Virgin Flyer 2-For-1

[Jama]

There is 1 of you so you get to select 1 other person. (it's 2 for 1, not 3 for 1)

 

[Fifa]

I phoned to book a 2 for 1 fare today.
Saver Lite was $109 & Saver was $119. I was quoted $158.96 plus credit card fees x 2 (Total = $174.56).

I queried the price and was told the Saver Lite fare I was seeing on-line was a sale fare so was not valid. I asked where the agent was seeing that it was a sale fare. She replied that it just was a sale fare and told me to look under the "Fare Rules" and I replied that I still could not see that it was a sale fare. After much to-ing and fro-ing and being put on hold a few times the agent told me her supervisor would call me back.

Approx 20 mins later the same agent called and booked the Saver Lite for a total of $124.40.
I wonder how many people pay more than they should because they don't stick to their guns (or read AFF!)?

 

[Sojourner]

I suspect the agent did not halve the taxes. Happened to me twice, where the fare quoted was significantly higher than the non-sale fare available on the internet. My understanding is that the call centre staff have to manually calculate it - "just one moment while I calculate this"... then I could hear the number being typed into a calculator, the agent mumbling to herself.. "and then divide by two.." from the mumbles I heard, they have to divide the fare by two and then the taxes by two, then add the two together... manual process is not ideal.

 

[aupirate]

I phoned to book a 2 for 1 fare today.
Saver Lite was $109 & Saver was $119. I was quoted $158.96 plus credit card fees x 2 (Total = $174.56).

I queried the price and was told the Saver Lite fare I was seeing on-line was a sale fare so was not valid. I asked where the agent was seeing that it was a sale fare. She replied that it just was a sale fare and told me to look under the "Fare Rules" and I replied that I still could not see that it was a sale fare. After much to-ing and fro-ing and being put on hold a few times the agent told me her supervisor would call me back.

Approx 20 mins later the same agent called and booked the Saver Lite for a total of $124.40.
I wonder how many people pay more than they should because they don't stick to their guns (or read AFF!)?

Yes they have problems, last time I booked 2 4 1 they had to call me back the next day with the correct fare value which I had already given to them.

 

[Fifa]

I suspect the agent did not halve the taxes. Happened to me twice, where the fare quoted was significantly higher than the non-sale fare available on the internet. My understanding is that the call centre staff have to manually calculate it - "just one moment while I calculate this"... then I could hear the number being typed into a calculator, the agent mumbling to herself.. "and then divide by two.." from the mumbles I heard, they have to divide the fare by two and then the taxes by two, then add the two together... manual process is not ideal.

Thanks for the clarification.
You've got to wonder how many people pay the increased price :shock: (quite a little money earner!)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Thanks for the clarification.
You've got to wonder how many people pay the increased price :shock: (quite a little money earner!)

Which is why I'm letting these cards go. It's too much effort to make a small saving. If you look at the figures, even though the GCC staff member may have been correct about the saver lite being a sale fare, wouldn't there also be non-sale saver lite fares and that the savers were also available (or were these sale as well) and did she forget to halve the taxes or jump straight to a flexi fare? Too many variables, unknowns and T&Cs for my liking, but most importantly.......too much time wasted trying to do the deal without being ripped off. I say that not out of anger, but from experience with ALL my 2-4-1 bookings to date (6). All have been a debate-fest over what price should be paid.

In Fifas example, if the original figure proposed was the soon-to-be correct figure that won't halve taxes, then the saving over just booking the 2 x saver lites is $43. If repeated over the 4 x 2-4-1s, that'd save $173. The card (cheapest) is $110 (?) so a net saving of about $65. That's not enough to make it worthwhile for me.

 

[tm.smile]

In Fifas example, if the original figure proposed was the soon-to-be correct figure that won't halve taxes, then the saving over just booking the 2 x saver lites is $43. If repeated over the 4 x 2-4-1s, that'd save $173. The card (cheapest) is $110 (?) so a net saving of about $65. That's not enough to make it worthwhile for me.

Don't forget the mandatory credit card surcharge at $7.70 a pop. Purchasing tickets on expedia.com (US) ends up being about 10% cheaper than the price on VA's website anyway, even factoring currency conversion fees and the like. Makes the saving even less. Credit card fee is $129.

 

[bcworld]

In Fifas example, if the original figure proposed was the soon-to-be correct figure that won't halve taxes, then the saving over just booking the 2 x saver lites is $43. If repeated over the 4 x 2-4-1s, that'd save $173. The card (cheapest) is $110 (?) so a net saving of about $65. That's not enough to make it worthwhile for me.

The card fee is $129 now I think.

As ever, it depends on the example.

One that sticks out for me is we booked MEL-OOL-MEL around Melbourne cup time...even months out the return saver fare was c. $420. In this case we'd still be looking at a very substantial saving under the new rules.

I always tend to use the 2 for 1s for peak time travel...like the above, or Fri - Sun weekends. If you don't do enough travel that you won't find appropriate non sale fare available flights to use it on then the card probably doesn't make sense.

 

[Fifa]

I'm seriously thinking of giving up the card.
With some savvy route planning, I can pay full price for flexi tickets, family pool, avoid the credit card fee and maintain Gold again next year.

 

[Moopere]

Don't forget the mandatory credit card surcharge at $7.70 a pop. Purchasing tickets on expedia.com (US) ends up being about 10% cheaper than the price on VA's website anyway, even factoring currency conversion fees and the like. Makes the saving even less. Credit card fee is $129.

I keep forgetting to do this. Just priced a PER-SYD return on the VA site for2 pax at AUD$1131.40 inc CC fee. Same flight numbers same dates on expedia USA is AUD$1063 including conversion + Amex forex = $68 saved.

 

[Jama]

Maybe VA need a best price guarantee on their own flights when purchased direct.

 

[tm.smile]

Maybe VA need a best price guarantee on their own flights when purchased direct.

I really dont don't mind as you can triple dip and earn expedia rewards, extra cc points on some cards as international spend and velocity points.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I'm seriously thinking of giving up the card.

Cancelled mine during the week - Cruiserette has retained hers so can still get 4 x 2 4 1 if want - used only 1 last 12mths so kinda think not much point having 8 up the sleeve.

 

[grubbidok]

I wonder if VA simply made flights booked using this card eligible for waiver of the $7.70 booking fee all would be forgiven?

I can't understand why Jetstar, Easyjet and pretty much every other Ultra-LCC can have a branded card that you can use and avoid the CC fee when booking, but not VA. I find it odd that the flagship VA card doesn't offer this opportunity and is treated like any other when booking a flight - you don't even get bonus points for VA spend!

 

[Moopere]

I've vacillated on this card for ages but can't seem to put together a good case for gaining it. I see the current incarnation only allows 2-4-1 purchases on the cheapest tickets, no longer flexi or business which I'm sure is different from earlier offers. There seems very little incentive to go for the high flyer version with only mediocre higher points earn and the Flyer version requires 5K spend in 3 months go gain the last tranche of bonus points which itself requires one to spend past the 1500$ a month limit to gain full points earn.

All in all, it just doesn't seem to be leaping off the page screaming "take me home"

 

[ksthommo]

I wonder if VA simply made flights booked using this card eligible for waiver of the $7.70 booking fee all would be forgiven?

No bonus velocity points when you book Virgin Flights with the card is another negative.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

All in all, it just doesn't seem to be leaping off the page screaming "take me home"

When the changes come in, it will be just another card. It'll suit some, but not others. As a replacement, I've been looking at the David Jones AMEX (I have another M/card for non-AMEX retailers) which gives 3 points per $ on lots of every day purchases. Include a one for one point transfer to VS and it looks more useful than the VA high flyer card (although mine runs out in Oct. so I'm still debating another years renewal and promptly booking some holidays with it in flexi and upgrade)

 

[cssaus]

......I've been looking at the David Jones AMEX (I have another M/card for non-AMEX retailers) which gives 3 points per $ on lots of every day purchases. Include a one for one point transfer to VS and it looks more useful than the VA high flyer card....

Which mastercard is that?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Which mastercard is that?

It's not a David Jones M/Card, it's a Westpac Altitude. The three points I referred to was for the AMEX. Sorry if that created confusion!

 

[Saab34]

Anyone tried the whole "Comfort Seat" option with the 2 for 1 lately? Been a year since I have done this.