Unsellable seat...

[777]

Just a funny bit of airline logic - not really a complaint just an observation.

Next Sunday evening i was booked on a saver to fly TSV-BNE-MEL. Work plans changed so instead of going home (to MEL) i am now getting off in BNE and connecting on a flight in BNE to ADL instead (i've got a Flexi to ADL in case of missed connection). I'm still using the TSV-BNE leg but i have no intention of getting on the BNE-MEL leg.

So, i rang the velocity call centre to advise them of this. Wasn't expecting a refund but as a courtesy i thought they might want that seat back. The upshot of it all was that i was advised that if i wanted to formally tell them that i wasn't catching that leg it would cost me $50 to change my ticket. She offered to waive the cancellation fee but the TSV-BNE leg on its own is now more expensive than the connecting ticket i originally bought. The woman was very helpful and in the end we both agreed the polite thing to do was simply tell them in the lounge in BNE on the night that i wasn't getting on the MEL flight - which i will do.

I'm not sure what the odds are that the flight will be full but basically they are going to charge me $50 to give them the opportunity to sell that seat to someone else. I sort of get the logic of it, but it's amusing...

 

[serfty]

...
I'm not sure what the odds are that the flight will be full but basically they are going to charge me $50 to give them the opportunity to sell that seat to someone else. I sort of get the logic of it, but it's amusing...

Well, the paint would have dried by then ...

(http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ussion/why-airlines-dont-sell-paint-5551.html)

 

[oz_mark]

Isn't it the case, though, that they have already sold the seat?

(Yield management works it's magic in wierd and wonderful ways!)

 

[777]

Isn't it the case, though, that they have already sold the seat?

(Yield management works it's magic in wierd and wonderful ways!)

That's true. Will be interesting to see if i get any points and/or SC's for this one

I wonder how many points and SCs you get for catching half a flight?

 

[antycbr]

The other complication would be if you had checked baggage, would DJ tag it to BNE only?

 

[777]

The other complication would be if you had checked baggage, would DJ tag it to BNE only?

No checked bags fortunately.

 

[Justchecking]

Or you could look at it as helping a stby pax get on....

 

[oz_mark]

That's true. Will be interesting to see if i get any points and/or SC's for this one

I wonder how many points and SCs you get for catching half a flight?

Interesting question! I wonder if they have accounted for such a thing?

 

[777]

Interesting question! I wonder if they have accounted for such a thing?

I'm not too fussed, i realise i have stuffed them around and not vice versa. I'm on 1,193 SC's and counting (review not til 31 October) so i i don't think i need the extra SCs. The points always come in handy though and i will have paid for the ticket and borded the flight so who knows? Will report back i guess.

 

[travelislife]

I have had this exact same thing where it was actually more expensive to cancel the (non-refundable) flight (and allow them to sell the seat again), than just forfeit the fare paid.

Seems crazy to me, they could have actually sold the seat twice as I wasn't asking for my money back, but by wanting to charge me to cancel it, I was just like, don't worry about it.

 

[chrisb]

How'd it go?

 

[777]

How'd it go?

Cancelled the second leg in the lounge in BNE. No fee. They booked me into my ADL flight as well. Yet to see what happens with SC's and FF points as it was only last night but on the whole no major complaints from me.

 

[JohnK]

I'm not sure what the odds are that the flight will be full but basically they are going to charge me $50 to give them the opportunity to sell that seat to someone else. I sort of get the logic of it, but it's amusing...

Unfortunately logic has nothing to do it. The more one reads about airlines and their stupid terms and conditions the more one laughs.

How about when airlines cancel flights at the last minute. Do they pay cancellations fees for stuffing passengers around?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Cancelled the second leg in the lounge in BNE. No fee. They booked me into my ADL flight as well. Yet to see what happens with SC's and FF points as it was only last night but on the whole no major complaints from me.

Any update available yet on SCs and points?

 

[777]

Any update available yet on SCs and points?

I got both YMMV though.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I got both YMMV though.

Many thanks! Presumably awarded only on the sectors flown??

 

[777]

Many thanks! Presumably awarded only on the sectors flown??

Well, points on the price of the connecting fare and from memory I got SCs as though I'd done the whole trip but I can't be sure without double checking. I wouldn't encourage anyone to expect it though.