How do I FORCE VAA web site to use a specific fare code

Getting absolutely exasperated trying to specify miles-upgradable M and S fares for return flights to Chicago and Washington, only for the VAA web site to randomly change them EVERY time to non-upgradable fares. Flying club can force the use of the fares I'm looking for, but I can't spend all day and night on the phone to the flying club with them manually trying every permutation that I SHOULD be able to try on the web site.

Does anyone know if there's a way of FORCING the VAA web site to use the codes I want (given the FC staff can type them in on-the-fly so to speak) ? Getting thoroughly fed up with the rubbish VAA web site logic. To be fair the FC staff are fed up with the same problems.

I'm looking to spend probably around a couple of thousand GBP but I'm on the verge of going to another airline! n(

You could select specific fare codes up until a few weeks ago but unfortunately it no longer seems to be possible - as you say, if you select an M or an S it just throws back another fare code.

Whether it's a fault or a deliberate policy, who knows - but agreed, it's highly frustrating. Don't rule out calling FC though - I've always found them extremely patient and amenable, even when trying out various different fare permutations.

You could select specific fare codes up until a few weeks ago but unfortunately it no longer seems to be possible - as you say, if you select an M or an S it just throws back another fare code.

Whether it's a fault or a deliberate policy, who knows - but agreed, it's highly frustrating. Don't rule out calling FC though - I've always found them extremely patient and amenable, even when trying out various different fare permutations.

As above, I've tried ringing, but as soon as one pair of fares fails (i.e. the reality of the ACTUAL fare price becomes apparent) it's not realistic to come up (as I want to) with other destination or fare combinations on the spot - THAT's the point of a web site - well it SHOULD be anyway ?| ?

Just been through the same, was asking for M's and was throwing up non upgradable O's. You'd think that if the weren't any M's it would move up rather than down.

Ended up phoning and was quoted £891 plus 35000 miles to upgrade to upper outbound premium inbound pp or a combi fare using miles for outbound in upper and paying for premium (still in the sale) for £659 return including the outbound taxes.

Crazy that you can't get that option on their website but instead have to sit on the phone for 10 mins.

Anyway, one booked maybe another one to go before the sale finishes at midnight ):

David. y)

Virgin's booking site really lacks a lot of options. I called to see the specifics of Economy/PE upgrades - and was quoted various prices/options - but I get nervous about agreeing to anything before comparing (and being anal retentive about it).

The website basically offers the "cheapest" rates, and the most expensive - everything else in-between seems to be "call us" only.

Hopefully they change the setup soon.

The website basically offers the "cheapest" rates, and the most expensive - everything else in-between seems to be "call us" only.

Up until a few weeks (probably months actually ii) ) ago it was possible to specify fare class.

Unsurprisingly, the colossal system glitch robbing us of our upgrade options has yet to be fixed - VS IT are clearly busy elsewhere.. minesweeper will not play itself after all

Interesting - I never noticed the option before. I guess I was always fixated on the cheapest options

Unsurprisingly, the colossal system glitch robbing us of our upgrade options has yet to be fixed - VS IT are clearly busy elsewhere.. minesweeper will not play itself after all

I'm hopeful that VS will ditch the whole thing and replatform onto whatever Delta uses, with a bit of VS cover gloss (bright red of course). SRB should spend 10 mins trying to book a flight with options, then compare to other well designed websites, and then act ...

It is standard that you must contact Flying Club for this reward. It is deliberate as VS do not want passengers to be able to purchase upgradeable fares for the upgrades to potentially not be available. I'm sure you would be rather annoyed if you spent the extra on M or S class fares and then told Upper is full.

Hopefully with Deltas great IT they could change this in the future but the above is what you have to do for now.

It is standard that you must contact Flying Club for this reward. It is deliberate as VS do not want passengers to be able to purchase upgradeable fares for the upgrades to potentially not be available.

? That didn't used to be the case
- you could buy the upgradeable tickets through this search facility.

Besides, even if they didn't want to let you buy them, they could still restore the ability to search for them just so you could price up your options! It's poor that it has just stopped working.

I can only think the booking aspect you mention was removed as a direct reaction to 'issues' arising from what I mentioned previously.

The pricing tool was handy however. Maybe it will make a return but it has been a while since the page was updated...

I can only think the booking aspect you mention was removed as a direct reaction to 'issues' arising from what I mentioned previously.

The pricing tool was handy however. Maybe it will make a return but it has been a while since the page was updated...

I am afraid you are incorrect, the ability to search for these type of fares [M,S,W etc] has been around for years without any problems, this stopped working about 6 weeks ago -- these fare classes are not purely sold as upgradable, they are sold as more flexible fares, allowing changes etc.
In fact the tool has not been removed, you can still search for flexible fares but the site is currently defaulting to non flexible fares.
I am indebted to at240 for recently recommending the ITA matrix -- shows flexible/upgradable ability.

I presume it is a glitch as FC itself appears to struggle to find S's for me at the moment, I have also noticed alterations to the spend miles pages in the last few weeks.

It must be costing VS money as it makes potential passengers look at other options, yesterday I looked at UC availability to Shanghai 6th May -13th May for 2 passengers
My options:
No upgradable fares available from VS site, searching for an S defaults to H @ £1,114.00[I could upgrade this using Flying Co miles]
S fares are available via ITA matrix for £1,315
Gs are available @ 100,000 miles + £577 fees, surcharges etc
UC available [I] via VS website for £4,947
Amsterdam trick --- £1,490 UC [Z]

What would you do? -- A night out in Amsterdam, followed by BA business early morning and six hours in LHR clubhouse sounds mighty tempting considering there is two of us --- I have never seen the Amsterdam originated flights on this route at such a low price!

I can only think the booking aspect you mention was removed as a direct reaction to 'issues' arising from what I mentioned previously.

The pricing tool was handy however. Maybe it will make a return but it has been a while since the page was updated...

I am afraid you are incorrect, the ability to search for these type of fares [M,S,W etc] has been around for years without any problems, this stopped working about 6 weeks ago -- these fare classes are not purely sold as upgradable, they are sold as more flexible fares, allowing changes etc.
In fact the tool has not been removed, you can still search for flexible fares but the site is currently defaulting to non flexible fares.
I am indebted to at240 for recently recommending the ITA matrix -- shows flexible/upgradable ability.

I presume it is a glitch as FC itself appears to struggle to find S's for me at the moment, I have also noticed alterations to the spend miles pages in the last few weeks.

It must be costing VS money as it makes potential passengers look at other options, yesterday I looked at UC availability to Shanghai 6th May -13th May for 2 passengers
My options:
No upgradable fares available from VS site, searching for an S defaults to H @ £1,114.00[I could upgrade this using Flying Co miles]
S fares are available via ITA matrix for £1,315
Gs are available @ 100,000 miles + £577 fees, surcharges etc
UC available [I] via VS website for £4,947
Amsterdam trick --- £1,490 UC [Z]

What would you do? -- A night out in Amsterdam, followed by BA business early morning and six hours in LHR clubhouse sounds mighty tempting considering there is two of us --- I have never seen the Amsterdam originated flights on this route at such a low price!

Where on the ITA Matrix site does it allow you to see/show "flexible/upgradable ability" for VAA fares? That's what I need.

Where on the ITA Matrix site does it allow you to see/show "flexible/upgradable ability" for VAA fares? That's what I need.

Hi vizbiz,
Its extremely complicated first time, click on the help icon [upper right] for a guide to the site, also google how to "enter fare code into ITA matrix" eventually you will find them.

Good luck!

John

I am afraid you are incorrect, the ability to search for these type of fares [M,S,W etc] has been around for years without any problems, this stopped working about 6 weeks ago -- these fare classes are not purely sold as upgradable, they are sold as more flexible fares, allowing changes etc.
In fact the tool has not been removed, you can still search for flexible fares but the site is currently defaulting to non flexible fares.
I am indebted to at240 for recently recommending the ITA matrix -- shows flexible/upgradable ability.

I presume it is a glitch as FC itself appears to struggle to find S's for me at the moment, I have also noticed alterations to the spend miles pages in the last few weeks.

It must be costing VS money as it makes potential passengers look at other options, yesterday I looked at UC availability to Shanghai 6th May -13th May for 2 passengers
My options:
No upgradable fares available from VS site, searching for an S defaults to H @ £1,114.00[I could upgrade this using Flying Co miles]
S fares are available via ITA matrix for £1,315
Gs are available @ 100,000 miles + £577 fees, surcharges etc
UC available [I] via VS website for £4,947
Amsterdam trick --- £1,490 UC [Z]

Ok I stand corrected, i'm sure you perhaps book these tickets more often than I do. I need you to however educate me on something and where the glitch in the system is. I promise you I am not playing devils advocate here but having worked in travel and now IT these things intrigue me.

So I go online and book your PVG itinerary. The VS matrix offers me PE lowest which falls into H class as this is the 'lowest fare'. The second coloumn is Flexible which gives me the W class. Now you and I want S class which is between W and H. S class is neither the lowest fare available on this flight in Premium (W,S,H,K) nor is it the most flexible as it is still non-refundable and attracts change fees. So where is this glitch you speak of? As I say not creating a debate just trying to understand 'consumer perceptions' we shall call it

From my IT perspective the system is offering you exactly what it says on the tin the lowest or the most flexible any deviation you need to call.

if you go to the VS webpage, flying club - spend miles -upgrade/companion flights

there is a tool to select a search by the fare class you are looking for, but it currently isnt working properly

[From my IT perspective the system is offering you exactly what it says on the tin the lowest or the most flexible any deviation you need to call.

The problem here is that a H fare is non-upgradeable with miles, a S fare is, whereas a W is of course the most expensive option. What we all want to do is be able to select the upgradeable fare option (M being the lowest cost economy ticket, S in premium) and then see if a miles upgrade is available.

Yes the site offers the cheapest and the most expensive, but have a look at the fare codes section under 'Toolbox' on this site and see how many they are and how many differences in rules there are. The problem is VS doesn't currently offer this flexibility online, it used to, and most decent airlines offer a much better online service.

Penny_L » 24 Apr 2014, 12:04

if you go to the VS webpage spend miles -upgrade/companion flights

there is a tool to select a search by the fare class you are looking for, but it currently isnt working properly

Got ya!! I had to dig to find that search tool in the old site as when I select upgrades it defaults to the newer site with just the mileage table. Now it kind of makes sense. I think I need to get a job with VS IT this website is further gone than I thought. :0 Thanks for all input. I'll stick to the phone for now y)

Where on the ITA Matrix site does it allow you to see/show "flexible/upgradable ability" for VAA fares? That's what I need.

This thread may help you:

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