Booked Ret Business but return flight changed to Fokker 100 (no Business)

[oz_ally]

Personally I'd have left it as is, got the Biz SC (which you always would have got even if flown on a Sopwith Camel in paid Biz fare bucket!) got home, waited for SC to post, and then penned a polite but firm note to Virgin Plat Line.

They’ll have offered something - a part refund, a voucher, extra upgrade credits, and/or bonus points - something. They always have for such oddball things where they did not deliver, what you clearly paid for. And fair enough.

To my enormous surprise they once gave us both a $1000 travel credit for some issue on a Perth Kalgoorlie flight in Business. I'd have cheerfully accepted some points, but with Corporations, you never can tell.

(And that flight was only taken, as paid Biz to Kalgoorlie was literally $100s lower than the SYD-PER for some weird reason!)

All probably too late now as you have showed your hand, and agreed to no catering and better seat etc.

I shall remember that if it ever happens again!!! I actually thought because I am keeping it Business that they would at least chuck me a free snack and a coffee from the paid menu. I could probably still pen that polite but firm note (after the SC hit of course). I'll have a think about it and work out the best way to put it. So there is a Platinum email or contact form?? I've only ever called the phone line. Had the same awesome lady the last 2 times - she remembered me from the time before because we chatted about my cats and her finches

 

[oz_ally]

if you check back closer to travel you may end up finding equipment changes again in the future so might have the option to get back to a 737 again in the future.

Well an update on all this and @samas you predicted correctly as this is exactly what has happened. However, I am still in economy, changed to a different seat further back and no chance to "re-upgrade" myself to the seats up the front I paid for because they are all booked it seems. I would have thought they would have put me back there but anyway. I'm just going to leave it for now and wait until the flight is over - make sure my 80 Business SC hit and THEN make contact as @ozstamps suggested. Like when I was downgraded to the Fokker it wasn't immediately obvious that it had changed back to the Boeing. I just noticed it when I got another flight change (time) update. The previous Fokker change I only noticed from an Award Wallet notification. The flight isn't until 14 March so who knows - it could change again

 

[Mattg]

I'm just going to leave it for now and wait until the flight is over

I wouldn't do this - you originally booked in Business and haven't received a refund AFAIK so I'd be calling VA...

 

[oz_ally]

I wouldn't do this - you originally booked in Business and haven't received a refund AFAIK so I'd be calling VA...

Oh OK but if the flight doesn't have any free Business seats they can't move me back??? I don't really want to change to another flight over it (my friend is also travelling with me) Also it's still another 3 weeks out - what if they change it back to a Fokker. I'm confused now.

 

[Mattg]

Oh OK but if the flight doesn't have any free Business seats they can't move me back??? I don't really want to change to another flight over it (my friend is also travelling with me) Also it's still another 3 weeks out - what if they change it back to a Fokker. I'm confused now.

Looks like there are still 2 J seats available. Not sure if they will be able to move you there but I think it's worth asking.

If you're happy to stay where you are, that's fine, but I would ask now rather than try to fight with them for the extra SCs later.

 

[oz_ally]

Looks like there are still 2 J seats available. Not sure if they will be able to move you there but I think it's worth asking.

If you're happy to stay where you are, that's fine, but I would ask now rather than try to fight with them for the extra SCs later.

Ohhh I just tried to do a dummy flight booking for that date and it only shows Lite, Choice and Flex fares. And in my app it shows all Business seats with a big X on them. Online it only shows rows from 3 back.

 

[Mattg]

Ohhh I just tried to do a dummy flight booking for that date and it only shows Lite, Choice and Flex fares. And in my app it shows all Business seats with a big X on them. Online it only shows rows from 3 back.
View attachment 271495

Is this for BNE-ROK on 14 March?

 

[oz_ally]

Is this for BNE-ROK on 14 March?

Yes the flight has been put back to 4:25pm

 

[Mattg]

Ignore my earlier post where I said there were 2 J seats available. There are actually 8 available on your flight - the entire Business cabin is unsold at this stage!

I would give VA a call...

 

[oz_ally]

Ignore my earlier post where I said there were 2 J seats available. There are actually 8 available on your flight - the entire Business cabin is unsold at this stage!

I would give VA a call...

Oh really!!!!! Well I will give them a call now. Thanks for that!!

EDIT: - just got off the phone - all sorted am back in Seat 2A. Hopefully no more flight/aircraft changes!

 

[MooTime]

Oh really!!!!! Well I will give them a call now. Thanks for that!!

EDIT: - just got off the phone - all sorted am back in Seat 2A. Hopefully no more flight/aircraft changes!

Nice work.

Just a note.
My bne-Rok flight originally on 737, changed to Fokker as I posted earlier is now as of couple weeks ago back on 737. Good, for now.

I seem to see 2 of the 3 daily BNE ROK flights are 737 & 1 on Fokker. I see many empty seats on this route so am expecting they may ditch 737 again & maybe even reduce the 3 daily flights to 1 or 2, who knows.

I know they wouldn't want to limit the schedule too much cos then hardly convenient for pax.

Not fussed, just happy to be flying & to see family again.

 

[Harrison_133]

My bne-Rok flight originally on 737, changed to Fokker as I posted earlier is now as of couple weeks ago back on 737. Good, for now.

That was probably a place holder schedule. They usually update them every couple of weeks and once they have they tend to stay intact. From the looks of it, they’re updated until the 1st May at this stage.

The giveaway of the placeholder schedule is if you look at flights between MEL/SYD/BNE for example, some in the morning or evenings will say “Virgin Aust Intl for Virgin Aust.” Once they’ve been updated, this disappears completely. Pre-covid the 737-800s registered to Virgin Australia International (YIG through to YIZ) stuck to the Pacific/NZ/Bali flying. When they’d do the occasional domestic run, it would appear as “Virgin Aust Intl for Virgin Aust.” With the NZ crew base closed and lack of VAI flying it looks they’ve stopped this and using them interchangeably with the VAA 737s.

I seem to see 2 of the 3 daily BNE ROK flights are 737 & 1 on Fokker. I see many empty seats on this route so am expecting they may ditch 737 again & maybe even reduce the 3 daily flights to 1 or 2, who knows.

I know they wouldn't want to limit the schedule too much cos then hardly convenient for pax.

VA are using QQ less and less these days. 737s have done basically all of the BNEROK flying, with QQ supplementing here and there. Usually a Fokker operates the 1055 departure on the days it operates, and the others are 737s. They also look to be using the -800s more now after the -700s were basically only flying to ROK. Since going through administration, the only routes VA seem to be giving to QQ to fly consistently are BNE-ISA/ASP/EMD. If they can use a VA 737 instead, it seems they do.

Hopefully no more flight/aircraft changes!

Given your flight isn’t all that far away, I reckon you’ll be safe. I think they’ve pushed through any changes for the next few weeks already.

 

[HS-TQE]

I would not be surprised if VA are slowly phasing out the QQ flying. There's not much of those flying left. VA has also since signed varying agreements with Link and FlyPelican towards the end 2021.

Although VA and QQ did sign a codeshare/JV agreement mid 2021, I wouldn't be surprised if that met the same fate as VA/DL.

 

[ozstamps]

all sorted am back in Seat 2A.

You deliberately chose row 2 in an empty Biz cabin? If it fills up with $50 upgrade bidders your meal choice might be toast.

We could only get 2A/2C last week and only 1 meal option was left when FA got to us.

 

[oz_ally]

You deliberately chose row 2 in an empty Biz cabin? If it fills up with $50 upgrade bidders your meal choice might be toast.

We could only get 2A/2C last week and only 1 meal option was left when FA got to us.

haha I always choose Row 2 - I really don't like sitting in Row 1. Row 2 I can recline the seat if I want to without guilt and also keep my handbag under the chair and not have to stow it. So far I've been lucky with my meal choices. I'm probably jinxed now

 

[Inlander]

OK I called up and I can either get a refund of the difference I paid for Business to the amount it costs for economy (Choice) and get the 30 SC. Or keep the flight "Business" even though no perks on the plane (which doesn't bother me because it's a short flight, I'll have already been in the lounge for food and drinks and still get Priority checkin etc) AND still get the 80SC because that is the original flight booked. They have noted it on my account and told me to call if there is any problem with receiving the correct amount of SC (and points).

I'm just going to leave it as "Business". Now I think of it I am sure I booked using a code back when codes still worked so the price difference is something I can live with.

Personally I would leave it as Business and get the 160 status credits for the return trip under the bonus promotion and hey!,your going to fly a "Classic" aircraft on the return sector and its no more than an hour!

 

[Mattg]

haha I always choose Row 2 - I really don't like sitting in Row 1. Row 2 I can recline the seat if I want to without guilt and also keep my handbag under the chair and not have to stow it. So far I've been lucky with my meal choices. I'm probably jinxed now

I also prefer row 2 for the better legroom (since there isn't a wall in front of you) and guilt-free recline.

 

[flydoc]

Ignore my earlier post where I said there were 2 J seats available. There are actually 8 available on your flight - the entire Business cabin is unsold

Any idea why the OP’s dummy booking , post #26, showed no J availability?

 

[Mattg]

Any idea why the OP’s dummy booking , post #26, showed no J availability?

I don't know, but the seat map wouldn't have shown the J seats as available since the OP had a Y ticket.