Avoiding credit card fee on redemptions

[Fiches Mouser]

Hi all,

I'm trying to book a reward flight (using all my points) which leaves about $64 in taxes. As we know, VA charges a $30 credit card fee (that they call a "booking & service fee") but is added when you select a credit card. I really want to avoid it considering it's like paying 50% extra, and is just misleading.

The cost is advertised as 108,800 +$ 80.19 AUD, so adding an extra $30 later in the payment process comes pretty close to drip pricing since there's no way to actually purchase the product at $80.19 – the actual cost is $110.19. I know VA has got in trouble for this in the past.

I've spoken to multiple people at VFF via phone (including a couple of supervisors) and the VFF Platinum team via email who all tell me it can't be done. You can only pay with a credit card and you must pay the $30 for payments of $50+ , per the terms and conditions. With a revenue booking you have other options like Poli, but not with a reward.

Am I being unreasonable? Should I suck it up and just pay since it's in the T&Cs? Or does the fact it's advertised in reward tables and through the booking flow as $80.19 mean it should stay that way?

I feel a little annoyed that I'm forced to pay for something that I don't want – i.e. to use a credit card.

Any opinions/stories of success from others is appreciated!

 

[BAM1748]

There should always be another way to pay other than by cc.

QF let you do a banktransfer the same day, but Virgin seem to have failed.

No 99, you aren't being unreasonable.

 

[opusman]

IMO Virgin are the ones being unreasonable, charging 37% for a transaction that would probably cost them 1% at the most...

 

[andye]

Hi all,

I'm trying to book a reward flight (using all my points) which leaves about $64 in taxes. As we know, VA charges a $30 credit card fee (that they call a "booking & service fee") but is added when you select a credit card. I really want to avoid it considering it's like paying 50% extra, and is just misleading.

The cost is advertised as 108,800 +$ 80.19 AUD, so adding an extra $30 later in the payment process comes pretty close to drip pricing since there's no way to actually purchase the product at $80.19 – the actual cost is $110.19. I know VA has got in trouble for this in the past.

I've spoken to multiple people at VFF via phone (including a couple of supervisors) and the VFF Platinum team via email who all tell me it can't be done. You can only pay with a credit card and you must pay the $30 for payments of $50+ , per the terms and conditions. With a revenue booking you have other options like Poli, but not with a reward.

Am I being unreasonable? Should I suck it up and just pay since it's in the T&Cs? Or does the fact it's advertised in reward tables and through the booking flow as $80.19 mean it should stay that way?

I feel a little annoyed that I'm forced to pay for something that I don't want – i.e. to use a credit card.

Any opinions/stories of success from others is appreciated!

Agree this is an imposition.
Didnt realise poli not an option for rewards
Can you rustle up some more points to bring the taxes down?

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Agree this is an imposition.
Didnt realise poli not an option for rewards
Can you rustle up some more points to bring the taxes down?

That's pretty much what they keep telling me, but it skirts around the actual issue.

I should have enough to cover the difference (down to $49) in the next week or so, but it's really a matter of principle.

 

[Warks]

Not quite on topic but I was pleased to book VA1/2 via Delta and not pay any fee.

 

[JohnK]

You're not being unreasonable. There should be an alternate form of payment.

Also $30 would be considered an exorbitant credit card fee on such a small transaction.

 

[burmans]

You're not being unreasonable. There should be an alternate form of payment.

Also $30 would be considered an exorbitant credit card fee on such a small transaction.

That's probably why they call it a "booking & service fee" then!

 

[travelislife]

I actually thought it was illegal to not have a fee free option?

 

[JohnK]

That's probably why they call it a "booking & service fee" then!

Good for Virgin. Their reputation just shot up a little from the pits.