30% off Velocity redemption - including business class

[SYD]

The 10SC thing is just hotels, car hire, rewards store - not flights

OT, but thanks. I thought that might have been the case! Didn’t look that closely and wasn’t particularly fussed. At least the 30% discount helps for my one flight to extend Gold!

 

[serfty]

Did you toggle to use velocity points prior to searching?

Yes, but they fixed it soon after anyway.

 

[AIRwin]

At least the 30% discount helps for my one flight to extend Gold!

Reward seats no longer earn status credits or count as eligible sectors?

 

[TMP]

You can always cancel and rebook like @kerfuffle ?

Just did this for MEL-PER in June for J Reward Seat both ways. Saved myself around 20,000 points. No brainer.

 

[MooTime]

I did same, cancelled a family trip only to rebook.

Had to pay the cancel fee (4400) per pax so only saved 8k in points, better than a kick in the goolies.

Have few J bookings, but unwilling to cancel/rebook as those cabins are already full, so unsure if they be made available to rebook as reward seat, not prepared to risk it.

All is good.

 

[SYD]

Reward seats no longer earn status credits or count as eligible sectors?

They do for those of us who got the status extension offer. Must book/fly by 22 May.

 

[Mattg]

Looks like flights departing before 10am on 1 May are not discounted (but flights after 10am are). VA's systems must be using GMT, I guess.

 

[Tiki]

I did same, cancelled a family trip only to rebook.

Had to pay the cancel fee (4400) per pax so only saved 8k in points, better than a kick in the goolies.

Have few J bookings, but unwilling to cancel/rebook as those cabins are already full, so unsure if they be made available to rebook as reward seat, not prepared to risk it.

All is good.

There is a cancellation fee? I was thinking to cancel and rebook 2 x BNE-SYD-NAN one way in Y but the cancellation fee would negate the savings on these cheap tickets.

 

[MooTime]

There is a cancellation fee? I was thinking to cancel and rebook 2 x BNE-SYD-NAN one way in Y but the cancellation fee would negate the savings on these cheap tickets.

International flights have free cancellation until Dec 2022 so your prob all good there.

Domestic free cancellation only till Jun 30 2022. (Hence my canc fees)

Check if still reward seats on your flight, just to be sure & more points in your pocket or digital wallet, all the better.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Domestic free cancellation only till Jun 30 2022. (Hence my canc fees)

Domestic is only until 30 April

 

[MooTime]

Domestic is only until 30 April

Oops, thanks @Must...Fly!

 

[kerfuffle]

Oops, thanks @Must...Fly!

I cancelled Business Reward flights to Brisbane for June long weekend and didn’t get hit with any cancellation fees; only lost the credit card processing fee

 

[Graham Atkinson]

This is interesting.
Nowhere in original Terms and Conditions of this sale or the ad when the sale began, did it distinctly restrict the sale to “Virgin” operated only flights (It does now, but that's only after I and probably others made Virgin aware of this fact.). It was only when I tried to book a Singapore Airlines Business flight to London and it didn't take the 30% off, that I rang the call centre to be told it was Virgin flights only. But both the call centre operator and a supervisor agreed with me that nowhere in the advertising or T&C at that time did it say Virgin Operated flights only. So I booked the flight and at the same time I had the supervisor lodge a complaint to Virgin saying under the advertised sale I was entitled to 30% off.
When I made the booking I took a screen shot of the sale page and the t&c so I could prove what I was saying was correct. At the time when the sale began, it clearly read “Receive 30% off the points amount required to redeem Economy and Business Class Reward Seat on flights across Australia and Beyond”. (Note there is no mention at all of Virgin operated flights only).
Only since I raised it with Virgin, and after I booked and lodged a complaint that I am entitled to 30% off the points, I see that they changed the wording to “Receive 30% off the Points amount required to redeem Economy and Business Class Reward Seats when you travel on Virgin Australia flights across Australia and beyond.
That bit about “when you travel on Virgin Australia Flights” was not on the original sale fare advertising.
Same with the T&C. The original T&C had absolutely no mention that it only applied to Virgin Operated only flights. Originally the T&C (which I screen shotted for proof as well) just said the sale applied to “year round Economy and Business level reward seats”.
Only since I and probably others made them aware have they then they’ve added in the extra words “Virgin Australia marketed and operated flights”.
Will let you know how I go, but my expectation is they have to honour the ad as it was when I booked it and before they changed it. Someone said they used the word "our" which may mean Virgin only, but "our" has a definition under Virgin's Conditions of Carriage AND INCLUDES partner airlines! I've attached the original t&c, followed by Virgin's change after I booked it and made them aware. Spot the difference. Interested to know if anyone has had success holding an airline to their advertisement? My understanding is I have to raise it with the airline and if unsuccessful request a review, and I can then take it to "Avaiation Complaints".

 

[MooTime]

This is interesting.
Nowhere in original Terms and Conditions of this sale or the ad when the sale began, did it distinctly restrict the sale to “Virgin” operated only flights (It does now, but that's only after I and probably others made Virgin aware of this fact.). It was only when I tried to book a Singapore Airlines Business flight to London and it didn't take the 30% off, that I rang the call centre to be told it was Virgin flights only. But both the call centre operator and a supervisor agreed with me that nowhere in the advertising or T&C at that time did it say Virgin Operated flights only. So I booked the flight and at the same time I had the supervisor lodge a complaint to Virgin saying under the advertised sale I was entitled to 30% off.
When I made the booking I took a screen shot of the sale page and the t&c so I could prove what I was saying was correct. At the time when the sale began, it clearly read “Receive 30% off the points amount required to redeem Economy and Business Class Reward Seat on flights across Australia and Beyond”. (Note there is no mention at all of Virgin operated flights only).
Only since I raised it with Virgin, and after I booked and lodged a complaint that I am entitled to 30% off the points, I see that they changed the wording to “Receive 30% off the Points amount required to redeem Economy and Business Class Reward Seats when you travel on Virgin Australia flights across Australia and beyond.
That bit about “when you travel on Virgin Australia Flights” was not on the original sale fare advertising.
Same with the T&C. The original T&C had absolutely no mention that it only applied to Virgin Operated only flights. Originally the T&C (which I screen shotted for proof as well) just said the sale applied to “year round Economy and Business level reward seats”.
Only since I and probably others made them aware have they then they’ve added in the extra words “Virgin Australia marketed and operated flights”.
Will let you know how I go, but my expectation is they have to honour the ad as it was when I booked it and before they changed it. Someone said they used the word "our" which may mean Virgin only, but "our" has a definition under Virgin's Conditions of Carriage AND INCLUDES partner airlines! I've attached the original t&c, followed by Virgin's change after I booked it and made them aware. Spot the difference. Interested to know if anyone has had success holding an airline to their advertisement? My understanding is I have to raise it with the airline and if unsuccessful request a review, and I can then take it to "Avaiation Complaints".

Wow, bloody great pickup AFF.
Brilliant, I'd suspect wouldn't be many others & thinking you'll get the 30% refunded... How can they not. Barely their middle leg to stand on in this one!

 

[Must...Fly!]

I did also notice that in the early T&C's. If I'd not booked BNE-YVR the day before I definitely would have done that and had a crack at getting the discount. Oh well, hope you get something @Graham Atkinson !

 

[tharaka]

I noticed the first thing. To be fair it says ‘our’ network. So very subjective. Notice my original post #1 questions this. So I called and clarified had a second agent check this and confirm it’s VA metal.

 

[Matty F]

I’d be wary of using up goodwill currency with a loyalty program, lest they put down in your notes “Squeezed us for 30k pts on a technicality”

 

[Tiki]

I need a one way to Bali sometime in Sept but I am not sure of my dates. If I book under the 30% deal at 15,600 points and have to change the date, would I have to pay the full 22,300 normal rate?

 

[MooTime]

I need a one way to Bali sometime in Sept but I am not sure of my dates. If I book under the 30% deal at 15,600 points and have to change the date, would I have to pay the full 22,300 normal rate?

Good question.
I'd think so as change in price is always applicable isn't it?
Always been the case with cash fares, I haven't come across scenario with reward point bookings.

 

[GSP]

Damn. I didn't see the 10.00 today expiry this morning. I was booking at 9.30am and got distracted and went to complete the booking and prices back to normal. Bugger.