Article: When Flying Ahead Backfires

[FlyingKangaroo]

Tried to call in for Fly Ahead last week on my way to the airport. Agent adamantly insisted I had to pay a change fee (Choice fare, hand luggage only). I tried for a few minutes to walk her through it but she must have been very, very new as she seemed to have no idea what Fly Ahead even was. I politely ended the call and called back to a competent agent, who then had to inform me I'd just missed the check-in cut-off by two minutes when she tried to finalise the change and couldn't do it. Got to the airport less than 5 minutes later but didn't bother as I saw the priority check-in queue was several pax deep.

Two extra hours in the lounge and not the end of the world, but a tad frustrating just the same.

 

[ben95]

I’m trying to figure out when is the earliest time I can request a fly ahead via the contact centre.

• By Platinum Members calling the Virgin Australia Guest Contact Centre at least 1 hour before the scheduled departure time while the flight is still open for check-in. Platinum Members can request to Fly Ahead on a flight between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne departing up to 2 hours prior to their booked flight, and for all other domestic Virgin Australia flights, on a flight immediately prior to their booked flight.

Seems like theres no requirement that fly ahead can only be requested on the day of departure. It only caps the end time and says “while the flight is still open for check-in”. So does that mean technically PT can request to fly ahead as early as T-48 when check in opens?

 

[Harrison_133]

So does that mean technically PT can request to fly ahead as early as T-48 when check in opens?

Nope. From the T&Cs:

"Platinum Plus, Platinum and Gold members with a confirmed booking for a Virgin Australia marketed and operated domestic flight, who arrive at the airport in time for an earlier flight than their booked flight, can request that they and up to 3 accompanying guests on the same booking, be carried on an earlier domestic flight, on the same route, operating on the same day, as their original booking"

Terms and Conditions

This explains the definition, applicable terms, related changes and terms related to membership, velocity pin, velocity estrore, family pooling, redeeming points, status credit, member benefit,tax, fees, charges and other related things

www.velocityfrequentflyer.com

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’m trying to figure out when is the earliest time I can request a fly ahead via the contact centre.

Seems like theres no requirement that fly ahead can only be requested on the day of departure. It only caps the end time and says “while the flight is still open for check-in”. So does that mean technically PT can request to fly ahead as early as T-48 when check in opens?

Interesting point!

The old wording used to be that Gold had to go to the airport, platinum could call anytime on the day of the flight.

That seems to have been take pan out of the terms and conditions. Someone 0sted earlier they achieved ‘fly ahead’ calling the day prior.

However… worth a try… but if the call centre says ‘no’, you’ll likely be banging your head against the wall trying to argue otherwise… unkess of course you’re PP and get through to Australia

 

[ben95]

be carried on an earlier domestic flight, on the same route, operating on the same day, as their original booking"

That just mean I can’t request to fly today with a ticket tomorrow. Doesn’t say that I can’t request a move from tomorrow 8PM’s flight to tomorrow 7PM’s flight today. Is my interpretation.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That just mean I can’t request to fly today with a ticket tomorrow. Doesn’t say that I can’t request a move from tomorrow 8PM’s flight to tomorrow 7PM’s flight today. Is my interpretation.

I think that’s the right interpretation.

There has been a changing in the wording of the rules… it was always that you could only request the change on the day of departure. The advantage for platinums being that you could request it at 0001 (in theory)

I don’t know if the new wording is international, or not. It would still only apply to platinums and higher, being able to call.