Cancelling [VA fare rules & COVID-19 uncertainty]

[cavemanzk]

If VA has cancelled 1 flight of four on trip, does that mean you would be more likely toget an refund from them? they just cancelled my MEL-AKLflights.

 

[Ausbt]

25 mins on Platinum line hold yesterday and can’t get through this morning at all “the area you have called is currently unavailable”. May be related to GP cancellation and many trying to adjust flights, which in fact is what I want to do.

 

[Harthagan]

Anyone have advise for travel booked for mid July to Bali. Freedom fares in 1 direction and elevate fares coming back. Unfortunately the most restrictive fare rules apply to the whole itinerary as it is a return fare.

Platinum line said there is nothing they can do as it's outside of the 30 June cut off. They said to wait and see what happens it alternatively cough up $280 to just cancel for 2 pax

 

[clam16]

Anybody try anything for domestic travel?

 

[Saab34]

Yes I did and told No. It appears they are holding firm domestic wise. Obviously once they open the flood gates on that one everyone will be cancelling can it’s going to cost them a bit.

I tried a JQ Dom fare also and so also said bad luck.

 

[aspro2]

I wonder how VA is going to handle award booking cancellations on partner airlines, given the ungenerous attitude to fee waivers/cancellation in general. (I'm on SQ in a few months' time.)

Seems unlikely Australia's airlines will follow the sensible approach of a (surprising) number of US and European airlines.

 

[Scr77]

This morning I cancelled a Delta rewards ticket for travel with US. The phone was answered within minutes and had no problems getting a full refund without any penalties. VA customer service puts Qantas to shame.

 

[aspro2]

This morning I cancelled a Delta rewards ticket for travel with US. The phone was answered within minutes and had no problems getting a full refund without any penalties. VA customer service puts Qantas to shame.

Oh that's great to know. I literally five minutes ago got notification directly from SQ that the VA-booked SQ flight has been cancelled. I wonder if VA will be proactive in contacting me about the cancellation...

 

[EzioAuditore]

Yes I did and told No. It appears they are holding firm domestic wise. Obviously once they open the flood gates on that one everyone will be cancelling can it’s going to cost them a bit.

I tried a JQ Dom fare also and so also said bad luck.

VA and all AU carriers should consider relaxing domestic policies as well just like the US big 3.
Work/convention/conference/events related air travels virtually stopped. Schools are being shut down so no parents would risk putting their kids on a place and there goes your big family leisure market.
For example, University of Queensland has suspended all international AND domestic air travels for staff and students.
At the moment, people are afraid to travel to big cities with high number of cases such as Melbourne and Sydney, where some experts are calling for shutdown if things spiral out of hand. They are simply not booking anything because of uncertainty.

 

[Saab34]

Since the latest NZ restrictions from tomorrow night, I would hazard a guess and say Virgin will pull out of all NZ flying from next week.

 

[knagelli]

25 mins on Platinum line hold yesterday and can’t get through this morning at all “the area you have called is currently unavailable”. May be related to GP cancellation and many trying to adjust flights, which in fact is what I want to do.

Same experience this morning. I was calling in regards to a different issue/query however was on queue for more than 15 minutes and hung up.

 

[jpp42]

Qantas has extended flexibility to domestic flights. Looks like VA will probably not do so in time for my flight this evening at 20:00 - it's just a MEL-SYD but I still paid $190 for it that I will lose. I did call on Friday and was told as it was a Getaway fare there was no option except to change with a $90 change fee (wouldn't even refund to a credit) - and I am WP. For the commenter above who was platinum and got a credit , what fare type was that for?

 

[knagelli]

I did call on Friday and was told as it was a Getaway fare there was no option except to change with a $90 change fee (wouldn't even refund to a credit)

It changed yesterday as VA is now allowing free change of flights until upto 30 Jun 2020.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Qantas has extended flexibility to domestic flights. Looks like VA will probably not do so in time for my flight this evening at 20:00 - it's just a MEL-SYD but I still paid $190 for it that I will lose. I did call on Friday and was told as it was a Getaway fare there was no option except to change with a $90 change fee (wouldn't even refund to a credit) - and I am WP. For the commenter above who was platinum and got a credit , what fare type was that for?

This changed on Saturday to extend to domestic flights.

 

[jpp42]

This changed on Saturday to extend to domestic flights.

Ah thanks, I missed that. Unfortunately the call centre seems to be closed today, tried 3-4 times and it's not taking new calls each time. Not sure what I'm supposed to do about this... I'm 90 minutes from the airport so not sure I want to take the time to travel there to try to cancel in person.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Ah thanks, I missed that. Unfortunately the call centre seems to be closed today, tried 3-4 times and it's not taking new calls each time. Not sure what I'm supposed to do about this... I'm 90 minutes from the airport so not sure I want to take the time to travel there to try to cancel in person.

The Philippines call centre is closed so it's massively overstretched. VA just updated to only contact if flying in the next 24 hours. Just have to keep trying I think.

 

[jpp42]

The Philippines call centre is closed so it's massively overstretched. VA just updated to only contact if flying in the next 24 hours. Just have to keep trying I think.

Yes, each time I called it said to confirm my flight was in the next 24 hours, which I then did, but then it hung up on me saying the service was unavailable.

 

[jpp42]

After about the 10th call I'm finally in the hold queue, but it never prompted me for my FF number, so I guess I get no priority for being WP. Hmm.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Horrid time. Thankful all I have to cancel is MEL-xBNE-HND in April, but holding off because I feel my taxes and points will come back to me on their own in the next week or so...

 

[jpp42]

Phone call dropped after 1hr40 min on hold. Yay.

Trying now via Facebook, maybe a written communication will be better. I've requested a travel credit but if VA goes bankrupt over this anyway, it won't matter!