Virgin forcing me to change my itinerary due to SYD-OOL (via MEL) for SC run

[marcoakis]

As the title says, I received an email from Virgin 'forcing' me to change my itinerary. I've booked SYD-OOL, OOL-SYD (both via MEL) on the same day for a status run.

I called the call centre and got told that the those flights may be cancelled or delayed, however when I do a dummy booking for the same flights are available for purchase. These flights in J yield 100SC each way and were only 13,000 points. The redemption is no longer available.

Reading between the lines it seems like someone messed up with that route and they want to clean the mess.

The call ended up with the lady asking me to wait for the right team to contact me (Clicked the 'Call me' button in the email) as she couldn't tell why they want me to flight non-stop.

I obviously want to keep these bookings as it will get me Gold status.

What are your thoughts? Do I have enough grounds to say that I do want the stopovers and that I'm not going to accept any changes since the original flights are still available?

Email received:

 

[jneufeld]

Re: Virgin forcing me to change my status due to SYD-OOL (via MEL) for SC run

When was your booking scheduled for?

 

[marcoakis]

Re: Virgin forcing me to change my status due to SYD-OOL (via MEL) for SC run

15th February

 

[jneufeld]

Re: Virgin forcing me to change my status due to SYD-OOL (via MEL) for SC run

Take a look at this link, it discusses that very route however does not really answer your question.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/virgin-australia-velocity/new-velocity-status-run-master-46199-9.html#post746689

Personally I would be doing everything in my power to get the booking reinstated. I would suggest an email to upper management asking for an explaination

 

[marcoakis]

Re: Virgin forcing me to change my status due to SYD-OOL (via MEL) for SC run

Take a look at this link, it discusses that very route however does not really answer your question.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/virgin-australia-velocity/new-velocity-status-run-master-46199-9.html#post746689

Personally I would be doing everything in my power to get the booking reinstated. I would suggest an email to upper management asking for an explaination

Have a look at the email I received... I'm keen to hear what their explanation is.

 

[777]

Re: Virgin forcing me to change my status due to SYD-OOL (via MEL) for SC run

Personally I would be doing everything in my power to get the booking reinstated. I would suggest an email to upper management asking for an explaination

Could you just negotiate for original routing SCs? Might be a win-win?

 

[marcoakis]

Re: Virgin forcing me to change my status due to SYD-OOL (via MEL) for SC run

Could you just negotiate for original routing SCs? Might be a win-win?

Perhaps, however I originally thought to stick to my guns and say that I need that itinerary due to business reasons. It seems a much more compelling argument than just for the sake of getting SCs...

 

[moa999]

Re: Virgin forcing me to change my status due to SYD-OOL (via MEL) for SC run

A simple. I picked those flights as am meeting a colleague at MEL airport for an hour should do.

 

[777]

Re: Virgin forcing me to change my status due to SYD-OOL (via MEL) for SC run

Perhaps, however I originally thought to stick to my guns and say that I need that itinerary due to business reasons. It seems a much more compelling argument than just for the sake of getting SCs...

True. That would be an easier sell.

 

[Bolthead]

Re: Virgin forcing me to change my status due to SYD-OOL (via MEL) for SC run

I am no legal expert however I would have thought that you have entered into a legal agreement by them offering you a service (or product) and you accepting and paying, (granted by points) but still a form of tender. I would never use the status run reason however there is no reason why you could not have an airport meeting in Melbourne. (as a reason) I know plenty of people that have flown in and flown out for a quick 15-30 minute meeting. The airlines have the right to cancel flights however to assume that you don't want to visit Melbourne for a valid reason, seems a little odd. I would fight it....

 

[Simo]

Re: Virgin forcing me to change my status due to SYD-OOL (via MEL) for SC run

I would say that you have a meeting in MEL and then have to go to OOL.

If you don't want my booking can you please refund my trip in whole and will rebook with QF and they will not stuff me around like this.

I was doing a BNE-PER trip and had booked via MEL and on the night before got a call and said you will be going direct to PER.

I stood my ground and they said ok we will let you go via MEL.

 

[medhead]

I only looked at the outbound. Firstly it's 15 minutes earlier; first reason, you don't want to get up earlier.

Second reason you have to meet someone in MEL for 15 minutes and drop something off to them.

Edit: what Simo said you have business to do, in each direction.

 

[Jousams]

I have a OOL-MEL-SYD J reward on the 9th of Feb and I have not received an email.

However I had a feeling it was too good to be true.

Remember that to go via Melbourne you paid higher taxes.
So if you were forced to change I would be asking for a refund of some of the taxes.

 

[Jousams]

Personally I would be doing everything in my power to get the booking reinstated. I would suggest an email to upper management asking for an explaination

Just a side note on this, I've found addressing complaints to Keith Miller most effective.

 

[farstar]

Re: Virgin forcing me to change my status due to SYD-OOL (via MEL) for SC run

I have OOL-MEL-SYD booked for the 28th Jan and just saw they have changed it to OOL-SYD and no advice email yet. It is showing the other flight but says Flown in the times of the flights. Guess will need to call today to work out what is happening.

 

[marcoakis]

Re: Virgin forcing me to change my status due to SYD-OOL (via MEL) for SC run

I'll definitely fight it... will keep you guys posted!

 

[marcoakis]

On the phone with VA.

they say the connecting flights are no longer available. The flights are not cancelled, they're just not allowing me to have those flights for that amount of points. The options they've given me:

1) Get a refund
2) book the flights per segment and pay the difference. Which ends up being much more expensive...

On hold to talk to manager...

 

[Jousams]

If this happens to me, it's the final straw.
I'm off to QF

 

[marcoakis]

Velocity manager reported that he has no idea why they're wanting me to take the non-stop flight.

He checked with someone higher up and it seems that it's more of an flight allocation issue. He'll talk with the right people and call me back.

I reckon that flight allocation team is the one who stuffed up...

 

[lovestotravel]

Virgin trying to stop status run!