Ticket change fee

I have a question about miles upgrades and ticket change fees. I recently flew from LHR to JFK on K fare. When I arrived at the airport, I asked if there were any upgrades available. I was told I could pay cash (£1120) or pay to the next fare class for £1145. I politely declined and headed to the clubhouse (I am VS gold). Once there, I thought I would inquire again about using my miles. The wonderful agent at the desk checked and confirmed availability and then called ticketing for the cost to pay up to the next fare level. She was quoted £295. Wonderful! Sign me up. She passes the phone to me so I can speak with the ticketing agent and pass along my payment info. The agent on the phone again confirmed the £295 (to go from K to an S fare, along with taxes and airport fees). She then told me that Virgin has now started charging a ticket change fee to all tickets that are going from one fare class to another...to the tune of £300! She said this was the same charge you would incur if you changed the date, flight etc. This caught me off guard and since I didn't respond right away, she kept chatting. She said she thought this fee was silly, since I wasn't making a "true change" to the ticket and as a FC gold, I should write to complain. So my question is, is the change fee normal? I knew about paying the difference in fare/taxes, but wasn't aware of the change fee.

We were on the phone to FC last night to apply a credit card upgrade voucher to a sale booking and interestingly the agent mentioned that there is a change fee for upgrades but it would be "waived" in this case. Saw your post and had a dig in the Ts&Cs as follows

4.4.6 The same conditions for Changes and Cancellations to Flying Club Reward Bookings apply to Flying Club Upgrade Rewards as detailed in Clause 4.2.1 of these Flying Club Terms.

which says

4.2.1 Once reward tickets are issued, you may amend your travel date, route or class of service prior to travel for an amendment fee of £30 per person for changes to international flights originating in the UK, US$50 per person for changes to international flights originating in the US or local currency equivalent of US$50 per person for changes to flights originating in any other region. Changes to domestic flights within the UK can be made for an amendment fee of £15 per person . Where the reward is a companion ticket and the person travelling on the paying ticket changes his or her flight or class of travel, the companion ticket may be similarly amended for the same amendment fees, subject to availability of seats and the provisions of section 4.4 of these Flying Club Terms.

£300 seems excessive if it was just the change fee?

I particularly enjoy that the Ts&Cs still refer to UK domestic flights! More importantly though, I too have had this change fee waived in the past (when changing fare class in order to upgrade) but I don't remember it ever being £300. It wasn't cheap, but it wasn't that much! Just my 2pm worth if it helps in terms of seeing a trend/pattern emerge.

The FC T&Cs regards reward upgrades don't apply in this case, it is the fare rules for K fares that apply and these are the current rules:

Penalties

Changes any time charge GBP 150.00.Waived for illness or death of passenger or family member.
NOTE - Change fees apply per passenger/per transaction for adults and children. Infant discounts apply to any change fees. Change fees apply for any changes to reservations including to flights/dates/routings and classes. Upgrades to fully flexible fares that allow free of charge changes are permitted with no change fee. Repricing and reissue must be completed at the same time the reservation is changed changes must be made prior to departure of the flight - changes made after departure of the flight will be considered a no-show and the applicable no-show policy will apply before departure of the first flight when there is no change to the first fare component - reprice the itinerary using historical fares in effect on the previous ticket date or using current fares in effect at the time of the reissue whichever is lower. When the first fare component is changed - reprice the itinerary using current fares in effect at the time of reissue. After departure of the first flight reprice the itinerary using historical fares in effect on the previous ticket date these fares may only be repriced using other published fares for vs/dl the new itinerary must meet all the rule conditions of the new fare e. G apex/min/max stay no show - in the event of no show the ticket is non refundable and non changable and may not be used as credit towards the purchase of any other fares. Residual amounts - no refund will be given if repricing results in a lower fare. Multiple charges change fees are applicable for any changed fare components. Where one fare component is changed - the applicable fee for that changed fare component will apply. When multiple fare components are changed - the highest fee of any of the changed fare components will apply. Waivers - change fees may be waived for death/illness of the passenger or travelling companion evidenced by a death/hospital certificate.
Cancellations any time ticket is non-refundable.
NOTE - Refunds are not permitted outside the period of validity of the ticket in accordance with iata general conditions of carriage waivers refund restrictions may be waived for death of the passenger or travelling companion as evidenced by a death certificate multiple charges the most restrictive conditions of each of the pricing units will apply. Charge the highest fee of each cancelled pricing unit. When combining a non refundabe fare with a refundable fare the amount paid on the refundable fare component will be refunded less any applicable penalties. The amount paid on any non refundable fare components will not be refunded. Taxes and surcharges unused government and airport taxes will be refunded. Carrier imposed surcharges will not be refunded.
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The change fee to upgrade ticket class is £150, which I think is per sector, to upgrade to S. If the OP had upgraded to W, which is a fully flex PE ticket, the change fee would be waived.

If the OP was upgrading both outbound and return sectors from K to S, then the change fee is £300 plus the fare difference, and then to upgrade to UC with miles there's the miles plus any extra taxes. The moral here is to make sure you read the fare restrictions when you buy tickets so you know what you face if you decide to change.

Thank you for your help. Sounds like she tried to charge me for both sectors, instead of just the one. I ultimately decided to save my miles (and money) for another adventure.