Virgin Australia compensation to be taxes only?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 28
Virgin Australia compensation to be taxes only?
I booked my annual free flight from Sydney (Australia) to Queenstown (New Zealand) on my Platinum Reserve AMEX.
While I had a good time there, on the way back there was a 16 hour mechanical delay, which was quite annoying. I've been told that I would receive compensation, but I was told that I would be compensated A$157.08 only. I believe that this is purely the tax part of the flight of it as the cheapest fare from Queenstown to Sydney is $289 one way which excludes luggage.
I called up Virgin Australia and spoke to a person there as well as a supervisor and the only thing they could suggest was to call customer relations which would be a 30 to 40 day wait.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Clearly I'm not happy after missing the best part of a day and then being told that my time is far less valuable than anyone else's.
While I had a good time there, on the way back there was a 16 hour mechanical delay, which was quite annoying. I've been told that I would receive compensation, but I was told that I would be compensated A$157.08 only. I believe that this is purely the tax part of the flight of it as the cheapest fare from Queenstown to Sydney is $289 one way which excludes luggage.
I called up Virgin Australia and spoke to a person there as well as a supervisor and the only thing they could suggest was to call customer relations which would be a 30 to 40 day wait.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Clearly I'm not happy after missing the best part of a day and then being told that my time is far less valuable than anyone else's.
#2
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,977
Moderator action
Moved to Virgin Australia forum because quarrel seems to be with compensation offered by airline, unrelated to method of payment.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,118
The flight was from Amex as "my annual free flight from Sydney (Australia) to Queenstown (New Zealand) on my Platinum Reserve AMEX."
#4
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Perth, WA, Australia
Programs: QF Gold, VA Plat, IHG Plat Amb, LCAH Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,847
Virgin Australia's compensation policy for a flight delay of greater than four hours is to provide a credit to the full value of the affected fare. In this case, that would be however much American Express has paid Virgin for this fare. Ulimately, that comes down to what the commercial arrangements between Amex and Virgin are for these fares. See here for reference: http://www.virginaustralia.com/Terms...nsationPolicy/
Personally, I find the compansation to be quite generous.
Personally, I find the compansation to be quite generous.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,118
Agreed. On a flight MEL-CHC in 2007 that was delayed 6 hrs I received a credit for the full amount less real goverment taxes / airport fees. The credit was more than needed fo the next MEL-CHC flight (including real goverment taxes / airport fees)
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 28
I would agree that the compensation policy on face value is generous, but other people will be receiving a minimum of twice what I will be getting. I don't really see $10/hour of delay as generous remuneration in my case.
I'll be calling up AMEX tomorrow and see if the can swing anything.
I'll be calling up AMEX tomorrow and see if the can swing anything.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 28
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
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I was advised yesterday by Amex travel they book into "Romeo" or "Tango" classes.
R is obvious, but T class suprised me.
Certainly R class is "Saver".
R is obvious, but T class suprised me.
Certainly R class is "Saver".
#10
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Perth, WA, Australia
Programs: QF Gold, VA Plat, IHG Plat Amb, LCAH Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,847
I expect that it is some kind of private fare, with some specific rules. One of its other features is that you don't get Velocity points.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MEL
Programs: QF Platinum, VA Gold
Posts: 417