Issuing VA ticket via TA in Switzerland
Oct 25, 2016, 3:12 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: A3 Gold, AA Platinum, Marriott & Discovery Platinum, IGH Diamond
Posts: 889
Issuing VA ticket via TA in Switzerland
Hello.
Question to TA/GDS experts. I asked a TA in Switzerland to book a ticket on VA.
They are saying it is not possible, since Virgin Australia have no interline agreement with another carrier to be issued in GDS in Switzerland.
Are they crazy or is this me not understanding how it works ?
My understanding is that if a fare is not restricted to a specific point of sale (and this one is not, since I can find it in Matrix with point of sale set to ZRH) it can be issued by any TA. No need for any interline agreements, you simply issue a VA ticket on VA stock.
Thanks & regards,
El Puerco Volante
Question to TA/GDS experts. I asked a TA in Switzerland to book a ticket on VA.
They are saying it is not possible, since Virgin Australia have no interline agreement with another carrier to be issued in GDS in Switzerland.
Are they crazy or is this me not understanding how it works ?
My understanding is that if a fare is not restricted to a specific point of sale (and this one is not, since I can find it in Matrix with point of sale set to ZRH) it can be issued by any TA. No need for any interline agreements, you simply issue a VA ticket on VA stock.
Thanks & regards,
El Puerco Volante
Oct 26, 2016, 2:56 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Programs: M&M SEN, Amex Plat, Club Carlson, Marriott, HHonors & Accor Gold, Velocity Silver, Qantas Bronze
Posts: 3,767
Nov 14, 2016, 3:42 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 14
It is highly unlikely that a travel agent in Switzerland would have a VA plate to issue tickets. Most airlines in the fare rules would have a restriction to say – Must be issued on the ticket stock of VA ( or what ever airline the flight is) - some fares do allow other airlines stock to be used
Nov 14, 2016, 3:46 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 14
For example here is a VA fare rule
SALES RESTRICTIONS
FOOTNOTE RULE
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/AFTER 01NOV16 AND ON/BEFORE
30NOV16.
FARE RULE
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON THE STOCK OF VA OR HR AND
MAY NOT BE SOLD IN CNCCR/AREA 2/AREA 1. AND MAY ONLY
BE SOLD IN AREA 3.
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED BY ELECTRONIC TICKETING.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
MUST COMPLY WITH TICKETING POLICY OF VALIDATING
CARRIER. CAN ONLY BE TICKETED IN COMBINATION WITH
VALIDATING CARRIERS OWN FARE EXCEPT IF TICKETED
ON VA AND HR.
----
TICKETS ALLOWED ON HR EXCEPT IN
DE/FR/GB/CH/CA/US/IE/NL/SG/NZ/AU
SALES RESTRICTIONS
FOOTNOTE RULE
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/AFTER 01NOV16 AND ON/BEFORE
30NOV16.
FARE RULE
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON THE STOCK OF VA OR HR AND
MAY NOT BE SOLD IN CNCCR/AREA 2/AREA 1. AND MAY ONLY
BE SOLD IN AREA 3.
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED BY ELECTRONIC TICKETING.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
MUST COMPLY WITH TICKETING POLICY OF VALIDATING
CARRIER. CAN ONLY BE TICKETED IN COMBINATION WITH
VALIDATING CARRIERS OWN FARE EXCEPT IF TICKETED
ON VA AND HR.
----
TICKETS ALLOWED ON HR EXCEPT IN
DE/FR/GB/CH/CA/US/IE/NL/SG/NZ/AU
Nov 16, 2016, 12:57 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Lifetime *G (MP), Lifetime PE (Bonvoy)
Posts: 1,465
It is highly unlikely that a travel agent in Switzerland would have a VA plate to issue tickets. Most airlines in the fare rules would have a restriction to say – Must be issued on the ticket stock of VA ( or what ever airline the flight is) - some fares do allow other airlines stock to be used
Nov 16, 2016, 1:18 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 14
Nov 18, 2016, 12:06 am
#8
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: QF LTG, SQ EGTP, Bonvoy LTG
Posts: 4,847
Hahn Air (HR) used to issue tickets in SG, but don't anymore (as evidenced by fare rules quoted above). As a result we contacted Velocity rep on Australian Frequent Flyer who got the right people in VA to contact the travel agent to set them up properly for ticketing on VA "stock" (ie. with VA ticket number). Is all good now, although granted it might be easier in SG and the TA in question was a major multi national agency.
Nov 18, 2016, 2:04 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Programs: M&M SEN, Amex Plat, Club Carlson, Marriott, HHonors & Accor Gold, Velocity Silver, Qantas Bronze
Posts: 3,767
If I approached traditional "brick and mortar" TA and (s)he told me (s)he was unable to ticket VA flight on VA stock, I would run away really fast and look for another TA...
Nov 18, 2016, 6:57 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Lifetime *G (MP), Lifetime PE (Bonvoy)
Posts: 1,465
I'd assume the TA's next move would be to offer an equivalent flight on a different airline because it offered a bigger commission
Dec 4, 2016, 1:10 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
VA does not participate in (most) European BSP's, so T/Agents cannot issue tickets on VA plate. HR can be used, but not for the lowest fares. Last time I bought ticket on expedia.com to avoid ridiculous Australian credit card surcharges.