Question about Virgin travel bank

[Rich]

Heads-up :
Virgin extended their expiry date for Standard credits again to 31 Dec 2022.
Nothing about it anywhere on their website
View attachment 315307

Really? That's a bit annoying for me as I spent mine a couple of weeks ago to upgrade an award booking to economy X. Nice to have the legroom etc but unnecessary for a short flight.

 

[AIRwin]

Travel credits

Read about Virgin Australia's Travel Credits.

www.virginaustralia.com

 

[serfty]

Travel credits

Read about Virgin Australia's Travel Credits.

www.virginaustralia.com

That does not specifically answer the question given the dates:

We have extended the expiry date of Future Flight credits and standard credits due to expire before 30 January 2023. Your credits will be available to make bookings until 31 January 2023, and can be used for travel up to 27 December 2023.

@Deskorpio However, to extrapolate given the expiry of yours have been extended to 31st December 2023, I'd expect booking can be made for flights after that expiry.

In reality, it is probably best you call again and ask.

 

[Deskorpio]

Found this on VA website, a bit ambiguous but that might be it. But you are right Serfty, i better call again.

“Standard credits
We have extended the expiry date of all standard credits issued on/before 31 July 2022. Your standard credit will be available to make bookings until 31 December 2023.”

 

[tdrift]

I just viewed my travel bank credits as I had initially thought they would be expiring soon. Pleasantly surprised to see that my credits now expiry 31 Dec 2023 just like you've experienced

 

[ezemskov]

Heads-up : standard credits extended again, until 30 June 2025

 

[AIRwin]

Heads-up : standard credits extended again, until 30 June 2025

We are currently updating the expiry date for all standard credits issued between 21 April 2020 and 31 July 2022. These credits will be available to book and fly by 30 June 2025. We anticipate expiry dates in all customer accounts will be updated by December 2023.

Redeem travel credits

Have you previously cancelled a trip and received a travel credit? Learn about your travel credits and how to use Travel Bank.

www.virginaustralia.com

 

[nthd_nthd]

I am having 2 sets of Travel bank credit expiring soon 15 Jan 2025. Is there anything I can do to either extend their life - or use wisely (how if not flying)???? Thanks

 

[ben95]

I am having 2 sets of Travel bank credit expiring soon 15 Jan 2025. Is there anything I can do to either extend their life - or use wisely (how if not flying)???? Thanks

Buy a full flex/business ticket as far out in the calendar as possible, sit on it for nearly a year then when you are ready to fly cancel/change that one free of charge and book whatever you want, or putting it back into travel bank a few days before the flight and sit on that new travel bank for even longer.

 

[nthd_nthd]

Buy a full flex/business ticket as far out in the calendar as possible, sit on it for nearly a year then when you are ready to fly cancel/change that one free of charge and book whatever you want, or putting it back into travel bank a few days before the flight and sit on that new travel bank for even longer.

Thank you

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Buy a full flex/business ticket as far out in the calendar as possible, sit on it for nearly a year then when you are ready to fly cancel/change that one free of charge and book whatever you want, or putting it back into travel bank a few days before the flight and sit on that new travel bank for even longer.

My understanding from the travel bank rules is that if your underlying credit has expired, you cannot out the fare back onto the travel bank? VA says if they have to cancel your flight for reasons within their control, they will re credit with a ONE month extended expiry (which I believe you could challenge under ACL)

 

[ben95]

travel bank rules is that if your underlying credit has expired, you cannot out the fare back onto the travel bank?

Might very well be the rule, and my understanding is that you cannot refund to cash by paying the $99 fee like you would normally (because your original form of payment is the travel bank and it's already expired).

But the loop hole is that when you refund to travel bank, the system creates the travel bank account with a 1 year expiry tied to your new ticket number - because this number changes everytime you cancel and rebook (stays the same when you just make a change) the system loses track of the flow of the money and that's what allow you to churn the expiry date forever.

 

[Skyhawk]

I've got about $300 in VA Travel Bank expiring soon.
Have there been any inquiries as to whether VA can do this, in view of the Australian Consumer Law legislation?

 

[ferntree]

Being a relatively new follower of VA, I've got a question regarding travel bank. Basically I booked a flex fare from MEL-ZQN return over the Xmas period this year, and there is a possibility we are looking at cancel it (Hopefully not needed).
From VA's website, I can see if refund to travel bank there is no fee, or $80 per head if refund to original form of payment (credit card).
In the old QF days, if I got a credit from cancellation, there is usually some requirements like the newly booked ticket must be above certain fare classes. Is there a similar rule in the case of VA travel bank, or I can just simply consider those credit as cash use it in any future bookings as I wish.
One more question is the original booking is for us family of 3, will the credit in travel bank require us to to book in the same ticket as in travelling together?
Many thanks in advance!

It will be valid for 12 months. You can use it for yourself or family as you wish, no restrictions on class of fare.

 

[Skyhawk]

It will be valid for 12 months. You can use it for yourself or family as you wish, no restrictions on class of fare.

I'm aware of that, but the ACL gives refund rights to consumers.
VA are holding a lot of credits which will potentially just 'evaporate'.

 

[ferntree]

I'm aware of that, but the ACL gives refund rights to consumers.
VA are holding a lot of credits which will potentially just 'evaporate'.

Does that apply even in the case described by featheast where you cancel as far as I can see simply because you change your mind? I wouldn't have thought so, but would be very happy if I'm wrong.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm aware of that, but the ACL gives refund rights to consumers.
VA are holding a lot of credits which will potentially just 'evaporate'.

Well you can choose if the triggering event falls under ACL - VA cancels for a reason within their control.

Travel bank suits for some fares where they may not be refundable, or where you have paid a credit card fee what you don’t want to lose. If you have changed your plans voluntarily you can get either travel bank, or a refund depending on fare. But the latter may have some financial penalties.

If it was an ACL event, and you weren’t offered the choice, you could probably follow that up and maybe get it

 

[ben95]

I'm aware of that, but the ACL gives refund rights to consumers.
VA are holding a lot of credits which will potentially just 'evaporate'.

Change of mind or force majeure (i.e. weather) refund is not a right protected by the ACL. That is governed by VA's contract of carriage and the one-year expiry of the travel bank credit is legal.

It stinks but it is what it is. You could use the travel bank money to purchase a flex ticket far out and then once you have confirmed travel bank change that ticket. This way your credit's validity is basically extended by another year but it does cost you more over a Choice ticket when you do end up using it.