Booked when Red, now Silver - Not allowed to add baggage.

[hummel]

Hi guys,

I booked a flight (MEL-BNE) a little while ago when I was a Velocity Red member. I've just been on hold and passed around for 15 minutes with Velocity to be told because I made the booking when Red, that I'm not entitled to complimentary baggage even though I am now Silver?

Can anyone confirm this?

They lady told me on my next flight after this one I would get it complimentary. (My next flight is BNE-MEL J.. but thats another story!)

 

[Must...Fly!]

I can't confirm or deny, but if it's as stated on the telephone whoever thought it up should be committed to an asylum

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Just show up at the airport for the flight and bring your silver card. My partner did that for a corporate booking that had no included baggage on the ticket, and they just let her check it in. If they have any probs, just ask them to remove and re-add the Velocity number

EDIT: Meant silver, not gold!
Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[kyle]

I am in the same boat. Booked ticket when I was Red and have since turned Silver. Will be travelling in March, so haven't decided what to do yet.

 

[UP4014]

What a crock, if your silver when flying then you should get the benefit.

i guess it's a point of difference between Virgin and QF and Virgin like to point out the differences.:shock:

matt

 

[smit0847]

Just do it at check-in - I never bother to select luggage when booking!!

 

[hummel]

Just do it at check-in - I never bother to select luggage when booking!!

Think that's what I'll do, if it doesn't work I'll jump and down.

As much as I'd love to ring them back and sort it out, I don't have time to waste sitting on the phone all over again.

 

[EuroFlyer]

I was going to ask something simialr to this for mrsEuroFlyer. She and her mum are booked to travel to Bali. She booked when she was Red and payed for checked baggage. She will be silver before she flies so will she get any refund for the checked baggage? I had assumed that she would but I am now worried as I see the above comments. Its not a huge amount of money but it is the principal of it.

 

[anat0l]

Agree with everyone else here. Just rock up and bring your FF status card with you.

If they won't let you have it complimentary at the airport, then we can work out who should be hung up to dry.

If you really want to press the point, print out a copy of the Baggage information on Virgin's website (making sure it is timestamped) and bring it with you.

To be honest, I really can't see this being an issue at the airport. VA can't be that thick - it is near impossible there should be a problem. In fact, the issue may "solve" itself in a bit of time.

I was going to ask something simialr to this for mrsEuroFlyer. She and her mum are booked to travel to Bali. She booked when she was Red and payed for checked baggage. She will be silver before she flies so will she get any refund for the checked baggage? I had assumed that she would but I am now worried as I see the above comments. Its not a huge amount of money but it is the principal of it.

My guess is you will not get a refund, but it probably wouldn't hurt to ask.

All I can think is that you will effectively get 2 pieces (rather than 1), i.e. an extra piece due to Silver status. But, ask anyway; you might be surprised.

 

[hydrabyss]

I think they just take your Velocity number off the booking and reapply it. Dont forget you also get advanced seat selection as silver so having the correct status showing is needed for this to work.
Dont forget to use the priority phone service they offer you.Although I am starting to think that is were the new recruits start out before going to Gold then Platinum phone service.Then when they have the basic skills needed off to some foreign call centre to work.
Thats my whinge for the day.

 

[toowongman]

Hi guys,

I booked a flight (MEL-BNE) a little while ago when I was a Velocity Red member. I've just been on hold and passed around for 15 minutes with Velocity to be told because I made the booking when Red, that I'm not entitled to complimentary baggage even though I am now Silver?

Can anyone confirm this?

They lady told me on my next flight after this one I would get it complimentary. (My next flight is BNE-MEL J.. but thats another story!)

*sigh* the phone staff. They can do it in about five minutes, you must have had a dud operator. Just call back.

 

[tuapekastar]

Sounds like bollocks to me. Have your Silver card with you at the airport, and in the meantime I like hydrabyss's take on it..

 

[AndyGoodyear]

Hi guys,

I booked a flight (MEL-BNE) a little while ago when I was a Velocity Red member. I've just been on hold and passed around for 15 minutes with Velocity to be told because I made the booking when Red, that I'm not entitled to complimentary baggage even though I am now Silver?

Can anyone confirm this?

They lady told me on my next flight after this one I would get it complimentary. (My next flight is BNE-MEL J.. but thats another story!)

I paid for a flight while red including paying for luggage. When I then turned silver (before flying) they agreed to give me a credit on the baggage to use towards another booking. I would try again.

 

[hummel]

Follow Up:

I PM'd Virgin Australia via Facebook about the issue and received a response within a couple of hours.

Hi Adam, thanks for getting in touch and apologies about the information that was provided. If you are currently a Silver member all Silver benefits will apply for any flights you take in the future. If you have your Silver membership card, just make sure you show this when you check in at the airport and Silver baggage allowances will apply.





Now just need to call back and sort out seat selection.

 

[mavrick9]

I had same situation over a year ago when I got Status matched Gold. I had existing RED Booking with bags, the call centre was editing a booking, and then applied the GOLD status. It then gave me a credit for the cost of the bags.

I've read elsewhere on AFF that if you remove your Velocity Number, and then re-add it then this sometimes works by applying your new status to your new bookings. Etc. -- Though I'm not sure if you can do it online, or if a Velocity Rep / Checkin has to do it.

 

[jjsyd]

When I qualified for Platinum I called and had 4 future bookings updated to include 2 bags @ 32kg. It was no problem at all and from the way the agent responded to the request it sounded like they get that fairly reguarly.

 

[KCMil]

When you first called, did the operator have a strangely US sounding accent? I just hang up on them now and keep trying until I get an australian call centre voice. Shouldn't be long now before overflow centre is closed down anyway. Fingers crossed that should help a little.

 

[jjsyd]

When you first called, did the operator have a strangely US sounding accent? I just hang up on them now and keep trying until I get an australian call centre voice. Shouldn't be long now before overflow centre is closed down anyway. Fingers crossed that should help a little.

No, mine was a Kiwi at the premium desk. That probably makes the difference.

 

[xtoss]

As mentioned here, ask them to re add you velocity number

I've had this done before when i went to silver and again to gold. Seat selections and luggage all listed as avaialble

 

[hroebuck79]

I recently booked flights when I was red status - but was silver when I flew. I got to check my baggage for free - no dramas.

It seems it is all about what status your are on the date of the flight - not the time of booking.