Virgin Australia - Going beyond the call of duty

[travelislife]

Can I just put a big thank you out to Virgin Australia. I had 3 family members booked on a one way flight MEL-PER departing 05/07/11, on Saturday morning when the news broke that Tiger were grounded I instantly went ahead and rebooked flights on VA. It was only later in the day that VA offered their special $200pp fares.

I wrote in to VA firstly hoping to change to an earlier flight and then saying that as I had booked before Virgins response to the Tiger grounding was it possible to be refunded the difference between what I had paid and Virgin's offer. I did not expect either, was just asking.

Amazingly VA responded offering a credit, meaning the new fares are at their offer price of $200pp.

I think this is going beyond the call of business but I also understand it is great cheap advertising as that credit obviously has to be spent with VA. I find it amazing that the airlines even offer these deals at all when another airline is affected rather than force people to pay for the very expensive flexi fares at short notice. But I guess they are looking long term and hoping to poach customers.

Hopefully the flight goes well and Virgin have got themselves some new customers.

 

[TheInsider]

Not really going beyond the 'call of duty' since DJ were offering this anyway to anyone.
JQ and QF have also offered special fares too.

 

[travelislife]

It is going beyond because I had already booked and paid for the seats full price, so either way I was travelling on their plane, giving them the dollars, they didn't exactly need to give me a refund/credit back to a price which wasn't even advertised when I booked the tickets, so yes I feel it is!

 

[serfty]

Who copied VA after they started the program....

That's not really relevant to this thread.

It was very good for Virgin Australia to refund the additional over $200 for each PAX - they certainly were under no obligation to do so.

 

[markis10]

That's not really relevant to this thread.

It was very good for Virgin Australia to refund the additional over $200 for each PAX - they certainly were under no obligation to do so.

I agree with Serfty - not relevant, its also good to see someone effecting positive control over their destiny or their family's destiny and not being penalised for doing so in a timely manner!

 

[connieguy]

That's not really relevant to this thread.

It was very good for Virgin Australia to refund the additional over $200 for each PAX - they certainly were under no obligation to do so.

MsPG and I were flying TT Adl/Mel (not my idea, SWMBO suggested we should try to lower our flying cost and try out TT). Did online check-in with just carry on bags. Arrived for the 06:05 flight, went through security and looked at the screens for the gate only to see all the TT flights were Cancelled. Shortly found out what had happened. Next stop was QF service desk. Yes they had 2 seats Adl/Mel at A$375 each. Ouch. Swiped the plastic and away we went. NO mention of special prices.

Do I expect QF to give us a credit now that they are matching the TT fares? No. Why? Because that is now QF work. Did we at least get a Flexi fare and double SCs? No. Just the most expensive one way QF Red-eDeal Adl/Mel ticket I have ever bought. Looks like we should have walked to the DJ service desk instead as spending another A$45 could have bought a DJ Y+ seat.

As for TT, well we received no text or call to inform us that our flight had been cancelled. At least MsPG now understands what a LCC is and what to expect when she complains I spend too much money on our flying.

So DJ way to go.

 

[travelislife]

Do I expect QF to give us a credit now that they are matching the TT fares?

Just to say that neither JQ, QF or DJ offered to match TT fares. What they did offer was standard one way fares which were at reduced prices. Generally $100 to $200 depending on the sector length and availability of seats on flights.

 

[connieguy]

Do I expect QF to give us a credit now that they are matching the TT fares?

Just to say that neither JQ, QF or DJ offered to match TT fares. What they did offer was standard one way fares which were at reduced prices. Generally $100 to $200 depending on the sector length and availability of seats on flights.

No issues there. But A$375 for a Red-eDeal seat Adl/Mel? Had QF opuped us (WP and PG) to J as there were only 2 occupied J seats on that flight and the Y cabin was full of school kids I would have been a happy camper.

At least MsPG knows what a LCC is and why I don't buy many TT tickets. Kicking myself for just automatically walking to the QF service desk now that we have a corp account with DJ. This old dog needs to learn a new trick.

 

[Standby]

MsPG and I were flying TT Adl/Mel (not my idea, SWMBO suggested we should try to lower our flying cost and try out TT). Did online check-in with just carry on bags. Arrived for the 06:05 flight, went through security and looked at the screens for the gate only to see all the TT flights were Cancelled. Shortly found out what had happened. Next stop was QF service desk. Yes they had 2 seats Adl/Mel at A$375 each. Ouch. Swiped the plastic and away we went. NO mention of special prices.

Do I expect QF to give us a credit now that they are matching the TT fares? No. Why? Because that is now QF work. Did we at least get a Flexi fare and double SCs? No. Just the most expensive one way QF Red-eDeal Adl/Mel ticket I have ever bought. Looks like we should have walked to the DJ service desk instead as spending another A$45 could have bought a DJ Y+ seat.

As for TT, well we received no text or call to inform us that our flight had been cancelled. At least MsPG now understands what a LCC is and what to expect when she complains I spend too much money on our flying.

So DJ way to go.

To be fair I assume you got caught up travelling on the first morning of the grounding unlike the original poster which was for a forward date.
On Sat none of the airlines had the cheap fare in place until late morning so your asking for a retrospective refund to a fare that didnt exist at the time rather than a refund of the difference for future travel. The Airport staff gave you what they had. To dismiss QFs customer service without actually contacting them is also a bit unfair. If you sent them the flight details ,a copy of yr TT ITN and identify yrself as a WP how do know they wont take pity on your circumstances and refund the difference as well. They may not as well but you've decided guilt in a one sided way. Also the fare you paid appears to be a high supersaver not a red-e-deal fare which suggests the flight was pretty full. I'm assuming from yr comment you knew the DJ flight had seats to quote the fare difference, you didnt mention that. Sometime petrol is cheaper round the corner, you make a decison based on choice,sometimes you win sometimes not

 

[connieguy]

To be fair I assume you got caught up travelling on the first morning of the grounding unlike the original poster which was for a forward date.
On Sat none of the airlines had the cheap fare in place until late morning so your asking for a retrospective refund to a fare that didnt exist at the time rather than a refund of the difference for future travel. The Airport staff gave you what they had. To dismiss QFs customer service without actually contacting them is also a bit unfair. If you sent them the flight details ,a copy of yr TT ITN and identify yourself as a WP how do know they wont take pity on your circumstances and refund the difference as well. They may not as well but you've decided guilt in a one sided way. Also the fare you paid appears to be a high supersaver not a red-e-deal fare which suggests the flight was pretty full. I'm assuming from yr comment you knew the DJ flight had seats to quote the fare difference, you didn't mention that. Sometime petrol is cheaper round the corner, you make a decision based on choice,sometimes you win sometimes not

Actually I just reacted and walked to the QF desk. I did not even think to check the JQ and DJ prices. I did call QF later and the price I paid is it. I do not expect QF to give me a refund for a lower fare they are now offering. So no pity asked for and none given.

That DJ have decided to do this is, as the title of this thread, says "Beyond the call of duty". But hey they are the new and hungry dog on the block and have shown themselves to be smart enough to know when and how to grab some ground from the old dog. Just like the DJ Priority domestic boarding signs. Brilliant move and straight to a sore point with QF WPs and SGs.

Oh hey VR? How about online seat allocation, especially exit rows, when buying a DJ ticket? JQ and even TT can do this, so why not DJ? QF allows this to happen as well but only after you have bought the ticket and allows WPs / SGs to bag exit rows for nothing.

Anyone like some buttered popcorn?