PE query - domestic legs of international flight booked with V Australia

[Jurahn]

Just wondering whether anyone else has had experience with this, or whether Virgin Australia might be around to help me out with this query!

We're booked to fly PER-LAX-PER later in the year in PE for the whole trip, booked through the V Australia website. When I spoke to their call centre, I was able to put in seat requests for the international legs, but they said I'd have to contact the Virgin Australia call centre re the domestic legs, and was given a special reference number to provide (different to the original PNR). Rang the VA Guest Contact Centre only to be told that their system did not show that we were booked in premium economy for PER-SYD-PER and while they could put in a note that we'd like the bulkhead seats if possible, there was no guarantee that we would even get a premium economy seat at all. For such a long trip with multiple flights, we wanted to avoid being seated in economy at all costs - don't have status yet, so no chance of upgrades and can't afford J, so PE was our best bet, which also gives us Lounge access before the domestic flights - so not particularly happy with VA telling me that our booking doesn't even show PE for the domestic flights. Just want to make sure we're going to get what we booked and paid for, rather than turning up at the airport and having to argue the point with someone about seating, getting into the Lounge etc. I stress enough about flying as it is, without having to worry about something like this! Probably seems unimportant to those who travel a lot, or who regularly travel in J etc, but we don't get the chance to make a big O/S trip very often so want to make sure everything goes as it should (well, as much as it ever does when dealing with air travel!).

So can anyone help or advise?

Thanks

 

[docjames]

What does your booking say?

if it states Premium economy for all legs (I presume it'll be PER-SYD-LAX vv) then call back and demand Premium Economy seating.

If for some reason they've booked you into Y (according to their computer) when the info you have from your website booking states you're in Y+, you have grounds to expect them to honour what was booked.

 

[DJ 1D]

You should be booked in PE for your domestic flight. See this link: International Premium Economy | V Australia

Codeshare flights with Virgin Australia: If your flight involves a segment flying Virgin Australia (for example Canberra via Sydney to Los Angeles), on the Virgin Australia segment you’ll enjoy Virgin Australia’s exclusive Premium Economy service.

That being said, I had a friend who was in your same position. He ended up getting stuck in economy for his domestic flight; I believe his wife later complained and they recieved some sort of compensation. But if it were me I would make sure it's sorted prior to flying.

 

[Ansettaddict123]

What are your flight numbers to/from Perth?
You may have been booked onto one of the A332 or new 738 flights which don't have premium economy at all, hence why you've been bumped down to economy (as happens with QF domestic connections in Y+). That said if its on your paperwork that you're booked Y+ for all legs of the trip, get on the phone and demand it. good luck!

 

[Jurahn]

I've just re-checked the Virgin Australia flight schedules - both flights were originally showing on the 737-800 (which does have PE, according to the website), but one flight is now on the A330 and the other is still on the 737-800 (the return SYD-PER flight number actually now no longer exists, and we have been changed on to another earlier flight).

I spent a good 10 minutes on the phone to the Virgin Australia call centre (which appeared to be an overseas one, given the lag and echo on the call, and the accent of the girl I was talking to), insisting (politely) that all our paperwork showed that each leg of the flight was booked in Y+ and this is clearly shown on our e-tickets. She just kept repeating that it did not show as Y+ on their system so as far as they are concerned, we are not booked into Y+ for the domestic flights. I asked who I should speak to regarding this, as we are definitely booked into Y+ on all flights, and she just kept repeating that their system did not show this. I got so frustrated I gave up in the end, it was just going around in circles. Looks like I will have to ring back and try again.

The amount we paid for the domestic legs was well above the normal economy fare (taking into account the difference between the Y+ fare being advertised SYD-LAX at the time we booked, and the actual amount we paid PER-LAX return, so I would certainly expect that if we didn't end up in PE, have Lounge access etc, that we would be compensated accordingly, but we'd be pretty unhappy about it all the same. As we booked back in March, before we even knew the A330s would be introduced on some Per-SYD flights, I later enquired about what would happen if we ended up on an A330 (having booked and paid Y+) and was told we would be seated in J. After the phone call to Virgin Australia today, I'm starting to doubt anything I've been told!

Actually, checking the flights has raised another question - I assume that because we have now been changed onto another flight, our original e-tickets are no longer valid and will have to be re-issued. Will V Australia email these to us, or will I have to ring and ask for them? If I retrieve the booking through the V Australia website, it now shows both the new flight AND the old one i.e. TWO SYD-PER flight on the same day!! We haven't received any notification to date that there had been any flight change, although obviously it's still several months away yet.

 

[Jurahn]

Update - I have just received an email reply from V Australia confirming that they have spoken to Virgin Australia and confirmed with them that we ARE booked in Y+ and will be travelling in that class accordingly (although I'll have to check what happens with the A330 flight!). Thumbs up to V Australia for such a quick response

 

[DJ 1D]

Happy days! Now all we ask in return is a full trip report w/photos!

 

[Jurahn]

Well, have never flown Y+ before AND it's our first trip to the US AND it's our first time flying V Australia, so I guess I'd better do some sort of report when we get back, at least on our Y+ experiences anyway

 

[jsd]

(although I'll have to check what happens with the A330 flight!)

I sat next to a guy on my A330 J flight (PER-SYD) who was travelling in Y+ onwards with V Australia (SYD-LAX)

So I would say you will be in J for any A330 flights

 

[Noob]

I sat next to a guy on my A330 J flight (PER-SYD) who was travelling in Y+ onwards with V Australia (SYD-LAX)

So I would say you will be in J for any A330 flights

Wow, that is a very good deal when you consider the product you are getting for that 5 hour leg...

 

[jsd]

Wow, that is a very good deal when you consider the product you are getting for that 5 hour leg...

Crew split us up after take-off, lucky bugger got the middle section of row 3 to himself


But this lucky bugger got ALL of row 4 to himself :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[Jurahn]

I sat next to a guy on my A330 J flight (PER-SYD) who was travelling in Y+ onwards with V Australia (SYD-LAX)

So I would say you will be in J for any A330 flights

Good to know! Oh well, fingers crossed that maybe BOTH domestic flights will turn out to be A330s!