Flexi Long Haul Fare changes - "Reissue Fee"

[theevilmuppet]

Hi all,

I was lucky enough to spot a Business Class Award Seat open up on 22/May for LAX-SYD last night so called Virgin to have my booking changed. My original booking was for the same journey but departing on 18/May with booking class L and upgraded with points to Business.

The Virgin representative indicated that there were three charges involved - a $100 change fee (which I expected), a $70 fare difference (which I was fine with) and a $60 reissue fee (which I didn't think hard enough about because I wanted the seat on the 22nd). After the call I wn

Now that the updated reservations have been sent to me, I can see that the fee is actually the Guest Contact Centre fee listed in the Fees and Surcharges section of Virgin's website.

Has anyone heard this terminology used before? If the charge was properly identified at the time of the call, I would have questioned it given there is no means to change the fare without speaking to the call centre however I now find myself having to dispute this charge after the fact.

 

[bullerdude]

I still think that it is crazy that VA (and Qantas) can get away with charging a change fee on a flexible fare...

Plus charging the call centre fee for Gold and Platinum members is also ridiculous... especially when charging a change fee.

 

[theevilmuppet]

I still think that it is crazy that VA (and Qantas) can get away with charging a change fee on a flexible fare...

Plus charging the call centre fee for Gold and Platinum members is also ridiculous... especially when charging a change fee.

There are multiple Flexi fare booking classes - some attract a fee for changes and others don't. It just so happens that the one I booked (booking code L) does attract a fee, and given the small incremental cost over a Saver fare I was happy to pay the difference for the option of exercising it for a fee as well as upgrading to Business Class.

Regarding the Guest Contact Centre fee, I called Virgin last night and the fee was immediately refunded.