Cancelling a reward flight

What are the rules about cancelling a reward flight please? Can you rebook? Do you lose the taxes due to be paid?

Many thanks.

[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.

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.

[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

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)

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.

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

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

[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

Iain - probbaly best to wait until your actual flight has been cancelled rather than making any change voluntarily at the moment.

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?

[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.

[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

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?

[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.

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!

[mitchja]

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.

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.