V-Flyer

I had posted this on a topic about the Red Select Vouchers, but it seems to have got lost way down somewhere.

I need advice on our Red Select Vouchers - we got VO on SFO to LHR in June, and were given five Red Select Vouchers, one for each of us, including kids.

Firstly, the staff member dealing with us said that we have 18 months to use the voucher to book travel, but the travel itself can take place after this. On the back of the voucher, however, in the T&C, it says that all travel MUST take place within 18 months, and that (in capital letters) no extensions to this will be permitted. So we do have to travel with the next 18 months presumably?

Secondly, is there a hope of us getting five seats on a flight? From what I understand reading the boards, they are now O class, and normally sold in bulk to travel agents. How do we book them, or how often are they released into the system?

Also, I read that they only allow four select vouchers on any flight. If we are a family of five, are they going to allow five select vouchers on a flight, or what will happen?

Last (I hope!) - is it possible to redeem these vouchers against Virgin Holidays I wonder? Or what is the most efficent way of using them - we are extremely flexible, I just want to use them properly!

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

The select vouchers are a bit of an unknown on here, and that is probably the reason why you didn't get anyone replying to the post in you made in the other thread. Your questions are quite specific and I would suggest a call to Virgin would probably the only way to get a fully accurate answer on all of them.

On the O fare code point, they aren't all sold to travel agents and I have seen plenty of flights have O class availability on them.

Duplicate posting is not generally considered good netiquette, but to see if anyone who might have missed your original post can offer any further assistance, I will leave this thread open.

Thanks,
Neil

Neil wrote:Duplicate posting is not generally considered good netiquette, but to see if anyone who might have missed your original post can offer any further assistance, I will leave this thread open.

Thanks Neil - I wasn't sure whether it was better to bump, or repost - the queries were related to the replies above me, but wasn't sure what to do!

I'll also just go and call them, see if I can get any info.

Thanks again

adie wrote:

Neil wrote:Duplicate posting is not generally considered good netiquette, but to see if anyone who might have missed your original post can offer any further assistance, I will leave this thread open.

Thanks Neil - I wasn't sure whether it was better to bump, or repost - the queries were related to the replies above me, but wasn't sure what to do!

I'll also just go and call them, see if I can get any info.

Thanks again

No problem, posts do get missed but as I said, quite often the reason for no reply is because people just don't know the answer, especially on tricky subjects like this one.

If you do call VS, it would be useful if you would let us know what they say, as it could well help others with similar queries in the future.

Thanks.

Hi Neil

I realise this reply is to my query two years ago (but stupidly I couldn't remember where I'd posted the query) and although it is late, I thought it may prove useful for the future for somebody else.

Virgin very kindly extended our vouchers - after emailing them, they explained the best way to do it was to email them once we had a rough idea of our travel plans. They advised us to wait until as close to the date of expiry as possible, as the extension would only last 18 months from the date it was granted. We had a contact name and reference number for this extension, so there couldn't be any quibbles when it came to it.

It was fantastic to get the extension, as we got longer to save, to go further afield (touring China and ending up in Hong Kong, with the 9 and 7 year old..an otherwise unattainable trip).

Much appreciation to Virgin for allowing the extension - it is worth ringing them/emailing them and talking to a person about it.

Huh, an interesting read.

Glad that everything worked out for you adie. Top marks to VS CS for that one. y)

Are these vouchers still issued? Or would it be akin to the reward upgrades and companion tickets that meander into our online accounts?

Do we think that these days the dreaded YQ would also be waived? Ahhh how things might have changed. 8D

Thanks for the update.

The logic for issuing the vouchers was, I think, because not everyone has a Flying Club account. When we had them (and granted it was years ago) you could swap them immediately for FC miles (50,000 if memory serves) if you wanted.

joeyc wrote:
Are these vouchers still issued? Or would it be akin to the reward upgrades and companion tickets that meander into our online accounts?

Yes, these vouchers are still issued for pax that are offloaded from a flight. You don't pay taxes when using these vouchers.

Neil wrote:Yes, these vouchers are still issued for pax that are offloaded from a flight. You don't pay taxes when using these vouchers.

Can they still be used on any route? or would it be mile dependant? Not a bad compensation offering if they can be used throughout the network, and VS still get you where you need to be going.

Most I have ever got is a few thousand miles for non functioning IFE and a whole host of retail vouchers for an UC seat that didn't convert into a bed - lucky it was a day flight.

joeyc wrote:Can they still be used on any route? or would it be mile dependant?

Don't know if it's still the case but they used to be valid on any route except Sydney.

joeyc wrote:
Can they still be used on any route? or would it be mile dependant? Not a bad compensation offering if they can be used throughout the network, and VS still get you where you need to be going.

Any apart from LHR to SYD

joeyc wrote:

Neil wrote:Yes, these vouchers are still issued for pax that are offloaded from a flight. You don't pay taxes when using these vouchers.

Can they still be used on any route? or would it be mile dependant? Not a bad compensation offering if they can be used throughout the network, and VS still get you where you need to be going.

Most I have ever got is a few thousand miles for non functioning IFE and a whole host of retail vouchers for an UC seat that didn't convert into a bed - lucky it was a day flight.

As I said, these are only given when pax are offloaded from a flight, so it depends on your circumstances/outlook a to whether they are good compensation or not. Missing a day of your long weekend to NYC, your first trip without the kids for 15 years, or retired Mr & Mrs Smith coming back from 8 weeks of Winter Sun in Florida who have nothing to rush back for, I'm sure both will have a different outlook and being offloaded.

Neil wrote:As I said, these are only given when pax are offloaded from a flight, so it depends on your circumstances/outlook a to whether they are good compensation or not. Missing a day of your long weekend to NYC, your first trip without the kids for 15 years, or retired Mr & Mrs Smith coming back from 8 weeks of Winter Sun in Florida who have nothing to rush back for, I'm sure both will have a different outlook and being offloaded.

Fair play Neil, was just curious as to how the involuntary offload of pax is treated and what is standard compensation. I assumed that they gave you a healthy amount of miles to use towards a future flight as well as rebook you and pay any relevant and fair expenses. Now I know what not to accept ):

As to my outlook, I tend to focus on the solution as opposed to the "why me?" spiral that one could become stuck in.. ultimately does nothing other than escalate the situation. These Red Select Vouchers are a damn sight better than what I thought was available, lets hope I never have need for one to be given to me ii)

joeyc wrote:
Fair play Neil, was just curious as to how the involuntary offload of pax is treated and what is standard compensation. I assumed that they gave you a healthy amount of miles to use towards a future flight as well as rebook you and pay any relevant and fair expenses. Now I know what not to accept ):

As to my outlook, I tend to focus on the solution as opposed to the "why me?" spiral that one could become stuck in.. ultimately does nothing other than escalate the situation. These Red Select Vouchers are a damn sight better than what I thought was available, lets hope I never have need for one to be given to me ii)

I agree with your outlook.

There are specific EU regulations that govern what compensation the airline MUST provide if you are involuntary offloaded or downgraded.

If you voluntary offload/downgrade, it is up to you if you accept what they are offering or not.

Someone reported on here that a couple of years ago they were bumped of an LGW-MCO flight and they took the 600euro compensation which as there were 4 of them amounted to quite a bit. Yes they lost a day of the holiday but the person said that the compensation (plus a hotel as they were rebooked the next day) meant that their holiday then became virtually free for them.


Now that worked for that family but it won't work for everyone - like some of the examples Neil gave - but what it does show is that people need to be aware of the EU regulations for IDB and the VS 'offer' for VDB (which is listed on the VS website) and to take the approriate decision that is best for them.

Neil wrote:There are specific EU regulations that govern what compensation the airline MUST provide if you are involuntary offloaded or downgraded.

If you voluntary offload/downgrade, it is up to you if you accept what they are offering or not.

Presumably if you accept a Red Select voucher or any other offer of cash, hotels etc, you are voluntarily agreeing to be offloaded and wouldn't be eligible for the statutory compensation.

I assume you'd only get that if you refused all offers the airline made you and ended up being offloaded or downgraded against your will.

gumshoe wrote:

Neil wrote:There are specific EU regulations that govern what compensation the airline MUST provide if you are involuntary offloaded or downgraded.

If you voluntary offload/downgrade, it is up to you if you accept what they are offering or not.

Presumably if you accept a Red Select voucher or any other offer of cash, hotels etc, you are voluntarily agreeing to be offloaded and wouldn't be eligible for the statutory compensation.

I assume you'd only get that if you refused all offers the airline made you and ended up being offloaded or downgraded against your will.

Not quite, the select voucher is used for all offload situations, there are just different sections for voluntary / involuntary, so you would sign in the voluntary section which would stop you asking for further compensation.

Initially when we were involuntary downgraded we were giving some compensation which we signed for, I then realised later that it wasn't enough, contacted VS and pointed to the EU regs, and they have stumped up the extra.

gumshoe wrote:Presumably if you accept a Red Select voucher or any other offer of cash, hotels etc, you are voluntarily agreeing to be offloaded and wouldn't be eligible for the statutory compensation.

When we got our Select vouchers it was a voluntary offload. It used to be the standard offer.