Virgin Flyer 2-For-1

[medhead]

Just wanted to share my experience about buying a two-for-one ticket, and like some here it was a bit hit and miss.
I wanted to book MEL-SYD and when I rang the call centre in the morning I was told all available flights between 7pm and 9pm were the same price $180-odd dollars, including taxes. This was despite a variety of saver fares at that time ranging between $125 and $155. I said I would think about it.
I then rang back in the evening and this time asked them to go through each flight between 7pm and 9pm and got a range of different prices that reflected the website saver price.
In the end I decided on the $125 saver fare for my two-for-one and was told I had to pay taxes for both passengers. This was a new policy, they said. There was an amnesty but that was over and under Sabre they are charging both lots of taxes. I said prior bookings I did last year did not feature this policy and she said that was correct, the policy has changed.
So the $125 saver fare became $141 for the two-for-one, and that became $156 after the $7.70 credit card booking fee per person, per booking, was added.
While disappointed at having to pay taxes twice, despite the Virgin Money terms and conditions, I was at least pleased to get the lowest saver fare as the basis for determining my two-for-one fare.

That is absolutely wrong. The terms and conditions clearly say you don't have to pay the taxes twice. I would call back about having the second lot of taxes refunded. At the very least feedback is required to re-educate that phone agent.

 

[bcworld]

That is absolutely wrong. The terms and conditions clearly say you don't have to pay the taxes twice. I would call back about having the second lot of taxes refunded. At the very least feedback is required to re-educate that phone agent.

Exactly. Sabre does what Sabre does but a competent agent will override the charging of 2 x taxes. And give feedback to Virgin Money...in my experience they will be keen to compensate you!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Does it never end? I was under the impression the double taxes bit was resolved by VM.....ie- no double taxes. It's enough to make you scream. Wasn't there a newsletter bulletin or something to that effect recently, clarifying the taxes?

 

[bcworld]

Does it never end? I was under the impression the double taxes bit was resolved by VM.....ie- no double taxes. It's enough to make you scream. Wasn't there a newsletter bulletin or something to that effect recently, clarifying the taxes?

My general feeling is that many staff are simply scared to to override Sabre, in many areas, for fear that something goes wrong! I flew MEL-ADL-DPS, 8 days ago (no points posted as yet either) and despite row 3 being available I could not get a staff member willing to move me there. The lounge agent was embarrassed to say yes it's free but I can't move you because with the 'new robotic system' it will play havoc with the boarding zones. Similar story at the gate...yes it's free, no sorry we can't do it. When the doors closed 3D-F was empty. I think Sabre issues are far from resolved.

 

[goingboeing]

Has anyone ever been able to successfully change a Flex or Business fare within 21 days of travel before? I can't see anywhere in the T&Cs that it excludes this; only that original booking must be at least 21 days in advance.

Trying to change times to an earlier flight on the same day as originally booked is like pulling teeth!!

 

[Lizzi]

Yes, in December we were on holidays when our dearly loved canine member of the family passed away and I rang Virgin to change our flights from the next day to that day, and while it took some shuffling around, they managed to move our 2for1 flexis which had been upgraded with points to business, to the next flight that day with no penalties.

Then again more recently I tried to change flexi flights four months in the future and was told that I needed to pay a fare increase as well as a change fee (on a flexi!) because I had to ring the call centre since the My Bookings page wasn't working for me.

Has anyone ever been able to successfully change a Flex or Business fare within 21 days of travel before? I can't see anywhere in the T&Cs that it excludes this; only that original booking must be at least 21 days in advance.

Trying to change times to an earlier flight on the same day as originally booked is like pulling teeth!!

 

[samas]

I made my first booking last month for Travel in May.
I have made a one-way flight booking from ADL to PER.
On my velocity benefits page it had deducted 2 "complimentary domestic flights every year".
Technically I have only received one complimentary domestic flight as it's one sector for two pax.

Before I contact Velocity to get my number changed to 3 just want to check that I am thinking the right thing..
I suspect they usually book return flights so my one-way was not a regular request and hence why 2 flights were actually deducted.

 

[oz_mark]

I suspect they usually book return flights so my one-way was not a regular request and hence why 2 flights were actually deducted.

Maybe they do usually book return, but I have booked several one ways successfully in the past and only had one deducted per flight.

 

[samas]

Maybe they do usually book return, but I have booked several one ways successfully in the past and only had one deducted per flight.

sweet, sending them an email now

 

[bcworld]

sweet, sending them an email now

Good luck with that. I have been battling them via email since early March over this.

It's a new bug to add to the 2 for 1 problem list. I booked a simple MEL-BNE-MEL and had 6 flights deducted taking my balance to -2! Today my balance is still -2!

 

[Sojourner]

Virgin Money recently called me to tell me my card had been compromised. They couldn't say how they identified this as I wanted to know if it was a particular merchant I had made a purchase from - as they had confirmed that there was no unauthorised transactions on my card. The new card has been issued, with a NEW credit card number. So what's happened is that the old CC number that was linked to my velocity account has been deleted, but not yet updated with this new one.

It says "Complimentary domestic flights every year*-12 remaining" The complimentary domestic flight came under a promo when I first signed up. The 241 offer doesn't appear anywhere and all my previous bookings under the 241 offer have now come under the comp flight one.. hence the -12 remaining.


Complimentary domestic flights every year*-12 remaining

 

[medhead]

I made my first booking last month for Travel in May.
I have made a one-way flight booking from ADL to PER.
On my velocity benefits page it had deducted 2 "complimentary domestic flights every year".
Technically I have only received one complimentary domestic flight as it's one sector for two pax.

Before I contact Velocity to get my number changed to 3 just want to check that I am thinking the right thing..
I suspect they usually book return flights so my one-way was not a regular request and hence why 2 flights were actually deducted.


View attachment 15017

Was it a direct non-stop booking?

 

[bcworld]

Was it a direct non-stop booking?

Mine was... Didn't stop them taking 3 flights per sector. I think it's a variant of the double charging issue that no one from VA is allowed to talk about.

 

[Jama]

I currently have -16. I should have 2. As a result a family trip I need to get booked is going up in price whilst I wait. If I don't use them for this trip then they will expire later in the year unused.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I currently have -16. I should have 2. As a result a family trip I need to get booked is going up in price whilst I wait. If I don't use them for this trip then they will expire later in the year.

And whiltst you lot are showing minus balances, mine shows absolutely nothing....like it doesn't exist, whereas I actually have 1 left. What a shambles.

 

[samas]

Was it a direct non-stop booking?

Yep, it was. (although I'd be happy if it wasn't direct to get the additional SC

 

[smit0847]

My balance has now been reset to 0.

 

[LonePine]

We have only had the card for about 6 weeks now and made our first two41 last weekend. We are going ADL MEL return on the same day.

Called the contact centre and despite having to spell my name a couple of times (I have a really simple anglo name LOL), the booking was done in around 20 minutes.

I booked saver lite fares, in fact they were offered and I didn't have to ask! The fares were not sale and came up at $99 each(so 4 times would have been $396). Ended up costing $206.70 in total. Very happy with my first experience.

The fares came through as SZDA. The e ticket says the fare is calculated s 50% of the SZDA fare

no problems so far!!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I note the VM site seems to have changed their T&Cs:

It now reads:

"The complimentary seat is worked out by giving you a 50% discount off the total fare (including taxes payable for both guests) and booking and service fees (excluding Guest Contact Centre fees) apply to both Guests and are not discounted"

which indicates the taxes are added for BOTH pax but also leaves it open for VA to add some sort of booking fee. Add that to the non-sale fare existing rule and it really does seem to logically exclude anything other than flexi (for J upgrade) and J outright purchases. Buying Y would now seem pointless if VA apply the full charges as per the new T&Cs (especially if a sale fare can be had for the desired time).

 

[bcworld]

I note the VM site seems to have changed their T&Cs:

It now reads:

"The complimentary seat is worked out by giving you a 50% discount off the total fare (including taxes payable for both guests) and booking and service fees (excluding Guest Contact Centre fees) apply to both Guests and are not discounted"

which indicates the taxes are added for BOTH pax but also leaves it open for VA to add some sort of booking fee. Add that to the non-sale fare existing rule and it really does seem to logically exclude anything other than flexi (for J upgrade) and J outright purchases. Buying Y would now seem pointless if VA apply the full charges as per the new T&Cs (especially if a sale fare can be had for the desired time).

50% off the total fare including taxes for both guests is exactly the way it has always worked so there is no change there. If VA start adding the GCC fee then that really would be a deal killer.