Virgin Australia launches 'coronavirus status extension' plan

[Inlander]

Just got an email from them stating a 12 month eztension On status in addition to credit gifts

 

[Harthagan]

The birthday status credits pooled across, so its not an automatic no.

I'd say they absolutely would pool. The only thing which doesn't pool across is flight sectors. Even monthly flybuys SCs pool if you have it set up.

 

[Matt_01]

Yes I also received the email so quite happy. Now going OT just for a minute does anyone know if I cancel flights that returns funds to the travel bank can I then rebook to a Flex J class, pay the balance by CC then request a full refund sent to the CC (including the TB funds). My end state would be to take full advantage to the no change fee and cancel the flights and receive the funds back. I will have no need to fly with VA for the next 12 months given this extension.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I'd say they absolutely would pool. The only thing which doesn't pool across is flight sectors. Even monthly flybuys SCs pool if you have it set up.

Indeed they do. I wouldn't say absolutely - it's not impossible they find a way around this, and if I was them I probably would if I could. That's potentially a lot of extra higher tier members to send packs out to.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Yes I also received the email so quite happy. Now going OT just for a minute does anyone know if I cancel flights that returns funds to the travel bank can I then rebook to a Flex J class, pay the balance by CC then request a full refund sent to the CC (including the TB funds). My end state would be to take full advantage to the no change fee and cancel the flights and receive the funds back. I will have no need to fly with VA for the next 12 months given this extension.

And some members were wondering why a 12 month extension wasn't the best idea in the world.

And the answer to your question is, as I'm sure you'll be unsurprised to learn, is no.

6. Cancellation of Eligible Travel bookings
6.1. The information below sets out the specific rules that apply to cancellation of Eligible Travel bookings purchased with travel credits. These are in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

6.2. Whether you are entitled to a refund in connection with a booking purchased with travel credits will be determined by the terms and conditions that apply to that booking, which may include the Virgin Australia Conditions of Carriage, Fare Rules or Virgin Australia Holidays Terms and Conditions.

6.3. Travel credits cannot be exchanged for cash. Where travel credits are used as a form of payment, refunds to original form of payment will result in the travel credits being returned to the same Travel Bank from which the travel credits originated. For example, if you paid for a$200 AUD Virgin Australia flight booking using travel credits and the Fare Rules permit a refund to original form of payment subject to a fee of $80 AUD, then $120 AUD in travel credits will be returned to the Travel Bank used to purchase the flight.

6.4. The Expiry Date of any returned travel credits will revert to the original Expiry Date that applied before the travel credits were used. If the original Expiry Date has passed when the refund occurs, the travel credits have expired and will not be returned to Travel Bank.

 

[Matt_01]

@Must...Fly! thanks, I may now have to work on VA cancelling the flights which may happen.

 

[Harthagan]

Indeed they do. I wouldn't say absolutely - it's not impossible they find a way around this, and if I was them I probably would if I could. That's potentially a lot of extra higher tier members to send packs out to.

True. I should have said *unless explicitly advised otherwise*

Neither offer will affect me directly, but I'll be happy if it keeps them fighting a while longer.

 

[clipped_wings]

Darn, Mr Clipped just soft fell to Gold on the 15th March. He would have stayed Gold for the next 12 months anyway, so this means nothing

 

[Saab34]

Wowsers. That’s a good offer.

 

[Chris82]

Hi All, I'm currently Velocity SG and got the email about the extension, but I have a slightly different dilemma.

I currently have close to 1,500 SC's, with a big chunk of that expiring on August 4th. However, I only have 4 VA sectors completed the last 12 months, hence why I'm not yet Platinum. However, I had 2 separate trips booked in with 4 sectors, in May and June respectively, which would have got me to the eligible sectors requirements to bump up to Platinum. At this stage I still have my flights booked and unchanged....but who knows what could happen in the coming months.

So my concern is more that I'm on the cusp of platinum, so extending status for 12 months doesn't help me, but losing all those SC's in August without flying those sectors would be.

I'm not sure if I should contact VA yet or hold off till it becomes a problem.

 

[SeaWolf]

I'm not sure if I should contact VA yet or hold off till it becomes a problem.

Are they domestic or international?
I've got a trip down to Melbourne planned for the Easter long weekend and I'm holding off on doing anything. Both the flights and the hotel are now flexible right up to the last minute so I'm going to wait and see until a few days beforehand. Who knows how this will all look in a few weeks time? I can cancel to Travel Bank online easily and so I'm happy to just wait and see at this stage.

 

[jpp42]

I'm not sure if I should contact VA yet or hold off till it becomes a problem.

Definitely don't think you'll get a reply from VA on this kind of thing at the moment... there are much more pressing issues given your sectors that would make you eligible aren't until May/June. Eventually they'll have sorted out all the immediate problems due to cancellation of the international flights and reduction of domestic, and they'd have more time to deal with these smaller things.

 

[Harthagan]

I'm not sure if I should contact VA yet or hold off till it becomes a problem.

I'd say hold tight. Calling now would be like getting the fire department to help rescue a cat stuck in a tree while the bushfires are still raging.

 

[BCons]

Definitely don't think you'll get a reply from VA on this kind of thing at the moment... there are much more pressing issues given your sectors that would make you eligible aren't until May/June. Eventually they'll have sorted out all the immediate problems due to cancellation of the international flights and reduction of domestic, and they'd have more time to deal with these smaller things.

VA Manila call Centre is closed, following the quarantining of the metro Manila area. That’s why VA posting mssg saying don’t call until yr flt is 24 hrs away..

 

[Chris82]

Are they domestic or international?
I've got a trip down to Melbourne planned for the Easter long weekend and I'm holding off on doing anything. Both the flights and the hotel are now flexible right up to the last minute so I'm going to wait and see until a few days beforehand. Who knows how this will all look in a few weeks time? I can cancel to Travel Bank online easily and so I'm happy to just wait and see at this stage.

Both are domestic thankfully. BNE-SYD return and BNE-HTI return.

Thanks for the advice all. I'll sit tight for now and hope it works out. As people have mentioned, there are others with far more pressing issues to deal with at the moment.

 

[davidhes]

Well done virgin on coming back with a more friendly mechanism. Means I dont Have to stress about losing my gold now and can continue to support them when things start to return to normal. Which hopefully is sooner rather than later...

 

[Matt_01]

I'd say hold tight. Calling now would be like getting the fire department to help rescue a cat stuck in a tree while the bushfires are still raging.

But what if @Chris82 really likes his cat.

 

[PaulllM]

I'd say hold tight. Calling now would be like getting the fire department to help rescue a cat stuck in a tree while the bushfires are still raging.

Spot on, I had to call today to cancel a flight I had tomorrow and you wont get past the triage operator before your call is re routed upstairs over Velocity issues. Hold tight and wait for things to settle down, I'd be surprised if aren't sympathetic to your situation.

 

[wendlle]

So am I correct in assuming that even though we get a status extension, any credits we have will still expire?

I'm set to hit Gold in May when we travel to QLD but I doubt we are going, which means if I don't fly by July I'll have lost my chance to upgrade as I will lose a heap of SC then and won't recover them by the time the extension is over as I have reward flights booked which won't earn me any.
I'm currently 100 SC away from upgrading and am at Silver, the 60 they give me won't be enough sadly.

 

[zig]

I haven't received either email from VA. I actually never receive emails from VA. I have checked my profile and all the options under communication preferences are selected. When the world settles down again I will give them a call to check on this.
I just qualified as Platinum early this month, so not sure if I will benefit from this or not.