We had a client stuff up and give us the wrong dates for a meeting next week (the Friday instead of a Thursday) and so we booked 4x Golden Triangle Elevate flights to get down there and back. Within a couple of hours the mistake was realised and we went to change them after booking and were told that it would cost $320 to make the changes (CC Fee and Change Fees).
I realise this was an error, but QF give you until midnight to make a change without penalty (and make that pretty well known by plastering advertising everywhere Same Day No Mistake | Qantas) even for non-status pax. Most other airlines have a "same day" policy (in the US I've used the 24 hour grace period once or twice). 2 hours seems rather stingy and LCC given the industry standards out there. I couldn't find anything on VA site about 2hrs.
I don't like to get my DYKWIA on very often but given these flights were 1) for a WP and SG, 2) booked just a few hours previously and 3) every one of their competitors has a same day policy I thought there would be some flexibility. But no, had 20mins of back and forth with a 'definitely no waiver' before finally got the shift manager (after asking multiple times) to bring it down to $100 but only after telling me I should 'count myself lucky' they're willing to meet me halfway. It appears they will not waive this even for a booking made 5 hours previously.
I realise the mistake was mine, but the issue I have is more that VA seem adamant in staying well below industry standards on this. If every airline treated mistakes this way it would be a different story, but VA seem to pride themselves on being worse than their competitors on this one.
We were happy to pay any fare differences (of course), but does this seem stingy to anyone else? I was thinking of making a complaint - probably more feedback for catharsis at yet another area I've found out VA slides below the standards of everyone else. Is that just unreasonable
I realise this was an error, but QF give you until midnight to make a change without penalty (and make that pretty well known by plastering advertising everywhere Same Day No Mistake | Qantas) even for non-status pax. Most other airlines have a "same day" policy (in the US I've used the 24 hour grace period once or twice). 2 hours seems rather stingy and LCC given the industry standards out there. I couldn't find anything on VA site about 2hrs.
I don't like to get my DYKWIA on very often but given these flights were 1) for a WP and SG, 2) booked just a few hours previously and 3) every one of their competitors has a same day policy I thought there would be some flexibility. But no, had 20mins of back and forth with a 'definitely no waiver' before finally got the shift manager (after asking multiple times) to bring it down to $100 but only after telling me I should 'count myself lucky' they're willing to meet me halfway. It appears they will not waive this even for a booking made 5 hours previously.
I realise the mistake was mine, but the issue I have is more that VA seem adamant in staying well below industry standards on this. If every airline treated mistakes this way it would be a different story, but VA seem to pride themselves on being worse than their competitors on this one.
We were happy to pay any fare differences (of course), but does this seem stingy to anyone else? I was thinking of making a complaint - probably more feedback for catharsis at yet another area I've found out VA slides below the standards of everyone else. Is that just unreasonable
