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Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 22 Mar 2010, 17:12
by maz
What are the rules about cancelling a reward flight please? Can you rebook? Do you lose the taxes due to be paid?

Many thanks.

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 22 Mar 2010, 17:31
by Pete
Taxes should be refundable, but you'll loose the miles.

If you are a Gold card holder, you can change a mileage reward booking with no penalty; other colours get stiffed for about 25% of the mileage, I believe.

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 22 Mar 2010, 17:40
by ukcobra
The last time I booked a trip, as a Au member, I was advised I would lose 25% of the miles. That info could have been wrong of course.

As I've never had to cancel, I'm not sure what would happen.

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 22 Mar 2010, 17:45
by Darren Wheeler
According to the T&C's (4.2.1), you get a refund of all taxes and fees, plus 75% of the miles. You can also change the flight (but not names) for £25.

T&C's

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 22 Mar 2010, 17:49
by maz
Darren Wheeler wrote:According to the T&C's (4.2.1), you get a refund of all taxes and fees, plus 75% of the miles. You can also change the flight (but not names) for £25.

T&C's


Thanks for the link. I searched over on the VA site but couldn't find anything!!! ii)

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 24 Mar 2010, 01:12
by davidct
As someone who has cancelled a reward flight in the past, I can confirm that you lose 25% of the miles! :-( You do get the tax back, though.

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 24 Mar 2010, 11:46
by northernhenry
maz wrote:What are the rules about cancelling a reward flight please? Can you rebook? Do you lose the taxes due to be paid?

Many thanks.


Beleive the above would be true for a full reward booking, however if you have a booking upgraded with miles, then you don't lose the miles if you rebook/ change, they can be transfered across to your new booking- on the basis a "reward" seat is available.

NH

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 19 Dec 2010, 18:05
by iainchalmers
I may have to change a reward flight because of the snow. Does anybody know how long before the flight I have to make the change? 24 hours? Longer?
Thanks

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 19 Dec 2010, 18:18
by Darren Wheeler
If you cancel a reward flight within 7 days of departure, no miles are refunded. T&C's 4.2.1

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/fr ... gmiles.jsp

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 19 Dec 2010, 18:24
by tontybear
Iain - probbaly best to wait until your actual flight has been cancelled rather than making any change voluntarily at the moment.

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 19 Dec 2010, 19:00
by iainchalmers
Bit of a complex one this...but...I have PE flights in S departing LHR to HK on 28th Dec, then reward UC from HK to SYD. My worry is that if the LHR-HK is postponed or cancelled I will lose my reward flight as I won't be in HK to pick it up. They are separate tickets so a cancellation at LHR won't effect the reward seat.

Any ideas?

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 19 Dec 2010, 19:06
by Darren Wheeler
If they're on separate tickets, then if you don't show at Hong Kong, the onward leg will be cancelled too and no refund. If they were on a single ticket, then you would be re-protected.

ISTBC, but that's how it reads to me.

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 19 Dec 2010, 23:03
by Nottingham Nick
That would be pretty mean if they did. Is it possible to ring Flying Club, and get the two tickets linked on the VS system, to try and stop this from happening?

Nick

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 20 Dec 2010, 09:51
by iainchalmers
Darren Wheeler wrote:If they're on separate tickets, then if you don't show at Hong Kong, the onward leg will be cancelled too and no refund. If they were on a single ticket, then you would be re-protected.

ISTBC, but that's how it reads to me.



That's my understanding as well. Do you know how close to the flight I can change the reward booking? I am thinking of flying earlier if weather permits and ditching the revenue ticket outbound. I can get to HKG via Shanghai on miles and pick up the VS200 to Sydney.

That raises another question - if I don't show for the outbound revenue ticket, will that invalidate the return?

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 20 Dec 2010, 09:57
by Darren Wheeler
A reward flight can be changed (except name) at any time for a fee of £25. The hard bit is "subject to availability". Given the current situation, I think reward seats will be non-existent.

Normally if you don't show for the outbound, the inbound is cancelled too. Some have reported being able to keep it by letting VS know in advance.

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 20 Dec 2010, 10:02
by iainchalmers
Thanks Darren. I've made dummy bookings and it looks as though the reward seats are there but as you say, this may change quickly. I just tried calling the UC booking line and it just rang out with no answer...a window into the chaos!

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 20 Dec 2010, 10:31
by mitchja
iainchalmers wrote: I just tried calling the UC booking line and it just rang out with no answer...a window into the chaos!


There was a message on the VS Twitter page yesterday saying that due to the huge demand been put on their phone call queuing system at the moment, it was exceeding it's maximum call holding capacity which could explain why you where just getting a ringing tone.

Re: Cancelling a reward flight

PostPosted: 20 Dec 2010, 14:48
by narikin
oh goodness, if you are flying the 28th, I would hope things have picked up by then - fingers crossed Heathrow may have found a snow plow, and you'll be ok. That's a full week away.

I'm coming to London from JFK on Weds 23rd, on a reward flight, and so far that is on schedule.