Award tickets changes
Jan 13, 2017, 8:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON, ATH
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, OA Gold (in memoriam), Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 548
Award tickets changes
Hi there,
I have exactly 80.000 VS miles and I want to book an upper class ticket to NY before January the 15th when the program changes.
I don't know when I will be able to travel but I was thinking of booking the ticket and then changing it.
Is there a fee for changing award tickets? Will they ask for extra mils if I change a ticket already purchased before the change date?
Thanks
I have exactly 80.000 VS miles and I want to book an upper class ticket to NY before January the 15th when the program changes.
I don't know when I will be able to travel but I was thinking of booking the ticket and then changing it.
Is there a fee for changing award tickets? Will they ask for extra mils if I change a ticket already purchased before the change date?
Thanks
Jan 13, 2017, 9:25 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Oxford
Programs: Skyteam Elite+, VS Red, HHonours Diamond, Accor Plat
Posts: 629
Is there a fee for changing award tickets?
See: https://www.virginatlantic.com/conte...ing-miles.html
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 for changes to international flights originating in the UK
Will they ask for extra mils if I change a ticket already purchased before the change date?
Jan 13, 2017, 9:41 am
#4
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 3,951
I wonder if because these are current rates, a change post Monday will be honoured at the previous current rates. Seems odd that they would unofficially honour previous sale rate booking date changes however enforce the new current rates and reprise, if that makes sense? Would be interesting to find out the answer, with two days to go, might be worth making a few speculative bookings...
Jan 13, 2017, 10:15 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, VS Gold, Virgin Trains Traveller, Her Majesties Secret Service.
Posts: 407
There was some discussion on V-Flyer about this too and I think people believe that the old rates will be honoured for changes to flights made before 15th... HOWEVER the proof will be in the pudding, so we won't truly know until the changes come into effect really. I wouldn't be surprised if it did involve a reprice to the new rates.
Jan 13, 2017, 10:22 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Oxford
Programs: Skyteam Elite+, VS Red, HHonours Diamond, Accor Plat
Posts: 629
My take on it is that it used to depend on whether the agent noticed you'd redeemed fewer miles for a sale rate or not. Sale rates only happened a couple of times a year so it wasn't a major thing - the majority of the time they didn't seem to notice and therefore didn't ask for more miles.
With the new IT system and the difference in Peak and Off-Peak dates I now suspect the agents will be trained to check the number of miles in each case so I doubt many will slip through the net at the lower rate anymore.
With the new IT system and the difference in Peak and Off-Peak dates I now suspect the agents will be trained to check the number of miles in each case so I doubt many will slip through the net at the lower rate anymore.
Jan 13, 2017, 10:29 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, VS Gold, Virgin Trains Traveller, Her Majesties Secret Service.
Posts: 407
I get the feeling that their new IT may even enforce these rules and not allow it to get ticketed until the difference is taken. But this is pure speculation on my part.
Jan 13, 2017, 10:36 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Oxford
Programs: Skyteam Elite+, VS Red, HHonours Diamond, Accor Plat
Posts: 629
Chatting to the check-in agent during a recent trip would seem to back that up. The old system would allow an agent to override warnings while the new system simply won't let you go past any entry the system doesn't like.
This caused lots of fun when we tried to put an alpha-numeric answer into a field that the programmer had decided was going to be numeric only!
If that's the way the check-in system works I imagine the ticketing system will be no different.
This caused lots of fun when we tried to put an alpha-numeric answer into a field that the programmer had decided was going to be numeric only!
If that's the way the check-in system works I imagine the ticketing system will be no different.
Jan 13, 2017, 12:00 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 73
I just made a change to a miles booking and the change fee was waived as I am Gold.
I also asked about fees for cancellation and the Agent advised that there would be no cancellation fee either...which I queried but was advised that no, no cancellation fee for Golds.
I also asked about fees for cancellation and the Agent advised that there would be no cancellation fee either...which I queried but was advised that no, no cancellation fee for Golds.
Jan 14, 2017, 6:24 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Oxford
Programs: Skyteam Elite+, VS Red, HHonours Diamond, Accor Plat
Posts: 629
Good to have confirmation that the Gold waiver is still in place. I was just surprised that there's no mention of it that I can find in the new T&Cs.
As I've dropped all the way to Red now I doubt I'll need it anytime soon
As I've dropped all the way to Red now I doubt I'll need it anytime soon
Jan 14, 2017, 10:03 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,043
I'm sure I've answered this in other threads, but the FAQ for the changes makes it quite clear that date changes are allowed post the 16th. http://discoverflyingclub.virginatlantic.com/uk#1331
13. Can I change the date I want to fly if it means my flight moves to a different season?
Of course, if you booked your flight prior to 16 January 2017 you just need to pay a date change fee. However, if you made your booking after this date and want to change and fly in a different season you will need to pay more. Our Customer Service Centre will confirm the price and availability as each route differs.
Of course, if you booked your flight prior to 16 January 2017 you just need to pay a date change fee. However, if you made your booking after this date and want to change and fly in a different season you will need to pay more. Our Customer Service Centre will confirm the price and availability as each route differs.
Feb 17, 2017, 10:18 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: Flying Club Silver
Posts: 2
New joiner here.
I can confirm that changing the date on a reward flight booked prior to the 16th Jan does not incur a further deduction of miles to reflect the new reward flight pricing. Just this week I changed my LHR-ATL one way UC ticket, which I had booked specifically on 5th Jan to get the cheaper mileage rate, in the knowledge that I might have to subsequently incur the £30 change fee.
On a related point, the next day I received my confirmation email with the booking details. I noted that the taxes and surcharges for my new ticket are lower than what I originally paid in January. Am I entitled to a refund of the difference or is this a sunk cost?
I can confirm that changing the date on a reward flight booked prior to the 16th Jan does not incur a further deduction of miles to reflect the new reward flight pricing. Just this week I changed my LHR-ATL one way UC ticket, which I had booked specifically on 5th Jan to get the cheaper mileage rate, in the knowledge that I might have to subsequently incur the £30 change fee.
On a related point, the next day I received my confirmation email with the booking details. I noted that the taxes and surcharges for my new ticket are lower than what I originally paid in January. Am I entitled to a refund of the difference or is this a sunk cost?
Feb 18, 2017, 2:52 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,043
New joiner here.
I can confirm that changing the date on a reward flight booked prior to the 16th Jan does not incur a further deduction of miles to reflect the new reward flight pricing. Just this week I changed my LHR-ATL one way UC ticket, which I had booked specifically on 5th Jan to get the cheaper mileage rate, in the knowledge that I might have to subsequently incur the £30 change fee.
On a related point, the next day I received my confirmation email with the booking details. I noted that the taxes and surcharges for my new ticket are lower than what I originally paid in January. Am I entitled to a refund of the difference or is this a sunk cost?
I can confirm that changing the date on a reward flight booked prior to the 16th Jan does not incur a further deduction of miles to reflect the new reward flight pricing. Just this week I changed my LHR-ATL one way UC ticket, which I had booked specifically on 5th Jan to get the cheaper mileage rate, in the knowledge that I might have to subsequently incur the £30 change fee.
On a related point, the next day I received my confirmation email with the booking details. I noted that the taxes and surcharges for my new ticket are lower than what I originally paid in January. Am I entitled to a refund of the difference or is this a sunk cost?
That said, I'm not aware of VS having lowered surcharges across the board, so you might just be seeing a glitch anyhow.
Mar 25, 2017, 6:19 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: CA
Posts: 1,303
Looking to get info on changes to an award ticket on ANA w VS miles.
Suppose I have already taken the outbound portion of my ticket and need to change the date for the return (routing/carrier will remain unchanged). Would it be possible to change it assuming there's availability by paying the $30 change fee?
Thanks
Suppose I have already taken the outbound portion of my ticket and need to change the date for the return (routing/carrier will remain unchanged). Would it be possible to change it assuming there's availability by paying the $30 change fee?
Thanks
Nov 24, 2020, 3:59 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: QR Privilege Club Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 58
Hi all sorry to revive this old thread,
Does anyone know the cut off time for date changes on partner award tickets? Is it the same 24 hours before departure or can you do it even later than that?
Thanks
Does anyone know the cut off time for date changes on partner award tickets? Is it the same 24 hours before departure or can you do it even later than that?
Thanks