VA Missed Flight policy?

[Saab34]

Rather than throwing away a fare, what’s VA’s policy if you miss a flight checked in. (Platinum). I have a early early flight in the morning however I really can’t be bothered so was just going to suck it up and buy the cheap JQ or TT fare tomorrow night so I get the day home.

If I call the gold line after the flight had departed you think they will move me to a later flight for minimal fee? The change fee and fare difference is nearly $1000 to shift to a later flight.

 

[ftm]

Oh the pain of early flights!

Strictly by the rule book, the change has to happen prior to the original flight’s departure, and if that isn’t done, then the ticket becomes non-refundable. Given the change is over $1000, I’m guessing you’ve already looked at that, so then you’re hoping for the person who looks after your call to be nice and essentially do a favour. Not impossible given you’re Platinum, but it would be at their discretion.

Hope you either made it, or got someone helpful in moving you to a later flight!

 

[Ausbt]

As a Plat, I've simply rocked up late (unavoidable delays) and been accommodated on a later flight with no issue. You wouldn't want to make a habit of it though.

 

[Saab34]

Do you think I should call the plat line, go to airport service desk or lounge service desk?

I added a flex bundle onto the JQ fare so can pull out If VA can assist and get my JQ $$$ back

 

[samas]

When I was abandoning a cheap getaway fare I was tossing up between selecting seat 3B or 3E to help keep a shadow for those in row 3 or to call up and forfeit.

I decided to call up to let VA know I was forfeiting my getaway fare as a Platinum so they could sell another seat on the plane. Must have been first time agent had heard that one by the sounds of it. They were a bit surprised I bothered to call. They offered to use the flight as a credit towards another flight if I could book another flight on the phone with them with a much reduced fee. I think they let me change for around $35 instead of the ~$90 it should have been. The fare was not worth much over $100 IIRC.

This was about 18 months ago.

 

[Saab34]

I called the Plat line. Sorry nothing we can do.

Airport team. Sorry nothing we can do you are flying on a very restrictive fare (Happy Hour). As a gesture of Goodwill we will wave the change fee and put your old fare towards a new fare plus fare difference (was quoted $700).

Just stuck with my $89 JQ fare.

......
On another note it would be good to see some better flexibility on VA around changes in regards to fees and options. The only reason I split half my travel JQ , is for its for its Flex bundle option, which gives me free cancellation/refund/date options and free same day change to another flight. And a new recent addition is it also gives me 14kg onboard now so no need to buy luggage anymore.

 

[Austman]

My understanding is that you should always be able to get a refund on the taxes component.

But you will have to claim it.

 

[Saab34]

Yes but they charge some form of ‘admin fee’ which always happens to be more than the taxes itself.

They should donate it to charity or something. Not boosting its bottom line.

 

[Austman]

Yes but they charge some form of ‘admin fee’ which always happens to be more than the taxes itself.

That depends on how much the taxes were and how much any administration fee is.

But it seems you have done it a lot?

 

[oz_mark]

My understanding is that you should always be able to get a refund on the taxes component.

But you will have to claim it.

Interestingly, on a now show, the GST component is still payable to the ATO - no refund in the GST.

 

[Austman]

Interestingly, on a now show, the GST component is still payable to the ATO - no refund in the GST.

Indeed.

No GST on international fares however.

The "taxes" I meant were the airport charges etc. On some fares they can add up.

On my last domestic flight this week, the taxes were $97.56 (return) before any GST component.