Companion ticket for Gold's

Afternoon all,

Just wondering if I could get some more information about VS companion tickets for gold renewal? Is this a voucher that will come in a pack on the renewal date? What type of ticket can it be redeemed for? Are they treated the same as reward seats (i.e. never available when you want them)?

I realise I will need to a book a "full fare" though.

[mitchja]

You don't get a physical voucher but a note is made on your FC account. You should also see a transaction appear on your FC account:

For renewing your gold card we've awarded you a companion ticket

You just need to call FC to use it/book it.

Ah great.

Slightly annoying that it has to be a J fare and not even a D for Upper though!!

Actually, one more question...

Is the companion ticket issued on the date you reach the required tier points for renewal?

My account states "You need 10 Tier Point(s) by 30-Nov-10 to renew gold membership"

I am taking a flight in a week or so that will gain the 10 points, so I'm wondering if the companion ticket becomes available then, or on 30th November?

Thanks!

You will get it on the 30th Nov and yes, they are the same as the other reward type tickets i.e. T (?) for economy, U for P/E, or G for U/C need to be available.

Best way to use them (most economical) is for an S Class companion ticket - these aren't much more than a K. As you say, if you want U/C then it is cheaper to get 2 Z's if available rather than a J and a 'free' companion ticket.

[Nottingham Nick]

I have just had a look at my FC account and the vouchers posted into my account on 2nd Sep 08 and 2nd Oct 09 - the day after gold renewal.

As spiceke says, one possible way to use them is in PE on certain routes - South African routes have had a couple of mentions on here on the past. However, the majority of the time, they are just a marketing gimmick, so it is a case of doing the maths each time to see if two revenue (and points earning) tickets represent better value.

VS try to explain their lack of value to the majority of people by saying the people who buy J tickets (or have J tickets bought for them) find them useful.

Nick

Interesting. I've found that normally, D is treated the same as a J, so I was disappointed to note the companion ticket really is just J. Although I did see, on two routes I'm unlikely to book, D is accepted(!). India and Nigeria...

I thought D's were eligible for the companion ticket, just as S fares are?

I thought D's were eligible for the companion ticket, just as S fares are?

If they were, I don't think they are now.

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

Towards the bottom, section 4.4.7, there is a table that seems to suggest otherwise.

[Neil]

I thought D's were eligible for the companion ticket, just as S fares are?

I've never known D's to be eligible for companion rewards since I have become a Virgin geek in the last 5 years.

Now I knew I'd used one with a D fare to India two years ago, so Neil, I checked the T&Cs and there are a couple of exceptions. Glad I'm not that fuzzy:

Country of Fare Origin // Economy // PE // UC

UK // Y,B,L // W,S // J
Japan // Y,B,L,M // W,S // J
Caribbean // Y,B,L // W,S // J
USA // Y,B // W,S // J
Hong Kong // Y,B,L // W,S // J
China // Y,B,L // W,S // J
South Africa // Y,B,L,M // W,S // J
Nigeria // Y,B,L,M // W,S // J,D*
Nairobi // Y,B,L // W,S // J
Mauritius // Y,B,L // W,S // J
India // Y,B,L,M // W,S // J,D*
UAE // Y,B,L // W,S // J
Australia // Y,B,L // W,S // J

Also UK - US D fares apply if your starting point is Delhi or Nairobi.

[Neil]

Sorry, I thought the fact that DEL and NBO were already mentioned above by RK meant you were talking about other destinations.

I have used mine reward flight for our September flights (DXB-LHR). Just remember that there has to be availability and that tax for the companion still needs to be paid.

I saved between £200 and £300 overall on our PE flights. Oh and VS still have not billed my card (booked over a month ago).

So a good deal if you can get it.

Good luck.

Hope everyone is keeping well, I've been absent from here for a while, with work/visa/house stuff. Just logged on today to see if anyone knew if VS were taking longer than normal to bill credit cards at the moment, and lo and behold, I see the above post!

I booked a reward voucher flight last week for myself and a friend to fly to UK in PE next week. It was actually a good deal, and saved probably about $1800. The only PE tickets available were full fare @ $2250 and the taxes and fuel surcharge on the 'free' ticket were $450. Full fare in economy actually came out as more than $2250, so I think we got a good deal.

However, as mentioned, they've not charged either of our credit cards yet! Put my flight on one card and the taxes/fuel for the companion ticket on another. In the past my card has been billed immediately. Do they normally take longer to bill you for these companion tickets?

Thanks,
Andrew

I booked a trip to the US next week, last week. I too have not been charged. This seems insane to me, I'm guessing another processing / system error resulting in loss of cashflow to VS.