Virgin Flyer 2-For-1 - Significant negative changes from Dec 1

[blingy90]

My scenario was....

I had to cancel a fare, previously I had enquired as to wether you could use travel bank to pay for a 2-4-1 sale and was told NO. That did not bother me, as bcworld stated, it is part of the T&Cs.
I then called back and proceeded to cancel my fare, when the agent begun explaining travel bank, I requested that I would have the fare refunded onto my CC. The agent enquired as to why I would want to do that over travel bank. I explained my situation ie. I was wanting to book a 2-4-1 using the refunded amount and was told travel bank was not accepted for that. She then told me I was incorrect and that travel bank was an accepted form of payment for 2-4-1. I made sure that the conversation was recorded before cancelling. I then called back, got a new agent, and at no point did I have to fight or make an effort to use the travel bank.

Take it for what it is worth, but no dramas experienced by me in using travel bank for 2-4-1 bookings.

Bummer.



But wait......



Well, that's interesting. I will be arguing that the cancelled 2-4-1 should have gone back to my CC and therefore I should be able to use the amount that they credited to my Travel Bank.

 

[robd]

My scenario was....

I had to cancel a fare, previously I had enquired as to wether you could use travel bank to pay for a 2-4-1 sale and was told NO. That did not bother me, as bcworld stated, it is part of the T&Cs.
I then called back and proceeded to cancel my fare, when the agent begun explaining travel bank, I requested that I would have the fare refunded onto my CC. The agent enquired as to why I would want to do that over travel bank. I explained my situation ie. I was wanting to book a 2-4-1 using the refunded amount and was told travel bank was not accepted for that. She then told me I was incorrect and that travel bank was an accepted form of payment for 2-4-1. I made sure that the conversation was recorded before cancelling. I then called back, got a new agent, and at no point did I have to fight or make an effort to use the travel bank.

Take it for what it is worth, but no dramas experienced by me in using travel bank for 2-4-1 bookings.

How long ago was this?

 

[blingy90]

19th of June

 

[robd]

19th of June

Just checked my Travel Bank and will have to use the credit card for a small portion of the payment. I'll get on to booking soon and report back.

 

[blingy90]

Should be fine!
I was going to say....my payment was made up of travel bank and cc.
Not sure how you would go trying to make a payment for a 2-4-1 using travel bank alone?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I guess it's a YMMV scenario

Or perhaps a "never look a gift horse in the mouth" scenario!

I must admit, I asked (not so very long ago) if I could use 2-4-1 BNE-AKL and was told yes. Not T&C compliant and I never did persue it (partly because I doubted I would be ultimately successful and partly because the prices I got cash were absolute ball-tearers) but it seems with the 2-4-1s, a lot of latitude is available to the booking person and a lot seems to rest with their knowledge rather than the computer............maybe!

 

[goingboeing]

Heard from a colleague who dumped their 2For1 recently that on the final closure statement, the last page of the statement had all of the 2For1 offer change notification detail which is why they cancelled the card. Better late than never Virgin Money - classic timing

 

[Nic01]

Oh no!!
I just checked my statement to find this info - this was one of the very few reasons why I had this credit card!

At the time it also the best card to have in terms of earning point potential - or there any other credit card linked to Velocity? Or one that offers rewards as this use to?

 

[bcworld]

Oh no!!
I just checked my statement to find this info - this was one of the very few reasons why I had this credit card!

At the time it also the best card to have in terms of earning point potential - or there any other credit card linked to Velocity? Or one that offers rewards as this use to?

You won't find any card as generous as this one...even with the new T&Cs.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

You won't find any VISA card as generous as this one...even with the new T&Cs.

minor correction

 

[Nic01]

minor correction

Ahh.. ok, i just finished comparing the NAB Velocity card & its VISA only offers 0.5 points per $1 spent or if you go platinum, AMEX offers 1.5 points for every dollar (which is actually better then Virgin Money @ 1.25 points per $) - NAB Premium CC fee is $150 compared to Virgin 'uncapped' card at $289 - but you do get those 4 x free flights..

OR/AND you could go with NAB premium for the points (& use AMEX where accepted & no surcharge) & downgrade the Virgin card to $129 annual fee. Surely there would still be a benifit of those free flights?

On another note, changes to for 2 for 1 flight offer, that would be disadvanting those who book the higher classes?
Along with an extra 9 days notice, with one generally is flying economy, the only change is the extra taxes for 1 individual? Say, SYD - ADL , base fare is $89 & taxes are $30, you would still save $89 x 4 = $356 per year (- $129 annual fee = $227)? Or am i calculating this all wrong?

 

[bcworld]

On another note, changes to for 2 for 1 flight offer, that would be disadvanting those who book the higher classes?
Along with an extra 9 days notice, with one generally is flying economy, the only change is the extra taxes for 1 individual? Say, SYD - ADL , base fare is $89 & taxes are $30, you would still save $89 x 4 = $356 per year (- $129 annual fee = $227)? Or am i calculating this all wrong?

That's about the minimum you'd save. I try not to use my 2 for 1's for the cheapest flights and instead use them when the base fare is significantly higher than that...Friday night, public holidays etc..

 

[Nic01]

That's about the minimum you'd save. I try not to use my 2 for 1's for the cheapest flights and instead use them when the base fare is significantly higher than that...Friday night, public holidays etc..

Ah, makes sense! I guess we tend to use them for the first 4 x fligths that come up! (unless more travel is planned then we pick & choose) but i hadn't thought of it that way.

In the 'old' system (ie. still current until Dec) are the Business Saver fares included? i could only see that the Sale fares are excluded....
I generally only book economy, but this may be enough reason to splurge to Business for our Honeymoon!

 

[bcworld]

In the 'old' system (ie. still current until Dec) are the Business Saver fares included? i could only see that the Sale fares are excluded....
I generally only book economy, but this may be enough reason to splurge to Business for our Honeymoon!

Yes Business Saver is included, but not I class, which is effectively a business sale fare...these will sometimes show up in the business saver column but unlike the pre-Sabre days there is no online indication that it is a sale fare. Hence a lot of confusion.

 

[medhead]

Attempted to cancel. Offered a balance transfer at 0% for 12 months. Fairly attractive as I save about 5% on cash held in my offset account.

 

[smit0847]

Re: Virgin Flyer 2-For-1

There are not going to be that many routes from Dec 1 where it is cheaper to book a 'new' 2-4-1 Saver (ie reduced fare) than a sale Saver fare (of which you can book as many as you like, and do it online).

As I use this offer primarily for ADL, HBA, SYD and BNE hops from MEL I will likely book my 4 before December to get it under the current conditions and then probably cancel the card.

I'm not sure how they are going to try and market the offer to new customers as it doesn't take a genius to work out there's very little value in it.

 

[Nic01]

Yes Business Saver is included, but not I class, which is effectively a business sale fare...these will sometimes show up in the business saver column but unlike the pre-Sabre days there is no online indication that it is a sale fare. Hence a lot of confusion.

Sorry, what is pre-Sabre?
I will give them a call to find out whether the fares I'm looking at are I class. If not, booking 2 x Business Class fares via the 2 for 1 is only $150 more expensive than Qantas' economy. Would def be a nice way to end a honeymoon!

 

[medhead]

Yes Business Saver is included, but not I class, which is effectively a business sale fare...these will sometimes show up in the business saver column but unlike the pre-Sabre days there is no online indication that it is a sale fare. Hence a lot of confusion.

The fare conditions at the bottom actually show the fare code. An 'S' on the end of that fare code generally indicates its a sale fare.

Sorry, what is pre-Sabre?
!

Before VA moved to the Sabre GDS computer system thingy earlier this year.

 

[Nic01]

The fare conditions at the bottom actually show the fare code. An 'S' on the end of that fare code generally indicates its a sale fare.


Ok - I called to tripled check the class & I was told that it is eligible for the 2 for 1 flights.


Now for the big question (SYD-ADL)

Either fly economy on Qantas, will have AA membership so have access to the Q lounge

OR

for an extra $150 (total for 2 pax) fly Virgin Business class

I've never flown business class, & unsure whether it's worth it for such a short flight.

Would it be worth it?

 

[medhead]

Adl-syd is ok for business class with about 1.5 hour flying time. Generally you get time to enjoy the seat and the service. Catering on VA can be a bit hit and miss, but there is usually something I'm happy to have. You should get a pre-meal drink.

Value is a question only you can answer.