New Velocity Service Fee for Airline Partner Reward bookings via GCC

[kevrosmith]

Received in my VFF Statement today...



Introduction of a new Service Fee
Effective from 2 April 2015, Velocity will introduce and apply a service fee of $60 or 7,500 Points per person per booking for new Reward Seat bookings created for travel on one of our Airline Partners flights via the Membership Contact Centre where those bookings are able to be made online for no fee.



I've never tried to book one, but I've heard and read here that often there is limited availability online. Let's hope they improve the online options before they apply this fee catre blanche.

 

[zainman]

So EY bookings that cannot be made online will not be charged the fee correct?

 

[williamsf1]

So EY bookings that cannot be made online will not be charged the fee correct?

ONLY bookings than can be made online will be charged the fee

 

[bullerdude]

If the call-centre finds seats that you can't see online the presumably you would be able to book them without the fee.

 

[rtyuiop]

Hmm - think I might take a screenshot on my unsuccessful searches on the website before calling in, with the way the search results change at random, they probably won't believe me when I say no availability showing online...

Has anyone booked via the call centre recently? Are they still saying they can't do more than one flight per PNR?

 

[notzac]

Has anyone booked via the call centre recently? Are they still saying they can't do more than one flight per PNR?

As recently as late last year I was able to book a one way trip from Europe to Australia with a stopover on a single PNR via the GCC, so it can be done. Would recommend HUACA if you get told otherwise.

 

[bullerdude]

That new fee now applies to all changes/cancellations to reward seats as well.

 

[notzac]

That new fee now applies to all changes/cancellations to reward seats as well.

...even if you can't change or cancel the reservation online?

 

[jpk]

This will make for some interesting conversations... I've consistently found the agents that deal with partner award bookings close to useless.

 

[bullerdude]

...even if you can't change or cancel the reservation online?

The fare rules simply state you want to change then the fee is charged.

 

[rtyuiop]

As recently as late last year I was able to book a one way trip from Europe to Australia with a stopover on a single PNR via the GCC, so it can be done. Would recommend HUACA if you get told otherwise.

Nice - I haven't made an award booking since just around the Sabre changeover (multiple agents were adamant they couldn't do it then), so glad they have sorted it out!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

This will make for some interesting conversations... I've consistently found the agents that deal with partner award bookings close to useless.

I hear you there. I've found that you need to have everything sorted out for them and guide them and even then it's a painful process.

I have no issue with a fee being charged for bookings we cannot do on line. Seems everytime I make an int reward booking a screen displays the text "Can't be done, contact GCC" which seems to mean no fee will be charged. I'm not so happy about the change fee even though we can't do that on line. Maybe screen shots will become the norm.