Virgin Atlantic Flying Club - Apd and fuel surcharge scam ?

I recently booked a miles plus money fare from lgw-las in y, i did this because there was no award availlabilty in j.When there were tickets in upper i rang to cancel my m+m booking knowing i would lose some of the fare mnoey i had booked.I was shocked to be told that out of the £650 i had paid all iwould get back fron apd,fuel charges and security charges was £80 and then i would have to pay £450 in new taxes for the reward booking!
In my mind i am now tavelling on the same flight as originally booked but am paying the taxes twice.
Is this fair or is it just a money making scam?

You agreed to the terms and conditions when you made the booking ... yes it's horrid (BA would do exactly the same to you), but is it a scam, no, for it to be a scam you'd have to have been misled. Oh and its actually the taxes you get back, so you're not paying that twice, the fuel surcharge makes up the greater part.

Fuel surcharges are a total scam in my opinion.

They should be included in the cost of the base fare of the ticket, not as an additional charge, because it is an operating cost for the airline.

It has nothing to do with fluctuating oil prices etc. Airlines hedge the vast majority of their fuel months in advance, so already know what their operating costs are.

I think it has something to do with the amount of tax the airlines pay, the way they can market their "low fares" excl. the surcharges and making money from redemption bookings.

I think it has something to do with the amount of tax the airlines pay, the way they can market their "low fares" excl. the surcharges and making money from redemption bookings.

As far as I know, airlines aren't allowed to market fares without including taxes and charges any longer.

However, the redemption bookings point is valid.

I don't think it's a scam but it is is disingenuous and the OP's situation is a bit unfair.

Reward fares are not advertised as 'free' seats.

As to the refund on your Y fare it would have been made up of (approx)

£ 65 for the APD
£ 21 for US transport tax
£ 11for LHR Airport Fees
£ 16 for US airport fees

less the admin fee of £ 30 so a refund of £80 is right.

The biggest part of the 'taxes, fees etc' part of the fare is actually the airlines own fuel surcharge which is usually more than 50% of that part of the fare. - For your Y M+M the fuel surcharge is about £ 240 and like the base fare is not refundable.

Is it a scam? no its not as it is all made clear in the terms and conditions - you know that little box you checked to say you had read them.

Could these be made more clear? yes.

Why are the 'taxes etc' more for UC than Y - well the fuel srcharge is more for a start and the APD is £65 in Y and £ 130 in PE and UC

I understand all of the comments made,however i still think it leaves a bad taste is mouth to pay a fuel surcharge twice to travel on the same flight.
Did i tick the box? Yes
Is it morally right? No
If i had changed flights or dates i would have no problem it just seems somehow different to pay twice nonrefundble or not.

I understand all of the comments made,however i still think it leaves a bad taste is mouth to pay a fuel surcharge twice to travel on the same flight.
Did i tick the box? Yes
Is it morally right? No
If i had changed flights or dates i would have no problem it just seems somehow different to pay twice nonrefundble or not.

I agree with you, VS really should waive the rule in your situation - this rule was not created to cover your circumstances and a level headed person at VS should consider that and make a decision in your favour.

I'd write in to SRB's office.

I agree with you, VS really should waive the rule in your situation - this rule was not created to cover your circumstances and a level headed person at VS should consider that and make a decision in your favour.

I'd write in to SRB's office.

Agreed (especially since the OP has a Gold card).

I understand all of the comments made,however i still think it leaves a bad taste is mouth to pay a fuel surcharge twice to travel on the same flight.
Did i tick the box? Yes
Is it morally right? No
If i had changed flights or dates i would have no problem it just seems somehow different to pay twice nonrefundble or not.
Agreed. To be honest, fuel surcharges should be refundable anyway (except they've got so big that airlines like BA had accidentally made domestic tickets virtually all refundable when they used to refund fuel surcharges).

Paying 'fuel' when you don't fly seems particularly like an airline trying to have their cake and eat it too.

Agreed (especially since the OP has a Gold card).

Yep I third that. The situation is not what those rules are designed for.

A decent person on the FC line should be able to transfer your booking to J, and then you'd need to pay the extra miles and charges/APD...