity system is a part of VA IT systems. They will actually be the first element to go "offline" being on 9 Jan at 2230h. The Velocity system has to be integrated into the VA system as they book / cxl / amend reservations.

 

[Charlie18]

Would this make a difference on how status credits are calculated for international bookings, eg current MEL-LAX via SYD is credited MEL-SYD plus SYD-LAX. Do you think this might change to just MEL-LAX?

I don't think there will be any changes to the way SCs are calculated for international long haul. The domestic and intl short haul are being changed to per sector, rather than total distance, just like long haul currently is.

 

[notzac]

Heres a question for you, which fare class covers PE on the T7?

Fares W, R and O (per Points Earn with Airline Partners | Velocity Frequent Flyer)

 

[bullerdude]

Just came across this document which provides a very consolidation view on the new fare structure and all inclusions. Also shows the name changes occurring to the premium fare classes and mentions that baggage allowances are being made the same across all booking channels.

http://www.campustravel.com.au/cms_...ampusTravel_Virgin-fare-structure-changes.pdf

 

[Fruitcake]

That's a very handy reference, bullerdude. Thanks for the link.

One change of note in there is that the cancellation fee for a domestic Flexi ($60) will be less than the cancel fee for a domestic Saver ($80). This is the reverse of current pricing, where cancelling a Saver costs $60 and cancelling a Flexi costs $80.

Looks like domestically a business saver doesn't have any significant restrictions compared to a business fare (other than the risk of I or D class inventory not being available on a flight you wish to change into). However, I'd assume that although cancellation is free, getting cash refund on a business saver will probably incur a fee (just like Flexis do at the moment).

 

[bullerdude]

I didn't notice that change when reading through the document - its a step in the right direction but is still nowhere near as flexible as Qantas.

My major gripe is that on Qantas you can cancel any fare, including red e-deal fares, and keep the full value of the fare as a credit without paying a cancelation fee. Whilst on Virgin, you get a cancellation fee for any ticket that isn't business class - I mean you can't even cancel a Flexi and keep the full value.

At a minimum, I wish that virgin would allow you to cancel Flexi fare and allow you to keep the full fare in credit (akin to simply changing flight dates) or pay the cancel fee and get a refund.

 

[markis10]

My major gripe is that on Qantas you can cancel any fare, including red e-deal fares, and keep the full value of the fare as a credit without paying a cancelation fee. Whilst on Virgin, you get a cancellation fee for any ticket that isn't business class - I mean you can't even cancel a Flexi and keep the full value.

Both airlines have the same thing, they just do it differently, Virgin deduct the fee on cancelling the original booking while Qantas charge you when you make a new booking. While the names and schema may be different, the net result is you get charged a fee regardless.

 

[bullerdude]

Both airlines have the same thing, they just do it differently, Virgin deduct the fee on cancelling the original booking while Qantas charge you when you make a new booking. While the names and schema may be different, the net result is you get charged a fee regardless.

You may be charged a smaller booking fee (not sure), however, I cannot find any reference to a change fee for a qantas flexi saver that you would have to pay when rebooking. All the rules say is that the credit must be used for an fare of equal or higher value so you would only have to pay the extra fare if applicable.
Bookings - Fare Types

I could be wrong so please feel free to point me in the right direction.

 

[anat0l]

My major gripe is that on Qantas you can cancel any fare, including red e-deal fares, and keep the full value of the fare as a credit without paying a cancelation fee. Whilst on Virgin, you get a cancellation fee for any ticket that isn't business class - I mean you can't even cancel a Flexi and keep the full value.

At a minimum, I wish that virgin would allow you to cancel Flexi fare and allow you to keep the full fare in credit (akin to simply changing flight dates) or pay the cancel fee and get a refund.

That's not quite true. With Qantas Red e-Deals, when you "cancel" the fare you generate a credit for the full value that you paid - fine. However, when you later go to use this credit, the relevant change/cancellation fee will be charged in addition to the fare difference in order to obtain the new fare.

For Qantas Flexi Savers, I think the Domestic fare type chart and the detailed Domestic Flexi Saver rules seem to be in conflict with each other - one suggests that there is a change fee, but the other says no. A dummy booking on a Domestic Flexi Saver suggests that a change fee is payable. My impression (at least from the rules of the Flexi Saver of days of yore before they eliminated Super Savers) is that there should be no fee.

I'm not sure about Virgin's current Flexi, but the new Flexi fare will allow you to get a refund for a fee.


Some other notes that stick out for me: probably of little consequence to most, but none of the domestic fares on Virgin have child discounts. Also, if you check in for your flight, your fare is instantly non-refundable regardless of original fare rules. I know most people here travel quite resolutely and almost never need to check in then not fly, but it's worth noting. (FWIW I heard on QF that you can "cancel" flexible fares after check-in, though they don't take too awfully kind on the action unless there's a really good story.)

 

[markis10]

You may be charged a smaller booking fee (not sure), however, I cannot find any reference to a change fee for a qantas flexi saver that you would have to pay when rebooking. All the rules say is that the credit must be used for an fare of equal or higher value so you would only have to pay the extra fare if applicable.
Bookings - Fare Types

I could be wrong so please feel free to point me in the right direction.

Neither Qantas (with the below exception) or Virgin charge a change fee for flexis, they both charge fare difference. Virgin do charge a cancel fee if you go into a credit shell for flexis.

Keep in mind that within 6 hours of departure, you wont be able to change online a flexi with Qantas, it needs to be done with the call centre for a fee + fare difference.

 

[Jurahn]

Some other notes that stick out for me: probably of little consequence to most, but none of the domestic fares on Virgin have child discounts. Also, if you check in for your flight, your fare is instantly non-refundable regardless of original fare rules. I know most people here travel quite resolutely and almost never need to check in then not fly, but it's worth noting. (FWIW I heard on QF that you can "cancel" flexible fares after check-in, though they don't take too awfully kind on the action unless there's a really good story.)

This may depend if there are extenuating circumstances - I was in Sydney for a couple of days recently, and came down with horrendous food poisoning in the early hours of the morning - I was due to fly back to Perth mid-morning and there was NO way that was going to happen. There was also no way I could be on the phone long enough (not going into details, but you can imagine why) to ring up and try to see whether I could change my flight to the next day, so had to ring hubby in Perth in the very early hours and ask him to try to sort it out for me. VA were very helpful - even though I had already checked in online the afternoon before and was on a Saver fare, they moved me to the same flight the next day and they upgraded the fare to a Flexi at hubby's request (in case I was still too ill to fly, and the flight needed to be changed again) and only charged the difference between the two fares, so at least we didn't lose the original amount paid for the Saver fare. There was a change fee charged as well (understandably) but I think it was minimal, so I was very grateful that they were flexible on this occasion.

 

[pshepvic]

Virgin you can cancel Flexis after checking in - you just need to call them before airport checkin closes to get them to "un-check" you. Then they can give someone else to your seat. If you don't do this, you forfeit the fare as the argument is that they could have used the seat for someone else.