Award cancellations within 24 hours of travel

[Isochronous]

This article suggests that you normally forfeit all points, but that the position is different for Business Class rewards: https://www.pointhacks.com.au/points-award-flight-cancellation-policies/

Can Business rewards be canceled and refunded without penalty even less than 24 hours before travel?

 

[BillytheFIsh]

It doesn't seem to be the official written position, but I have done it before for a family medical reason. They said that usually there would be no refund, but they would refund it in the circumstances.

It seems it's always worth a try given PH says they got their info direct from the call centre

 

[Mattg]

That's certainly not my experience.

A couple of weeks ago I flew CBR-MEL on a J award. I got stuck in traffic (I know, in Canberra!!) on the way to the airport and thought I was going to miss the cut-off for checking in luggage. So I called up the Velocity call centre to enquire about changing to the next flight. I was told that because it was within 24 hours of departure (the plane was supposed to leave in 40 minutes) I would have to forfeit the ticket and buy a new one.

Turns out, when I got to the airport ~32 minutes before departure time I was able to check in at the counter without issue. So not sure why the call centre (and VA's website) told me that bag drop closes 45 minutes prior. But that's another story...

 

[hossein_au]

That's certainly not my experience.

A couple of weeks ago I flew CBR-MEL on a J award. I got stuck in traffic (I know, in Canberra!!) on the way to the airport and thought I was going to miss the cut-off for checking in luggage. So I called up the Velocity call centre to enquire about changing to the next flight. I was told that because it was within 24 hours of departure (the plane was supposed to leave in 40 minutes) I would have to forfeit the ticket and buy a new one.

Turns out, when I got to the airport ~32 minutes before departure time I was able to check in at the counter without issue. So not sure why the call centre (and VA's website) told me that bag drop closes 45 minutes prior. But that's another story...

They just wanted to make sure you had an exciting time in Canberra (albeit on your way *out of* Canberra) :-D

 

[Pleb Status]

From the VA website...

 

[Mattg]

View attachment 145681
From the VA website...

Hmm, I couldn't find this page in my rush to get to the airport. The call centre staff apparently couldn't either...

Good to know for the future.