No meal service trans-tasman, inquiry to VA about why is bizzare

[CPMaverick]

I think I made it clear in my post that some fare codes (like your example N) map to fares in that chart that both DO and DO NOT include meals. Hence my frustration. I was looking for fare codes mapping to meals, that is basic booking. But it seems to not be so simple.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I guess any one in 2016 with a internet connection and a mobile phone can call themselves a travel agent.....

Without knowing what travel portal / tool you use to make your booking …. It is very had to know what information you are provided, however my experience with these tools is they normally tell you what is included with regards to baggage or meals . If not you are told the booking class , this will be a letter . that letter then maps to the table or fare type below. For example you would see Economy N . The N then maps to a fare type

https://static.cdn.responsys.net/i5/responsysimages/content/virginaus/Trans Tasman - Retail.pdf

I hope that helps ……

The point he was making was that there seems to be some overlap with the booking classes. E.g go plus can be T class but so can getaway. That's how I read CPMavericks post. I havent actually looked at the documents to confirm that though.

 

[williamsf1]

I think I made it clear in my post that some fare codes (like your example N) map to fares in that chart that both DO and DO NOT include meals. Hence my frustration. I was looking for fare codes mapping to meals, that is basic booking. But it seems to not be so simple.

Once again .. without knowing what booking system you use and how it is displayed … it is hard to advise …. However it is listed in the fare rules and one would assume that you at least have access to them somehow

extract from fare rules below ....
-------------------------------------------------
CHECKED BAGGAGE
- INCLUDE 1 PIECE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE UPTO 23KGS.
ADDITIONAL MAY BE PURCHASED.
-------------------------------------------------
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
- INCLUDED
-------------------------------------------------
INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
- COMPLIMENTARY WIRELESS IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
IS AVAILABLE ON SELECTED FLIGHTS OPERATED BY
EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT WHEN A GUESTS OWN COMPATIBLE
DEVICE IS USED.
- PORTABLE IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT DEVICES MAY BE
OFFERED FOR HIRE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.
- MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VIRGIN AUSTRALIAS IN-
FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT OFFERING IS AVAILABLE AT
VIRGINAUSTRALIA.COM
-------------------------------------------------

 

[medhead]

Once again .. without knowing what booking system you use and how it is displayed … it is hard to advise …. However it is listed in the fare rules and one would assume that you at least have access to them somehow

extract from fare rules below ....

I'm struggling here. How, exactly, does knowing the booking system used help resolve the confused in VA documentation? I don't mean to be rude, but did you actually read the post? They know the fare code - VA info says that it does and also does not get a meal. The problem is with VA not the booking system - See that same fare codes.

However, it actually doesn't clarify things as well as it should. Go and Go Plus have no food. The rest do. But Go Plus fares are T,Q,V,N,E. Getaway fares which include food are fares T,Q,V,N,E!

So how is a travel agent supposed to know how to book a fare including a meal? The only way to be sure is full-flex fare... what a stupid mess.

 

[williamsf1]

I'm struggling here. How, exactly, does knowing the booking system used help resolve the confused in VA documentation? I don't mean to be rude, but did you actually read the post? They know the fare code - VA info says that it does and also does not get a meal. The problem is with VA not the booking system - See that same fare codes.

The documentation from the OP in the link appears to be aimed at a travel agent audience and not the general public. Each booking system displays information differently and inclusions are normally filed as part of the fare rules and displayed online. As the poster mentioned he booked via a travel portal, without knowing what travel portal he uses, it is hard to know what he will see.

There is a fare RBD ( ie booking class) and also the fare basis …. The fare basis drives the product delivered

He should however have access to the fare rules in detailed as per my last post and all that information is displayed there based on the fare selected

 

[CPMaverick]

Yes, apparently I need to review the fare rules to know. At least it is there, and thank you for finding that.

I still find it ridiculous that VA can't split these by fare basis, instead of buried in the fine print. In any case I've decided to never fly VA trans-tasman again (at least in economy), so I won't be too worried about it.

 

[williamsf1]

I still find it ridiculous that VA can't split these by fare basis, instead of buried in the fine print. In any case I've decided to never fly VA trans-tasman again (at least in economy), so I won't be too worried about it.

They will be split by fare basis ..... These have not been released , but they probably would look like NGOPLUS for no meal and NGETAWAY for a meal etc .. both booked in N class

 

[CPMaverick]

They will be split by fare basis ..... These have not been released , but they probably would look like NGOPLUS for no meal and NGETAWAY for a meal etc .. both booked in N class

Yes, I'm sure they have different fares as they have to in order to have different fare rules... however I meant fare 'code' or whatever you call the first letter. It is very easy for most booking engines to see the fare code/letter, always more painful and difficult to get full fare basis and fare rules.

 

[medhead]

The documentation from the OP in the link appears to be aimed at a travel agent audience and not the general public. Each booking system displays information differently and inclusions are normally filed as part of the fare rules and displayed online. As the poster mentioned he booked via a travel portal, without knowing what travel portal he uses, it is hard to know what he will see.

There is a fare RBD ( ie booking class) and also the fare basis …. The fare basis drives the product delivered

He should however have access to the fare rules in detailed as per my last post and all that information is displayed there based on the fare selected

The linked document wasn't provided by the OP.

But you're still missing the point. the document says that TQVNE both do get food and do not get food - NO MENTION of fare basis. That is a document from VA NOT the booking system. In what universe it is right for VA to provide such obviously contradictory information. The booking system is irrelevant to VA saying you will get food and you won't get food.

 

[serfty]

I suspect the document is part of a wider portfolio of information and being shown one out was never intended.

See my previous post on how S2S works - the base fare in most economy fare buckets do not include seat selection (before check-in), checked luggage, IFE or f & b beyond basic water/coffee.

To get some or more of those it is a flat additional fee.

I am sure the OP is now aware of this ... I might suggest they avoid AirNZ TT as well as they are the genesis of this fare structure.

 

[CPMaverick]

I am sure the OP is now aware of this ... I might suggest they avoid AirNZ TT as well as they are the genesis of this fare structure.

Air NZ is not so stupid to put this structure on their connecting international passengers. All international connecting passengers (from what I can tell) are placed in fare classes that have meal service. And that has been reiterated by others in this thread.

That's really the rub here. I wasn't on a 'cheap fare' at all, but I was treated like one. If I was just flying trans-tasman, it wouldn't have been so confusing.

 

[dajop]

If you do a dummy booking on the VA website, it starts to become clearer. The one I looked at, as an example, had three separate fare components ... AKL-BNE (VBAGNZ), BNE-LAX(TLX4ZSD1) and LAX-SYD-AKL (NLE0ZVZR). The latter two made no mention of food in fare rules. The first fare for AKL-BNE did mention F&B as per quote below.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE
- FOOD AND BEVERAGE FOR PURCHASE -----------------------------------

Presumably the LAX-SYD-AKL fare includes F&B. Also found an option $2 cheaper on a different day and it came up with a QLW0ZSD1 fare for LAX-AKL and then VBAG for AKL-SYD, which again does not include F&B.

My extrapolation from this, is that you need to be either in a fare class where F&B is included on the trans tasman OR in the same fare class all the way through from US to AKL.

All rather confusing.

 

[serfty]

Air NZ is not so stupid to put this structure on their connecting international passengers. All international connecting passengers (from what I can tell) are placed in fare classes that have meal service. And that has been reiterated by others in this thread.

That's really the rub here. I wasn't on a 'cheap fare' at all, but I was treated like one. If I was just flying trans-tasman, it wouldn't have been so confusing.

I am surprised AirNZ have a Transpacific fare via Oz.

Are you sure your booking was not a broken fare?

 

[williamsf1]

The linked document wasn't provided by the OP.

But you're still missing the point. the document says that TQVNE both do get food and do not get food - NO MENTION of fare basis. That is a document from VA NOT the booking system. In what universe it is right for VA to provide such obviously contradictory information. The booking system is irrelevant to VA saying you will get food and you won't get food.

OP stands for Original Poster .... and this is the post- document I was referring to

Looking at the document once again it is written for professional travel agents and not for consumers..... Most on AFF are just consumers with limited knowledge of travel agent - airline systems

 

[deepblerg]

Virgin / VFF email support is woeful and much like talking to a bot. Actually its worse than a bot. Give me a bot anyday.

 

[williamsf1]

Virgin / VFF email support is woeful and much like talking to a bot. Actually its worse than a bot. Give me a bot anyday.

If Michael O’Leary was responding it would have been more blunt....... F OFF you got what you paid for …….. which i think in the OP case was true as he went via a travel agent and they most likely booked a end on end fare and not a through fare

 

[CPMaverick]

If Michael O’Leary was responding it would have been more blunt....... F OFF you got what you paid for …….. which i think in the OP case was true as he went via a travel agent and they most likely booked a end on end fare and not a through fare

It's true I got what I paid for. But it was confusing as to the in-flight explanation. I was not seeking compensation, only an explanation. I got NOTHING from VA in terms of that. Absolutely nothing.

 

[medhead]

OP stands for Original Poster

REALLY! Who knew?

.... and this is the post- document I was referring to

Looking at the document once again it is written for professional travel agents and not for consumers..... Most on AFF are just consumers with limited knowledge of travel agent - airline systems

Still if you bothered to follow the thread you would realise that document WAS NOT introduced to the thread by the OP. You know Original Poster - As in the person who wrote post #1.

BTW (that stands for "by the way") The target audience does not change the contradiction in the document.

Don't know about the current fare range, but these are the new ones starting from 7 September:

https://email.virginaustralia.com/p...RiiR3y3_wkpkuAkvRBrrEMWbd4JAgTdDD-4jE6sjCFgzT.

https://email.virginaustralia.com/p...RiiR3y3_wkpkuAkvRBrrEMWbd4JAgTdDD-4jE6sjCFgzT.

https://email.virginaustralia.com/p...RiiR3y3_wkpkuAkvRBrrEMWbd4JAgTdDD-4jE6sjCFgzT.

https://email.virginaustralia.com/p...RiiR3y3_wkpkuAkvRBrrEMWbd4JAgTdDD-4jE6sjCFgzT.

Fare buckets are listed at the top of each Fare Class section.

 

[williamsf1]

REALLY! Who knew?



Still if you bothered to follow the thread you would realise that document WAS NOT introduced to the thread by the OP. You know Original Poster - As in the person who wrote post #1.

BTW (that stands for "by the way") The target audience does not change the contradiction in the document.

My BAD ... This thread has gone way OT .... I was confusing it with the new VA fare structure one .... As for the document ..... it may be a contradiction to a non travel agent , but it needs to be looked in context with the fare basis code and not just the RBD

 

[serfty]

... The target audience does not change the contradiction in the docment.

The document on its own may seem contradictory.

This is due to the need to comprehend it in conjunction with the fare structures. T is not necessarily T, it may be T¹.

I understand this and hopefully others will as well.

It's one of the reasons I gave AirNZ Airpoints the @rse after having earned top level status with them for several years.

VA somewhat mimicked this structure TT when they went into a joint venture with NZ.