Anyone used the Plat guaranteed reward seat benefit before?

[Rdarby]

I have just made Platinum (yeah!) and one of the benefits is that there are 4 guaranteed reward seats available.

Now when I was Gold I tried to book a reward seat using points from LA to Memphis, and was told there was no availability.

Now that I am Platinum, does it mean there should be guaranteed availability? Am I understanding it right?

When I spoke to the redemption line they said that it meant that they could get me a seat but I would have to pay for it, and that if I used it I lost all 4 in one go as it is meant for a family. And that it was meant to be return only.

Now I may have been confused or they may have been. Does anyone know how this works?

 

[williamsf1]

I have just made Platinum (yeah!) and one of the benefits is that there are 4 guaranteed reward seats available.

Now when I was Gold I tried to book a reward seat using points from LA to Memphis, and was told there was no availability.

Now that I am Platinum, does it mean there should be guaranteed availability? Am I understanding it right?

When I spoke to the redemption line they said that it meant that they could get me a seat but I would have to pay for it, and that if I used it I lost all 4 in one go as it is meant for a family. And that it was meant to be return only.

Now I may have been confused or they may have been. Does anyone know how this works?

From the T&C
17.3.1 VRPL guarantees that Platinum Members can make one booking for up to four guests on:
(a) Virgin Australia domestic Economy Reward Class return flights; or
(b) Economy Reward Class return flights departing from Australia (or from New Zealand if the Platinum Member is a New Zealand based Member) to any international destination to which the Virgin Australia or an Airline Partner flies;

So reading that ... you would have to book from Australia to LAX then LAX MEM ... cannot just book the LAX MEM and use the benifit

 

[Fruitcake]

I read up on this a little while ago but ultimately didn't make any booking. However, the T&Cs are surprisingly clear on the process. Because the benefit is "up to four guests on an annual family trip" rather than "four guaranteed bookings every twelve months" then it is correct if you travel alone the entire benefit is used up.

Although as williamsf1 has posted, you won't be able to redeem for LAX-MEM standalone. You'd need to book (Australia)-MEM.

My experience has been that domestic flights in the US are generally so cheap relative to comparable distance flights in Australia that there's often little advantage in booking reward seats - but of course everyone's value proposition is different.


17.3 Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip
17.3.1 VRPL guarantees that Platinum Members can make one booking for up to four guests on:
(a) Virgin Australia domestic Economy Reward Class return flights; or
(b) Economy Reward Class return flights departing from Australia (or from New Zealand if the Platinum Member is a New Zealand based Member) to any international destination to which the Virgin Australia or an Airline Partner flies;
in each Total Benefit Period (Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip).
17.3.2 The Platinum Member must be included and travelling in the booking for the Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip.
17.3.3 The request for the Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip on domestic flights must:
(a) be made at least six months prior to the desired date of departure; and
(b) allow for a three day booking window for each flight (one day either side of the desired departure and return dates).
17.3.4 If the Platinum Member chooses to redeem Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip on international flights, the Platinum Member can call the Velocity Frequent Flyer Membership Contact Centre to request a booking. The following conditions apply to a request by a Platinum Member under this clause 17.3.4:
(a) The request must:
(i) include the desired departure and return dates, destination and number of guests travelling;
(ii) be made at least six months prior to the desired date of departure; and
(iii) allow for a seven day booking window for each flight (three days either side of the desired departure and return dates).
(b) The airline and flight will be chosen at VRPL's discretion.
(c) If there is no direct flight available from the Platinum Member's desired airport of departure in Australia, VRPL may offer to fly the Platinum Member and their travelling guests to a more suitable Australian airport for departure, at VRPL’s expense.
17.3.6 Clause 17 of these Terms and Conditions applies to the redemption of Points for the Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip.
17.3.7 The entitlement to the Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip will expire if not redeemed (by making a booking in accordance with clause 17.3.3 for domestic flights or clause 17.3.4 for international flights) before the Platinum Member’s next Review Date. The travel dates for flights in the booking for the Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip are not required to be within the current Total Benefit Period.

 

[Nicholas Wood]

Hi All,

Bumping up this older post with regards to Plat Guaranteed Reward Seats. Today I called to try and book a economy reward return BNE-CHC for 19th Dec-11th Jan.

As one can imagine there are no economy rewards seats around these times, however because there is business rewards availability on the 17th I was advised that I could not used the Guaranteed reward seat to book an economy.

Has anyone else experienced this? I've got just enough points for return economy rewards for the whole family.

Wondering if it's worth speaking to someone else on the Plat line or if I'm out of luck in this case.

 

[bullerdude]

Well the terms and conditions state that you are guaranteed an economy reward flight... no mention of business availability negating this benefit.

By the letter of the T+C's I would push it again.

17.3 Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats for an Annual Family Trip
17.3.1 VRPL guarantees that Platinum Members can make one Reward Seat booking for up to four guests on Economy Class return flights either:

(a) on any Virgin Australia Domestic route; or
(b) departing from Australia (or from New Zealand if the Platinum Member is a New Zealand resident) to an Any International destination to which Virgin Australia or a Virgin Australia Codeshare Flight flies,
​

in each Benefit Period (Platinum Guaranteed Reward Seats).

 

[Gremlin]

Sounds pretty ordinary to me if you're denied the benefit on this basis. I'd call back and try again. If no luck, I'd raise with the Virgin Rep on the board. Doesn't stack up against the quoted T&Cs...

 

[MarkD]

Turns out I had a similar issue here

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....es-va-wp-have-better-66846-2.html#post1254606

They may be able to sort it, they helped me out

 

[ccevans]

Hi,
I used this in January for trip leaving 1st July and was able to secure all be it with a little stamping of feet.
I booked in the 6 months in advance to the day and we locked in Syd - Hkt via Sin return for 3 as only had enough points for same.
I was informed I would loose the 4th benefit as designed for family, fair enough.

Trouble was they wanted to push me down the Syd-Per-Hkt route and having done this last year were not really interested again. I was able to get around this by nominating my travel date to a day when the Per route was not flown as they could not offer a reward flight either side of my date they had to stick to my date.
We booked seats for MrsE on same flights and have all PNR's linked for seating but struggled to get anything decent even at that early stage.

As a sideline we were actually hoping to go to Koh Samui as well on the way back for a few extra days but the guarantee only allows a return trip. No stopovers and same flight path both ways so were a little limited.

 

[mlob]

Im watching a reward flight to Nadi for April next year. There is some availability either side. Waiting for it to hopefully disappear so I can hit them up for my guaranteed reward seat.

 

[Nicholas Wood]

I called back today and recieved 4x return rewards to New Zealand for Christmas.

The platinum rep I spoke to said it was the first time he had successfully made a guaranteed rewards booking in his 3 years on the phones!

Total call time was 30min (I believe a significant portion of this was due to an infant ticket being included).

Thanks Virgin! Looking forward to Christmas with family

 

[jneufeld]

Just made a Gold guaranteed rewards booking to SYD-MCY for easter next year. Took quite a while and had to wait for a call back but was well looked after by the rep. She said it was the second one she had processed in 4 years working there. There was zero rewards availability they could find between now and easter so I had the pick of the dates!